Ninja School.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Akihara Kagura stood on high ground.
The Third Hokage and this young Hokage's aide sized up a group of graduating Genin, also noticing the disappearance of Mizuki, Umino Iruka, and Uzumaki Naruto.
"Are you all prepared?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen quietly asked Akihara Kagura.
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura nodded and continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, they should be on their way to steal the Scroll of Seals now. This time, I strictly followed the guidance of the Hokage. Neither the process nor the result should have any mistakes..."
"???"
Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow.
What do you mean there won't be any mistakes!
It seems like something unexpected has already happened!
According to his own guidance, wasn't Mizuki supposed to lure Uzumaki Naruto to steal the Scroll of Seals, and then Umino Iruka would go to stop Mizuki and Uzumaki Naruto?
Why did Umino Iruka go to steal the Scroll of Seals as well?
Of course.
If we're speaking seriously...
Actually, Umino Iruka, Mizuki, and Uzumaki Naruto weren't going to steal the Scroll of Seals, because they didn't need to sneak in or rob it from someone.
Perhaps this action should be called taking.
The group went to the home of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Umino Iruka was hesitating about whether to go along, but a word from Mizuki made it impossible for him to disobey.
"This is an order from the higher-ups."
Mizuki looked at Umino Iruka, smiling at him: "The village's higher-ups have ordered us to take Naruto to learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique from the Scroll of Seals. We'll judge whether Naruto can become a ninja based on his learning results..."
"..."
Umino Iruka was in turmoil.
He had indeed received such an order, yet that technique is a forbidden jutsu that could endanger Uzumaki Naruto's life.
However...
Umino Iruka couldn't refuse.
Along the way, the two of them, taking Uzumaki Naruto with them, almost effortlessly arrived at Sarutobi Hiruzen's home. A Root ninja guarding the Scroll of Seals handed it over to them upon seeing Umino Iruka and Mizuki arriving together.
"Chunin Iruka, were you ordered to retrieve the Scroll of Seals? Lord Kagura has instructed that it be handed over to you if you came for it."
"Yes."
Umino Iruka blankly accepted the Scroll of Seals.
"Then we'll be leaving now."
Mizuki, still smiling, greeted them, taking Umino Iruka and Uzumaki Naruto away: "First, let's find a place for Naruto to learn the techniques recorded in the Scroll of Seals..."
Inside a training ground in the Village of Konoha.
Umino Iruka, holding the Scroll of Seals, still felt uneasy: "Should we wait, isn't it unsafe for a child like Naruto to learn forbidden jutsu? After all, the techniques recorded in the Scroll of Seals are very dangerous, should we..."
"It's okay, I can do it, Teacher Iruka!"
Uzumaki Naruto adjusted his goggles on his head, eager to learn the techniques from the Scroll of Seals and replace his goggles with a ninja headband.
"Hurry up."
Mizuki took the Scroll of Seals from Umino Iruka's hands, spread it out on the ground, and whispered, "The Scroll of Seals is a secret of the village. It was not easy for us to obtain it. I spent quite a bit of effort to get the Scroll of Seals..."
"..."
Umino Iruka suddenly felt that something was not quite right.
However, Uzumaki Naruto seemed to still be unaware, looking down at the Scroll of Seals, recorded with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, somewhat despondently said, "I'm not good at clone techniques to begin with, how could I possibly learn such a difficult technique..."
"It's okay."
Mizuki patted Uzumaki Naruto's little head, smiling warmly as he said, "If you can't learn it, we won't bother with it anymore. After all, you've already tried your hardest…"
"Huh?"
Uzumaki Naruto looked at Mizuki, curiously asking, "But if I don't master this technique, doesn't that mean I won't be able to graduate…"
"What a naive and adorable little guy!"
Mizuki chuckled gently, saying with a soft laugh, "After today, you'll be considered a criminal of the village. Why worry about graduating then?"
"Criminal?"
Uzumaki Naruto's face wrinkled in confusion: "What do you mean?"
"Naruto!"
Umino Iruka grabbed Uzumaki Naruto with one hand.
