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Even Shikamaru, the laziest of the group, attended the celebration. With his high IQ and EQ, Shikamaru knew it was important to be there, especially since his best friend Choji was eager to go. Choji never missed a chance to enjoy a good meal, and as his closest friend, Shikamaru felt obligated to join.
As for Naruto, handling a large gathering was no problem at all. He was still the same Naruto, but in this life, he carried the halo of being the son of a hero—the Fourth Hokage. The inheritance from Minato and Kushina ensured he had a substantial amount of money.
This expense didn't faze him.
Moreover, although Naruto maintained his carefree personality, filled with the innocence and enthusiasm of the original timeline, he had matured somewhat due to the different circumstances he grew up in. He wasn't one to spend money recklessly.
In his mind, this was a justified expense.
While Naruto took most of the class to a barbecue restaurant to celebrate their graduation, Menma headed to his usual training ground. After completing his daily training routine, he made his way back home.
The original plot was about to unfold!
Menma needed to plan carefully. The Chunin Exams were just a few months away, and he had to make all the necessary preparations before then.
However, surprises and accidents have a way of creeping up when you least expect them.
That night, after Menma finished washing up and was about to go to bed, he suddenly sensed a familiar chakra signature nearby.
His expression faltered slightly as a thought crossed his mind: *Could it be…?*
*Knock, knock, knock!*
The owner of that chakra was now at Menma's door, gently knocking.
*At this time of night? Is the plot's inertia really that strong?* Menma murmured to himself.
He walked quietly to the entrance and slowly opened the door.
"Eh? Mizuki-sensei, why are you here so late? Is something wrong?"
Although Menma knew Mizuki had ulterior motives, he feigned surprise as he greeted the teacher, who wore a deceptively friendly smile.
"Hehe, yes, there's an urgent matter concerning the graduates. Due to some special circumstances this year, the top ten graduates, especially the top-ranked student, will receive special treatment, including how classes are divided. During the morning assessment, several students, including you, performed similarly. After consulting with the Hokage, the Academy decided to add an additional test. Only those who pass it will be considered the best graduates and eligible for preferential treatment. But of course, participation is voluntary. So, Menma, do you want to take the test?"
Mizuki's smile remained, but his words were filled with inconsistencies and pitfalls.
Anyone with a bit of experience and common sense would see through such a poor-quality lie.
But Mizuki seemed confident that Menma would fall for it.
After all, in Mizuki's mind, these were just a bunch of naive kids with no real-world experience.
He had taught them for six years, after all. Mizuki was sure that Menma would believe his words.
As for whether Menma would participate?
*Haha, what boy wouldn't care about honor?*
In Mizuki's mind, Menma's consistent drive to be number one in every exam over the past six years—whether theoretical or practical—was proof that he was fiercely competitive.
Mizuki wasn't worried at all that Menma wouldn't take the bait.
"Top ten? And special rewards and preferential treatment?"
As Mizuki expected, Menma's eyes lit up, and he whispered in a tone of eager anticipation.
Over the past six years, although Menma hadn't intentionally sought recognition, the way he consistently outperformed his classmates made it appear as though he was striving to earn others' approval.
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought so too. After all, Menma had told him that he wanted to become a great ninja. Considering his background, this ambition seemed to be Menma's driving force.
Naturally, Mizuki believed that Menma would jump at the chance to participate in a special test, especially coming from a trusted teacher at the Academy.
What Mizuki didn't realize was that Menma was playing along with his act.
"Can I ask what the test involves, Mizuki-sensei?" Menma asked, taking a deep breath and feigning caution.
"Of course. The assessment is simple. It's a common ninja task—stealing a confidential item. The target is a scroll called the Scroll of Seals. It contains advanced ninjutsu that have been used as quest items and rewards in the past. Your task is to retrieve this scroll from its location within two hours."
Mizuki smiled, carefully altering some crucial details and framing the task in a tempting light.
"The Scroll of Seals? Rewards? Does that mean…?" Menma asked, his eyes gleaming with apparent excitement.
"It's exactly what you're thinking. Once you successfully retrieve the Scroll, you'll have the opportunity to learn three of the techniques recorded within. How about it? This reward is pretty enticing, right? All the techniques in the scroll are at least B-rank!"
Mizuki's smile grew wider, his tone reminiscent of a predator coaxing its prey.
A special test for the top ten, with a chance to learn B-rank and higher ninjutsu.
*Heh, there's no way he won't fall for this!*
Mizuki thought triumphantly as he watched Menma's reaction.
As expected, when Mizuki finished speaking, Menma's expression turned resolute.
"I agree to take part in the assessment, Mizuki-sensei. Please provide the mission details!"
Menma didn't need to think twice. He looked up at Mizuki with determination.
"Haha, I knew you'd participate, Menma-kun. Here are the mission details. This scroll contains the location of the target item and the final assessment point. Iruka-sensei and I will be waiting there. I wish you good luck, Menma-kun. Give it your all!"
