This night was destined to be a sleepless one for many.
Naruto sat on his bed, wrapped in a thick blanket of loneliness.
He hugged his knees tightly, staring blankly at the corner of the room.
The words of Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi echoed endlessly in his mind.
The Third Hokage... was a fake!
Details he had once overlooked now flashed rapidly through his thoughts.
Every frame, every subtle moment—
From the way the Third spoke, to the minute changes in his facial expressions—
All of it played back with startling clarity in Naruto's mind.
"Why… why didn't I notice before?"
He found it strange. He'd never been considered a smart or observant student.
If he really had such sharp memory, he wouldn't have been the dead-last of his class.
"Of course it's a little gift~"
Lu Mingze appeared once more in the room, voice light and playful.
"You—how did you get in here?"
Naruto froze for a few seconds, then frowned in annoyance.
"I'm not making any more deals with you. Just give it up."
"Demons always find their way in when a person is at their weakest,"
Lu Mingze said with a mischievous grin.
"By the way, that 'gift' just now? Consider it a thank-you for being a loyal client. I temporarily boosted your brain's processing power, so you could notice things you'd usually miss."
"So... everything they said—was it all true?"
Naruto felt utterly lost.
He wanted to ask someone, anyone, for answers...
But he had no idea who he could trust.
He looked around.
And realized...
The only one left to talk to...
was the devil.
"You already have the answer, don't you?"
Lu Mingze's gaze was calm, his voice soft.
"I do… but I want to confirm it one more time."
Naruto clenched his teeth, recalling Asuma Sarutobi's strange behavior during the funeral.
"Then go and confirm it boldly."
Lu Mingze offered his advice. "If you just hide in your room, you'll gain nothing."
—
The next morning, the gloom of the previous day had finally lifted.
Naruto quietly made his way to Asuma Sarutobi's residence. After hesitating for a moment, he knocked on the door.
Asuma was in the hallway, a shogi board laid out in front of him.
Naruto's heightened senses picked up on something — it felt like someone else was hiding inside the room — but he chose not to say anything.
"Naruto? What brings you here?"
Asuma looked surprised to see the boy, but his tone remained warm.
"Uncle Asuma… I came to ask you a question."
Naruto's eyes locked onto Asuma, as if trying to read something from his expression.
Asuma didn't quite understand why the boy was being so solemn and serious, but he still nodded.
"Sure. Is it about ninjutsu?"
"No, I want to ask something else."
Naruto took a deep breath, his voice low and steady.
"At the Third Hokage's funeral yesterday… why didn't you look sad at all?"
Sarutobi Asuma's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly returned to normal. He picked up a shogi piece and placed it down calmly.
"It's not that I wasn't sad, Naruto. I just kept all my sorrow buried deep inside."
If it had been before, Naruto might not have noticed anything unusual.
But now… after Lu Mingze had awakened something inside his mind, his thoughts were sharper than ever.
Even the faintest flicker of emotion couldn't escape his eyes.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Asuma turned toward the boy after a long silence.
"No… that's all."
A heavy weight finally lifted from Naruto's heart.
Yes. Now he was sure.
Everything Orochimaru had said was true.
The real Third Hokage had been killed a long time ago—and replaced.
The "Third Hokage" who died during the Chunin Exams… was all part of a grand conspiracy!
"You alright?"
Asuma frowned slightly, noticing the shifts in Naruto's expression.
"I'm fine, Uncle Asuma."
Naruto's face was calm. He gave a respectful bow.
"Sorry to bother you. Thank you for answering me. I'll be going now."
It wasn't until Naruto had fully disappeared that a shadowy figure emerged from the corridor.
"Do you think he noticed?"
Asuma Sarutobi stared in the direction Naruto had left, his brows tightly furrowed. The boy's expression still lingered in his mind.
That sharp gaze… it felt as if Naruto had seen right through him.
"I'm not sure."
A sudden figure emerged from the shadows—it was none other than the long-missing Kakashi Hatake.
"Something about Naruto's reaction… I can't shake the feeling that he's figured it out," Asuma sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"We have to uncover how many in Konoha, like my father, have already been replaced without anyone realizing."
"As for Naruto..."
Asuma hesitated, then turned toward Kakashi. "Don't forget—he's your student."
"I'll talk to him."
Kakashi's expression grew tense. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "If he really has found out, I'll make sure he keeps it secret."
After leaving Asuma's residence, Naruto headed straight to the Memorial Stone.
There was one last thing he had to confirm.
The grave of the Third Hokage was covered in fresh flowers. Clearly, many in the village still mourned the loss of the kind-hearted leader.
"I'm sorry… Grandpa Third."
Naruto took a deep breath. Just as he was about to dig up the coffin by force, someone stepped in and stopped him.
"Stop, Naruto."
Kakashi Hatake blocked Naruto, his eyes full of helplessness.
Obviously, Naruto had already guessed the truth. Although it was unclear how he had found out, his act of digging up the grave was undoubtedly meant to confirm the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Teacher Kakashi, you finally showed up."
Naruto was stopped, but he showed no surprise. Instead, he looked like he had expected this all along.
"You noticed me just now, so that's why you did this — to lure me out, right?" Kakashi sighed, his eyes filled with helplessness. He really had no way to deal with Naruto's little tricks. "So, what exactly do you want?"
"The truth."
Naruto spoke calmly, without any emotion.
After a long silence, Kakashi sighed again and then released Naruto's wrist. "The truth… is exactly what you think it is."
"So, you've known for a long time, haven't you?"
Naruto's cold eyes stared at Kakashi, as if suppressing some strong emotion.
"I…"
Looking at his student, Kakashi fell silent. He didn't know how to explain.
"Answer me!"
Naruto let out a low roar, and the ground around them suddenly cracked under the force.
His pupils were fierce and savage like a wild beast's, glowing with a golden light that seemed to flow like molten lava—blazing hot and burning.
This power made Kakashi's heart inexplicably tremble. He was even pushed back half a step by those eyes.
"Answer my question!" Naruto's eyes shone with a fierce golden glow as he stepped closer to Kakashi.
"I… I knew it a long time ago," Kakashi said, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Don't get excited, okay? Please, don't lose control, Naruto!"
He was worried that if Naruto's emotions got too intense, the sealed Nine-Tails power might leak out.
"So you did nothing. You just watched, right?"
Naruto clenched his fists, forcing himself to suppress his anger.
Hearing this, Kakashi lowered his head, trapped in helplessness, and spoke in a low, heavy tone, "Naruto, I know you blame me. But I couldn't stop it because I wasn't sure who else in Konoha had been quietly replaced. I had to stay hidden. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
Naruto looked at him with disappointment, then turned and walked away.
"Because you don't have the strength. It's just that simple."
*******
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