At that moment, Umino Iruka wasn't sure what was going on with Mizuki, but he was certain that something was off about him, and he couldn't let Naruto be in danger!
However, Umino Iruka's action was blocked, as Mizuki caught Umino Iruka's wrist. Umino Iruka, unwilling to give up, tried to fight back!
Mizuki's physical skills had become exceptionally good at some point, effortlessly defeating Umino Iruka's resistance and kicking him away!
"A criminal… indeed, a criminal…"
Mizuki then turned to a shocked Uzumaki Naruto, his smile gradually becoming more sinister: "Twelve years ago, you committed the same crime, Uzumaki Naruto…"
"Shut up!"
Umino Iruka charged towards Mizuki!
However, Mizuki flipped his hand, throwing several shurikens, severely injuring Umino Iruka!
"Let's continue our earlier conversation…"
"Twelve years ago, the Nine-Tails Fox inside you caused the Kyuubi calamity in Konoha, leading to significant losses for the entire village and also killing Iruka's parents…"
Mizuki squatted next to Uzumaki Naruto, speaking cruel words with a smile: "I've always been curious, what exactly motivated Iruka to treat you the way he does. I don't understand why he took such good care of you. Did he think the Nine-Tails inside you wouldn't go berserk?"
"So…"
Uzumaki Naruto looked incredulously at the person in front of him.
Is this the reason he has been ostracized by the people in the village?
Mizuki gently caressed the shocked and frightened face of Uzumaki Naruto, continuing: "So, I plan to try using the technique recorded in the Scroll of Seals to unseal the Nine-Tails inside you, and let Iruka witness another Kyuubi calamity…"
"Mizuki!"
A sudden panic rose in Umino Iruka's heart!
"Actually, this is quite difficult…"
Mizuki looked at Umino Iruka, smiling and saying, "Because only the Hokage can keep the Scroll of Seals, and it's impossible to obtain through any other means… Fortunately, I received a piece of news."
"What news?"
Umino Iruka stared intensely at Mizuki.
"You should know the source of the news."
Mizuki glanced at Umino Iruka, then at Uzumaki Naruto: "Remember when you attended the birthday party of Hokage's assistant, Akihara Kagura? There was a spy sent by Orochimaru at that party, and I got a piece of news from there…"
"The higher-ups in the village seem to have planned that if Uzumaki Naruto couldn't pass the test, they would teach him a forbidden jutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. This was an opportunity to get the Scroll of Seals…"
"We've grown up together, and I know you're not good at academics, you definitely wouldn't be able to learn the forbidden jutsu from the Scroll of Seals on your own. You would need to bring out the Scroll of Seals to teach Naruto, so I tentatively took you and Naruto to try and take the Scroll of Seals, never expecting that the person in charge would actually give it to you…"
"…"
Umino Iruka's heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cave.
Even Iruka had never imagined that Mizuki would hear this news, and even deceived himself into thinking that Mizuki had received the same orders!
And the result…
Mizuki managed to get his hands on the Scroll of Seals!
This childhood friend, whose thoughts were so deep!
Umino Iruka had never thought that Mizuki could be this kind of person!
"Now I've got the Scroll of Seals."
Mizuki spread his palms open, looking down at the Scroll of Seals under his feet, then at Uzumaki Naruto by his side, and bared his teeth, revealing a ferocious smile: "As long as I learn the techniques from the Scroll of Seals and use them to release the Nine-Tails' seal on Naruto, I can make Konoha recall the fear of the Nine-Tails' incident twelve years ago!"
"Why would you do such a thing!"
Umino Iruka looked at Mizuki, biting his teeth and struggling to lunge forward despite his pain: "Why would you do this! You should know the terror of the Nine-Tails as well..."
"Of course, I know."
Mizuki nodded, yet kicked Naruto, who was still stunned by his side, and retorted: "Then why do you care about this brat? You clearly know he is the Nine-Tails fox, you know the terror of the Nine-Tails, even saw your own parents die in the Nine-Tails' incident twelve years ago, why not think of a way to kill him?"
...
Iruka fell silent.
