"Naruto, don't you get tired living like this?"
"I don't feel tired. If anything, it's interesting, because anything worthwhile is difficult to achieve."
Minato Namikaze's expression turned deeply wistful when he heard that. Because of Naruto's age, he had always wanted to communicate with Naruto from the perspective of a father.
But Naruto had clearly already formed a worldview far beyond his years.
He knew perfectly well why Naruto had come to see the Third Hokage.
During the two months the Third Hokage had been away from the village, Gekko Hayate had only been following and monitoring Naruto's clone. Every day, Naruto deliberately had his clone pretend in front of Gekko Hayate that he was diligently practicing the Shadow Clone Jutsu but never quite getting the hang of it.
The very day the Third Hokage returned, Gekko Hayate went to report to him.
Naruto had come to see the Third Hokage only because he wanted him to believe that he was growing up exactly as he had hoped.
"Hm? Shisui Uchiha came too?"
To make Gekko Hayate report to the Hokage ahead of time, Naruto deliberately slowed his pace when he was not far from the Hokage Office Building. Just as he caught sight of its entrance, he stopped. He sensed Shisui Uchiha's Chakra rushing this way.
His consciousness descended directly into the Sealed Space.
"Father, what do you think of the Uchiha Clan?"
Minato Namikaze did not know why Naruto had suddenly become concerned with the Uchiha Clan. After thinking for a while, he answered.
"I don't know much about the Uchiha Clan. Back when I was a candidate for Hokage, I had dealings with their clan head, Fugaku Uchiha."
"After I became Hokage, I only had a few brief meetings with the Uchiha higher-ups in the Police Department. But your mother and Fugaku Uchiha's wife were close friends."
Sensing Shisui Uchiha drawing ever closer, Naruto's eyes flickered as an idea came to him. "Father, have you ever fought any Uchiha in the village? How much do you know about their Bloodline Sharingan?"
Minato Namikaze's gaze sharpened. "The Uchiha Clan can use the Sharingan to easily obtain the results that ordinary people spend years training for. Once they awaken it, even the weakest among them have the strength of a Chunin."
"Though I have never fought the Uchiha Clan within the village, you know that I fought the mysterious man who caused the Nine-Tails' Rampage several years ago. He possessed the Uchiha Clan's strongest ocular technique, the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"That mysterious man's Mangekyō Sharingan could not only control Tailed Beasts with ease, but he also possessed a power like Space-Time Ninjutsu."
"I know all that." Naruto interrupted Minato Namikaze, then asked with a somewhat strange expression, "Your former subordinate Kakashi successfully received a transplanted Sharingan. Didn't you ever ask him about the deeper aspects of the Sharingan?"
Minato Namikaze's expression changed sharply. "Naruto, what are you trying to do?"
Could Naruto be planning to seize a Sharingan?
With his current strength, attacking members of the Uchiha Clan and taking their Sharingan would not be a problem at all.
"Don't be so nervous. I just suddenly became interested." Naruto waved his hand and raised his bright eyes. "Anyway, the Third Hokage should be waiting for me. Kurama, from now on, you don't need to restrain your Chakra for the time being."
Kurama, lying nearby, flicked his tail. Naruto watched red-glowing Chakra surge toward the sealing gate like a tide.
Just as Minato Namikaze wanted to say something else, Naruto had already withdrawn from the Sealed Space.
Then he saw that Shisui Uchiha had already entered the office building.
Naruto recalled how, in the Original Work, Kabuto had threatened Obito with an army created through Impure World Reincarnation, saying that he had never found Shisui Uchiha's corpse.
Shisui possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan's strongest brainwashing Genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami.
This was Konoha's fifty-third year. According to the plot, Shisui would die next year. Before his death, Danzo would take his right eye, while he would entrust his left eye to Itachi Uchiha.
Naruto glanced once more at the Hokage Office Building, the corner of his mouth lifting.
The Scroll of Seals, which supposedly recorded many of Konoha's forbidden techniques, seemed to be in the Hokage's Office.
