Naruto sat in the Hokage's office late at night, the moonlight streaming through the window casting long shadows on the walls. Despite his young age, the weight of the village rested on his shoulders. The reforms he had initiated were progressing well, but he knew that maintaining Konoha's stability would require more than structural changes—it would require vigilance against those who would undermine the village from within.
He called for a meeting with two of the most capable individuals under his command: the ANBU head and Ibiki Morino, the head of the Torture and Interrogation Unit. Within moments, both men appeared in the office. The ANBU head, clad in full armor and a wolf mask, knelt silently before him, while Ibiki, with his imposing presence, stood with arms crossed.
Naruto leaned back in the Hokage's chair, his sharp blue eyes scanning both men. "Thank you for coming. There's a matter that requires your immediate attention."
Ibiki nodded. "What's the issue, Hokage-sama?"
Naruto glanced at the ANBU head. "How many confirmed spies do we currently have in the village?"
The ANBU head hesitated before answering. "Approximately twenty, Hokage-sama. Some are directly affiliated with rival villages, while others are mercenaries or freelancers gathering intelligence."
Naruto frowned. "And how many of them have we neutralized?"
"Seven, Hokage-sama," the ANBU head replied. "The others are being monitored."
Naruto tapped his fingers on the desk, deep in thought. "From now on, do not eliminate them unless absolutely necessary."
Ibiki raised an eyebrow. "You want to let the spies roam free? That's dangerous, Hokage-sama."
Naruto shook his head. "Not exactly. I want you to identify every potential spy and ensure that they can no longer share any valuable information about this village. Instead of catching them, make their lives so busy and chaotic that they have no time to gather or relay intelligence. Assign them tasks that consume all their energy and time. Turn their attention away from Konoha's secrets."
The ANBU head tilted his head slightly, intrigued. "What kind of tasks, Hokage-sama?"
Naruto smirked. "For spies embedded in civilian roles, assign them work that seems crucial but is ultimately meaningless. Create fake projects or missions for them to oversee—things that will keep them occupied but yield no real results. For shinobi spies, send them on extended missions that take them far away from Konoha but don't expose them to too much danger. Make sure they stay out of the loop on critical matters."
Ibiki nodded, a glint of approval in his eyes. "That's clever. If they're too busy to gather information, they'll be ineffective as spies. It also reduces the risk of them exposing themselves."
Naruto's expression turned serious. "There's one more thing. Kabuto Yakushi."
The room grew quiet. The ANBU head and Ibiki exchanged glances before turning back to Naruto.
"Is there something specific about Kabuto that concerns you, Hokage-sama?" the ANBU head asked cautiously.
Naruto's gaze hardened. "He's working in the hospital, correct?"
Ibiki nodded. "Yes. He's one of their best medics. Skilled, resourceful, but unassuming. Why?"
Naruto leaned forward. "Keep close tabs on him. I have reason to believe he's connected to Orochimaru. Don't confront him directly—he's too valuable as a source of information. Instead, monitor his movements, his communications, and anyone he interacts with. If he's a spy, we can use him to trace back to Orochimaru's operations."
The ANBU head bowed. "Understood, Hokage-sama. We'll increase surveillance on him immediately."
Ibiki frowned. "And if he discovers he's being watched?"
Naruto shrugged. "Then we'll deal with him. But for now, I want him to believe that no one suspects him. Sometimes, the best way to handle a spy is to let them think they're in control."
---
The Plan in Motion
The meeting concluded, and both men left to execute Naruto's orders. Over the next few weeks, subtle changes began to take place in Konoha.
Spies embedded in civilian roles found themselves inundated with paperwork and administrative tasks that required long hours and constant attention. Shinobi spies were sent on missions that kept them far from the village for weeks or even months at a time. All the while, ANBU operatives shadowed their every move, ensuring that no sensitive information left the village.
Kabuto Yakushi, meanwhile, continued his work at the hospital, seemingly unaware of the increased surveillance. ANBU agents posed as patients, coworkers, and even visitors, observing his every action. Naruto's strategy was working—the village was becoming a labyrinth of misdirection, and any spies within it were too entangled in false leads to pose a real threat.
---
Naruto's Confidence
One evening, Naruto sat on the rooftop of his apartment, gazing at the village below. The reforms were progressing, and his plan to neutralize the spies was unfolding perfectly. His loyal ANBU reported no leaks of critical information, and Kabuto's activities remained under close watch.
As he looked out at the lights of Konoha, a sense of satisfaction washed over him. He wasn't just protecting the village; he was reshaping it from the shadows, ensuring that it would remain strong for generations to come.
"This is only the beginning," he murmured to himself. "If I want to unite the shinobi world, I need to start here. One step at a time."
Unbeknownst to Naruto, several individuals were reading about his plans in their versions of the diary. Their reactions ranged from admiration to concern, but none dared to confront him directly. They all knew that Naruto's vision was far-reaching and that his methods, while unorthodox, were effective.
