Naruto froze for a moment at Mizuki's words. He blinked and asked,"Teacher Mizuki… what do you mean by that?"
Mizuki's state of mind seemed strange, unnervingly off, like he had taken some hallucinogen. His expression carried a sinister edge that made the atmosphere feel eerie.
Honestly, even though Naruto had already guessed Mizuki might approach him, seeing that face appear out of the shadows still gave him quite the scare.
"Tomorrow is the academy graduation exam, isn't it?" Mizuki asked.
"Mm." Naruto nodded.
"Then, Naruto, are you confident you'll pass?" Mizuki's eyes narrowed, studying Naruto with a half-smile.
"Well, you know me, Mizuki-sensei." Naruto scratched the back of his head, pretending to look embarrassed. "Most likely, my graduation's going to get delayed again this year."
"Then do you want to become stronger? I happen to know a secret that can help you pass the exam without fail."
At those words, Naruto's eyelids twitched.
If Mizuki had known about his perfect score earlier that day in the transformation exam, he wouldn't be saying this nonsense now. But Mizuki hadn't been at the academy at all that day—Naruto hadn't seen him once. Which meant he didn't know, and had come straight to Naruto instead of Iruka.
He's in a hurry… something must've gone wrong. Mizuki is desperate to trick me into stealing the Scroll of Seals.
The problem, though, was that the Scroll of Seals was nothing more than an open trap set by the village.
Naruto couldn't help but feel speechless.
Oh, so now they suddenly care about the Jinchūriki's mental state? Worried I might hold a grudge against the village? And their brilliant plan is to brainwash me with "bonding" and "acknowledgment"? Where was this effort years ago?
This village is bizarre. The higher-ups' brains must be rotting in the sewers.
They keep my parentage a tightly guarded secret, yet they're the ones who spread the Nine-Tails rumor in the first place. Cover up the fact I'm the Fourth Hokage's son, but let everyone call me a demon fox. Double standards much? Kicking me while I'm down.
Even capitalists don't play this dirty—at least they pay compensation before gaslighting you. But Konoha? They let villagers openly despise me, and then try to brainwash me into protecting the same village. The audacity!
The stage was set, the actors in place. Now came the "Will of Fire" brainwashing drama, starring the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
As long as I nod along, Mizuki will run to Iruka and "expose" me for stealing the Scroll of Seals. Sure, I could steal it easily… but only because the village wants me to.
For some reason, Mizuki really believed a kid could get away with stealing something as critical as that scroll. His eyes showed no doubt.
Naruto, however, had no intention of agreeing. He wasn't interested in the scroll. Realistically, the only thing he could learn from it in the short term was Shadow Clone Jutsu—and with his system, it wasn't worth the risk.
Besides, he had no interest in playing along with the emotional manipulation they had lined up. Pretending to be "moved" by Iruka would be more painful than death.
After all the village had done to him, he could maybe accept protecting those who treated him as an equal… but to protect the whole village?
Why should he? To repay hatred with kindness?
No way.
Just as Naruto was about to refuse outright, his system window popped up again:
[Option 1: Reject Mizuki's invitation and tell him to scram before he scares the fish. Reward: Max-Level Fishing Skill.][Option 2: Accept Mizuki's invitation and steal the Scroll of Seals. Reward: Edo Tensei (Incomplete).]
Naruto glanced over the choices and instantly decided.
Sure, stealing the scroll could get him Shadow Clone Jutsu and a broken version of Edo Tensei.
But… what use was an incomplete Edo Tensei anyway? It required living sacrifices. Tasteless if used, wasteful if not.
At the moment, there was no one Naruto even wanted to resurrect.
Shadow Clone was tempting, sure, but getting tied into all that drama would only make life troublesome later.
"Teacher Mizuki, I refuse." Naruto's voice was calm.
"What?" Mizuki was stunned.
Clearly, he hadn't expected Naruto to reject him. In his mind, Naruto was always the hot-headed dead-last with more brawn than brains.
"Why? Naruto, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If you let it slip, you'll regret it forever!"
"No need to waste your breath, Mizuki-sensei." Naruto shot him a sideways glance. "My mind is made up. Talking more won't change anything."
"Don't you want to become strong? To be recognized by the village?" Mizuki pressed desperately.
"Eh, recognition and all that… too much of a hassle." Naruto said casually, "Since I was a kid, the villagers never liked me."
"If I keep acting out, they'll just hate me more."
Mizuki was left speechless.
After a long pause, he tried again. "Naruto… don't you want to know why the villagers treat you that way?" His tone dripped with temptation.
"You mean because I'm the Nine-Tails, right?" Naruto's tone was flat, lazy even, as he held onto his fishing rod. "The demon fox that destroyed the village and killed countless people?"
"You—you know?!" Mizuki staggered back in shock.
"Please. I'm twelve, not three." Naruto turned and fixed Mizuki with a look. "I have ears, Mizuki-sensei."
"I grew up here. From as long as I can remember, I've been avoided. Shopkeepers glare at me. Villagers whisper behind my back."
"I wanted to buy fresh vegetables, to live like a normal kid in the sun. But instead, I was forced into the shadows, watching my peers go home to warm meals."
"Mizuki-sensei, you've been isolated before too, haven't you? You should understand. Suffering isn't some hidden treasure—it's just inevitable."
"When I was bullied, nobody stood up for me. But so what? I'm not the Nine-Tails. It has nothing to do with me. I'm just me—Uzumaki Naruto."
"You… you knew! And yet, you don't resent the village?" Mizuki's voice trembled.
Naruto's eyes shifted back to his fishing rod, the hook glinting under the moonlight as ripples spread across the water.
Was Mizuki asking that? Or was it the hand pulling Mizuki's strings?
Do I resent the village?
Of course. But I can't say that—not now.
After a long silence, the system chimed in his head:
[Max-Level Fishing Skill activated.]
Naruto's rod bent, and he smoothly reeled in a grass carp. His calm voice drifted through the night air, blending with the breeze:
"No."