If the plot really did change, Naruto knew he would need another plan.
He could try pestering Iruka again.
Or appeal directly to the Third Hokage.
Either way, one thing was clear: at this stage of the story, graduation was non-negotiable.
Without becoming a genin, his movements would be restricted.
Staying in the Academy was meaningless—truthfully, it had been since three years ago.
Back then, the school had already stopped being useful. All it offered now was physical conditioning. If he wanted to get stronger, he needed something else: real combat.
That was how shinobi truly grew.
Not in classrooms, but in missions—real missions, where even the simplest jobs piled up into experience.
If not for the attention it would draw, he would have tried to graduate early years ago.
So yes.
This year, graduation was mandatory.
Delays were unacceptable.
As it turned out, Naruto's worries were needless.
While he was still turning over backup plans in his mind, a familiar figure appeared at the edge of the rooftop.
Mizuki.
The moment Naruto saw him, all doubt vanished.
If Mizuki approached him now, at this exact point in time, then the plot was still intact.
Relief loosened his chest. His expression, however, remained the same: downcast, wounded, the picture of a boy crushed by failure.
That was the act he needed Mizuki to believe.
Sure enough, Mizuki walked up with that fake, warm smile and beckoned.
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
Good. Let me make full use of this chance.
Their gazes met.
Both thought the same thing.
This was a performance.
To Mizuki, Naruto was the perfect pawn.
To Naruto, Mizuki was a walking "starter pack" of experience.
And tonight, Mizuki would be milked dry.
Night fell.
A pale moon hung in the sky, veiled in thin clouds, casting the village into shadow.
Most of Konoha slept, save for a few guards and late-night drunks.
It was the perfect time for a thief to strike.
Through the darkness, one shadow darted toward the village center.
Naruto Uzumaki.
"Deceived" by Mizuki's talk of a "special graduation test."
Naruto, of course, knew exactly what that meant.
The test was nothing less than stealing one of Konoha's greatest secrets: the Scroll of Seals.
And the so-called "test site" wasn't some training ground, but the Third Hokage's own residence.
Anyone else would've panicked at the thought of touching such a taboo.
Being branded a traitor was almost certain.
Naruto, however, felt no fear.
Because he knew—he would succeed.
Not by skill, but because he was allowed to.
Because Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, would turn a blind eye.
In the original story, Naruto never understood how he'd stolen the Book so easily. Either it was a plot hole… or there was a hidden reason.
This time, Naruto had pieced it together.
The Hokage had let him.
A quiet form of compensation.
Just a guess? Perhaps.
But Naruto was eighty, ninety percent sure.
Without such permission, stealing the Book was laughable.
Forget the Naruto of the old story—even this stronger Naruto would've been captured before he even reached the scroll. ANBU were everywhere, and the Book was surely locked behind layers of barriers he couldn't hope to break.
So if he walked in tonight and nothing stopped him, that would be the proof.
Perched on a tree outside the Hokage's residence, Naruto scanned the compound.
"So this is where the old man lives, huh? Spacious place…"
According to "kind, gentle Mizuki-sensei," the scroll was here.
Take it, and he'd graduate.
Naruto smirked.
He could still picture Mizuki's syrupy smile from earlier, dripping with false concern.
An idiot, but a useful idiot. I'll make sure to send you off properly, Mizuki-sensei.
He crouched low, then vaulted the wall with ease, landing silently inside.
Theatrical or not, he still played the role of thief—slowing his steps, quieting his breath. No barging in through the front door.
Even if this was a play, some stagecraft was required.
The real challenge wasn't stealing the scroll.
It was what came next.
He needed to study as much as possible before meeting Mizuki. Not just the Shadow Clone technique—other forbidden techniques too.
And he had to do it without the Hokage realizing.
Because if the old fox noticed… who knew what tricks the politician might pull.
That, tonight, was Naruto's only real concern.
Mizuki?
Please.
Even the Naruto of the original story had crushed him easily.
In this life, there was no way Mizuki would be more than a speed bump.