The graduation exam at the Ninja Academy ended quickly.
Iruka returned to the classroom and announced, "Those who pass the graduation exam should report here day after tomorrow. You'll each be assigned a Team-Leading Jonin, and from then on, your Jonin instructor will guide you through missions. Dismissed!"
Naruto Uzumaki left the classroom alone.
At this time, Naruto had no friends at all. To others, he was a frequently bullied, socially ostracized, and deeply lonely person.
Just before leaving the classroom, Naruto sensed someone secretly watching him from behind.
He turned around, only to catch sight of a small figure darting away the moment their eyes met.
Naruto frowned slightly because he recognized who had been watching him—it was Hinata Hyuga.
With Hinata Hyuga, Naruto always felt she was secretly watching him, though he didn't understand why. Still, he found it somewhat annoying.
After all, his entire life had been spent under surveillance. Hinata constantly observing him gave him a similar feeling of being watched.
Even though Naruto knew Hinata wasn't trying to spy on him, the feeling of being watched still really bothered him.
Naruto paid no attention to Hinata and walked right out of the Ninja Academy without looking back.
Hinata let out a sigh of relief, unaware that Naruto had already noticed her, believing she had hidden herself well.
Hinata couldn't understand why so many people disliked Naruto or how he had become so withdrawn, especially since he used to seem so cheerful and noble-hearted...
As Naruto left the school, he noticed many parents picking up their children stop and whisper upon seeing him, particularly glancing at the forehead protector in his hand.
"Hey, it's that kid."
"That's the one. How could someone like him actually become a ninja?"
"Yeah, isn't it a disaster if someone like him becomes a ninja?"
"People like him shouldn't even be allowed in the Ninja Academy, let alone become ninja! Think about it—he's dangerous just being here!"
...
Naruto clenched the forehead protector tighter and walked forward in silence.
As Naruto passed by a tree, Mizuki suddenly stepped out from behind it.
"Naruto, can we talk privately for a moment?"
Naruto looked at Mizuki and slightly furrowed his brow.
His interactions with Mizuki had been minimal, but [Sense Hostility] always warned him—Mizuki carried a deep hatred for him.
Therefore, he found it strange that Mizuki wanted to speak to him alone.
Still, from the corner of his eye, Naruto caught sight of someone watching him at the academy entrance—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Since Mizuki wanted to talk, Naruto decided he might as well hear what he had to say.
Naruto nodded slightly. "Alright."
Naruto followed Mizuki away.
On the rooftop of a building,
Naruto and Mizuki stood side by side.
Mizuki smiled and said, "Congratulations, Naruto. You're finally a full-fledged ninja now."
Naruto Uzumaki said coldly, "Thanks, Sensei Mizuki. What did you want to talk to me about?"
Mizuki looked at Naruto seriously and said, "You must have heard the bias people have against you. I have a method that can eliminate their prejudice toward you. Do you want to know what it is?"
Naruto smirked inwardly. So Mizuki was trying to manipulate him into doing something underhanded.
Before Naruto could say he wasn't interested, he recalled seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi at the entrance of the Ninja Academy earlier. The Hokage had witnessed Mizuki approaching him, and his expression had looked rather grave. Could it be that Hiruzen already knew what Mizuki was planning?
"I'd like to know," Naruto asked curiously. "What's your plan, Sensei Mizuki?"
A faint smile curved Mizuki's lips as he replied, "This is a big secret, but since you insist on knowing, I'll tell you. In the deepest room on the third floor of the Hokage Tower, there's a Scroll known as the Scroll of Seals. It contains many powerful Ninjutsu. If you master them, you will certainly eliminate others' prejudices against you."
Naruto glanced at Mizuki with genuine amusement.
Mizuki wore an expression clearly thinking that Naruto would definitely go for this trick.
However, Naruto became certain too—Hiruzen Sarutobi must have known exactly what Mizuki intended to do.
After all, how could the Scroll of Seals, containing such powerful Ninjutsu, be so thoroughly studied by someone merely at the Chunin level?
Now everything made sense—the Hokage's previously serious look probably meant he suspected Mizuki would make Naruto steal the Scroll of Seals.
Naruto gave Mizuki a bright grin. "Thank you, Sensei Mizuki. I'll go get the Scroll of Seals right away."
Naruto pretended he was heading straight to the Hokage Tower to retrieve the Scroll.
Mizuki's mind raced—the Hokage Tower would be packed with people right now; there was no way Naruto could get his hands on the Scroll without being noticed. If Naruto were caught and implicated him, everything would be over.
He hurriedly stopped Naruto. "Wait, Naruto! Not yet. Wait until tonight when no one's around."
Naruto narrowed his eyes suspiciously and asked, "When everyone's gone? Are you saying I should sneak in?"
Mizuki hesitated slightly before forcing an explanation, "It's a test—a test of your stealth abilities as a ninja."
Naruto feigned confusion. "Is that so?"
Mizuki pressed on, "This really is a test—an important opportunity for you to prove your stealth abilities. Ninja usually operate under cover of night, so wait until late at night to act. If you successfully retrieve the Scroll of Seals and deliver it to me, it proves you're qualified to learn those Ninjutsu from it."
Naruto stared at Mizuki briefly before nodding. "I see, Sensei Mizuki. Then I'll go later tonight. Thank you. I'll head home first to prepare."
Mizuki reminded him, "Tonight, at midnight. Don't forget—this opportunity only comes once!"
"I remember. I won't forget."
Naruto left the rooftop.
At home, Naruto sat in silence, lost in thought.
Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew Mizuki wanted to steal the Scroll of Seals, yet he didn't stop him. Even when he saw Mizuki approaching him, there was no way someone as cunning as Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't have realized Mizuki was here to take it.
So why didn't he stop him? Was it because he wanted to see if Mizuki would actually go through with the theft?
Naruto Uzumaki wondered whether he should just go ahead and steal the Scroll of Seals himself.
After a while, Naruto's furrowed brow softened as a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Why not do it? I trusted my teacher at the Ninja Academy — I'm going to steal the Scroll of Seals in the hope of changing how people see me. If you're gonna blame anyone, blame me for being too dumb and too trusting."
[Scroll of Seals]... I also want to see what jutsu are recorded inside.
With his decision made, Naruto Uzumaki sat in silence, waiting for the night to fall.
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