This Chunin teacher saw the bewildered and panicked look in Uzumaki Naruto's eyes and suddenly smiled: "Naruto is not the fox; he is different. He is an outstanding student recognized by me, the disaster twelve years ago was not his fault..."
"Naruto has always been an innocent child, that kid is neither smart nor cunning, but he can focus very intently on one thing. He is a very outstanding student, recognized by many, not just me..."
"Teacher Iruka..."
Naruto looked at his teacher in a daze.
"This is what I hate the most about you."
Mizuki coldly interrupted the teacher-student interaction, making no secret of his disdain: "Always acting like a good teacher, as if you are the only suitable teacher in all of Konoha. When the village revoked my teaching qualification, but let you into the Ninja Academy..."
"I..."
Iruka looked at his friend, unable to speak, and trembled as he began: "Mizuki, we are friends, I..."
"Shut up!"
Mizuki cut him off, his face full of disgust: "Being friends with you was only because you were a weakling that could be used, but I never thought you would take the path I wanted. Every time I see that innocent expression of yours, I feel disgusted..."
Mizuki spread his hands as if they were claws, clasping and releasing: "So I want to deal with you in the most painful way possible... I want you to understand your mistake, I want all of Konoha to know the mistake they have made!"
"I want you all to regret..."
"Regret the humiliation you've done to me!"
"I will let everyone know, I am the most talented ninja in Konoha, I want Lord Orochimaru to know, I will help him destroy Konoha!"
"I won't let you!"
Uzumaki Naruto leaped into the air, throwing a punch at Mizuki: "Teacher Iruka treats you as a friend, how could you do this to him! I won't let you use me to destroy the village!"
"Just a brat!"
Mizuki moved incredibly fast, almost instantly deflecting Uzumaki Naruto's arm and grabbed Uzumaki Naruto's neck: "If it weren't for needing the Nine-Tails inside this brat, I could easily twist off your head with just a little effort..."
After saying that, Mizuki threw Uzumaki Naruto out, sitting carelessly beside the Scroll of Seals, flipping through it for the techniques he wanted.
Mizuki was not at all worried about Uzumaki Naruto trying to escape, even coldly saying: "Brat, don't think about running away. No one in the village will notice this place, it's far from the village, this time you can't escape from the palm of my hand..."
...
Iruka's heart sank to the bottom.
Especially Iruka, a Chunin, he knew how strong Mizuki was in front of him, neither he nor Uzumaki Naruto were his match!
Iruka never thought Mizuki could be so terrifying, not only far surpassing his peers in strength but also possessing a cunning that far exceeds ordinary people, considering everything before carrying out this conspiracy!
If no accidental factors intervened...
Once Mizuki mastered the techniques from the Scroll of Seals, he would certainly cause the Nine-Tails' disturbance!
At this moment...
We must not give up!
We cannot let the Nine-Tails' disturbance happen in Konoha again!
Even if it costs our lives!
However, Iruka was pierced by several shurikens and couldn't even stand up, possibly dying there at any moment. Fortunately, Uzumaki Naruto, this naive kid, still knew to care for him and rushed over to inquire about his teacher.
"Teacher Iruka, how are you?"
"Naruto…"
Umino Iruka looked at Uzumaki Naruto, then glanced at Mizuki not far away, and finally realized he had no choice but to place his hope in the student before him: "Do you still remember your dream?"
"Of course!"
"I want to become the Hokage!"
"To become the greatest Hokage!"
Uzumaki Naruto's unyielding dream was to "become a Hokage who surpasses all previous Hokage! To be acknowledged by everyone!"
"So…"
Umino Iruka looked at Uzumaki Naruto, and said softly, "Are you prepared to sacrifice your life for this? Just like the Fourth Hokage did twelve years ago during the Nine-Tails' attack, sacrificing his life to save the village. Do you have such determination?"
"Yes!"
Uzumaki Naruto bit his lip with a resolute expression.
"Then… it's time…"
Umino Iruka looked at Uzumaki Naruto with an unprecedented seriousness: "Now, we must stop Mizuki from learning to break the seal. Did you see the technique of Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu? That's a powerful technique, capable of creating many clones…"
"If you can use that technique…"
"You can stop Mizuki from using you to cause the Nine-Tails' disturbance…"
"But…"
Uzumaki Naruto hesitated, doubting his own talent.
