The Nine-Tails snorted coldly and withdrew its head. It didn't bother to explain what happened that day, nor did it want to mention those "Mangekyō Sharingan." Even sealed inside someone else's body, as the most powerful Tailed Beast, it still had its dignity. To be controlled by others was too humiliating to even talk about.
Naruto left the space voluntarily and lay on his bed, his mind in turmoil. He really wanted to return to the Soul Society as soon as possible. The teachers or older students at the Shinō Academy would surely help him find a solution, or at least they would be willing to listen to his feelings.
During his time back in Konoha, he had been searching, but he hadn't encountered any "Shinigami." Nor had he seen any of the "Hollows" described in the textbooks, those monsters with white masks. Of course, that was normal. There's usually only one Shinigami per area, so the chance of encountering one wasn't high.
What troubled him more was how to deal with that fox—a "father-killer" living inside him. These complicated emotions only made him hate Konoha even more. The villagers' hatred for him was baffling, even contradictory to what he knew. This place wasn't a "home" at all, and there was no one here he could confide in.
While Naruto was searching for a fellow Shinigami, the graduation exam came as scheduled. The exam was simple: just successfully perform the Clone Technique, making the clone look like a normal person, and you could graduate. For Naruto, this was no challenge at all.
However, unlike three years ago when he was eager to graduate and become a full-fledged ninja, Naruto didn't feel that "graduation" was something to celebrate. He sat on the swing at the school gate, watching the lively crowd with cold eyes.
Students who passed the exam were being praised by their parents. Those who didn't pass cried in their parents' arms. There were also plenty of orphaned students like him, but unlike Naruto, they still had friends and teachers by their side. Even Sasuke Uchiha was surrounded by a few chattering girls.
Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound from behind. Chakra was approaching him. It was... Mizuki. One of the few people in the Ninja Academy who, like Iruka-sensei, didn't treat him with outright hostility.
Naruto immediately turned his head to look. Mizuki stopped about ten steps away, a gentle smile on his face. "Naruto, you're really sharp, aren't you?"
"Is there something you need, Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto asked. He knew Mizuki was here for him, but their relationship wasn't close enough for Mizuki to come over and congratulate him privately.
Mizuki didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at the crowd at the school gate and sighed, "They really are fortunate, aren't they? To have their parents by their side, to have friends around them. And yet, they all exclude you, Naruto."
Naruto said nothing, gripping the ropes of the swing tightly.
"You're a very pitiful person," Mizuki sighed again, crouching beside Naruto. "Everyone hates you."
Naruto casually asked, "Is that what you think too, Mizuki-sensei?"
Mizuki shook his head decisively. "Of course not. I pity you." He leaned in closer, his voice low and filled with temptation. "Do you want to know why everyone in the village hates you?"
Naruto's eyes immediately sharpened. "Why?"
"That's a secret," Mizuki whispered, his tone full of allure. "It's recorded in the Scroll of Seals, hidden in the Hokage's office. If you want to know the secret, go and steal that scroll."
Naruto leaned back slightly, his gaze subtly changing as he looked at Mizuki. He wasn't the naïve boy he was three years ago when he first arrived in the Soul Society. He could tell that Mizuki was trying to manipulate him into stealing that Scroll of Seals for his own purposes. Clearly, Mizuki had ulterior motives.
"So, Mizuki-sensei must know that secret then, right?" Naruto didn't expose Mizuki's plot directly. He wanted to understand why others viewed him the way they did, why they harbored such hatred.
Mizuki was taken aback.
"If Mizuki-sensei doesn't know the secret, how could you know it's in the Scroll of Seals?" Naruto pressed on.
Mizuki shook his head, realizing things weren't going as planned. He had thought Naruto would be easy to fool, that he would take the bait with just a few words. But unexpectedly, Naruto was sharper than he anticipated. Still, Mizuki felt confident he could control the situation.
"You're a good kid," Mizuki sighed, pretending to be conflicted. "I just don't want to believe the rumors." He paused, as if struggling internally, before finally speaking in a heavy tone. "Twelve years ago, you heard about how the Fourth Hokage sealed the demon fox, right?" Seeing Naruto nod, he continued, "Since then, there's been an unwritten rule in the village, kept secret from you alone: no one is allowed to mention that you're the demon fox."
"Over the years I've taught you, I've seen that you're a good child, so I don't want to believe it. But maybe only the scroll personally recorded by the Third Hokage can prove whether this is true or not."
Naruto looked at Mizuki in surprise, but inside, everything clicked into place. No wonder the villagers hated him so much. They didn't know he was the Fourth Hokage's son; they thought he was the demon fox. But why did the villagers have this "understanding"? Was someone deliberately hiding his true identity?
Mizuki gently placed his hand on Naruto's head, his voice soft yet firm. "Go verify the truth for yourself. The Hokage's office is the least guarded at night."
Suddenly, Naruto interrupted, "Mizuki-sensei."
Mizuki stopped, puzzled. "What is it, Naruto?"
"Let's go together to see Grandpa Hokage," Naruto said, his expression resolute. He wanted to know if what Mizuki said was true, whether it was just a lie to manipulate him into stealing the Scroll of Seals or if it was a fact being used for deceit.
Mizuki's face stiffened, his body tensing. "That rule is the Third Hokage's order. Asking him won't get you the real answer. Everything is recorded in the Scroll of Seals. Only by getting that can you know the truth."
See the Third Hokage? Impossible! Revealing the truth to Naruto wasn't a big deal, but if he found out Mizuki was after the Scroll of Seals, his plan would be exposed.
Naruto grabbed Mizuki's wrist, his attitude firm. "Mizuki-sensei, let's go."
He wasn't interested in the Scroll of Seals. After all, he already knew the truth: he was the Fourth Hokage's son, and yes, there was a "fox" inside him. Now, he just wanted to hear what the Third Hokage had to say.
Mizuki's expression twisted in frustration. He cursed inwardly. What was going on? This brat had no interest in the Scroll of Seals and trusted the Third Hokage that much?
"If you don't trust me..." Mizuki tried to pull away, but Naruto held his wrist tightly, not letting go.
"Let go, Naruto!" Mizuki's façade finally cracked. He couldn't maintain the gentle expression anymore and shouted angrily.
Naruto stood up, dragging Mizuki toward the Hokage's office. "Mizuki-sensei, just come with me to see Grandpa Hokage."
Mizuki gritted his teeth, raising his foot to kick Naruto. He couldn't hold back any longer! Even if this was right outside the Ninja Academy, even if hitting a student was against the rules for a teacher, it didn't matter when the target was Naruto Uzumaki. No one would stop him.
Naruto had anticipated Mizuki's attack. He raised his other hand, catching Mizuki's kick and pushing it down.
With a puff of smoke, Mizuki disappeared, replaced by a wooden log—a substitution technique!
Where did he go?
Naruto looked up and saw Mizuki standing on a tree branch, glaring down at him with pure hatred. "You monster! If you're going to be this stubborn, don't blame me for teaching you a lesson."
He cursed as he hurled shuriken and kunai at Naruto.
Naruto raised his hand, chanting a spell. "Bakudō #1: Sai!" Though it was a basic Kido, the sudden burst of energy disrupted the projectiles' trajectory, causing them to miss him and fall harmlessly to the ground.
Mizuki was shocked. What was that technique? A Wind Release jutsu that didn't require hand signs? He had never heard of such a thing.
But before he could react further, Naruto crouched and leaped, charging straight at him.
(End of Chapter)