The Sarutobi Clan's Old Storehouse

The Sarutobi Clan Compound stood on Konoha's southeastern side.

It wasn't deliberately isolated like the Uchiha Clan Compound, nor guarded behind imposing walls like the Hyuga Main Family. The Sarutobi Clan had spent years building up the area. Their houses stretched from one plot to the next, their lights glowed peacefully, and night patrols habitually steered clear of the main residence.

Tonight, that peace shattered.

When Naruto arrived outside the compound with Uchiha Tekka, an Inuzuka Ninja, and several Konoha Jonin, members of the Sarutobi Clan had already gathered at the gate.

They had clearly gotten word.

Some had thrown coats over their clothes. Others still gripped ninja tools. Their faces showed panic and anger alike.

At the front stood a Sarutobi Jonin in his thirties.

His name was Shinnosuke Sarutobi, and he was responsible for the clan's nighttime defenses.

When he saw Naruto, his gaze went first to those golden slit pupils, then to the Third Hokage following behind.

"Third Hokage, what is going on?"

The Third Hokage looked grim.

Naruto held the Root remnant brought back from the Forest of Death in one hand, like a crow with a broken wing.

Naruto didn't wait for the Third Hokage to answer.

"Open the Sarutobi Old Storehouse."

Shinnosuke frowned.

"This is the Sarutobi Clan Compound. The Konoha Military Police Force can't just search it whenever it likes."

Uchiha Tekka gave a cold laugh.

"Root files, the fire at the Advisors' Office, the missing inheritance of the Fourth Hokage, ANBU deployment orders from the Nine-Tails' Attack—and now the trail leads to your old storehouse."

Shinnosuke's face darkened.

"Uchiha Tekka, watch what you say."

Tekka stepped forward, his Three Tomoe turning.

"I'm watching myself plenty."

The Sarutobi drew their Kunai.

The Konoha Jonin stood on either side, looking conflicted.

If this had been an ordinary search, they would have sided with the Sarutobi. But from Central Street to Root and then to the Forest of Death, evidence had surfaced piece after piece. No one dared dismiss Naruto's actions as a tantrum anymore.

Naruto threw the Root remnant to the ground.

The man coughed up blood and pointed toward the compound's western side.

"The old storehouse... third room."

Shinnosuke's expression shifted.

Naruto caught it.

"You know the place."

Shinnosuke quickly schooled his face.

"The old storehouse holds clan heirlooms. They have nothing to do with you."

Naruto walked toward the gate.

The Sarutobi blocked his path.

"Move."

No one moved.

Shinnosuke looked at the Third Hokage.

"Third Hokage, you can't let him barge into the compound like this. If you allow it today, tomorrow any clan in Konoha could find itself searched by a Jinchūriki and his men."

It was a clever argument.

He wasn't just defending the Sarutobi. He was drawing every clan into it.

Several Konoha Jonin did, indeed, hesitate.

Naruto glanced at him.

"You're stalling."

Shinnosuke's pupils contracted.

The next instant, a faint crackle came from the western side of the compound.

It wasn't loud.

It sounded like a seal catching fire.

Naruto vanished.

A Chakra tail smashed the gate open, sending splinters flying.

The Sarutobi were about to stop him when Uchiha Tekka drew his blade and barred their way.

"Anyone who moves will be charged with obstructing the investigation."

"You wouldn't dare!" Shinnosuke snapped.

Tekka's eyes were cold.

"After seeing Danzo's arm tonight, there's not much I wouldn't dare do."

Naruto raced through the Sarutobi Clan Compound.

Someone screamed beneath the eaves. In a courtyard, a mother scooped up her child and fled. Naruto left them unharmed, following the abnormal Chakra the Nine-Tails sensed straight toward the western storehouse.

At the door of the third room, two Sarutobi were tearing off the seals.

One held a fire starter.

At the sight of Naruto, they immediately backed away.

The fire starter flew into the storehouse.