Umino Iruka looked at the student before him, and said solemnly, "If you want to steadfastly do something, you must be prepared to risk your life, believing that you can achieve it… Naruto, do you have the determination to protect Konoha at all costs?"
Besides learning that technique…
They really had no other choice!
Uzumaki Naruto's other techniques were not up to standard, only his physical testing and stamina were decent, but facing Mizuki, just a few shuriken could block his path of escape!
"Yes!"
Uzumaki Naruto gritted his teeth, raised his fingers, and struggled to recall the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu he had seen.
"Ninjutsu·Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Perhaps this technique was inherently compatible with him, or perhaps it was his resolve at the moment, but when Uzumaki Naruto raised his fingers and let the chakra flow within him, countless shadow clones appeared beside him!
"Naruto!"
A severely injured Umino Iruka's face lit up with joy!
Naruto succeeded…
This meant Mizuki's conspiracy had encountered an unexpected setback!
"Hm?"
Mizuki, as if just realizing what was happening, turned around only to see countless Uzumaki Naruto clones surrounding him, his body involuntarily trembling!
These numerous clones gave Uzumaki Naruto tremendous confidence, believing that so many could overcome Mizuki and resolve the crisis of the Nine-Tails' disturbance!
"Brat…"
"You… you think this will defeat me?"
"Let's see then!"
Countless clones pounced towards Mizuki!
With Mizuki being overwhelmed by a group of clones, the crisis that could have sparked another Nine-Tails' disturbance was destined to end – or rather, its outcome was predetermined from the start.
Outside the training ground.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, hiding nearby and holding a pipe in his mouth, looked on with rare satisfaction, nodding to Akihara Kagura beside him: "This time, it was indeed well done. But how did you convince Mizuki?"
"It was simple."
Akihara Kagura did not mention at all that he allowed Tendo Shisui to use shadows to manipulate Mizuki. Instead, he reached out and pulled out Mizuki's confession: "As long as he agrees to act well, I might consider leaving him a whole corpse, considering his mistake is serious enough to warrant interrogation…"
"This is…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, upon seeing the list of crimes written by Mizuki himself, had some predictions in his heart: "It turns out that the teammate Mizuki reported as dead due to injuries was killed by him. At that time, I thought disregarding a teammate's life and death already made him unfit to be a teacher, but I didn't expect him to go to such lengths, even killing his own teammate…"
As Sarutobi Hiruzen continued reading, when he saw the last part about colluding with Orochimaru, he sighed softly: "Orochimaru, this guy, indeed becomes the greatest danger to Konoha…"
"Yes…"
Akihara Kagura nodded, then suddenly said, "However, Teacher Jiraiya thinks Lord Danzo is the most dangerous…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent, unable to speak.
Both Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo are dangers to Konoha.
"Let's go."
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around and said, "Let's go back to rest early. Tomorrow we still have to discuss the division of these graduates and the selection of Jonin instructors…"
"What about the Scroll of Seals?"
Akihara Kagura looked at the Scroll of Seals, curiously asking, "What techniques are written in the Scroll of Seals? Are there stronger techniques?"
"No."
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately dismissed Akihara Kagura's thought, saying solemnly, "The Scroll of Seals is just some forbidden techniques left by the Second Hokage. Its power is far less than the First Hokage's Wood Release. It's not worth your time to learn…"
The forbidden techniques not only have no learning value but might even lead Akihara Kagura astray. The techniques involve using living people as sacrifices, and Akihara Kagura is not particularly concerned about life.
Sarutobi Hiruzen plans to have Anbu come to retrieve the Scroll of Seals as soon as he returns. He doesn't want Akihara Kagura to see the contents of the Scroll of Seals.
However…
Akihara Kagura wouldn't care.
Because when arranging for the Scroll of Seals, letting his subordinates see the contents of the Scroll of Seals is enough, as long as the subordinates can recount the names of the techniques and their simple contents, without needing the numerous steps and even pictures for learning.
~~~
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