A sharp knock echoed through the Hokage’s office, pulling Naruto’s attention from the scattered reports on his desk. The heavy doors creaked open, and two shinobi stepped inside, their grips firm on the collar of a boy they held between them.

The boy couldn’t have been more than thirteen or fourteen. A strip of black cloth was tied tightly across his eyes, hiding whatever lay beneath. His posture was unnervingly still, as though the firm hold on him was unnecessary. He neither struggled nor resisted—he simply stood there, head angled slightly as if listening to every sound in the room.

“We found him sneaking around the village outskirts,” one of the shinobi reported, their voice carrying a faint edge of suspicion. “He’s not from the Leaf.”

Naruto leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes as he studied the boy. Despite being restrained, the youth’s expression was unreadable, his blindfolded face turned toward the Hokage as though he could see straight through the cloth.