Naruto raised a hand.

Nine-Tails Chakra caught it and crushed it to bits.

The two Sarutobi turned to run.

A Chakra arm struck from either side, slamming them into the storehouse door.

The wooden door shattered.

Inside stood a row of old chests.

They bore no Hokage mark, only the Sarutobi Clan crest.

Naruto went in.

Dust lay thick everywhere.

These chests didn't look like supplies anyone used regularly. They hadn't been properly opened in years, at least.

But the chest at the very back of the third row had a new lock.

Naruto smashed it with his palm.

There was no gold or silver inside.

Only scrolls, a diagram of the birthing room's defenses, copies of ANBU deployment orders, and a bloodstained scrap of an infant's swaddling cloth.

Naruto's hand stopped above the cloth.

It had long since yellowed, and dried blood marked its edges.

One scroll read:

"Nine-Tails Jinchuriki birthing relocation route."

The date was the night before he was born.

Tekka reached the storehouse door. When he saw the scroll's title, his face changed sharply.

The Third Hokage arrived moments later.

When he saw the route map, he seemed hollowed out for an instant.

"Impossible."

His voice was hoarse.

"Only a handful of people knew this route. Biwako, she..."

Naruto picked up the scroll and unfurled it.

The route map showed several alterations.

Beside one was written, "Confirmed by Lady Biwako."

But the handwriting was wrong.

Naruto had never seen Biwako Sarutobi's handwriting, but the system's seal analysis supplied a warning.

[Signs of forged handwriting detected.]

[Ink dates match; writing pressure patterns do not.]

Naruto handed the scroll to the Third Hokage.

"Is that your wife's handwriting?"

The Third Hokage took it. One glance was enough to change his expression.

"No."

Shinnosuke arrived then. At the sight of the opened chest, his face twisted.

"Who gave you permission to go through clan property?"

Naruto turned.

"Who forged the writing?"

Shinnosuke froze.

"What forgery?"

The Third Hokage held the route map before him, his voice dangerously low.

"Who put this chest in the old storehouse?"

Shinnosuke saw the map, and his eyes visibly flickered.

He wanted to deny it.

But Naruto had already raised a hand.

A Chakra arm seized the man who had tried to burn the storehouse and dragged him forward.

"Tell me."

The man's teeth chattered.

"I was only supposed to burn the chest... Lord Shinnosuke sent me."

Shinnosuke's face changed abruptly.

"You're lying!"

Naruto gave him no chance to keep up the act.

He punched Shinnosuke in the stomach.

Shinnosuke dropped to his knees and retched.

The Sarutobi moved to rush inside, but the Third Hokage roared, "Stand down!"

Years of authority as Hokage carried in that shout. At last, the Sarutobi stopped.

The Third Hokage stared at Shinnosuke, his eyes bloodshot.

"Talk."

Shinnosuke looked up. Spittle ran from the corner of his mouth, and terror filled his eyes.

"Third Hokage, I didn't know what was inside... The Advisors' Office asked the clan to hold it years ago. They said it contained Lady Biwako's belongings and couldn't go into the Hokage archives..."

Naruto watched him.

"Who delivered it?"

Shinnosuke clenched his teeth, too afraid to answer.

Naruto picked up the bloodstained swaddling cloth and held it before his eyes.

"This belonged to me."

"I'll ask again. Who delivered it?"

Shinnosuke broke.

"Mitokado Homura."

The Third Hokage closed his eyes.

Him again.

But a moment later, Shinnosuke gave another name.

"And... Ryosuke Sarutobi, the captain of Asuma Sarutobi's guard at the time."

The Third Hokage's eyes snapped open.

Ryosuke Sarutobi.

He was the Sarutobi who had taken his own life seven days after the night of the birth.

At the bottom of the chest lay a sealed letter.

Naruto picked it up and opened it.

Inside was a single sentence.

"The route has been leaked. As agreed, the Uchiha will take the blame."