In the end, Naruto's cunning and foresight continued to solidify his position as the hidden leader of Konoha—a boy with the mind of a Hokage and the determination to shape the future.
Next day Naruto sat in the Hokage's office, his young but commanding presence filling the room. He had summoned the ANBU division leaders to discuss a pressing matter. His eyes, sharp and determined, locked on the ANBU captain in front of him. The boy Hokage, who still pretended to be an academy student in the public eye, was slowly reshaping Konoha from behind the scenes.
"The next phase of our reform requires the presence of both Jiraiya and Tsunade," Naruto declared. "Send word to them immediately. Order them to return to the village at once."
The ANBU captain hesitated. "Hokage-sama, what if they refuse the summons?"
Naruto's gaze darkened. "If either of them protests or refuses, declare them missing-nin and traitors to Konoha. Make it clear this is the Hokage's direct order. I don't care if they were legendary in the past—those who abandon their responsibilities are nothing but cowards and deserters in my eyes."
The room went silent. Even the seasoned ANBU operatives, trained to obey without question, couldn't help but feel the weight of his words.
"Hokage-sama," the captain ventured cautiously, "Jiraiya is considered one of Konoha's top assets. He's the spymaster of the village and—"
Naruto raised a hand, silencing him. "So why is Tsunade not here? What role does she fulfill that requires her to abandon the village entirely? If Jiraiya is so crucial as a spymaster, why can't he operate from within Konoha? Why are both of them absent when Konoha needs them the most?"
The ANBU captain hesitated. Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was present at the meeting, finally spoke up.
"Jiraiya's network spans across the nations, Naruto. His absence is necessary for the village to gain intelligence and maintain its edge against our enemies. He—"
Naruto interrupted sharply. "And Tsunade? What's her excuse, old man? She's not a spymaster, nor does she have any operational necessity to be away. She's a sannin, one of Konoha's strongest shinobi, yet she has abandoned her duties for decades. Don't try to justify her absence. The village comes first."
Hiruzen sighed, his expression heavy with guilt. "Tsunade... has her reasons. She's lost too much—"
"She's not the only one who's lost people," Naruto snapped, his voice cold. "This village is full of people who have suffered and moved forward. If I, a twelve-year-old, can bear the weight of Konoha's future, then she has no excuse to turn her back on her responsibilities. Either she comes back to help rebuild this village, or she's no longer part of it. No exceptions."
---
Orders Delivered
The ANBU left to carry out Naruto's orders. Within hours, elite teams were dispatched to track down both Jiraiya and Tsunade. The message was clear and uncompromising: return to Konoha immediately, or face the consequences of defying the Hokage's will.
Jiraiya, who was in the Land of Hot Water, received the summons from an ANBU operative. His easygoing demeanor faltered as he read the official missive.
"Hokage's order?" he murmured. "That brat Sarutobi must be desperate to pull me back. And traitor? Really?"
The toad sage couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The tone of the message didn't match Hiruzen's usual approach. But a direct order from the Hokage couldn't be ignored.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, far from the village in a small gambling den, scowled as an ANBU appeared in front of her with the same summons.
"Tsunade-sama," the operative said, bowing slightly. "The Hokage demands your immediate return to Konoha. Failure to comply will result in your designation as a missing-nin."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "What the hell is Hiruzen thinking? Threatening me? And since when does he talk like this?"
The ANBU stood firm, unflinching. "This is a direct order from the Hokage. You have 24 hours to comply."
Shizune, standing beside her, looked nervous. "Tsunade-sama, maybe we should—"
"No one orders me around," Tsunade growled, but even she couldn't ignore the weight behind the ultimatum.
---
Hiruzen's Reflection
Back in Konoha, Hiruzen sat in the Hokage's office after the meeting, his thoughts heavy. Naruto's words echoed in his mind.
The boy's logic was sharp and unrelenting. Hiruzen couldn't deny that Tsunade's absence had been a sore point for years. As for Jiraiya, the spymaster's methods had been unconventional at best. But Naruto's ruthless approach unsettled him.
"This isn't how a Hokage should lead," Hiruzen muttered to himself. Yet he knew that Naruto wasn't wrong.
Naruto had pointed out flaws that Hiruzen had ignored for years. His insistence on accountability, even for the legendary sannin, was a stark contrast to Hiruzen's own leadership style.
"Is this the kind of Hokage the village needs now?" Hiruzen wondered aloud, sadness in his voice.
He couldn't shake the image of Naruto—a child forced to grow up too fast, burdened with the dreams of a village that had failed him time and time again.
---
Naruto's Resolve
In his apartment, Naruto sat cross-legged on the floor, meditating. He wasn't worried about Jiraiya or Tsunade defying his orders. They would return—if only to confront him.
"This village doesn't need legends who run away," he muttered to himself. "It needs leaders who will fight for its future, no matter how hard it gets."
Naruto's determination burned brighter than ever. If Jiraiya and Tsunade returned and chose to stand with him, he would welcome their strength. But if they defied him, he wouldn't hesitate to strip them of their titles and sever their ties to Konoha.
The village came first. Always.