It Can't Be That Coincidental, Right?

Hokage Office Building.

Having watched plenty of Naruto in his past life, he had seen enough to know the ropes even if he hadn't lived them.

He stepped into the building.

Following the instructions Mizuki had given him.

Combined with the super-sensory perception provided by half of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

He easily bypassed the Anbu members stationed there.

What puzzled Naruto was that there were very few Anbu on guard duty today.

No more than five in total!

He had no idea where everyone had gone.

Or perhaps it was because he was the ultimate Child of Prophecy.

People just naturally cleared the way for him.

He recalled how, back then, he hadn't even possessed half of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

Yet, through a series of coincidences.

He had obtained the Scroll of Seals without any effort at all.

Could it really be that much of a coincidence?

Naruto's mouth twitched.

In times of peace, Konoha didn't have many top-tier fighters on the surface.

But their hidden strength was still significant.

It shouldn't be this poorly defended.

Oh? Was he being allowed to take it on purpose?

Naruto seemed to have figured something out.

Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods and strength.

How could someone who wasn't even a Genin easily obtain the Scroll of Seals left behind by the Second Hokage?

Even a fool would know that was impossible!

What kind of scheme is this old man cooking up?

Whatever, once I get the Rinnegan and my strength reaches the next level, I'll have the power to back up my words.

Since you're intentionally letting me in to take the Scroll of Seals, then I won't stand on ceremony.

Naruto grinned.

He quickened his pace.

He strode inside, bold and unbothered.

Coincidentally, the Anbu members who were supposed to be guarding the hallway.

Acted as if they hadn't seen him at all.

They turned and walked away from their posts.

If Naruto hadn't sensed them.

He would have thought those spots had been empty all along.

Arriving at the old man Third's office.

Naruto had initially planned to use some ninjutsu to enter the room.

But on second thought, he decided against it.

He was definitely being watched right now.

At the slightest sign of trouble.

The sneaky Anbu hiding in the shadows would surely swarm him.

I'll just have to force the door open physically.

If I get caught, I'll just say I was born with divine strength.

Naruto had already prepared his excuse.

He placed his hand on the doorknob.

With a click, the door swung open.

Naruto froze.

He hadn't been the one to break the door open.

The thing wasn't even locked to begin with!

"The intention to go easy on him is far too obvious."

He was no longer the simple-minded Naruto Uzumaki he once was.

Any normal person could figure it out with a little deduction.

On the other side, in the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared into a crystal ball.

The image displayed on the crystal ball.

Was none other than Naruto sneaking into his room.

"Is this really okay, Third Hokage? If you let Naruto take the Scroll of Seals and the Nine-Tails inside him goes berserk in the chaos, we will surely suffer countless casualties."

"Konoha cannot afford such a disaster again."

The Anbu captain behind him knelt on one knee.

His tone was grave and filled with worry.

Konoha had finally ushered in an era of peace.

The turmoil of war had claimed the lives of many young ninjas.

As had the internal strife within Konoha itself.

If the Nine-Tails were to attack the village again.

The only one capable of stopping it would be the Third Hokage.

Should the Third Hokage fall in battle.

The other major ninja villages would certainly seize the opportunity to break the peace treaty.

They would wage war against a leaderless Konoha.

At that point, there would truly be no one to call upon for help.

Simply put!

Konoha could no longer bear such dire consequences!

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag from his old-fashioned pipe.

He spoke unhurriedly.

"I have my own arrangements."

"When a man gets old, he inevitably dreams of things that happened in the past."

"Back then, to stop the Nine-Tails from ravaging the village, the Fourth Hokage did not hesitate to pay the ultimate price, and both he and his wife perished."

"Before he passed, he entrusted the young Naruto to my care."

"The elderly, the weak, and the women and children who lost their loved ones in that catastrophe needed a reasonable outlet for their grievances."

"The seemingly peaceful village is actually plagued by internal and external troubles, and the conflicts of interest among the great clans are growing increasingly intense; I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure to divert the public's attention."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's wrinkled face looked even older than before.

He glanced.

At the photograph of himself and Minato Namikaze on his desk.

A look of deep guilt involuntarily crossed his aged face.

He took another puff from his pipe.

"Leaving the Scroll of Seals in Naruto's hands for a while won't cause any trouble."

"And even if it does, I alone shall bear the consequences!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was beyond reproach!

"Yes!"

Since it had come to this!

The Anbu captain had no choice but to obediently accept the order.

Indeed, they owed far too much to the Fourth Hokage.

If the Fourth Hokage hadn't been willing to step forward and sacrifice himself back then.

The death toll of the village would have been even higher!!!