In the Hokage's office.
The somewhat gaunt Third Hokage looked at the Anbu before him and asked,
"How is the investigation going?"
"Reporting to Lord Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki has spent nearly the entire past month doing physical training with a Ninja Academy student named Rock Lee."
"If there's anything unusual... it would probably be that clone of Naruto Uzumaki's. It seems to be acting as their teacher!"
"Both Naruto Uzumaki and Rock Lee call that clone 'Teacher Zeff.'"
At that, the Third Hokage took a deep drag on his pipe, then said, "Understood. You may leave!"
Over the past month, the Third Hokage had visited Naruto several times.
He had noticed the unusual behavior of both Naruto and his clone, so he had ordered the Anbu to investigate.
He could have gone without that investigation. Who would have thought Naruto had actually... developed schizophrenia?
"A clone acting as his teacher? Does he have clones who are his friends, too?"
The Third Hokage sank into thought, guilt welling up inside him-guilt toward Naruto, and toward the Fourth Hokage and his wife...
"Sigh..." The Third Hokage let out a long sigh and thought, I'll have to guide Naruto through this gradually. I also need to speak with his other personality and see whether it harbors any hostility toward Konoha.
In his view, Naruto's second personality had most likely emerged because his resentment toward Konoha's villagers had built up with no outlet.
If that second personality really was hostile toward Konoha, the Third Hokage would have to find a way to eliminate it.
Just then.
A knock sounded at the office door, and Danzo entered, his hair disheveled, his face grubby, and dark bags beneath his eyes.
The Third Hokage was puzzled by Danzo's current condition.
"Danzo, what happened to you?"
"I..." Danzo knew he looked terrible, too, and had no idea how to explain it.
I can't exactly say I've been grinding Dark Souls III every day so I can surpass you, can I?
After racking his brains, Danzo came up with someone to take the blame.
"Ahem... I... I was ambushed by a mysterious ninja. I suspect that ninja may be an accomplice of the Blood Release Ninja."
Originally, Danzo had intended to say the Blood Release Ninja had attacked him... but then he realized it would be difficult to answer if the Third Hokage asked him for details about the Blood Release Ninja.
So Danzo invented an accomplice instead.
The Third Hokage looked utterly shocked at Danzo's words.
He knew perfectly well that the so-called Blood Release Ninja was someone he had made up out of thin air.
But he had never expected... that a ninja from another village would actually attack Danzo. Now the Third Hokage had to take this seriously.
Seeing the solemn look on the Third Hokage's face, Danzo cleared his throat a few times and said, "Ahem... that isn't what I came here about today. I'll deal with the Blood Release Ninja and his accomplice myself!"
"I'm here about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"
"I heard the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has developed mental prob-"
Before Danzo could finish, the Third Hokage cut him off. "Didn't I tell you to withdraw the Root operatives watching Naruto?"
"Hmph..." Danzo snorted. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki runs around outside in plain sight every day. How could I possibly fail to notice something wrong with him?"
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has developed a second personality. I suspect... this second personality could very well pose a danger to Konoha, so..."
Before Danzo could finish, the Third Hokage interrupted him again. "I will not hand Naruto over to you. I'll handle his second personality myself, so there's no need to trouble yourself. You should focus on investigating the whereabouts of the Blood Release Ninja and his accomplice!"
"Hiruzen, if you keep stubbornly doing things your own way, you'll regret it!"
Having delivered his classic line, Danzo turned to leave.
But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the laptop on the desk.
Danzo desperately wanted to see how many bosses Hiruzen Sarutobi had beaten.
Seeing Danzo looking at his computer, the Third Hokage snapped it shut without a word. His meaning was clear: he did not want Danzo to see it.
The Third Hokage really did not want Danzo looking. And not just Danzo-he would refuse anyone who wanted to see his computer.
He was the Third Hokage, after all. If people found out he was playing those sorts of games... and watching those sorts of dirty videos... how could he remain Hokage? How could the Will of Fire continue to be passed down?
So far, the only people who knew Hiruzen Sarutobi's secret were Naruto and Bluebird, who had been buying Shenbao and anemia medication for him.
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi guarding his computer like a parent protecting his child, Danzo gave up on trying to look.
Danzo knew that, judging by Hiruzen Sarutobi's current condition, he was definitely doing better at Dark Souls III than Danzo was.
But... once his plan against the Uchiha succeeded... and he obtained more Sharingan, he would definitely be able to clear Dark Souls III faster.
Hiruzen, just you wait! Sooner or later, the Hokage's seat will be mine!
Elsewhere.
Naruto had no idea that the Third Hokage and Danzo had already decided he was mentally ill and had multiple personalities.
At that moment, he was playing League of Legends in a four-player party with Wolffy, Kurama, and Zeff.
That was right. Zeff had been corrupted by games, too.
However, Zeff preferred hardcore Soulslike games rather than online games such as League of Legends or DNF.
Of course... if Wolffy and Kurama invited him, Zeff did not mind playing other games.
Controlling Sett, Zeff said to Naruto beside him, "Naruto, aren't you starting school in a couple of days?"
"Yeah..." Naruto nodded. "The Third Hokage told me a few days ago!"
"Haven't we already adjusted our daily training hours around the school schedule? Don't worry. I won't slack off and skip training!"
Satisfied, Zeff nodded, then said, "I'll take you there on your first day!"
"I'm your teacher, after all, and that makes me something of a guardian. If you're going to school, I ought to see you off, shouldn't I?"
The moment Zeff finished speaking, Wolffy, who was controlling Warwick, announced that he wanted to go, too.
"I'm coming, too! Naruto is a friend acknowledged by the great King Wolffy himself!"
"Besides... I took Little Wolffy to school back then. Nobody has more experience taking children to school than me!"
At the mention of Wolffy's child, Zeff immediately fell silent.
Wolffy also realized he seemed to have said the wrong thing again.
"Ahem..." Just then, Kurama cleared his throat a few times to ease the awkward atmosphere, then continued, "I'm still sealed and can only stay in the Sealing Space, so I won't be seeing you off!"
And so, the two men, a wolf, and a fox discussed Naruto starting school while playing their game.
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