Naruto's Declaration.

The person who spoke was Konoha's Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Everyone in the room was stunned. They hadn't expected Kirito to be caught so quickly.

"What do you mean, 'caught'?"

"Where did you find the spy?"

Sarutobi Asuma asked, confused, as he turned to his father for answers.

"At Kirito's house," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, giving his son a glance before falling silent.

Yuhi Kurenai, standing nearby, felt a wave of relief wash over her. If Kirito were truly a spy from another country, he wouldn't have come back to Konoha. There would have been no need for him to return home. With Kirito's exceptional speed and combat prowess, he could have easily evaded capture in the woods last night. Even Might Guy, renowned for his mastery of taijutsu, wouldn't have stood a chance in catching him.

Yuhi Kurenai kept analyzing the situation in her mind. She didn't believe Kirito was a spy. If he had truly been one, he would've fled and disappeared from Konoha altogether. Instead, he'd returned, showing no signs of guilt, which to her meant he must have been framed.

"Kirito might not be a spy from another country," Kurenai said softly.

"If he were, why would he return to the village? Why come back to his home?"

"Moreover, with his speed, he could have escaped, but he didn't. He knows he isn't guilty."

Her words resonated with some in the room, but Asuma wasn't convinced.

"These are just your assumptions, Kurenai," Asuma snapped. "Don't let your feelings cloud your judgment. The evidence points to Kirito being the spy."

"As for why he didn't escape and returned to the village, maybe that's part of his plan."

Asuma's words extinguished any remaining hope in Kurenai's heart, and she fell silent, unsure of how to counter his logic.

The room fell into quiet anticipation as they waited for Kirito to arrive.

---

After a short while, a ninja with a cat-faced mask entered, escorting Kirito into the room. Kirito remained calm, dressed in his usual attire, with his signature sunglasses hiding his eyes. His demeanor exuded confidence, completely unfazed by the hostile gazes directed his way.

"Kirito, you despicable spy! Don't act like nothing's happened!"

Asuma growled, his anger rising. "If you can't explain yourself, don't even think about leaving this room today!"

Yuhi Kurenai, heart in her throat, couldn't find the words to defend him. She could only watch, hoping Kirito would find a way to clear his name.

Kirito, however, wasn't intimidated. He smiled faintly, his expression neither submissive nor arrogant. He met Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze calmly, knowing the old man's words would carry the most weight here.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting in his chair, exhaled a puff of smoke, looking at Kirito intently.

"Alright," he said, his voice authoritative. "Everyone, leave us. I need to speak with Kirito alone."

The room emptied, leaving just Kirito and Sarutobi Hiruzen. The Hokage observed the young man, curious if he would speak first. But Kirito remained silent, his focus unwavering. After a few moments, Sarutobi Hiruzen broke the silence.

"This is all part of Mizuki's plan," Hiruzen began, recounting the events of the previous night.

"He intended to steal the Book of Seals and disguised himself as you."

"And Naruto... is still in the dark about all this, isn't he?"

As Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, he repeatedly mentioned Naruto, studying Kirito's reactions to gauge if he knew the truth about Naruto's heritage. Hiruzen was testing the waters, trying to see if Kirito was aware of Naruto being the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

But Kirito didn't show any reaction. He already understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's motives. This old man was trying to recruit him, and he was subtly hinting that, even if Kirito were a foreign spy, he could still be useful to Konoha.

Noticing that Kirito wasn't biting, Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to drop the subtlety.

"Kirito, what do you think about joining the Anbu?"

Kirito's calm eyes met the Hokage's. Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, believing he had laid the perfect trap.

"If you join the Anbu, there's a vacant position as the chief captain. I think you'd be an excellent fit for it. Would you consider it?"

Kirito knew exactly what the Hokage was offering—power, status, and influence. The position of Anbu captain was only a step below Hokage itself, a role that put its holder above almost everyone in the village.

Kirito couldn't help but admire the old man's tactics. The offer was tempting, but it wasn't enough to sway him. Sarutobi Hiruzen had played his cards well, but Kirito was no ordinary man. He understood that this wasn't just an offer—it was a subtle threat. If Kirito refused, the Hokage wouldn't lift the suspicions surrounding him. But if he agreed, he could prove his loyalty and gain the power that came with the position.

After a brief pause, Kirito smiled softly, shaking his head.

"My abilities are average, and I'm not suited for such a position," he said, his tone calm. "I'm content with being a special jonin. I have no intention of joining the Anbu, even if it's the captain's position."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at him, surprised, but didn't say anything. He had hoped Kirito would be tempted, but the young man's refusal left him speechless. Hiruzen studied Kirito for a long moment, trying to gauge his true intentions.

At that moment, outside the Hokage office, Naruto's voice rang out, calling desperately,

"Teacher! He's not a spy!"

The sound of Naruto's voice echoed through the halls as the tension in the room reached its peak.