The white slip of paper burned and faded at Naruto's fingertips, washed away by the water without leaving a trace. The room returned to silence, but the stone "Zero" had thrown had stirred the necessary ripples in Naruto's heart.
A hero forgotten by the village. A meritorious man driven to death by public opinion. An ambitious man named Danzo.
This was not merely an old case. It was the sharpest key capable of prying open Konoha's balance of power.
The next morning, the sky was gray and overcast, as though rain was on its way. Naruto did not go to the training ground. He changed into the plainest gray civilian clothes and disappeared into the crowd of villagers heading out early for work, making his way toward an unremarkable building in the center of the village.
The Konoha Archives.
Every record since the village's founding was stored here. It was the core of Konoha's memory.
"Little one, what are you looking up?" The archivist was an elderly woman with graying hair. She adjusted the reading glasses on her nose and studied the blond boy before her. Ninjas, especially Genin, rarely came here of their own accord.
"Ma'am, I'd like to review the shop registration records and tax change records for commercial districts in the Land of Fire from twenty-three to twenty years ago," Naruto said calmly.
The old woman froze. The question was completely beyond her expectations. Not mission scrolls, not ninjutsu materials, but outdated business records? She looked Naruto over. The boy did not seem to be joking.
"Those are all on the third basement level. They're old and messy, so go look for them yourself." She handed Naruto an access permit and paid him no further attention.
The archive basement was cold and damp, with the mingled scent