Chapter 30 Setting The Trap

Sarutobi Hiruzen knocked on the desk with his pipe, his eyes clouded with thought.

"Someone!"

An Anbu ninja wearing an animal mask appeared instantly, kneeling with a respectful bow.

"You are to inform the Hyuga clan leader, the Inuzuka clan leader, the Aburame clan leader, and the members of the reconnaissance team. If there's no trace of the intruder within a week, cancel the search."

"Yes!"

Without another word, the Anbu vanished into thin air. Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed deeply, resting his pipe against his lips. A subtle bitterness crept into his thoughts as he mentally shifted the blame onto Danzo for this waste of resources.

---

The week flew by.

Naruto was completely immersed in perfecting the **Four Symbols Seal**. By now, he could effortlessly seal anything he touched into the storage space created by the technique. More impressively, he could now set traps by forming sealing arrays that would activate if someone stepped into them.

It wasn't just random experimentation. Naruto had devised a plan—one that involved Uchiha Shisui and his **Mangekyō Sharingan**.

Originally, Naruto intended to ambush Shisui after a confrontation with Shimura Danzo, taking advantage of the chaos to seize his eyes. But he realized the risks: Shisui's **Kotoamatsukami**, the ultimate genjutsu, could still pose a threat if Shisui survived the encounter. A sure-kill strategy was essential.

Now, a better idea had formed. By setting up multiple sealing arrays around the forests of **Nanhe River** and the Uchiha district, he could lure Shisui into one of the traps. Once Shisui was sealed, Minato could extract his eyes instantly. If even Danzo could succeed in taking Shisui's eyes, there was no reason why Minato, a master of speed and precision, couldn't do it better.

"I'm being merciful compared to Danzo," Naruto thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Danzo wanted Shisui dead. I'll just take his eyes and leave him alive."

His smirk turned into a dark grin as he imagined Shisui's reaction when he witnessed the Uchiha massacre—his trusted elders and his beloved junior, Uchiha Itachi, slaughtering their own clan.

The thought made Naruto chuckle.

---

In the sealed space, Kurama glanced up from the comic book he had been reading, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"Kid, are you ready to act?"

Naruto's appearance in the sealed space was abrupt. Kurama's question echoed, but another voice joined in—the calm and somber tone of **Namikaze Minato**, seated at a desk filled with books.

"Naruto, I can't stop you. But I hope you won't let hatred consume you entirely. Innocent lives shouldn't be caught in the crossfire of revenge."

Minato's voice was heavy with guilt and concern. He knew what Konoha had done to Naruto, and though he longed for peace, he lacked the conviction to push ideals on his son, given the injustices inflicted upon him.

Naruto's smile was indifferent, brushing off the sentiment. "Don't worry about it, Fourth. What I'm doing won't hurt the innocent—it'll only be... educational for Shisui and the Uchiha."

Minato sighed, nodding reluctantly. He didn't know if Naruto's words were true, but he had no choice but to trust him.

---

Naruto's preparations began in earnest.

"Listen carefully, Fourth," Naruto instructed, his tone serious. "I'll handle the setup for the sealing technique. Once Shisui is trapped, you must act immediately to extract his eyes. Don't hesitate, and don't give him the chance to use **Kotoamatsukami**."

"I understand," Minato replied, his usual calm replaced by solemn resolve.

Naruto nodded, satisfied. "Good. Because if you get caught under his genjutsu, I'll have no choice but to erase you from the seal entirely."

Minato tensed but accepted the grim possibility. "Understood."

---

Back in the real world, Naruto performed the **Shadow Clone Technique**. An identical version of himself appeared, taking a seat on the bed.

The real Naruto smirked at his clone. "You know what to do. Keep the disguise up."

With a hand seal, he transformed into his alter ego—**Uzumaki Menma**. A chilling aura enveloped him as his three-tomoe Sharingan spun in his eyes. The cat-shaped mask he wore concealed his identity perfectly, adding an air of menace.

"Time to get to work," Naruto muttered, his figure vanishing like a shadow.

---

In the sealed space, Minato's eyes widened.

"That… That was a Sharingan?"

Kurama chuckled darkly from his corner. "The kid's full of surprises, isn't he?"