WebNovels

Chapter 7 - Chapter 6: Naruto's prank. Is Danzo on move?

Mito POV

It took me about 3 days to narrow down the possible area where Minato and Kushina's home — or where the old Uzumaki estate — might be. When I finally found it, the place was bigger than I expected, yet sagging under years of neglect. Roof tiles cracked like broken teeth. Dust settled thick enough to mute my footsteps.

Considering no one but Naruto or me would ever bother cleaning it once we moved in, it was surprisingly intact for a house left unused for five years.

Breaking in was the easy part. The hard part was sifting through everything, wondering if Hiruzen had already stripped it bare.

Three more days of painstaking combing finally rewarded me. Deep in the basement, hidden behind a false wall, was a sealed storage unit. Inside lay the collective sealing knowledge of the Uzumaki clan.

My breath caught. The air tasted like old ink and static chakra.

> [Do you seriously care about that? Or do you want to know more about the sealing knowledge?]

"You're right, Kurama," I muttered, my fingers already tracing the wax seals.

The scrolls were dense but beautiful — loops and spirals of crimson and black. Sealing formulas reminded me of programming — objects, arrays, loops, stacks, conditions. Understanding the logic was easy; translating their terminology to programming terms was harder. But time was a luxury I no longer had.

So, I did the only logical thing. Using the energy required for a single alpha-level ability, I created a "super-brain" — perfect recall, parallel thought streams, accelerated processing.

This time I was ready for the pain. The estate's silencing wards muffled my screams, but still — the sensation of my neurons splitting, expanding, reorganizing — indescribable. I lasted longer than before, nails digging crescent moons into my palms, before the agony folded me under like a wave.

When I woke again, the sun was already melting into the horizon. My body trembled. Panic clawed up my throat. If I wasn't back soon, someone would notice. Shoving the scrolls into sealing scrolls, I bolted toward the apartment, scanning for ANBU chakra signatures.

Oh crap. They're at the apartment — and Hiruzen is there. Shit.

---

Naruto POV

Ha! I finally did it — holding a whole ball of water in one hand with just chakra. Big Sis is going to freak out when she sees this. Not only did I manage it, but it's perfectly round. Even the ripples are steady.

I can't wait to show her. She always ruffles my hair when I learn something new. Maybe she'll even train with me for real.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

That must be her. Perfect timing.

"Coming! Wait a minute!" I shouted, hiding the water ball behind my back, my chakra trembling with excitement. "Just a second!"

The door creaked. "The door's open! Just come in!"

The door opened. I hurled the water ball.

SPLASH.

"Ah! Sorry, sorry, Lord Hokage! That wasn't for you — I thought Big Sis came back!" My heart dropped into my stomach.

---

Hiruzen Sarutobi POV

The ANBU report this morning had been unacceptable: Mito Uzumaki missing. No trace. No chakra signature. No tail. Impossible. No child, no matter how talented, slips ANBU surveillance. Yet she had.

So here I am at the siblings' apartment, evening light spilling across the tatami. I came for answers.

What I did not expect was a water attack.

"Ah! Sorry, Lord Hokage! That wasn't for you — I thought Big Sis came back!" the boy blurted, dripping panic, blue eyes wide.

I adjust my robes, forcing a genial smile even as my mind races. If Mito is indeed gone… why leave her brother? How did she evade my eyes? And why does this child radiate guilt?

"Oh, it's fine, Naruto," I say softly, pitching my voice like a grandfather. "Accidents happen. Let's not do it again, hmm?"

While speaking, I scan the apartment: a few water stains on the ceiling, scuffed walls. ANBU reports said nothing of this. Curious.

Footsteps. Rapid, uneven. I turn.

There she is — Mito Uzumaki — panting, eyes blown wide with panic. Sweat glints at her temple. She freezes in the doorway.

Fear. Good. Perhaps I can use it. Nurture it. Bind it to me. But not yet. The mask matters.

---

Mito POV

[Well, it seems you're still in time.]

I ignore Kurama.

Hiruzen stands there, robes damp, his smile polished like lacquer. Naruto's eyes dart between us, frantic.

Before I can speak, Naruto bursts out, voice cracking, "Sis! I was planning to prank you! I promise this was an accident." He points at the old man like a child caught stealing sweets.

I let relief flicker — only for an instant. When my eyes meet Hiruzen's, the warmth on his face doesn't reach the sharpness behind his gaze.

"Ah, it's nice to see you, Mito," he says, drawing out my name as though testing it. "I was wondering where you'd been. It's dangerous for young girls to be out alone."

His words drip honey, but his chakra coils like a snake. He doesn't care about my safety. He cares about control.

A plan forms as fast as a seal — something to divert suspicion, pit him against his old comrade, buy me time.

> [You're going to do something dangerous. Or stupid. But it'll work.]

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage," I reply, my tone sugar over steel. "But I'm fine. Actually… the reason I was late was because I met an old man — kind of like you."

Hiruzen tilts his head. "Oh?"

"Covered the right side of his face with bandages. He talked like I was an idiot. Asked if I wanted to grow stronger, to protect Naruto and the village. Said if I did, I could join the Roots of Konoha."

I watch the change flicker across his face — the tightening around his eyes, the flick of his pipe hand. Shock. Alarm. Suspicion.

Naruto, oblivious to the political minefield, stares at me, voice trembling. "Big Sis… did you say yes? Is that why you've been leaving me these past days?"

The look on his face makes my heart ache — a little boy trying to smile but failing, tears shimmering at the edges. "Are you… are you going to leave me, Big Sis? Am I really that bad? Will you leave me like Mom and Dad?"

His voice breaks on "Mom and Dad."

The boy who will one day shout his dreams to the world stands here crying, trembling tears born of abandonment. And in that instant, the "meta-player" in me dies. He is real. His pain is real.

I kneel, cupping his cheeks, thumb brushing away his tears. "Naruto. Hey. Look at me." My voice softens. "I'm not leaving you. Not for Danzō. Not for anyone. You're my brother. My family. That means more than power."

He hiccups, a shuddering breath, pressing his forehead against mine. "Promise?"

"Promise."

Only when his breathing steadies do I glance at Hiruzen. I paint my description of Danzō in just enough detail to make the old man's suspicions flare — to send him scurrying off to "handle" his rival.

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