Mizuki revealed the location of the Scroll of Seals he had secretly investigated, weaving in enticing ideas that learning forbidden Ninjutsu from the scroll would guarantee Naruto's graduation.
Following Ichiro's careful instructions, Naruto pretended to trust Mizuki and even hinted that he might steal the scroll if he failed tomorrow's exam.
Mizuki's smile grew wider, his tone more encouraging. In his mind, his sinister plan began to crystallize.
Once Naruto stole the Scroll of Seals, Mizuki planned to kill him, steal the scroll, and escape. The thought of unleashing the Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto's body twelve years ago gave Mizuki a thrill. Amid the chaos, Mizuki envisioned himself fleeing Konoha with the scroll, leaving no one the wiser.
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's office in the heart of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat smoking his pipe, his gaze fixed on the crystal ball before him.
Using the Telescope Jutsu, Sarutobi could observe anyone in the village as long as he could track their chakra signature. The technique's range covered the entirety of Konoha.
"Naruto's already fallen for Mizuki's tricks. That fool Mizuki isn't even subtle anymore," Sarutobi muttered, exhaling a puff of smoke.
He was already well aware of Mizuki's growing curiosity about the Scroll of Seals. But an ordinary Chūnin like Mizuki wasn't a major threat.
Still, Sarutobi saw an opportunity. Testing Naruto with the Scroll of Seals could both expose Mizuki's schemes and help Naruto grow. After all, Naruto was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki—a potential weapon.
"He needs to show his worth after all these years," Sarutobi mused. "If he's to wield the Nine-Tails' power effectively, Kushina's Ninjutsu will be a good start."
Sarutobi smiled faintly, imagining how this act of "forgiveness" would reinforce Naruto's gratitude toward him.
Hidden in the shadows behind him, an Anbu member appeared and asked quietly, "Lord Hokage, shall we intervene and 'prune' Mizuki?"
Sarutobi shook his head, setting his pipe down.
"No, let him act for now. Just have Anbu keep watch and be ready to step in if necessary."
After a pause, Sarutobi added, "Bring me a blank scroll. I'll create a decoy Scroll of Seals. We'll add something simple, like the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, for Naruto to learn."
The Anbu nodded and vanished into the darkness.
Naruto Returns Home
Naruto left Mizuki, leaping across rooftops with loud, heavy steps and gleeful laughter.
His exuberance drew angry curses from the villagers below.
"Shut up, you monster!"
"Why is that brat always causing trouble?"
When some recognized him as Naruto, the insults became even crueler.
Naruto ignored them, but the weight of their words sank deep into his heart.
Finally reaching the safety of his home, the verbal abuse faded away. He collapsed onto his bed, his laughter gone, replaced by silence.
[Blackening Value +1]
[Blackening Value +2]
[...]
[Current Blackening Value: 320]
"Hey, Ichiro," Naruto whispered, staring at the ceiling. "When are we going to act tonight?"
Naruto had no intention of stealing the scroll tomorrow, as he'd told Mizuki. That was part of Ichiro's plan to keep Iruka uninvolved and divert suspicion.
Ichiro was also certain Sarutobi had been watching their conversation. Acting tonight would increase their chances of discovering the real Scroll of Seals. Ichiro wasn't just after the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu—he had his eyes on techniques like Flying Thunder God, Impure World Reincarnation, and the Reaper Death Seal.
"There's no rush," Ichiro replied calmly. "Let's walk around the village first, stir things up a bit, and then we'll move."
Naruto groaned, visibly uncomfortable. "Ugh, didn't we already go through that earlier? I don't want to hear them yelling at me anymore. It's so annoying and depressing."
Ichiro's voice took on a matter-of-fact tone. "You've got to face it head-on, Naruto. The more you're scolded, the less it'll bother you. Eventually, you'll stop feeling anything at all."
Ichiro's true intentions were far more pragmatic.
Their earlier walk had earned them a net gain of 200 blackening points. A few more circuits around the village could bring them closer to 2,000—the cost of unlocking the One-Tail Chakra Mode.
Ichiro had no intention of touching the Nine-Tails' chakra yet. As a secondary personality, he couldn't guarantee Kurama wouldn't lash out at his soul. The Uzumaki sealing chains in Kushina's chakra likely wouldn't protect him.
Naruto sighed in resignation. "Fine, fine. But first, let me eat a bowl of instant ramen."
He grabbed a pack of instant noodles from the table and started boiling water. From the fridge, he pulled out a half-empty carton of milk.
Through Naruto's eyes, Ichiro noticed the faded expiration dates on both items. His irritation flared.
"Stop!" Ichiro barked. "Don't eat that expired garbage. It's my body too, you know."
Naruto hesitated. "But we don't have much money, and it's still two weeks until the next allowance. Besides, I've eaten these before, and I've been fine!"
Ichiro cut him off sharply. "I said no! Go eat at Ichiraku Ramen. We'll deal with the money later."
Ichiro had always been grateful to Teuchi and Ayame of Ichiraku Ramen for their kindness toward Naruto. He wasn't about to let Naruto continue eating expired food out of pride or habit.
Naruto's face brightened. "Really? Alright, let's go!"
[Host Personality Trust/Dependence: 31%]
A Bowl of Ramen and Some Revenge
After a hearty meal at Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto followed Ichiro's instructions and visited the local stores that had sold him expired food.
He didn't cause any destruction. Instead, he grabbed a chair, sat at the entrance, and greeted passing villagers with exaggerated friendliness.
"The owner of this shop is so nice! They always give me free food, even if it's old!"
Naruto's loud, cheerful remarks drew stares from the crowd. Many glared at the shopkeeper, vowing never to buy from the store again.
Enraged, the shopkeeper rushed out, yelling and trying to chase Naruto away.
But Naruto, with the reflexes of a Genin, dodged effortlessly while putting on an exaggerated display of fear.
"I get it, boss! You don't want people to know you're too kindhearted!" Naruto shouted, his voice dripping with mock sincerity.
The escalating scene generated waves of emotions, boosting Ichiro's blackening value significantly.
[Blackening Value +400]
[Current Blackening Value: 720]
Ichiro smirked inwardly. He hadn't expected positive emotions like satisfaction or revenge to contribute to blackening value. Clearly, it wasn't just sadness or pain that fueled it.
Naruto's genuine happiness, however, didn't produce any blackening points—Ichiro made a mental note of this distinction.
"Alright, Naruto," Ichiro said, his tone shifting to serious. "It's time to act."
Naruto stopped mid-taunt, his eyes narrowing in focus.
"Got it," he said firmly, ready to move.
End of Chapter