He did not need to fight Shisui Uchiha for his eyes. He only needed to obtain Shisui Uchiha's corpse. Then he could acquire a complete pair of Mangekyō Sharingan as well.
But where Shisui Uchiha would commit suicide was a problem. From the plot, it seemed to be on a cliff beside a waterfall along the Naka River.
The Naka River was not far from the patch of woods Itachi Uchiha had opened up at the beginning. But while the Naka River was easy to find, determining which waterfall it was would be difficult.
Should he just take the risk and mark him with a Flying Thunder God seal?
After turning the matter over in his mind, Naruto's eyes flashed. He stepped through the entrance of the Hokage Office Building.
Inside the Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage sat solemnly in his chair, while Shisui Uchiha knelt on one knee across the desk from him.
"Shisui, although the advisors have already provided intelligence, I still want to hear your opinion."
"Lord Hokage, some people within the clan are indeed becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the village. But the captain is doing his best to calm them. To resolve this situation, we need to improve the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village. As long as that issue is resolved, I believe the Uchiha Clan and the village can definitely coexist peacefully."
"I have already begun researching and discussing this matter with the other advisors. I will still need you to continue providing intelligence from within the Uchiha Clan."
Knock, knock!
Just as the Third Hokage finished speaking, he heard a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
After receiving permission, an Anbu opened the door. The Third Hokage's entire demeanor instantly became kind and benevolent.
"Hehe, Naruto!"
"Yes, Lord Hokage. This morning, I saw the village's reassurance notice when I went out and learned that you had returned. So I came to ask you for guidance regarding training."
As Naruto entered, he spoke while shifting his steps, quickly moving to Shisui Uchiha's side. He turned his head and glanced at the silent, kneeling Shisui Uchiha, only to find that Shisui Uchiha was also studying him.
Naruto immediately turned his gaze to the Third Hokage.
Shisui Uchiha was somewhat puzzled. He was not puzzled by Naruto's identity, but by the feeling that he had seen Naruto somewhere before.
"Lord Hokage, I came to ask you about the Shadow Clone Jutsu."
After speaking, Naruto looked at the Third Hokage with sincere eyes, appearing intensely eager.
"Hehe, you haven't mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu yet, have you? Don't worry, Naruto. It is because you have never received systematic training in how to cultivate yourself, so you lack experience in ninjutsu training. You also lack guidance from a professional teacher when it comes to Chakra control."
The Third Hokage smiled slightly, rose directly from his Hokage office chair, walked over to Naruto, and crouched down beside him.
"Naruto, do you remember the Ninja Academy from last year?"
"I remember. You took me there last year. It looked pretty interesting."
The Third Hokage's smile grew even broader at that.
"Yes, you will be six next year. Do you want to attend the Ninja Academy?"
Naruto raised his brows in surprise. "I can attend the Ninja Academy too? The people in the village don't seem to like me."
"Of course! Never forget who you are!" The Third Hokage's expression turned stern. "You are a member of Konoha, so naturally you can attend school. And you can make many friends there, like Shikamaru."
Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Naruto nodded with a somewhat dazed look in his eyes, as though he were eagerly awaiting that day's arrival.
The Third Hokage was quite satisfied with Naruto's expression. In a gentle tone, he said, "Naruto, go sit over there for a while. I'm going out for a bit. When I return, I'll give you some material on controlling Chakra."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Okay."
He took several steps to a long bench against the office wall, then sat down against its armrest. As he activated his senses, one hand casually reached into the armrest's blind spot and gave it a light tap.
"Naruto, why did you leave a Flying Thunder God mark here?"
Minato Namikaze in the Sealed Space noticed Naruto's movement.
"I merely left myself an opportunity on a whim. Didn't Lord Hokage just remind me?"
Naruto stared intently at Shisui Uchiha, who was walking toward the office door with the Third Hokage.
"He reminded me well. I cannot forget who I am, because this world will not..."
Before you continue