War?
Peace?
Sacrifice?
These three words lingered in Naruto's mind as he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to be looking at the bigger picture—calculating, cautious, and burdened by the weight of leadership.
Shimura Danzō, on the other hand, felt like a snake slithering beneath the surface—his motives murky and cold.
And the Cloud Shinobi? They were provocateurs, spewing threats and manipulating tragedy to ignite war.
Naruto was only a child, but he could see it clearly.
Too complicated.
Too ugly.
The world shouldn't be like this.
He closed his eyes and slowly drifted into uneasy sleep, those questions still echoing in his heart.
On his chest, the sapphire crystal embedded into his bedrock armor pulsed faintly with a soft blue light—almost like a heartbeat. Then, as if nothing had happened, it fell silent again.
"What was that? Did I... make a wish?" Naruto mumbled the next morning, rubbing his eyes.
To his surprise, he found a beautifully crafted black box sitting beside his bed. Elegant lines, smooth surfaces—it looked far too advanced for anything sold in Konoha.
Inside, a small device sat nestled within the velvet lining, along with an instruction manual.
"Multi-Function Projector: Capable of casting images stored in the user's mind. Clear audio and visual fidelity even at 1000x zoom. Supports recording, photography, and data storage. Bound exclusively to the Host."
Naruto blinked. "A projector that can record everything I see and hear?"
He reread the manual twice before experimenting with the buttons. A small, holographic display flickered to life before his eyes. He grinned. "Heh, this could actually be useful…"
Still unsure of what to do with it, Naruto stashed the device inside the subspace storage of his bedrock armor, a dimensional pocket that functioned like an invisible backpack.
After changing his routine, Naruto completed his day's training load early. He bathed, changed into fresh clothes, then separated a shadow clone to remain in the courtyard, pretending to practice the Three Body Technique.
The real Naruto slipped out the window.
His movements were swift and silent, like a shadow dancing across the rooftops. The Transformation Technique didn't even require hand seals anymore—he simply shifted into the form of a tall villager and casually walked through the streets, blending in with the crowd.
Most villagers were unaware of the chaos that had erupted the night before. But Naruto could sense the change—more shinobi patrolled the streets. The tension in the air was thick, like storm clouds brewing overhead.
With a mission in mind, Naruto headed toward the guest house where the Cloud Shinobi were staying. His instincts screamed caution, but his resolve was firm.
"If they're planning something, I want to know."
Slipping past the guards was child's play for someone with Bedrock Armor and Void Cloak. He infiltrated the compound and crouched in the shadows, just outside a conference room where Cloud Shinobi were gathered.
He didn't have to wait long before they started talking.
"Lord Leizu's death won't be in vain. We'll make Konoha pay. That Hyuga clan head—he's our target."
"Before we even arrived, Lord Thunderfoot had resolved himself. If he couldn't kidnap the Hyuga princess, he planned to die at their hands. Either way, we win. Now we have the perfect excuse to pressure Konoha."
"But what if Konoha resists? What if they call our bluff? Lord Raikage isn't actually prepared for a full-scale war."
"Don't worry. That old fool, Sarutobi, is a soft persimmon. All we have to do is raise our voices, threaten the peace treaty, and he'll crumble. He always does."
"The key is to make the Hyuga Clan feel isolated. If we keep pressing, they'll break under the pressure."
Naruto's blood boiled. His fists trembled with barely contained rage.
So that was their plan all along. The kidnapping, the fake outrage, the demands for Hiashi's life—it was all a manipulation. A stage play. And the real goal was to break Konoha's will.
"These bastards…"
He quietly pulled out the projector, activated the recording function, and pointed it directly at the Cloud Shinobi. Every word. Every smug smirk. Every shred of arrogance—it was all captured.
"Who's there?!" one of the Cloud Shinobi suddenly shouted.
A shuriken flew toward the corner Naruto had just vacated.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know… I had a bad feeling."
"Relax. No one's here. You're too jumpy."
By then, Naruto had already slipped out of the guest house. He ran to a secluded alley, exhaled slowly, and transferred everything he had seen and heard into the projector's storage bank—including last night's conversation between Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Cloud delegation.
Faces. Voices. Motives.
He had everything.
"This… this is enough to expose them," Naruto whispered. "They won't be able to deny it. Not after this."
But just as he was about to return home, he overheard something that made his heart drop.
"Did you hear? The Third Hokage went to the Hyuga estate himself."
"Seriously? That never happens. He never visits the clans in person."
"Apparently, something big happened last night. Involving the Hyuga. No one knows the details, but it must be serious."
Naruto's stomach turned.
No. No way.
He sprinted toward the Hyuga compound, activating his armor again. At the gate, he used Transformation to appear as a Hyuga clan member and quietly slipped inside.
The air in the main hall was thick with tension.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the center, flanked by ANBU and Konoha elders. Across from him were members of the Hyuga Clan. Their faces were hard, expressions dark with rage.
Naruto stayed hidden in a corner, observing.
Hyuga Hiashi remained silent, face unreadable, but his younger brother, Hyuga Hizashi, was the one confronting the Hokage directly.
"Third Hokage," Hizashi said coldly. "Do you understand what you're asking of us?"
Hiruzen's tone was low, somber. "This isn't a demand. It's a plea. The Land of Fire is stretched thin. Our village cannot endure another war. If the situation escalates, it will mean the death of thousands."
His voice cracked with emotion. A tear welled in the corner of his eye.
"I know this is cruel. But if we sacrifice one life—just one—we might be able to preserve peace. To spare Konoha from bloodshed."
Hizashi's face remained stone cold. "So… because the Cloud Shinobi planned a kidnapping, and their man died during the act… your solution is to hand over the head of our clan? To offer Hiashi as a scapegoat?"
"No. Not a scapegoat. A hero. A noble sacrifice."
"There is no nobility in betrayal," Hizashi snapped. "We are the victims. And now you're asking us to pay the price for their crimes? How dare you."
Silence fell over the room.
Even Hiruzen's closest advisors looked uneasy.
"Third Hokage," Hizashi continued, voice firm. "Your proposal is unacceptable. The Hyuga Clan will not agree. Please leave."
Hiashi finally looked up, his eyes unreadable. He gave a slow nod of agreement. "We will protect our own."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. He stood up slowly, shoulders heavy. "Then I'll take my leave. But I ask you… to think carefully. For the sake of Konoha."
As the Hokage exited the hall, Naruto remained hidden, eyes wide.
He felt a storm brewing inside him.
So this… was the truth of the world?
Powerful clans threatened with sacrifice. The guilty walking free. The weak trampled beneath diplomatic games.
He clutched the projector tightly.
Not this time.
He had proof. He had the voices and faces of the ones who schemed. He would expose them—not for vengeance, but for justice.
And if the Hokage refused to act?
Then Naruto would.
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