Chapter 214: Stealing the Sealed Scroll
"The only way to get to Mount Myōboku right now is through the scroll Naruto left behind before he left."
Outside the Hidden Leaf Village, Kakashi crouched on a tree branch, watching the village from afar.
"From the looks of it, the village hasn't issued a wanted notice for you two yet. That means the S.H.I.E.L.D. liquid androids haven't infiltrated the upper ranks—at least not completely," said the Captain Hydra standing beside him.
"Or it could be a trap—pretending the higher-ups haven't been replaced, just to lure us back into the village," Sarutobi Mirai added, standing next to Kakashi.
To play it safe, they finally decided on a plan to steal the scroll that granted access to Mount Myōboku.
The scroll was stored in the Hokage's office, which sat atop the Hokage Tower, right in the heart of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Security for the Hokage Tower was divided into two parts: open patrols by regular chunin and hidden surveillance by the Anbu.
Because the village was bustling during the day, they decided to act at night.
In the dead of night, the Hokage Tower was the only place still lit within the Hidden Leaf.
"At this hour, Shikamaru should've wrapped up his work and gone home," Kakashi said to Sarutobi Mirai and the Captain Hydra beside him. "Let's begin."
Unlike Naruto, who often had to work overtime due to his lack of political savvy, Shikamaru was far more efficient at handling his tasks.
The three of them didn't enter through the front gate. Instead, they scaled the walls and slipped into the village.
For shinobi who could walk on water, walking up a wall was effortless.
Which is exactly why the Hidden Leaf had a protective barrier in place.
Kakashi and Sarutobi Mirai naturally knew the passcode to bypass the barrier.
"Captain Hydra, stay here and cover our retreat," Kakashi said from atop the wall.
Even though the current relationship between the Hidden Leaf and Hydra was relatively friendly, Kakashi wasn't about to trust them completely—not enough to reveal the barrier's passcode.
"Got it." The Captain Hydra nodded. "Be careful, Kakashi."
Neither Kakashi nor Sarutobi Mirai had ever imagined they'd one day sneak back into the village like criminals.
"From here on, we're in Anbu surveillance territory," Kakashi warned.
Though they were still two streets away from the Hokage Tower, he paused and spoke to Mirai.
"Naturally. It's the village's most critical building, after all." Mirai nodded and turned to Kakashi. "Sixth Hokage, what's the plan?"
"I'll draw their attention. You sneak in and retrieve the scroll. When you've got it, use this firework to signal me."
As he spoke, Kakashi handed her a pull-string firework.
"Sixth, let me be the decoy instead."
Mirai didn't take the firework from him.
"You're not strong enough to draw out all the Anbu in the Hokage Tower." Kakashi shook his head and forcibly placed the firework in her hand. "Start the mission, Mirai."
"Be careful, Sixth."
As soon as Mirai finished speaking, her figure flickered and vanished into the shadows, waiting for Kakashi to lure away the Anbu.
"Transformation Jutsu!"
With a puff of white smoke, Kakashi took on the appearance of a muscular, masked bald man.
The moment he entered the Hokage Tower, the quiet building stirred. Not long after, a figure emerged from within, followed by over a dozen others.
Ten minutes passed in silence. When she was sure no one else was around, Sarutobi Mirai slipped out from her hiding spot.
Nara Clan Compound
"Why're you back so late?"
Temari looked at Shikamaru, who had just walked in.
"Too much work today. Did Shikadai already go to bed?" Shikamaru asked, stifling a yawn. All he wanted now was to eat and crash.
"Yeah." Temari nodded. "I'll go heat up your dinner."
"Shikamaru!"
Just as Temari finished speaking, Ino's voice rang in Shikamaru's ears. It was her special telepathic jutsu—something like mental communication.
"Ino?" Shikamaru's expression grew serious. She wouldn't contact him this late unless something was wrong. "What happened?"
"According to intel from the Anbu, someone has stolen the sealed scroll from the Hokage Tower. Sai's already gone after them."
Ino's voice continued to echo in his mind.
"I'm heading over now. Also, contact Sasuke."
When Naruto left the village, Sasuke had become its strongest remaining force.
The theft of the sealed scroll could be a minor or major incident, depending on who stole it. After all, back when Naruto was still a bottom-of-the-class loser, he'd managed to steal it under the Third Hokage's watch.
"Understood, Shikamaru."
With that, Ino ended the link.
"What happened, Shikamaru?" Temari asked.
"The sealed scroll was stolen. I need to go check it out. Stay home and wait for me, Temari."
His face was grave.
"Okay."
Though he didn't say it outright, Temari knew full well he was asking her to stay home and protect Shikadai.
Inside the Hidden Leaf Village
"Mirai should be inside the Hokage Tower by now," Kakashi muttered, glancing at Sai, who was chasing close behind him atop an ink-painted eagle.
"Ninja Art: Super Beast Imitating Drawing!"
Sai, riding the ink eagle, unrolled a scroll and began to draw.
Another, smaller ink eagle sprang forth. Without anyone on its back, it was lighter and faster—and quickly gained on Kakashi.
Its attack power was minimal, but Sai only intended it as a distraction anyway.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Kakashi, still running, suddenly turned and formed a series of hand seals, then spat out a fireball that engulfed the approaching small ink eagle.
It burst into ink under the heat.
"Ninja Art: Ink Flow!"
The spilled ink, guided by Sai's chakra, swirled into a flood and surged toward Kakashi.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
Kakashi summoned a flowing wall of water to block the ink stream.
He barely had time to exhale before suddenly veering off his path to avoid an incoming attack.
"Shadow... Shikamaru?"
Under the light of a streetlamp, a man with a short mustache formed a hand seal as his shadow stretched toward Kakashi.