Easy.
It's as simple as returning to one's own home. The iconic building, the unmistakable Sealed Book—so easily recognizable—was located without much difficulty. Naruto found it directly inside the study of the Third Hokage. Strangely enough, no one was guarding it. No enchantments or protective seals were placed over it. One of Konoha's most vital secrets, the Scroll of Seals, was sitting openly in the most conspicuous location in the room. It may very well have been the most straightforward and unguarded infiltration in the history of any shinobi village. A shadow entering the heart of the Hokage's residence and successfully stealing top-secret content.
Of course, on the surface, Naruto remained cautious.
He treated the situation as if he were completing a real covert mission, just as his teachers at the Ninja Academy had often described. (At the Academy, alongside theoretical studies and sparring matches, students also frequently underwent mission simulations: infiltrations, reconnaissance, theft—these were foundational shinobi skills, and therefore received dedicated training.)
After locating the Sealed Scroll.
Naruto made a show of thoroughly inspecting the area, then quickly tucked the scroll behind his back. Quietly, following a pre-planned escape route, he left the Third Hokage's residence and began heading toward the rendezvous point he had arranged with Mizuki. Thus, the first act of this orchestrated charade came to an end. The curtain had risen; the next scene was ready to unfold.
As he departed the Hokage's residence…
Naruto stuck to the plan, moving under cover, silent and swift. Though he appeared to be following the route toward the meeting place with Mizuki, he intentionally avoided going there directly. Unlike in the original events, Naruto was more cautious this time. He had taken advantage of the unguarded opportunity, stolen the scroll earlier than planned, and now chose to deviate from the direct path. Of course, he would meet Mizuki eventually—he had to, or the act would remain incomplete. But before that, Naruto intended to make full use of the window of time to gain maximum benefit for himself.
It was just after Naruto left with the Sealed Scroll…
Inside the Hokage's office building—
The tall floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Third Hokage stood with his pipe at the corner of his mouth, his hands clasped behind his back, gazing pensively out the window. This was the familiar night view of Konoha he had looked upon for decades. A subtle glint passed through his eyes.
Whoosh.
Suddenly—
A figure appeared behind him.
Wearing the standard uniform of the ANBU.
An elite shinobi directly under the command of the Hokage.
The masked ninja knelt on one knee, head bowed in deference, and spoke in a calm, precise tone.
"Lord Hokage, the Sealed Scroll has been confirmed—Uzumaki Naruto has taken it."
The report was concise, respectful, and devoid of emotion—exactly as expected from an ANBU operative.
"I see."
The Third Hokage remained turned away, still watching the night-lit village. He took a slow breath, exhaled a smoke ring, and spoke softly.
Then, with a gentle wave of his hand—
"Yes."
The ANBU agent responded and melted into the darkness in an instant, vanishing without a sound.
"The Scroll of Seals, huh? Minato… consider this a small compensation for Naruto. Let's see how much he's able to absorb."
The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed slightly as an image of the Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze—crossed his mind. He exhaled again, his voice barely a whisper.
This had always been the intention of the Third Hokage.
After predicting Mizuki's clumsy scheme well in advance—
He made a deliberate decision.
Over six years of observation at the Ninja Academy, Naruto's growth had indeed aligned with the expectations the Third Hokage held. Naruto had always pursued recognition, chasing the dream of becoming a great shinobi. And so, as graduation approached, the Third Hokage chose to ride the momentum of Mizuki's plot and grant Naruto a carefully measured opportunity—one that served both as a test and a token of belief in him.
Of course, as Hokage, he made sure to take necessary precautions.
The Scroll of Seals was authentic—not a decoy. Naruto would gain something from it. However, certain protective measures had been implemented. The Third Hokage had subtly modified the contents, adding safeguards and minor barriers.
This was a precautionary move—
To ensure Naruto couldn't access the most dangerous forbidden techniques outright.
After all, this was Konoha.
And that was reason enough for the Third Hokage to feel confident in the village's safety.
More importantly—
The Hokage had prepared another layer of protection.
"Kakashi."
Whoosh.
With the Hokage's quiet utterance, another figure appeared beside him, kneeling respectfully.
"Lord Hokage."
"Just in case… I want you to follow. Don't approach Naruto. Focus on Mizuki. Act only if necessary."
The Third Hokage's voice was composed, his gaze calm as he looked at Hatake Kakashi.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Kakashi gave a slight nod, then—
Swish.
With the Hokage's signal, Kakashi vanished into the night.
Once alone again—
The Third Hokage turned once more to the window, allowing his gaze to linger on the village before finally returning to his desk to resume unfinished work.
All was in motion now.
Meanwhile, Naruto—still unaware of the Hokage's deeper plan—believed he was unmonitored. In this revised scenario, not only had the Hokage chosen not to use the crystal ball to track him, but he had also silently dispatched Kakashi rather than relying on direct surveillance.
Even if Naruto had known—
It wouldn't have changed his course. After all, this was just a performance.
The director had called "action," the props were in place, and all that remained was for the actors to follow the script. Deviation was impossible now.
After obtaining the Scroll of Seals, Naruto swiftly exited the village, reaching a secluded location near the rendezvous point with Mizuki.
There was still time before the arranged meeting.
Naruto planned to use this interval to memorize as many forbidden and secret techniques as possible. Even high-level jutsu that weren't technically forbidden—Naruto was eager to learn them all. If the time and opportunity allowed, he would record everything. He wasn't exaggerating—whether in his past life or this one, Naruto was confident in his memory.
Even though the number of "jutsu" one knows—
Doesn't equate to a ninja's full strength.
Still, without a doubt—
Mastery and effective use of techniques—
Can elevate a ninja's power to a remarkable level.
Moreover—
By understanding the underlying nature of each technique—
One can gain corresponding insight and growth.
Of course, Naruto understood clearly—ninjutsu isn't something that can be wielded just by memorizing hand seals.
The real challenge lies in grasping the core of each technique.
Especially when it comes to clan secrets and forbidden arts—
If these techniques could be so easily mastered, they would never have earned such high classification to begin with.