That night, 10:00 PM.
The Third Hokage had clocked out, but his bodyguards were still diligently at work. It's worth noting that these Anbu in the Hokage's office rotate every 12 hours, meaning they are always at peak mental alertness during their shifts.
Lupin and Kaito Kid... no, Kushina and Hagoromo, walked boldly into the Hokage's office building one after the other.
With such a blatant, open approach, no one would ever suspect these two were here to steal anything. Today, the Hokage's office was about to host a "Great Heist." Kushina led the way; entering this building relied primarily on her "face-card" access. Hagoromo followed closely; he wasn't just here to be a spectator today.
As they walked, Kushina whispered in a voice only Hagoromo could hear:
"Plan T, commence action."
Hagoromo was curious. Since when did stealing something need a code name? And why Plan T instead of Plan A? It sounds like we have twenty different backups ready to go.
"Plan T, action begins. Member Hagoromo, please respond," Kushina repeated.
Hagoromo realized he couldn't just ignore her. "Hagoromo understands."
Big sister, can we please be serious? This is a robbery.
Then, as if hearing his wish, Kushina turned solemn. "Act with caution. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill!"
"Understood!" Hagoromo replied through gritted teeth. You're in the wrong movie, lady!
Just as Hagoromo predicted, they reached the third floor without a single obstacle. Based on his own perception, he knew there were many Anbu stationed in the building—certainly more than the handful Kushina had initially mentioned. There were also many civilian staff members, but in terms of combat power, they could be ignored.
Yes, Hagoromo had sensory abilities. While his range was limited compared to Karin's "phased-array radar," he could function as a sensory ninja in a pinch. As for how... that information is currently classified.
Soon, they stood before the door to the Hokage's office.
Entering was only "easy" because her name was Uzumaki Kushina. Any foreign ninja would have been taken down by the identification barrier at the front gate long ago. Because of this, there was zero chance of them being mistaken for imposters.
Kushina gave Hagoromo a quick look and pushed the door open without hesitation. She had to maintain her usual rhythm; normally, she wouldn't dream of pausing at this door. The fact that she didn't kick it open was already a sign of restraint.
Anyone entering this space would be monitored by the four Anbu inside. If they felt the guards were prepared, neutralizing them silently would be impossible. These were elite squad leaders—strong enough that while a peak adult Kakashi might win a 1v1, he'd likely lose a 1v2 and be dead within minutes in a 1v3.
Kushina and Hagoromo never intended a frontal confrontation. Fortunately, while Kushina's ninjutsu was strong, her sealing arts were even better—especially for ambushing acquaintances.
Since the Third was absent, one Anbu immediately manifested.
"Lady Kushina, is something the matter? If you're looking for the Hokage, he has already departed for the evening."
"Reiko, so it's your squad tonight," Kushina replied casually, her eyes darting around the room. In her perception, she knew exactly where the other three were hiding.
"Yes. If it is an urgent matter..."
Kushina knew this ninja. By his mask alone, she could call out his code name. They were familiar with each other, so his guard—while present—wasn't at its peak. Before he could finish his sentence, Kushina struck.
She was wearing a top with wide, loose sleeves tonight, perfectly concealing her hands. While talking and confirming the guards' locations, she had already been forming seals.
Sealing Jutsu: Adamantine Sealing Chains!
Four silver chakra chains erupted from Kushina's back, shooting like arrows toward the four ninjas! Before they could react, they were wrapped up like cocoons.
The Anbu didn't understand why Kushina was attacking, but their instinct was to resist immediately. However, the Adamantine Chains were a technique capable of suppressing Tailed Beasts; ordinary ninja strength couldn't break free. The chains tightened around their necks, cutting off their breath and their ability to shout.
At that moment, Hagoromo moved. He blurred behind the restrained ninjas and, with precise hand-chops, knocked them unconscious one by one.
Kushina released the jutsu and quickly spotted the Scroll of Seals—it was a rather conspicuous item in the office.
"Hagoromo, over here," Kushina called out, reaching for the scroll. But then, she suddenly stopped and turned to him with a look of realization.
"Hagoromo... I just had a thought. Since we walked in here so openly, doesn't that mean the Hokage won't even need to investigate to know I did this? How exactly are we supposed to wrap this up without getting caught?"
...
It was a very good, very practical question. Even if they learned the jutsus, they couldn't escape the Hokage's judgment.
The only problem was the timing. You should have asked that BEFORE we started, teacher! It's a little late now!
Mission Status: The guards are down. The scroll is within reach. But the "Mastermind" has just realized she left a trail wider than a summon's footprint.