0p0 Chapter 502 Thief's Code
Chapter 502 Thief's Code
Three long and two short lines is an ancient thief's code, and also a common method for testing mechanisms.
A faint, almost imperceptible, turning sound came from inside the wall, and the huge calligraphy scroll slowly slid open to one side, revealing a dark compartment.
His judgment was absolutely correct. The most dangerous place is often the safest place. Even the Third Hokage, the man known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," was not immune to this.
Inside the hidden compartment, an enormous, almost exaggerated scroll lay quietly, its ends tightly bound by crimson seals, on which were written the four large characters "Book of Seals" in ancient script.
A rich, enticing aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from the scroll, a stark contrast to the stale scent of ink in the study.
A burning desire flashed in Zhang Hai's eyes as he carefully reached out and lifted the heavy scroll.
The scroll was extremely heavy, even heavier than he had imagined, as if it contained not only forbidden techniques but also the weight of countless dead souls.
He could almost feel that once the scroll was unrolled, a power powerful enough to overturn his understanding and change his destiny would erupt forth.
Just as he was holding the Book of Seals tightly in his arms, preparing to turn and leave, a shadow silently enveloped him.
Immediately afterwards, a strong, slightly bitter tobacco aroma entered his nostrils, a scent he had only ever smelled on one other person.
Zhang Hai's body stiffened instantly, his blood seemingly frozen in that instant.
He slowly, inch by inch, turned around.
In the dim moonlight, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood less than three meters behind him, his signature pipe dangling from his mouth. The smoke rising from the pipe blurred his wrinkled yet still sharp face.
When did he appear?
He hadn't even noticed it himself.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his pipe, slowly exhaling the smoke, which swirled in the air for a moment before dissipating.
His seemingly cloudy eyes now gleamed with an all-knowing light, fixed firmly on Zhang Hai and the scroll in his arms.
He took the pipe from his mouth, tapped it lightly in his palm to remove the ash, and this action lasted for about half a second.
“Young man, put back what doesn’t belong to you.” His voice was old and steady, yet carried an undeniable authority. “The Will of Fire cannot be stolen, so your act of stealing forbidden techniques must be severely punished, because only a powerful village can possess a powerful will.”
Zhang Hai's mind raced, trying to find a glimmer of hope in this seemingly calm conversation, but the other person's logical leaps caught him off guard.
He held his breath, but tasted a cool minty flavor spreading in the air, mixed with the strong smell of tobacco, creating a strange taste experience.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze remained calm, but beneath that calm lay a bottomless vortex.
He wasn't questioning, he was judging. Zhang Hai knew that his operation tonight had completely transformed from a perfect infiltration into an unpredictable disaster.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" Two dark figures appeared behind Zhang Hai almost simultaneously, blocking his only escape route—the window he had opened when he sneaked in.
Two other figures appeared like ghosts at the study door. One was an ANBU ninja wearing a white animal mask, his short sword gleaming coldly, already aimed at every vital point on his body.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze remained unchanged. He simply put his pipe back to his lips and spoke softly, his voice seemingly coming from a distant place, piercing through layers of obstruction and clearly imprinted in Zhang Hai's ears: "Now, tell me, you brat from the Uchiha clan, who sent you?" Zhang Hai smiled faintly, a smile that appeared somewhat cunning in the moonlight. He gently weighed the heavy scroll on his back, making a dull thud.
The air was filled with a damp smell of moss and rusty metal, as if they were standing next to an ancient, long-abandoned well.
“Is everything the teacher says necessarily correct?” he countered, his voice carrying a clarity beyond his years. “Minato, the teacher also taught us that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. On the battlefield, the enemy won’t give you time to flip through books for countermeasures.” He took a step forward, the azure moonlight outlining his earnest profile. “Your ambition is to become Hokage, right? A future Hokage, are you going to turn a blind eye to the village’s strongest power just because of some so-called 'rules'? Or do you intend to forever rely solely on knowledge that others have chewed up and fed to you to protect the village?”
Minato Namikaze was speechless at these questions. For the first time, struggle and confusion appeared in his usually clear blue eyes.
Zhang Hai's words were like a sharp kunai, precisely piercing the softest yet most resolute part of his heart.
Naruto.
These two words carried immense weight for him.
His childhood dream was to become someone revered like the First Hokage, someone who could use his power to protect everyone.
A faint, high-frequency buzzing sound rang in his ears, disappearing in an instant, causing him to dazed slightly.
He looked at Zhang Hai, then at the enormous scroll on his back that exuded endless allure, and his usually clear mind was now a jumbled mess.
Seeing the water gate waver, Zhang Hai knew the time had come. Without another word, he decisively took the Book of Seals from his back and unfolded it with a "whoosh" in the clearing in the forest.
The ancient scroll was unfurled in the moonlight, revealing densely packed forbidden texts written in cinnabar.
Zhang Hai's fingers slid across the rough surface of the scroll, feeling a dry, sand-like texture.
Each character seemed to contain a world-destroying power, and the intricate spell patterns were like whirlpools leading to the abyss, exuding a deadly attraction.
The wind in the forest seemed to have stopped, leaving only the two people's slightly rapid breathing.
Minato's gaze was immediately drawn to one of the spells the moment the scroll was unfurled.
His gaze was fixed on the spot, as if he had been frozen in place.
It reads: Flying Thunder God Technique.
Just looking at the descriptions of spacetime coordinates, spell markings, and instantaneous chakra channeling, his brain began to work at high speed uncontrollably, as if a door to a completely new world was slowly opening in front of him.
Minato's Adam's apple bobbed, and a sour taste rose in the back of his tongue, like biting into an unripe plum.