When Others Call You a Madman

Time passed quickly, and another new year had arrived...

"Hehe, Shikaku, the reports from Shikamaru over the past few months regarding Naruto have been quite promising. As I expected, I didn't misjudge this child."

The Third Hokage sat in his office chair, flipping through the detailed report compiled by Shikamaru. His satisfaction was evident on his face.

However, Nara Shikaku frowned and said, "Lately, Shikamaru has been spending a lot of time with Choji and Naruto. Choji is fine, but should we perhaps communicate with the Akimichi clan about this...?"

"Hmm..." The Third Hokage set the report down lightly, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Has Chōza approached you about it?"

"No, not at all," Shikaku immediately shook his head. "But you've seen Shikamaru's report, haven't you? He also mentioned to me that Naruto has recently become reluctant to spend time with him and Choji."

The Third Hokage's expression darkened upon hearing this. "I understand."

Shikamaru's report included some speculation about Naruto's behavior.

He had just carefully reviewed the document, and it was clearly written—whenever Naruto sought out Shikamaru and Choji, it was primarily for training purposes.

Although Naruto's taijutsu skills were formidable, Shikamaru and Choji would always rely on their clan's secret techniques to counter him. This seemed to have irritated Naruto.

Considering the timing, Naruto would be enrolling in the Ninja Academy this year.

If that were the case...

"Naruto, why haven't you been hanging out with Shikamaru and Choji lately?"

"Father, pretending is exhausting. I'm not a professional actor. Shikamaru has suspected me for a long time—he just lacks evidence. Besides, he was assigned by the Third Hokage to observe me from the beginning. The longer I spend time with them, the more likely I am to reveal flaws that could be used against me."

After responding to his father in the sealed space, Naruto walked over to the second-floor window. Through the glass, he saw tiny white flakes drifting down from the sky. He opened the window, reaching out to catch two snowflakes in his palm.

"It's snowing again."

Recently, Naruto had been staying home. Because of the Five Elements Seal on his body, he only went out—using the Transformation Jutsu—to buy essential supplies.

For some reason, after introducing Choji to him, Shikamaru never introduced Naruto to anyone else.

Given his outcast status in Konoha, Naruto wasn't about to take the initiative to meet people. Besides, he couldn't possibly imitate the original Naruto's habit of running around the village desperately trying to make friends.

So, he had spent most of his time in the Mirror World, defeating data puppets.

By the time the New Year arrived, he had finally obtained a new chakra nature from Choji's data puppet.

To his amusement, it turned out to be Yang Release Chakra.

Well, better than nothing.

Sensing that Moonlight Hayate had shifted positions on the balcony, Naruto turned his gaze downward. He picked up a delicate wooden mallet from his small desk, the handle inscribed with the name "Genno."

It was the name of a carpenter.

Naruto had found the wooden mallet last year when he woke up after spending a week in the hospital.

It must have been left behind by the carpenter Konoha had hired to repair the second floor after Naruto had broken it. The carpenter was quite skilled—not only had he repaired the walls, but he had also made two chairs for Naruto.

Before the year ended, Naruto had used the Transformation Jutsu to visit Konoha's artisan registry and tracked down the carpenter's residence. However, when he arrived, the house was empty. The neighbors said he had left the village with a work crew.

Now that it was the beginning of winter, the carpenter was likely home.

Naruto put on two layers of warm clothing, picked up the wooden mallet, and headed downstairs. Just as he was about to close the door, he noticed that Moonlight Hayate, who had been hiding on the second-floor balcony, had now moved to a snowy spot not far from his house.

Naruto smirked coldly and left without using the Transformation Jutsu.

As usual, he ignored the pointed fingers and whispers as he passed through the bustling commercial district. Soon, he arrived at a street lined with old, dilapidated wooden houses.

This street was practically deserted. Following his memory from the last time he was here, Naruto turned into a secluded corner and found the house of the mallet's owner.

He weighed the mallet in his hand, took two steps forward, and knocked on the door.

A voice responded from inside, and when the door opened, Naruto saw an elderly man wearing reading glasses.

"You're looking for…? No way! You... you're—!"

Before Naruto could speak, the old man's face contorted in shock. His voice trembled, his eyes widened, and he looked as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Hello, this belongs to you, doesn't it?"