Mizuki handed Menma a prepared scroll, smiling as he did so.
After Menma accepted the scroll with a confident look, Mizuki swiftly departed, feeling smug about his deception.
---
After watching Mizuki's figure gradually fade into the thick of the night, completely disappearing from his range of perception, a trace of sarcasm flashed across Menma's eyes before vanishing almost instantly.
Outwardly, Menma appeared "excited" and "thrilled," but Mizuki was oblivious.
Did Mizuki really think Menma didn't know there were still Anbu watching him?
Moreover, the subtle sense of being observed had returned shortly after Mizuki arrived. There was no doubt about it—this was Sarutobi Hiruzen's surveillance.
Using his special Telescope Technique, as long as someone is within the boundaries of Konohagakure and has a specific chakra signature, Sarutobi Hiruzen can track their every move.
Menma couldn't afford to laugh now.
Suppressing the urge to "laugh maniacally," he instead calmly reviewed the details recorded in the "Assessment Task Scroll."
Menma returned home, changed into his ninja gear, and equipped himself with the necessary tools. Then, he leaped out of his house, heading straight toward the mission location listed in the scroll—the residence of Sarutobi Hiruzen!
As he moved, the Anbu following him didn't intervene. The situation was clear—Sarutobi Hiruzen was fully aware of his actions but chose not to stop him.
This attitude was telling.
Relaxing slightly, Menma continued toward the residence of the Third Hokage. Upon arrival, he easily scaled the outer wall and entered the compound. Still, no one tried to stop him.
At this moment, Menma discarded the last of his doubts. Sarutobi Hiruzen was deliberately letting him take the Scroll of Seals, just like in the original timeline.
With confidence, Menma advanced deeper into the mansion, heading straight for Sarutobi Hiruzen's study, as Mizuki had instructed. Normally, Mizuki shouldn't have known such information, but Menma had no interest in investigating further.
He stealthily entered the study and quickly located the large scroll tucked away in a corner.
'How convenient,' Menma thought, smirking internally. 'They left it out for me to take.'
Without hesitation, he slung the giant scroll onto his back, leaped out of the mansion, and sped toward the area where he was supposed to meet Mizuki.
Since he had already stepped onto this stage, the play had to continue. There was no turning back now.
As he rushed on, Menma remained acutely aware of the Third Hokage's watchful eye.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen observed Menma through his crystal ball. A faint smile formed on the old man's face as he watched Menma take the scroll.
As the Hokage who had led the village for decades, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew nearly every movement in the village. Actions like Mizuki's couldn't escape his notice, especially when connected to someone as significant as Menma.
'Consider this a small compensation…' Sarutobi Hiruzen mused silently.
Of course, he kept another thought to himself—this was also a final small test for Menma.
After waiting a little longer to give Menma more time, Sarutobi Hiruzen issued the order to gather a group of available chunin and jonin, including several academy teachers like Iruka, to launch a search mission. However, it was merely a pretense.
In truth, the Anbu under Sarutobi Hiruzen's direct command had been tailing Menma all along. These were elites, far stronger than average chunin. Mizuki, with his mediocre skills, posed no threat to them.
Yet, Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered these Anbu not to act. The Scroll of Seals was a small compensation and test for Menma. Mizuki's betrayal was also a trial designed to harden Menma.
As an experienced ninja, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew too well that true strength is forged in the fires of battle. Mizuki, who was barely more than a chunin, was the perfect first opponent for Menma as he stepped into the world of shinobi.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had high hopes for Menma. As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Menma was destined for greatness, and as the son of Minato and Kushina, the Third Hokage was confident that Menma would become a hero of Konohagakure, just like his father.
This was not merely wishful thinking; Menma's behavior over the past twelve years had given Sarutobi Hiruzen every reason to believe in his potential. After all, in the original timeline, wasn't this exactly how things had played out?
But Menma is Menma.
He would never become the righteous "Uzumaki Naruto" of the original timeline, seeking the approval of the villagers and forgiving those responsible for the deaths of his parents. He had no intention of striving for a peaceful world where everyone understood each other.
Sorry, but such idealism would never be Menma's path.
He just wanted to live.
Live happily.
That was all.
Menma's life was destined to diverge sharply from Sarutobi Hiruzen's expectations.
But the Third Hokage couldn't have known this now, as he issued his orders.
The Konoha shinobi he summoned spread out in teams, solemnly searching for Mizuki and Menma. Iruka was among them, his heart heavy with worry.
'The Scroll of Seals? Why would Menma steal it? What did Mizuki tell him?'
After six years of teaching Menma, Iruka firmly believed that the boy was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. While he harbored some resentment toward certain villagers, it was understandable given how he'd been treated. Being ostracized and disliked by others—it was natural to have some negative feelings, wasn't it?
These were all things Iruka could understand and accept.
He had always thought of Menma as a good kid.
But now, Menma had done something Iruka found shocking, almost unbelievable. And Iruka couldn't shake the anxiety gnawing at him.
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