As Kiri Sazahara stepped out of the Sealed Archive Room, he couldn't help but reflect on the back of the man he had just encountered.
Just like many of his classmates who had drifted apart after graduating from the Ninja Academy, Kiri had once shared a classroom with Namikaze Minato. But after graduation, their paths never crossed again.
Or maybe… they were never supposed to.
Kiri, after all, had always hidden his true identity. Even back in the Academy, he had purposely maintained average grades to stay off the radar.
Minato, on the other hand, had been a prodigy from the start, showing genius talent well beyond his years.
Before even graduating, he was taken in as the personal disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin. And the well-connected Kushina Uzumaki had, somehow, become one of his closest friends. By the time Minato was barely ten, he'd already taken down two Hidden Cloud spies in a head-on encounter.
If this world had internet novels, Minato would've been the "Chosen One" protagonist — complete with cheat abilities and a destined path.
Even Kiri, back in the day, had considered trying to ride the coattails of this golden boy — maybe become a supporting character with connections to Konoha's upper echelon.
But that was wishful thinking.
The role he played — a harmless, forgettable side character — never qualified for the genius club.
The people Minato associated with were all monsters in their own right: some just two or three years older than him, others nearly a decade older — all renowned names in the new generation.
Akimichi Dingza, Nara Shikaku, Uchiha Fugaku…
Even back then, Minato had been laying the groundwork for his path to Hokage.
That was his road.
"So then... what about mine?"
Kiri thought about that question as he walked down the hall.
For now, survival was still his top priority. Which meant gathering Emotional Node Points remained his core mission.
But the problem was...
From morning until now, despite talking to familiar coworkers, long-time neighbors, and even the older lady who ran his favorite breakfast stand…
Everyone's Emotional Node above their head was blank.
It reminded him of something he saw on the panel last night:
[Bond Level Up]
Kiri stroked his chin, frowning slightly.
"So… it needs people with closer emotional bonds to me?"
"Looks like I'll need to stall the Hidden Mist a bit longer."
"Still… not bad."
He muttered as he silently pulled out a piece of paper.
It was the intel he planned to send to the Hidden Mist.
It contained detailed information about the S-Rank mission that Tsunade's unit was currently executing:
"Assassinate the Third Raikage."
In addition, it included key resupply points the squad would stop at along the route.
To most, Konoha's sealing jutsu was foolproof. But under the analytical power of the Six Eyes, which could read the very structure and flow of chakra, even the secrets hidden in the most protected sealed cabinets were transparent.
This intelligence would buy him at least three more months to grow stronger.
Just as he thought that, someone ahead of him waved and called out:
"Yo! Sazahara-kun! Help me move these lunch boxes from your intel department!"
"The food cart's wheel broke!"
"Coming!"
In an instant, the sheet of paper vanished from Kiri's hand. He turned toward the voice.
But when he saw who it was, he paused for a split second.
The enhanced computing power of the "External Brain" module let him recall the man's face in a flash.
If he remembered correctly, this guy was Kojima, from the logistics office on the first floor.
But… wasn't Kojima known to be a clean freak?
Observation of behavioral traits was an elective for the ninja. But for a spy, it was a core subject.
Kiri's peripheral vision picked up subtle mud stains on the hem of Kojima's pants… and thick dust caked to the soles of his shoes.
The image didn't match his memory.
A minor detail — but Kiri didn't hesitate. He instantly activated the Six Eyes and turned to face the man.
Through that enhanced vision, all chakra flows were exposed.
Jackpot.
Beneath the chakra shell was a body whose build didn't match the outer form — classic reaction from a special transformation jutsu.
So you're one of us, huh?
I thought it was ANBU testing me again.
Kiri relaxed, his smile even gaining a hint of genuine warmth.
"Sazahara-kun?"
"Kojima" seemed to notice Kiri's brief hesitation. His knuckles were subtly pressed to the opposite side of his pant leg.
"Uh… sorry, who are you again?" Kiri asked with a puzzled look.
"I'm Kojima! Kojima Kenta!" he grumbled in frustration, relaxing his fingers slightly. "I've been delivering your department's lunch all week — you don't remember me?"
"Ah — is that so? Sorry, sorry." Kiri scratched the back of his head sheepishly, like a flustered teenage boy.
"I've been working overtime non-stop lately… my brain's barely functioning. Logistics hasn't been this busy, has it?"
"Pfft — don't even get me started. We were here later than you guys last night!"
Trying to smooth things over, "Kojima" struck up a casual conversation. The two walked toward the end of the hallway, each carrying a stack of lunch boxes.
Meanwhile, Kiri's mind was racing.
"Is he trying to get intel from me? Or maybe planning to tail me into the intel archives? Or…"
Years of undercover work had made him hyper-alert — always analyzing, always second-guessing.
But could you blame him?
He was a spy too.
Still, just as he was weighing the situation…
BOOM—!!
A deafening explosion rang out behind them, shaking the entire building.
The sturdy outer wall of the Hokage's tower blew open from a precise, destructive jutsu, leaving a 5–6 meter wide breach. Heat and shrapnel burst down the corridor, sending dust and stone skittering along the floor.
In the chaos, several suicide attackers surged through the breach, charging toward the third floor with reckless abandon.
But they didn't get far.
Moments later, dozens of ANBU and Konoha ninjas in full gear rushed in from all sides, intercepting the intruders with lethal precision.
Kiri immediately glanced at the "Kojima" next to him.
He understood.
They were using the explosion as cover, hoping to infiltrate high-security areas.
Once you identify a spy, it's not hard to guess what they're after.
Kiri wasn't the only one holding sensitive intel about the mission.
Hidden Mist wasn't the only player in this game.
His eyes darkened.
"In that case…"
"Sazahara-kun!"
Just as he expected, "Kojima" suddenly dropped his lunchbox, his voice tense and urgent:
"Quick! Let's go stop those bastards!"
But Kiri surprised him.
Instead of joining the fight, he protected the lunchboxes, held out an arm, and calmly said:
"Relax."
"That way leads only to the sealed archive room. The Hokage himself is stationed upstairs."
"They won't get through."
Then he smiled.
A bright, confident grin.
(ω＜)☆
"…?!"
That one sentence made "Kojima" freeze on the spot.
He didn't even reach for the kunai hidden at his waist.
The upper floor… is the weak spot?!
He stared at Kiri's back in silence, eyes gleaming.