With his sensory perception locked onto the Third Hokage's location—the Hokage's Office—Naruto chose to walk this time.
There was no rush, and he needed to collect his thoughts.
The sky over Konoha was still a brilliant blue, but in Naruto's eyes, it held a new sense of scrutiny.
His steps were steady on the stone path, his mind racing.
No wonder he had "casually encountered" the old man in the forest when he was three years old. It wasn't just because of the Nine-Tails.
It was also because he was the Fourth Hokage's orphaned son.
Thinking about it now, the Third Hokage had probably been watching him long before he was three.
But what good is just 'watching' with your eyes?
Old man! It's time to pay up!
Unlike his attempted extortion of Kakashi (which failed) and his successful extortion of Jiraiya, the Third Hokage this time wasn't just representing himself—he was representing all of Konoha!
He had to fleece this "sheep," but the nature of the transaction was different; it required a strategy.
So, what were the most valuable things he could get from a behemoth like Konoha?
In Danzo's memory fragments, Konoha did have a lot of "treasures."
The Forbidden Scroll, for example?
But while it sounded impressive, and the forbidden jutsus inside might be priceless to others, for Naruto, who had the [Skill Shop]—why not just buy what he needed?
It was completely useless!
In summary, Naruto realized that the core resources he needed were twofold: money, and the various resources that money couldn't buy.
Wait a minute...
Why should he be the one to name a price?
Wouldn't that be revealing his hand and weakening his negotiation position?
The most skillful way to demand a price is to make your opponent unable to guess your bottom line!
In short, he wouldn't make any specific demands. He would only express his strong dissatisfaction and his willingness to "flip the table at any moment," letting them make the offer themselves.
If he wasn't satisfied, he would just shake his head until they panicked and pulled out everything they had until he was happy!
After all, he wasn't the one in a hurry!
Naruto stopped his steps, thinking about his trump cards.
What gave him this leverage?
First, he, Naruto Uzumaki, was the biggest 'victim'!
Second, at only twelve years old, he had beaten Shukaku to tears and easily defeated the First and Second Hokages! He, Naruto Uzumaki, was now Konoha's most valuable "core asset"!
Third, and most importantly—don't think that he, Naruto Uzumaki, was tied to Konoha for life!
You guys figure it out!
Yes... a nuclear blackmail posture would be extremely effective!
With his mind clear and a plan in place, Naruto, with his "acting skills" maxed out, stepped through the door of the slightly worn Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was hunched over his desk, surrounded by a cloud of smoke.
"Old Man Third."
Naruto, channeling his inner actor, shouted as soon as he entered, his voice filled with undisguised grievance and anger. "Why didn't you tell me that my father was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze?!"
Hiruzen's heart sank.
"Naruto..."
The Third's voice was deliberately slow, with the low, tired tone of an old man. "Come in and close the door, let's talk."
"What's there to talk about?"
Naruto said this but still walked in, closing the door heavily behind him. He didn't sit down.
"Ever since I was a child, everyone in the village called me a 'demon fox.' No one told me my father was a hero who sacrificed himself for them! Old Man Third, you hid it from me so well! Is this how Konoha 'took care' of a 'hero's son'?"
Hiruzen didn't immediately defend himself. He picked up his pipe, took a deep puff, and slowly exhaled the smoke, as if organizing his thoughts, or perhaps suppressing the shock in his heart.
"Sigh..."
He let out a long sigh. "Naruto, the decision to keep your identity a secret was a collective one made by the old generation, including me. It was for your safety."
Naruto pressed on. "Why? Were you afraid that if I knew I was the Fourth's son, I'd become arrogant? Or were you afraid my identity would attract enemies? Do you know what I've been through all these years? How much pain and loneliness I've endured? Would it have been this way if my identity was public?"
"The decision was made more out of concern for your safety." The Third explained, his tone heavy with genuine sincerity and apology. "After the Wood Release disappeared, the village's situation was already difficult. The Nine-Tails attack made things even worse. Making your identity as a hero's descendant public would have brought you respect, but it would have also made you a target for those with ill intentions. We... chose a more discreet way to protect you. Looking back, perhaps we were too conservative, and we made you endure loneliness and misunderstanding you shouldn't have had to bear in your childhood."
Hiruzen's expression and words were flawless, full of sincerity.
Maybe he's telling the truth?
But it doesn't matter!
Naruto's goal today was singular—get paid!
"Protect? Loneliness and misunderstanding... You say it so easily."
He changed his tone, his voice suddenly dropping to a cold, scrutinizing level. He chose to drop the nuclear bomb directly: "Lord Hokage, do you think Konoha is still worth staying in for someone like me?"
Hiruzen's heart seemed to skip a beat!
He scrutinized Naruto, seeing that his expression wasn't faked.
This wasn't an angry outburst! It was a serious consideration! Naruto was genuinely thinking about leaving!
This is it! My greatest fear has come to pass!
His voice involuntarily rose, tinged with urgency. "Naruto! What kind of talk is that?! You are the Fourth's son, your roots are in Konoha! You have your teammates in Team 7! Your classmates from the academy! This is your home!"
