The Nine-Tails let out a cold snort and withdrew its head.
It didn't explain what happened that day, nor did it want to mention those "Mangekyō Sharingan."
Even sealed inside someone else's body, as the most powerful tailed beast, it still had its pride.
Being controlled…
That was far too humiliating to talk about.
Naruto took the initiative to leave that space.
Lying on his bed, his mind was in chaos.
He really wanted to return to the Soul Society soon. The instructors or upperclassmen at the Shinō Academy would surely help him find a way to deal with this. At the very least, they would listen to his emotional outbursts.
Since returning to Konoha, he had been searching.
But he hadn't encountered any "Shinigami."
Nor had he run into the "Hollow"—those white-masked monsters described in textbooks.
Of course, that was normal.
There was only one Shinigami per region, so the chances of encountering one weren't high.
What troubled him more was how to face that fox.
A "father-killing enemy" living inside him?
These complex emotions piling up made him hate Konoha even more.
The villagers' hatred toward him was irrational and went against what he knew to be true.
He couldn't find a single person here to confide in.
This place was not "home."
While Naruto was searching for fellow Shinigami—
Graduation exams came as scheduled.
The test was simple: successfully perform the Clone Jutsu, and as long as the clone didn't look totally off and resembled a normal person, one would pass.
For the current Naruto, that was no challenge.
But—
Compared to three years ago, when he was eager to graduate and become a full-fledged ninja…
Naruto no longer felt that "graduation" was anything worth celebrating.
He sat astride the swing at the school gate, coldly watching the bustling crowd.
Students who passed were being praised by their parents.
Those who failed were crying in their parents' arms.
There were other orphaned students like him.
But unlike him, they weren't completely alone. They had friends, teachers.
Even Sasuke Uchiha had a few chatty girls by his side.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound from behind.
He sensed chakra approaching.
It was—
Mizuki.
One of the few people in the Ninja Academy, besides Iruka-sensei, who didn't treat him horribly.
Naruto quickly turned his head.
Mizuki stopped about ten steps away, wearing a gentle smile. "You're really sharp, Naruto."
"What brings you here, Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto asked.
He had clearly come looking for him.
But their relationship wasn't so close that he'd privately come just to congratulate him.
Mizuki didn't answer the question. Instead, while approaching, he looked at the crowd by the school gate and sighed, "They really are lucky."
"To have their parents by their side."
"To have friends around them."
"But they exclude only you."
Naruto didn't respond, gripping the swing's ropes tightly.
"You're a very pitiful child." Mizuki sighed, crouching beside him. "Everyone hates you."
Naruto casually replied, "Is that what you think too, Mizuki-sensei?"
Mizuki shook his head firmly. "Of course not. I feel sorry for you."
"Do you want to know why the villagers hate you?"
Naruto's eyes sharpened instantly. "Why?"
Of course he wanted to know.
"It's a secret," Mizuki lowered his voice, sounding temptingly conspiratorial. "It's recorded in the Scroll of Seals."
"That scroll is hidden in the Hokage's building."
"If you want to know the truth, steal that scroll."
Naruto leaned back slightly.
His gaze toward Mizuki subtly changed.
He wasn't the same naive kid from three years ago when he first arrived in the Soul Society.
He could tell this guy was trying to manipulate him into stealing the so-called "Scroll of Seals."
Mizuki wanted to use him for his own ends.
Untrustworthy!
"So, that means you already know the secret, Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto didn't expose him directly. He wanted to hear what others believed about him—what spawned such hatred.
Mizuki froze.
"If you didn't know the secret," Naruto continued, "how would you know it's recorded in the Scroll of Seals?"
Mizuki shook his head.
This was going differently than expected.
He thought this fool would be easy to manipulate. Just a few words and he'd take the bait.
He didn't expect Naruto to be this sharp.
Still, everything was under control.
He composed himself.
"You're a good kid," Mizuki said with a sorrowful look. "I just didn't want to believe the rumors."
He paused, as if struggling deeply within.
After a long silence, he finally said gravely, "Twelve years ago, you heard about the Fourth Hokage sealing the Nine-Tails, right?"
Naruto nodded, and he continued, "Since then, the village has had an unspoken rule."
"A rule kept from only one person—you."
"That rule is: never mention that you are the Nine-Tails."
"These past years teaching you, I realized you're a good kid. I didn't want to believe it."
"Maybe only the scroll personally recorded by the Hokage can prove whether it's true or not."
Naruto stared at Mizuki in shock.
But inside, everything suddenly made sense.
Now he understood—
Why the villagers hated him so much.
They didn't see him as "the Fourth's son," but as the "Nine-Tails."
Still…
Why did the village have this "understanding"?
Was someone deliberately hiding his true identity?
This confirmed it—this was the correct version.
Mizuki gently placed a hand on Naruto's head, his voice soft and firm: "Go verify whether it's true."
"At night, the Hokage building is least guarded."
Naruto suddenly interrupted, "Mizuki-sensei."
Mizuki paused, puzzled. "What is it, Naruto?"
"Come with me to see Grandpa Third," Naruto said resolutely.
He wanted to know if Mizuki was lying just to get him to steal the scroll…
Or if he was using a truth for his own purposes.
Mizuki was taken aback, feeling a chill down his spine. "That rule was set by the Third himself. You won't get the truth by asking him."
"Everything is recorded in the Scroll of Seals."
"You'll only find the truth there."
Meet the Third?
No way!
Telling Naruto the truth wasn't the problem.
But if the Third found out Mizuki's real goal was the scroll, that would expose everything.
Naruto grabbed Mizuki's wrist tightly, determined. "Come on, Mizuki-sensei."
He had no interest in the Scroll of Seals.
He already knew the truth.
He was the Fourth's son. The fox really was inside him.
Now he just wanted to know what kind of explanation the Third Hokage would give him.
Mizuki's expression twisted.
He cursed inside.
What was going on?
This brat wasn't even remotely interested in the Scroll?
And he trusted the Third that much?
"If you don't trust me…" Mizuki tried to shake him off, but Naruto gripped his wrist with all his strength and refused to let go.
"Let go, Naruto!" Mizuki finally snapped, unable to maintain his friendly mask, and shouted viciously.
Naruto stood up and dragged him toward the Hokage building. "Let's go, Mizuki-sensei."
"I want to know—"
Mizuki clenched his teeth and kicked out.
He couldn't take it anymore!
Even if this was in front of the academy…
Beating a student wasn't something a teacher should do.
But—
If it was Naruto Uzumaki, no one would stop him.
Naruto had predicted Mizuki would attack.
He raised his other hand and grabbed Mizuki's foot, preparing to force it down.
Poof!
A puff of smoke exploded—
A kunai came flying. Naruto instinctively let go.
When he threw a punch, the figure had vanished into the smoke.
It was a substitution jutsu!
Where did he go?
The chakra signature had moved—up into the tree.
Naruto looked up.
Mizuki was standing on a branch, holding the trunk, his face twisted with disgust, glaring at Naruto like he was garbage. "You monster!"
"If you won't behave—"
"Then don't blame me for teaching you a lesson!"
He cursed as he spoke.
Shurikens and kunai came flying.
Naruto raised his hand and chanted an incantation:
"Hadō #1: Shō!"
It was the only Kido spell he knew.
Not very destructive, but the blast of pressure it created disrupted the weapons' trajectory. They barely grazed him and clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Mizuki was stunned.
What kind of technique was that?
A Wind-Style jutsu with no hand signs?
He'd never heard of it.
And in that instant—
Naruto crouched, leapt, and charged straight at him.
(End of Chapter)