Naruto's Troubles: Stealing the Treasure Scroll with an Invisibility Cloak

The next day, a familiar face appeared.

Uchiha Sen stood tall and proud, basking in the noon sun with a thoroughly refreshed expression.

"Whew, training can't stop."

Naruto, dressed in an orange jacket, strolled over. Today should've been the day he became a genin, but he had drawn the Clone Technique, the one he was worst at. Though he'd failed the test, Teacher Mizuki had told him that as long as he learned the ninjutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals, he could become a genin by special exception!

"Haha, Hole-Hole Monster, looks like you've recovered well!"

Naruto greeted him with a smile. Uchiha Sen was one of Naruto's few close friends in the village. They had played together since a long, long time ago. On the night of the clan massacre, Naruto had been the one to drag Sen into the forest to play all night.

Hearing the familiar voice, Uchiha Sen frowned.

"Double-Zero Two, didn't you say you were about to infiltrate the enemy ranks? How did it go?"

Naruto knew Sen was asking about the genin exam. But Sen had always been like this, preferring to phrase things his own way, and Naruto had long since gotten used to it.

"That's right, Hole-Hole Monster! As the planet's second-bravest warrior, I failed this morning's test, but as long as I steal the scroll from the enemy headquarters tonight and obtain the information on it, I'll successfully infiltrate the enemy ranks!"

Naruto declared confidently. He was extremely sure of himself. After all, he'd been to the Hokage Office Building many times. There was no danger at all. (At least, that was what he thought.)

Uchiha Sen placed both hands flat on the ground and slowly rose, rolling his stiff neck as he boasted grandly.

"If that's the case, I'll go with you tonight. This operation is critical to the planet, so I'll personally escort you."

"You?" Naruto looked skeptical. Going to the back mountain to play was one thing, but the Hokage Building was different. With his strength, maybe he could manage it, but Sen? Forget it.

"Hm? With the divine robe on my body and the treasured steed beneath me, where in this world can I not go?"

Uchiha Sen sat astride a small stool, shaking out a striped bedsheet with baffling confidence on his face.

[ Ding! Main storyline triggered: Steal the Scroll of Seals. Objective: Assist Naruto in successfully entering the Hokage Building. Reward: Chunin-Level Power Energy Cluster (can be used directly) ]

"Hole-Hole Monster, I just received orders from the planet's highest executive officer. I alone will carry out this operation. Hole-Hole Monster only needs to guard the headquarters!"

Naruto gave Sen a formal military salute.

[ Don't agree to him, he's lying to you! ]

Shaking his head, Sen had no idea why he'd been hearing strange voices so often lately. He quickly stood up, returned the salute, and said solemnly,

"Understood, Double-Zero Two! I hope you return in triumph. I'll stay put and protect the headquarters' safety!"

[ ...This system is so tired of having a host like this. ]

Seeing this, Naruto turned and left. He still needed to have a hearty meal. Tonight, he was going to pull off something big!

After nightfall, Naruto successfully infiltrated the Hokage Building, though a white bundled object had been following behind him the entire time.

"Double-Zero Two doesn't understand how despicable these native muggles are. As the planet's bravest warrior, I must protect my teammate's rear."

Sen muttered to himself beneath the bedsheet. Watching Naruto enter the Hokage Building, Uchiha Sen took tiny steps forward and carefully lowered the bedsheet, covering every inch of his body.

Unlike Naruto, who could leap over roofs and scale walls to enter through the second floor, Sen relied on the cover of his "invisibility cloak" and headed straight for the front entrance.

The two ninjas guarding the door wore awkward expressions. Tezuka Ikku couldn't make up his mind and turned to Kanekawa Sanxi beside him.

"Hey, the Third said to lower our guard tonight and let that brat in... But didn't one already go in just now...? So what about this one?"

Kanekawa Sanxi was also dumbfounded.

Could they show them a little respect... There were still two people standing right at the entrance.

He was just walking inside draped in a bedsheet?

"Stop him?"

"Should we stop him?"

The two exchanged a glance and came to a firm decision. If they didn't stop him...

Good heavens, it'd ruin their careers...

"Hey, you brat!" Kanekawa Sanxi raised a hand and pressed down on the bedsheet, stopping it from moving forward.

[ Ding! Host has been detected. Please evade immediately! ]

"Impossible! I'm wearing an invisibility cloak! These despicable native muggles are just trying to trick me into revealing myself!" Uchiha Sen said firmly.

[ But... ]

A moment later, a little head poked out, its face filled with surprise.

"You can see me?"

[ Forget it. Temporary ability granted: ten-second Eternal Mangekyo experience. ]

As the words fell, Uchiha Sen's pupils began to change. One tomoe, two tomoe, three tomoe, then a giant pinwheel...

"This is—"

"Thud!"

Kanekawa Sanxi's body stiffened before he toppled backward.

"Kanekawa!" Before Tezuka Ikku could figure out what had happened, Uchiha Sen looked at him.

"Thud!"

The two brothers lay neatly side by side at the entrance.

[ Ding! Opponents' memories automatically erased! ]

Taking small steps, Sen headed upstairs. Conveniently, so Naruto could successfully steal the Scroll of Seals, the Third Hokage had withdrawn all the guards, leaving only two at the entrance. Uchiha Sen smoothly arrived at the Hokage's Office, where he ran straight into an excited Naruto holding the Scroll of Seals.

"Sen... no, Hole-Hole Monster, why are you here?!"

Naruto's expression shifted rapidly, his little face filled with disbelief.

"How's the mission going? You don't know how despicable the native muggles here are. I wasn't at ease, so I followed you. Hurry, there's still room here. Come out with me."

Uchiha Sen sounded extremely anxious. He pulled open a corner of the bedsheet, signaling Naruto to follow behind him.

"Uh..."

Knowing he couldn't argue with him, Naruto could only crawl beneath the bedsheet. In the darkness, a large white lump moved toward Konoha Forest.

Ten minutes later...

"Let me see..."

Beside an abandoned shack, Naruto spread out the Scroll of Seals and was quickly drawn to the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique on its first page.

Uchiha Sen, meanwhile, acted as a guard and vigilantly watched the surroundings.

[ Ding! Successfully assisted Naruto in stealing the Scroll of Seals. Use the Chunin-Level Power Energy Cluster... Forget it, using automatically! ]

[ Ding! The host's current environment has been detected as extremely dangerous. Strength automatically concealed. ]

[ Current progress bar: 0.5% ]

A mass of pure chakra energy gathered throughout his body. Uchiha Sen could feel himself growing stronger as he looked up at the pale moon.

"Sure enough, moonlight promotes the advancement of cultivation techniques more than sunlight. Headquarters, Hole-Hole Monster will definitely complete the mission."

[ I ** you **, you ** my **—ptooey! ]

Hokage Building

"What?! The Scroll of Seals was stolen?!"

"That damned brat, it would've been one thing if he just caused trouble all the time!"

"That damn demon fox brat!"