"Home?"
Naruto gave a smile that was hard to read. "Home? Maybe I have another 'home' somewhere else?"
He seemed to suddenly remember something and said in a "casual" tone: "Oh, by the way, I was bored the other day and received a letter."
"A letter?" A warning bell rang in Hiruzen's head. A letter? From where?
"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "It was from a young fan in the Land of Earth. She was quite enthusiastic. Her name was Kurotsuchi, I think? Her grandfather is the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki."
He deliberately paused, looking directly at the Third. "The letter said that the scenery in Iwagakure is beautiful, and the people are simple and honest. She 'enthusiastically' invited me to visit."
He ignored Hiruzen's instantly stiff face and continued to fan the flames: "And I've also heard that the Village Hidden in the Clouds in the Land of Lightning is famous for its generous treatment of truly powerful shinobi! From housing to ninja tools to training resources, they use the best the village has to offer! Tsk, it sounds like a great environment."
The meaning was clear: Third Hokage, you don't want a core asset of Konoha like me to end up in another village, do you?
With every word Naruto spoke, Hiruzen's face grew a shade darker, and the hand holding his pipe trembled slightly.
Onoki! The Raikage! Those two old bastards! How dare they make a move on Naruto!
With Naruto's strength and age, him going to any other nation would mean a strategic imbalance for the next few decades!
Konoha would be completely suppressed or even annexed! Konoha could not afford these consequences! They had to keep him at all costs! They absolutely could not allow him to even consider leaving!!
"Naruto!"
Hiruzen's voice was filled with an unprecedented solemnity, even a rare and urgent intensity. "A letter from the Land of Earth? Those are just polite words! The Cloud Village under the Raikage is known for its brutal style; would they truly welcome a 'hero's son' from another village? How can those shallow promises of treatment compare to your roots and future in Konoha! Don't be fooled by appearances! Konoha is where you belong!"
Seeing the undisguised urgency, anxiety, and even fear in the old man's eyes, Naruto knew the time was right.
He didn't press further. Instead, he showed a perfectly timed, tired, and disappointed smile, a smile full of detachment.
"My place?"
He repeated softly, his voice filled with a deep sense of bewilderment:
"Old Man Third, this place called Konoha... a home? I don't feel it! I wasn't even allowed to know who I was, or to have the honor of my parents! And I was hated and discriminated against by the villagers... A 'home' like that, I don't want it!"
Hiruzen felt a cold sweat instantly break out on his back!
He knew that conventional soothing words and apologies were no longer enough!
Although he was absolutely certain that this brat Naruto was making a blatant demand, Konoha had no leverage to refuse! They could only, and must, use "absolute sincerity" to get him to stay and earn his trust!
"My boy... the fault is ours, one hundred percent!"
Hiruzen stood up abruptly, his face showing a desperate and resolute pain. "The past cannot be changed, but the village must give you an explanation! An explanation that is enough to make up for the past and to support a bright future for you in Konoha! Land, funds, special permissions! A private training ground, top-tier resource allocation rights! Give me... give the village a few days! We will definitely prepare several proposals that you will be absolutely satisfied with! Konoha's future needs you!"
Naruto's heart knew: It's a success! The core objective has been achieved!
But... he still had to keep up the act.
The disheartened look on his face gradually faded, replaced by a slightly hesitant, skeptical, and noncommittal expression. He nodded slightly. "Oh, is that so? I hope this time... it won't be another empty promise? I'll wait for the village's 'sincere proposals.'"
"Good! It's a deal! I guarantee it in the name of the Hokage! The village guarantees its utmost sincerity!" Hiruzen hurriedly confirmed.
Even a small chance of Naruto leaving could not be allowed to happen!
Naruto seemed about to turn and leave, but then he stopped.
An empty promise... maybe I should set a deadline?
Then, as if he had just remembered some trivial matter, his tone regained a little spirit. "By the way, Old Man Third, I've been feeling cooped up in the village for the past two days. I want to go out and get some air and take care of some things. It will probably take about two days."
"Don't worry, just two days!"
He specifically emphasized the time limit.
Hiruzen's eyelids twitched again!
This kid... is he reminding me of the urgency of preparing the proposals?
Or is he really going to 'visit' to check things out?
"Alright, alright! Be careful! Go and come back quickly! The village... will definitely give you an answer within two days!" Hiruzen agreed repeatedly, his voice no longer able to hide his urgency and sense of being under pressure.
Naruto said no more, turned, pushed open the heavy door of the Hokage's Office, and walked out with a light step.
As soon as he was out the door, Naruto quickly reviewed his gains and losses from the conversation.
Tsk, an Oscar-winning performance! The effect was amazing!
Everything had gone smoothly.
He had not only achieved his goal easily but had also unexpectedly gotten a two-day vacation.
Two days? What can I do in two days?
Hmm, it's enough time to visit the Village Hidden in the Clouds and then make a 'friendly visit' to the Village Hidden in the Rain.
Red Uchiha! The plan has changed!
This time, I'll do it myself!