Chapter 36 - The Scroll of Sealing!

Exiting the celebratory lunch, I headed towards the Uchiha district. As I neared the familiar gates, a figure emerged from the bustling street, the leader of the Fuma Clan, Zō.With a respectful bow, I greeted him. "Hello, Zō-san. How have you been?"Zō chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, Sasuke. And congratulations on becoming a full-fledged genin! Make us all proud, especially your clan."A smile tugged at my lips. "Thank you for your kind words, Uncle. Would you care to join me inside?"He waved a hand dismissively. "Not today, I'm afraid. Still have some loose ends to tie up. I simply wanted to present you with a graduation gift."Zō produced a beautifully wrapped package and urged me to open it. Inside lay a katana, custom-made to my specifications. I grasped the handle, drawing the blade from its sheath. It felt remarkably light and balanced. A single experimental swing left me wide-eyed. The blade was unbelievably sharp, slicing effortlessly through the air, the disturbed air shimmering in its wake."It's incredibly sharp," I murmured, impressed."Indeed," Zō replied. "Now, place a drop of your blood on the seal etched onto the handle. It will activate the chakra metal."Following his instructions, I pricked my finger and touched the seal. The blade pulsed with a momentary glow. To my astonishment, it seemed to eagerly accept my chakra, flowing through it so seamlessly that even a shinobi with minimal control could utilize it. However, maintaining a neutral chakra flow within the blade while holding it required some skill.With a satisfied nod, I sheathed the katana and secured it to my back. After expressing my gratitude to Zō, we parted ways, each heading back to our respective homes.Lost in thought about the day's events, I arrived at my training ground. As I contemplated my training regimen, Yugao, my assigned Anbu guard, materialized before me."Lord Hokage informed me today," she began, "that with your graduation, my assignment to guard you is complete.""So today is your last day," I acknowledged.Yugao offered a curt nod.A thought struck me. "If you ever consider leaving Anbu," I suggested, "the Uchiha Police Force could benefit from your experience. Having someone with your skillset would be a valuable asset."Yugao seemed momentarily amused by the proposition. "I'll keep it in mind," she replied.A comfortable silence settled between us for a moment before I spoke again. "Would you be willing to help me hone my kenjutsu skills for a while?""Certainly," Yugao agreed. "What techniques would you like to focus on?""I'd like you to demonstrate some advanced techniques," I explained. "I'll use my Sharingan to record them so I can practice them later.""Very well," Yugao conceded. "But be cautious when practicing these techniques on your own."I simply grunted in acknowledgment, "Hn."Under the cloak of night, Naruto crept towards the Hokage's residence, a secret mission entrusted to him by Mizuki, his sensei. Stealing the Scroll of Sealing, so claimed Mizuki, was a final test to ensure Naruto's graduation from the academy. Fueled by a desperate desire to prove himself and graduate at last, Naruto navigated the unfamiliar house with practiced stealth.A triumphant grin stretched across his face as he found himself in an empty room. "Looks like the old geezer isn't even here," he muttered, confidence swelling. "This'll be a breeze!"But just as he spoke, a voice boomed from behind him, shattering the illusion of an easy heist. "What in the world are you doing in my house at this hour?!" boomed the Third Hokage.Naruto yelped, whipping around and forming a hand seal. "Behold! The mighty Sexy Jutsu!" he declared.The sight that greeted the Hokage was…unconventional, to say the least. The years of bachelorhood seemed to catch up with the old man, his surprise morphing into a comical mix of nosebleeds and fainting. Years of pent-up frustration with Naruto's antics likely didn't help either.Seizing the opportunity, Naruto scanned the room, his eyes landing on the coveted scroll. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed, securing the bulky scroll to his back. With a burst of chakra, he transformed into his signature fox form and bolted towards the training ground, oblivious to the malicious glint in Mizuki's eyes as he watched from the shadows.Meanwhile, Sasuke finished his training session with Yugao. "Thanks for the help," he acknowledged, his usual stoicism in place.Yugao, ever-professional, offered a curt nod. "Don't mention it. It's getting late. Are you heading to the forest for some night training?"Sasuke grunted in agreement."Well then, after you."Back at the Hokage's office, a different scene unfolded. "He managed to find out about the Scroll of Sealing and steal it!" roared the Third Hokage, his voice laced with urgency.The assembled shinobi bristled in anger. "This is a serious offense!" one yelled."The scroll contains dangerous techniques sealed away by the First Hokage for a reason!" another chimed in."We can't let it fall into the wrong hands!" a third declared.The Hokage, his brow furrowed in concern, addressed the room. "It's been missing for half a day. We need to find Naruto…and that scroll…immediately!"With a wave of his hand, the shinobi scattered, mobilizing a search party. Iruka, Naruto's concerned teacher, volunteered to start his search in the very place he knew Naruto would likely head – the training ground.Meanwhile, deep within the forest, Sasuke felt a familiar chakra signature approaching. "So you finally decided to show your face, Naruto," he thought with a smirk.Naruto, oblivious to the danger lurking nearby, unfurled the scroll, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's see," he murmured, his voice hushed with excitement. "First technique…Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. Ugh, not this one again. Here goes nothing…" He began clumsily practicing the jutsu, unaware of the Sharingan recording his every move from the shadows.Sasuke, concealed within the darkness, focused his Sharingan on the scroll. "Blood Clone Technique…Flying Thunder God…interesting. Some Wood Release jutsus too. Hmm, the hand signs for the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu are slightly different…worth copying just in case. There's also the Five Element Seal, Four Symbols Seal, and the Eight Trigrams Sealing Formula. Reaper Death Seal? Nah, I'll skip that one. Ninjutsu can even be performed subconsciously while sleeping. Next is, Sage Art: Gate of the Great God and... Yeah that's it, rest of the scroll is closed."(Here, look at the picture in the comments. It's shown genin Sasuke riding his Hawk summoning. And it's official drawing by writer from the official manga. So, can we assume that Uchiha clan made Sasuke sign Hawn contract early or Sasuke had the contract at home and sign it after the massacre?)(Done! Next chapter will be uploaded in few hours. Have a great Day/Night!)