Shazo did not take long to spot two Anbu ninjas on duty atop the neighboring residential building, from a utility pole.
After repeatedly confirming that there was no third Anbu member, he approached from the blind spot of the two Anbu watchers and climbed the outer wall of the residential building to the roof.
Hanging from the outer wall near the rooftop, Shazo carefully sensed something. Then he suddenly pushed open a small window in the wall and flipped into the top-floor room.
The moment he entered the cramped, filthy room, the blond boy sitting inside in a daze saw him.
It was not because Shazo's skills were poor, nor because the boy was especially powerful.
It was simply a one-room apartment. Aside from a bed and a low table, it did not even have a cabinet, let alone anything that could block the view.
This was partly because the boy was destitute, and partly because the Anbu, for ease of surveillance, did not allow any furniture that could obstruct their line of sight.
Shazo had timed it precisely, entering the room while both Anbu ninjas were letting their guard down.
Before the boy could react, Shazo moved like a ghost and cast genjutsu on both the window he had entered through and the window opposite it.
Under the genjutsu's influence, any ninja looking in through the windows would see the scene they expected to see.
Then he suddenly appeared on the ceiling and tapped it lightly, activating a rather complex Sealing Technique that blocked the peeping function of the [Telescope Technique].
Although lunchtime was one of the rare occasions when the Third Hokage could catch up on sleep, Shazo still had to guard against the possibility of him taking a sudden look.
Finally, he appeared before the boy, reached both hands behind the boy's ears, and gently pulled backward, as though tearing something away.
The dazed boy's eyes changed, instantly shifting from muddled confusion to bright clarity.
His blank expression became vivid as well.
When the blond boy saw Shazo, tears welled in his eyes, yet he forced a smile. "Big Brother Shazo, did you bring me something delicious again?"
Shazo's lips moved soundlessly for a moment before he softly said, "You've had it hard, Naruto."
The boy's strength shattered in an instant, and he became a golden blur as he threw himself into Shazo's arms.
Naruto Uzumaki cried, but he did not cry out loud.
Being clever, he knew that while Shazo had cast genjutsu over the doors and windows and could create illusions, he could not create illusory sounds. If his crying alerted the Anbu watching outside, they would notice something was wrong.
Shazo did not comfort Naruto. He knew the boy was strong enough.
Ever since the brat had resolutely begun learning the [Mind-Body Separation Technique], Shazo had known that Naruto Uzumaki's resilience was unmatched.
Naruto cried because he had worn his "mask" for too long and was finding it hard to control himself.
After all, he was only seven.
Naruto Uzumaki soon stopped crying, took the towel hanging on the wall, and wiped his face clean.
Then he asked with a brilliant smile, "Big Brother Shazo, what delicious food did you bring me today?"
"(⊙o⊙) Wow, fried chicken, grilled meat, grilled fish, and braised beef! This is amazing!"
"(*￣︿￣) Ehh—noodles again."
"╰(*°▽°*)╯ Whoa, rice balls! Cake!"
"Ｏ(≧口≦)Ｏ Ahhh, ice cream! Hooray!"
Before he even finished speaking, Naruto plunged headfirst into the pile of food and began wolfing it down.
Watching the blond brat eat and drink without a thought, his table manners as ugly as an animal at a trough, Shazo's sympathy died completely. Veins bulged across his forehead.
The frustration of failing to raise him properly, combined with the brat deliberately acting up right in front of him, made Shazo's anger surge.
He could not help snapping, "Naruto! Can't you eat a little more politely?"
Naruto Uzumaki chewed the drumstick in his mouth with all his might and mumbled, "Quiet and refined, like Big Sister Izumi?"
"Big Brother Shazo, I'm a boy, a boy!"
"You said boys should be bold and natural!"
Shazo retorted weakly, "Being natural and being rude are two different things."
Naruto Uzumaki's eyes darted about as he argued, "But Big Brother Shazo, if I suddenly started acting polite, Lord Hokage would definitely get suspicious."
Shazo grew even angrier. "Bullshit! I've already blocked the [Clairvoyance Technique], so Hiruzen Sarutobi can't peek in now. He wouldn't know even if you acted a little more polite."
Naruto Uzumaki took a huge bite and swallowed half a chicken, then continued arguing, "Hey, you have to pay attention to even the tiniest details in everyday life, so you won't give yourself away at a critical moment."
"You taught me that too, Big Brother Shazo!"
Shazo finally lost his patience and flicked him on the forehead. "You've already mastered the Mind-Body Separation Technique. Your usual disguise has long been handed over to the completed 'mask.' I think you're just deliberately acting spoiled in front of me!"
Naruto covered the swelling on his forehead and chuckled awkwardly. "Hehehe, so you saw through me after all."
Then he suddenly froze, raising the half-roasted chicken in his hand and pointing at Shazo. "Σ(っ°Д°;)っ Ah!"
"Ahhh!"
"Big Brother Shazo, y-you got so much taller?"
Naruto Uzumaki had just noticed that Shazo was much taller than when they had met the previous week. In shock, he revealed the half-chewed food in his mouth.
Disgusted, Shazo flicked him on the forehead again before the brat finally stopped fooling around.
Naruto Uzumaki was the first thread of the plot that Shazo had seized. The other was Uchiha Izumi, his childhood friend.
But Uchiha Izumi had truly been an accident. Before awakening her Sharingan, Izumi had not even had a surname. Who could have known she was Uchiha Izumi?
Even Aunt Miko did not know that she actually had Uchiha blood.
In any case, Uncle Heishiro certainly did not, because he had moved to Konoha with the Senju Clan from the border region near the Land of Whirlpools.
Even if Uncle Heishiro had any bloodline, it would only be Senju or Uzumaki Clan blood.
Shazo had clearly only taught Izumi ninjutsu at the request of the two elders, in order to repay their kindness.
Yet once his neighbor Izumi awakened her Sharingan, she instantly became an enormous problem.
A few days ago, after Shazo had become strong enough on his own and no longer worried about how to save Uchiha Izumi, she had changed from a huge problem into a powerful thread in his hands.
But in terms of both importance and potential, Naruto Uzumaki was naturally more valuable.
Shazo had once believed Naruto Uzumaki was Konoha's forbidden taboo, a terrifying trap that no one could approach. Anyone who got close would be warned by the Anbu, or even secretly persecuted by Root.
But Shazo's curiosity was strong enough that he secretly conducted an on-site observation, only to discover in surprise that the Anbu surveillance was not nearly as frightening as the rumors claimed.
The Third Hokage was a busy man. He had so many Genin promotions to Chunin to approve, and so many C-rank Missions to review. How could he have time to watch Naruto every day?
Thus, only the Anbu ninjas monitored and protected Naruto Uzumaki.
For reasons of secrecy, the Third Hokage had not informed the Anbu ninjas of Naruto's identity, resulting in the surveillance and protection assignment being classified as a D-rank Mission.
Even Ninja Academy graduates would not take such a D-rank Mission seriously. How could Anbu ninjas who were Special Jonin possibly treat it seriously?
Even if they were conscientious, could they maintain a serious attitude after carrying out a D-rank Mission year after year?
Everyone would slack off.
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