Naruto's eyes turned cold. He took two steps back and placed the mallet on the ground.

The old man's hands trembled violently as he picked up the mallet. His entire demeanor seemed to change—his expression was suddenly filled with excitement.

Something was off.

At first, Naruto thought the old man was simply frightened by his presence. He had planned to drop the mallet and leave, but upon closer inspection, he saw something unexpected in the man's gaze—excitement.

No, Naruto was certain.

The man was genuinely excited.

What was going on? Did this person know him?

That didn't make sense. If he knew Naruto, he should be reacting like everyone else in the village—with hatred and fear.

Why was he happy?

"Thank you, young man. What's... what's your name?"

Realizing his emotions were showing, the old man composed himself and smiled at Naruto.

Sensing no hostility from him, Naruto turned slightly and answered flatly, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I've returned your item. Goodbye."

"Wait!" The old man quickly stepped forward, pulling out a fist-sized, intricately carved wooden sculpture. "Naruto, right? This is for you! Thank you for bringing my tool back!"

Naruto had no intention of responding, but at that moment, the Mirror World suddenly alerted him that he could collect data.

Intrigued, he was about to extend his hand when the old man eagerly grabbed it, pressing the wooden carving into his palm.

And he wouldn't let go.

Data collection in progress...

Current data integrity: 10%! Permission updated! Uzumaki Naruto; Level 2 World Master!

Data synchronization feature updating! Please complete data collection soon!

"Thank you."

Naruto remained expressionless as he pulled his hand away and casually stuffed the wooden carving into his pocket. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Moonlight Hayate had already switched positions multiple times nearby.

And the Mirror World's recent update was on his mind.

Naruto didn't realize that behind him, the old man was silently shedding tears.

"Naruto, that old man seemed to mistake you for someone else..."

Inside the sealed space, Minato Namikaze hesitated as he watched Naruto playing with the wooden carving he had just received.

"I don't care about that. I'm more interested in him as a person."

Naruto shifted his consciousness to the Mirror World, where a data puppet of the old man had already appeared.

"As expected, he's a shinobi!"

"Now let's see who he really is—someone capable of contributing 2% to the Mirror World's data."

Naruto examined the data window.

"Genno, Jōnin of Hōsenka Village in the Land of Mountains. Real name: Gen'ō. A master of traps and espionage, skilled in taijutsu and genjutsu, and an expert in placing explosive tags..."

Naruto then reviewed the old man's past.

After a long pause, he finally recalled who Gen'ō was.

In the original story, this old man had planted countless explosive tags throughout Konoha. If detonated, they wouldn't have destroyed the village entirely, but they would have severely crippled it.

But in the end, he abandoned his revenge after meeting Naruto, who reminded him of his deceased son.

Naruto's gaze darkened.

There were explosive tags hidden inside the Third Hokage's stone monument...

With a bright gleam in his eyes, he turned to Minato.

"Father, are you sure the Third Hokage's crystal ball is one-of-a-kind?"

Minato was startled. "Yes, it was a treasure developed by the Second Hokage, crafted from the Fire Daimyō's rarest crystals."

Naruto smiled. "Good. Now, I just have to wait for the right moment."

"What do you mean?" Minato was puzzled.

Naruto raised a fist. When Minato touched it, he shivered.

"Naruto! We have to inform the Third Hokage immediately!" Minato almost shouted.

Naruto's gaze turned cold.

"Father, you are truly loyal to Konoha—eternally faithful, without fail."

"You really expect me to report this to the Third Hokage?"

"If I do, and they capture Gen'ō, how am I supposed to explain where my intel came from?"

"Do you want me to die?"

The Nine-Tails lazily opened one eye before closing it again, uninterested in the argument.

Naruto's voice was as cold as a winter wind slicing through Minato's heart. Struggling for words, Minato could only stammer, "Naruto, I... I just—"

"There's no need to apologize," Naruto interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "Let me make this clear—I will personally detonate the explosive tags Gen'ō set."

"What?! Naruto, are you insane?!"

Minato was horrified.

"You call me insane?"

Naruto locked eyes with him.

"Good."

"Because I once heard something."

"When people start calling you a madman, it means you're close to success."

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