From Naruto onwards, I've become a dreamer.

Chapter 452 Naruto's Change

Many people are destined to have a sleepless night.

Naruto sat on the bed, enveloped in deep loneliness, hugging his legs tightly, staring blankly at the corner of the room.

Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi's words kept echoing in his mind.

The Third Hokage is a fake!
Previously overlooked details flashed through Naruto's mind.

Every frame, every detail, was crystal clear, from the Third Hokage's way of speaking to the details of his facial expressions, all presented in his mind.

"Why...why have I never noticed this before?"

Naruto suddenly felt a little strange. He had never been an outstanding student. If he had such a powerful memory, how could he have become a bottom student?

"Of course it's a perk~" Lu Mingze reappeared in the room.

"You, how did you get here?"

Naruto paused for a few seconds, then put on a disgusted look: "I won't trade with you anymore, you should just give up."

"Whenever a person is at their most vulnerable, the devil always takes advantage of the moment," Lu Mingze said with a grin. "By the way, what I just did was a perk to reward our customers, making your brain work at a higher efficiency than usual so you can discover some hidden details."

So, is everything they're saying true?

Naruto felt very confused. He wanted to ask someone for answers, but he didn't know who to ask.

Looking around, it seems like only the devil remains.

"Don't you already have the answer?"

Lu Mingze's gaze was calm as he spoke softly.

"Yes, but I'd like to confirm it again."

Naruto gritted his teeth, recalling Sarutobi Asuma's strange behavior on the day of the funeral.

"Then go ahead and boldly seek verification."

Lu Mingze offered his advice: "If you just stay cooped up in your room, you won't get anything."

The following morning, the gloom of the previous day was swept away.

Naruto quietly arrived at Sarutobi Asuma's mansion, hesitated for a moment, and then knocked on the door.

Asuma was in the corridor, with a shogi board in front of him.

Naruto's heightened senses allowed him to perceive that there seemed to be another person hiding in the room, but he did not reveal it.

"Naruto? What brings you here to see me?"

Asma was visibly surprised when he saw the boy, but still showed goodwill.

"Uncle Asuma, I've come to ask you a question." Naruto stared intently at Sarutobi Asuma, as if trying to find something on his face.

Although Asuma couldn't understand why the boy was so serious, he nodded nonetheless: "Okay, is it a question about ninjutsu?"

"No, I wanted to ask..."

Naruto took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Why did you look so unsad at the Third Hokage's funeral yesterday?"

Sarutobi Asuma's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, picked up a chess piece and placed it down: "It's not that I'm not sad, Naruto, but that I've suppressed all my sadness in my heart."

In the past, Naruto might not have felt anything was wrong, but now, his brain has become very active after being developed by Lu Mingze.

Even a fleeting change in expression cannot escape his notice.

"Do you have any other questions?"

Seeing that the boy hadn't spoken for a while, Sarutobi Asuma turned around and asked.

"No, not anymore."

A huge weight was finally lifted from Naruto's heart.

Yes, he could confirm it; what Orochimaru said was true. The Third Hokage had been killed and replaced a long time ago.

The death of the Third Hokage at the Chunin Exams venue was nothing short of a shocking conspiracy!
Are you alright?

Sarutobi Asuma frowned slightly as he watched the boy's changing expressions.

"No, I'm fine, Uncle Asuma."

Naruto remained expressionless and bowed respectfully: "I'm sorry to have bothered you. Thank you very much for your answer. I'll be leaving now."

Only after Naruto had completely disappeared did a figure appear in the corridor.

"Do you think he noticed?" Sarutobi Asuma stared in the direction Naruto had left, his brows furrowed, the boy's expression flashing through his mind.

That sharp gaze made him feel as if he could see right through her.

"I am not sure."

The figure that suddenly appeared was none other than the vanished Kakashi Hatake.

“Naruto’s performance just now made me feel like he’s figured something out.” Sarutobi Asuma sighed, rubbing his temples. “We have to find out just how many people in Konoha, like my father, have been secretly impersonated.”

As for Naruto.

Asuma hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Kakashi: "Don't forget, he's your student."

"I'll go talk to Naruto."

Kakashi frowned, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "If he really finds out, I will make him keep it a secret."

After leaving Asuma's mansion, Naruto went straight to the memorial stone.

There was one last thing he had to verify.

Flowers were laid out in front of the Third Hokage's tombstone, clearly indicating that the passing of this kind Hokage had saddened many in the village.

"I'm sorry, third-generation grandfather."

Naruto took a deep breath and was about to forcibly dig out the Third Hokage's coffin when he was stopped by someone.

"Stop, Naruto."

Kakashi Hatake stopped Naruto, his eyes filled with helplessness.

Clearly, Naruto had guessed the truth. Although it was unclear where he knew it, his act of digging up the grave was undoubtedly an attempt to confirm the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Kakashi-sensei, you've finally appeared."

Naruto was stopped, but he wasn't surprised at all; on the contrary, it was as if he had expected it all along.

"You spotted me just now, so you did this to lure me out, right?" Kakashi sighed, his eyes filled with helplessness. He truly couldn't handle Naruto's little tricks. "So, what exactly do you want?"

"the truth."

Naruto remained calm, without even a flicker of emotion.

After a long silence, Kakashi sighed and released Naruto's wrist: "The truth is what you think."

"So, you knew all along, didn't you?"

Naruto looked at Kakashi with cold eyes, as if suppressing some kind of emotion.

"I"

Looking at the teacher's child, Kakashi fell silent; he didn't know how to explain.

"answer me!"

Naruto let out a low roar, which actually cracked the ground around him.

His pupils were fierce and savage, like those of a wild beast, and even seemed to be plated with a golden glow, like flowing lava, hot and scalding.

Kakashi felt a strange unease at this power, and was even forced back half a step by those eyes.

"answer my question!"

Naruto's pupils shone with intense gold as he walked step by step toward Kakashi.

"Yes, I knew a long time ago."

Kakashi tried to keep his tone relaxed and said, "Don't get excited, okay? Please don't get excited, Naruto!"

He was worried that if Naruto got too emotional, the sealed Nine-Tails' power would leak out.

"So you didn't do anything, you just watched, right?"

Naruto clenched his fists, forcibly suppressing his anger.

Hearing this, Kakashi lowered his head, overwhelmed by helplessness, and said in a low voice, "Naruto, I know you're blaming me, but I can't stop it because I'm not sure who else in Konoha has been quietly replaced by it. I have to hide, do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Naruto looked at him with disappointment, then turned and left: "Because you have no power, it's that simple."

(End of this chapter)