Naruto: The Puppeteer in Konoha

Shindai had broken free from the subconscious manipulation of the Sand Control Technique—he had remembered everything.

But now, what should he do.

Namikaze Minato. One of the top-tier shinobi renowned throughout the ninja world.

If Minato wanted him dead, a mere flick of his finger would be enough.

Although Shindai had been forced into the role of an undercover agent, this was his first time being a spy. He had no experience, no idea what to do next.

The Third Kazekage had told him that once the plan succeeded, he should just think of himself as a Konoha shinobi. He was to gather intelligence—secrets, jutsu, anything he could find.

Thinking of himself as a Konoha ninja? Easy to say, but incredibly difficult to do. Right now, he felt like a thief caught red-handed. How could he convince himself he belonged in Konoha when he had already been exposed? He wasn't mentally strong enough for that.

And gathering intelligence? He'd have to actually enter Konoha first, and it wasn't like anyone had guaranteed him entry.

Shindai suddenly felt lost.

He had thought being a spy was better than going to war. But now... maybe the battlefield was preferable.

The pressure was suffocating. His life was no longer in his own hands, and he was directly facing an overwhelmingly powerful presence. His mind was on the verge of shutting down. Thinking was becoming impossible.

Minato had been observing Shindai closely. Seeing his drastic change in demeanor, Minato's eyes narrowed slightly.

The contrast was too stark.

Just moments ago, Shindai had been full of energy, desperately pleading for his life. But after Yamanaka Souichi had peeked into his memories, he had suddenly become completely lost and unnerved.

Minato spoke, breaking the silence. "Are you okay?"

Shindai, startled by the question, averted his gaze guiltily and stammered, "I—I'm fine."

Minato's eyes narrowed slightly, but he smiled. "That's good to hear."

With that, Minato took out a kunai and sliced through the ropes binding Shindai, setting him free.

Then he turned to Yamanaka Souichi. "Souichi, report this to the Third Hokage immediately."

"Yes, I'll go at once!"

Souichi didn't dare delay. This was practically a windfall for Konoha—he was eager to inform Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Once Souichi had left, Minato turned back to Shindai. "What's your name?"

"Sh—Shindai."

"Shindai, huh? I'm sure you've realized by now that you were nothing more than a sacrificial pawn in the alliance negotiations between Sunagakure and Iwagakure. We intercepted you before you could be handed over. What do you make of this?"

Shindai forced himself to calm down and think about how to answer.

After a brief pause, he put on an 'angry' expression and said, "I'm furious! I can't believe Sunagakure betrayed me like this! Since you, Lord Minato, saved me, I'd like to ask for your protection! I don't want to return to that heartless village ever again!"

Minato was now almost certain—Shindai was hiding something.

His expression was far too stiff, his words too measured. Even though he added emphasis to some parts, there was no real emotion behind them.

So... his anger was fake.

Minato didn't know how Shindai had managed to fool Souichi's mind-reading technique, but there was a high possibility he had been sent by Sunagakure to infiltrate Iwagakure for a mission.

However, there was one thing Minato couldn't figure out.

Why had Sunagakure chosen this child?

Shindai was obviously inexperienced—his nervousness practically screamed, "I have a secret!"

Minato replayed everything that had happened from the moment he and Souichi entered the tent.

First, Shindai had been desperately begging for his life, saying he was willing to cooperate.

Then, after Souichi read his memories, his personality had completely changed. He had frozen in place for a long time before becoming visibly uneasy.

Minato considered a possibility: Souichi had indeed read Shindai's true memories, but there were missing pieces—memories Shindai himself had forgotten.

And when Souichi read his mind, those lost memories resurfaced.

That could explain Shindai's sudden change in demeanor.

Minato then noticed another suspicious point.

The meeting place for the transaction.

Why had Sunagakure and Iwagakure chosen to meet in the Land of Rivers?

The Land of Rivers bordered both the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire.

If they wanted to trade, wouldn't the Land of Birds—situated between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth—be a safer choice?

Minato arrived at another possibility: Shindai's true target might not have been Iwagakure at all—it could have been Konoha.

His analysis was getting closer to the truth.

Meanwhile, Shindai's anxiety only grew.

Minato had been silent for a while now, but his expression kept shifting.

And then, suddenly, Minato looked at him with an appraising gaze.

Shindai's heart pounded.

Did this mean... he wouldn't be accepted into Konoha?

But that Yamanaka guy had said he was extremely valuable to Konoha!

Even with such value, was he still not good enough? Was Konoha's vetting process really this strict?

Still unaware that his cover was already on the verge of being blown, Shindai was on edge.

After a long silence, Minato finally smiled gently and said, "There's no rush to talk about joining Konoha. After all, you were originally a Sunagakure shinobi, and the process of joining Konoha is quite complex. Outsiders must contribute to the village and have someone vouch for them."

Then, as if casually, Minato added, "By the way, Souichi mentioned that you have a strong grasp of Magnet Release. Could you show me?"

Shindai's body stiffened.

Was Minato planning to assess his strength and then send him to the battlefield?

No way! He had become a spy precisely to avoid the battlefield!

If Minato made him fight, then he'd have to go to war and be a spy.

What was the point of all this, then?

He might as well have revealed his true strength in front of the Third Kazekage and gone straight to war instead.

But there was no point lying—Souichi had already read his memories. Minato knew he wasn't weak.

On the verge of tears, Shindai pulled a long face and whined, "Lord Minato, I'm a technical ninja! I'm not suited for combat! My jutsu are all just for show—they look fancy, but they're actually weak! I can't even kill anyone with them!"

This time, Minato could tell Shindai's words were genuine.

And this only reinforced the accuracy of Souichi's mind-reading.

Shindai was truly terrified of battle. He had hidden his talent from the Third Kazekage for fear of being sent to the front lines.

It seemed the Kazekage truly didn't know about Shindai's potential—otherwise, he wouldn't have wasted someone so talented on a covert mission.

After all, if Shindai had been completely talentless, his death wouldn't have been a loss to Sunagakure at all.

...........

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