Early the next morning, the Third Hokage arrived at the Hokage's office.
Late the previous night, the Anbu Interrogation Squad had read the memories of this mission from Black Pig's mind.
After the Anbu commander had "organized and compiled" them, they had been delivered to his desk.
The Third Hokage had had no idea until he read them, and what he saw gave him a fright.
Black Pig actually "was" a Special Jōnin from Sunagakure who specialized in assassination!
He had thought Danzo-no, Sunagakure-had only sent a Chunin.
Although Black Pig was a Special Jōnin skilled in assassination, and a capture mission like this would have prevented him from bringing his full strength to bear, he still should not have been killed by a child who had only just turned six.
Somewhat incredulous, the Third Hokage carefully read the account of Nobuhiko's battle with Black Pig recorded in the "evidence."
Fearless in a crisis, quick to react, clearheaded, and versatile.
That was his assessment of Nobuhiko's performance in this battle.
He had cleverly linked Ninjutsu requiring no hand seals, Ninjutsu requiring a single seal, and a four-seal Water Dragon Bullet to overcome the danger.
While successfully driving a Kunai through Black Pig's arm, he had also placed the Self-Exerting Curse Binding Seal, then activated it at the critical moment to restrain Black Pig and successfully kill his attacker.
It was hard to believe a child who had only just turned six could do such a thing, but Nobuhiko really had.
With this child's current strength, an ordinary Chunin was probably no longer a match for him.
The Third Hokage felt rather moved.
Fortunately, Danzo had not abducted him last night. Otherwise, Root might have slipped out of his control in the future.
No, not in the future. It was already slipping somewhat out of his control.
Fortunately, he had used this opportunity to obtain Root's personnel roster. From now on, Root could not be allowed to replenish its numbers. It would have to make do with these people.
As it happened, they were all younger than Danzo, so they should have no trouble looking after him in his old age and seeing him to his grave.
At that moment, Nobuhiko was still eating breakfast, utterly unaware that the consequences of last night's incident had already made the Third Hokage and Danzo less close than they were in the original story.
After breakfast, Nobuhiko headed toward the Hokage Building.
As he walked, he wondered what excuse the Third Hokage would use to fool him.
Upon reaching the Hokage's office, Nobuhiko knocked. After receiving permission, he pushed the door open and entered, greeted by the Third Hokage's kindly, smiling face.
Well, judging by that look, he's already come up with an excuse. He's just been waiting for me.
Nobuhiko bowed to the Third Hokage with great "sincerity" and greeted him.
"Good morning, Lord Hokage. Thank you so much for your efforts last night!"
"Good morning, Nobuhiko!"
The Third Hokage also responded cheerfully.
"Don't put it that way. The village bears responsibility for what happened last night, too."
"Fortunately, you weren't hurt. Otherwise, I truly wouldn't know how to answer to Tsunade and Kushina."
"We've already gotten to the bottom of last night's incident. The true culprit behind it was Sunagakure!"
The Third Hokage told Nobuhiko with absolute certainty.
*???*
Good grief. I still underestimated how shameless the Third Hokage could be.
He truly had not expected the Third Hokage to pin this enormous blame on Sunagakure.
"Lord Hokage, why did someone from Sunagakure want to kill me?"
Nobuhiko asked the Third Hokage in "confusion."
"According to our investigation, they only intended to abduct you, not kill you."
The Third Hokage's expression grew somewhat complicated. Black Pig was a Special Jōnin who specialized in assassination, after all. If his mission last night had been to kill Nobuhiko, Nobuhiko might not have survived.
"Huh? Then why did they want to abduct me, Lord Hokage?"
Nobuhiko continued to ask the Third Hokage in "confusion."
Here comes the important part.
"Ahem. Because Tsunade made tremendous contributions during the village's war against Sunagakure, those people from Sunagakure hate her to the bone."
"But there's nothing they can do to Tsunade, so they could only set their sights on you."
"To that end, they even went so far as to activate a sleeper agent who had been hiding in the village for years to gather information about you."
"Huh?"
Nobuhiko looked somewhat "shocked," his mouth falling open and his pupils contracting slightly.
If I hadn't recognized the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, I might actually have fallen for the Third Hokage's story.
Although the Third Hokage made it sound real, there were still plenty of holes in his story if examined closely.
But as an inheritor of the Will of Fire, scrutinizing Lord Hokage's words isn't something I should be doing.
"To uncover the truth in such a short time-you're truly amazing, Lord Hokage!"
Nobuhiko began "sincerely" flattering the Third Hokage.
Seeing Nobuhiko believe his nonsense so easily, the Third Hokage let out a long sigh of relief inwardly and realized that the "evidence" he had prepared earlier was somewhat unnecessary.
"Nobuhiko, the village has a mission for you now. Are you confident you can complete it?"
"Rest assured, Lord Hokage. I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"
Nobuhiko suddenly brought his heels together, straightened his legs, pulled in his stomach, and thrust out his chest. He looked at the Third Hokage with fanatical eyes and shouted those words with all his strength.
"Very good!"
"Although we're still at war, the fighting between the villages is gradually decreasing."
"At this sensitive time, this incident must be kept strictly confidential. You mustn't tell anyone. Do you understand what I mean, Nobuhiko?"
After speaking, the Third Hokage stared straight at Nobuhiko.
"Rest assured, Lord Hokage. I will never tell anyone about this!"
When he finished and saw that the Third Hokage was still staring at him, Nobuhiko added another assurance.
"That includes Sister Tsunade and Sister Kushina. I won't tell either of them!"
The Third Hokage finally nodded in satisfaction.
"But this is still unfair to you, so I overruled all objections and secured you a chance to read the Scroll of Seals. You can use this opportunity to choose one Ninjutsu from it to learn."
Nobuhiko had initially scoffed inwardly at the first half of the Third Hokage's words, but upon hearing that he could read the Scroll of Seals, he suddenly felt that although this old fellow was somewhat hypocritical, he was quite reliable when it came to getting things done.
"The Scroll of Seals?"
"I think I heard Sister Tsunade mention it once before. What is it, Lord Hokage?"
Nobuhiko looked at the Third Hokage in apparent "bewilderment."
"The Scroll of Seals is a forbidden book sealed away by Lord First."
"Although it's called the Scroll of Seals, it is, in essence, a scroll."
"The scroll records Ninjutsu that the First and Second Hokage knew or created. The First Hokage sealed it away because they were too dangerous. Everything recorded within is a forbidden technique that ordinary ninja are not permitted to learn."
The Third Hokage explained the Scroll of Seals to Nobuhiko with some pride. After all, ordinary ninja were not even qualified to look at it, whereas he could leaf through it whenever he wished.
"Lord Hokage, can I really learn a Ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals?"
Seeing Nobuhiko's somewhat incredulous expression, the Third Hokage smiled faintly. Without saying anything more, he beckoned, opened a scroll, and motioned for Nobuhiko to come closer.
Nobuhiko walked up to the desk and discovered that this scroll was the renowned Scroll of Seals.
"Lord Hokage, this!"
Nobuhiko looked somewhat "shocked."
"Hehe, that's right. This is the Scroll of Seals. It's right here now. You may read it."
Nobuhiko's breathing grew somewhat rapid, and his face flushed slightly. He bowed deeply to the Third Hokage, then began leafing through the Scroll of Seals.
Watching Nobuhiko, the Third Hokage's smile deepened.