Angler's Ecstasy

Naruto froze for a moment at his words. He looked at Mizuki, blinked, and asked, "Mizuki-sensei, what do you mean by that?"

Mizuki's mental state seemed strange, giving off an indescribable sense of wrongness. He appeared unusually sinister, as if under the influence of some hallucinogen.

To be honest, even though he was mentally prepared, the moment Mizuki's face appeared, Naruto was still startled.

"The Ninja Academy's graduation exam is tomorrow, isn't it?" Mizuki asked.

"Yeah," Naruto nodded.

"So, Naruto, do you think you can pass the exam?" Mizuki narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Naruto with a look that was neither smiling nor frowning.

"Well, Mizuki-sensei, you know me," Naruto said, pretending to scratch his head in embarrassment. "It's likely I'll have to repeat the year again."

"Then, Naruto, do you want to become stronger? I happen to know a secret that will surely help you pass the graduation exam."

Hearing this, Naruto's eyelids twitched slightly.

If Mizuki knew he got a perfect score on the Three Jutsu practical exam this afternoon, he wouldn't be saying this to him.

However, Naruto hadn't seen Mizuki at the Ninja Academy all day. It was normal for him not to know about this. This meant Mizuki hadn't gone to find Iruka but had come straight for him.

His haste must be due to some change that made Mizuki eager to trick him into stealing the Scroll of Seals.

But the problem was, the Scroll of Seals was inherently a village's open ploy.

Naruto couldn't help but feel speechless about it.

They're worried about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's psychological state now? Afraid the Jinchuriki will develop hatred for the village?

Why prepare such an elaborate scheme to brainwash me with the 'comrade recognition' now? What were they doing before?

Speaking of which, this village was strange. The thought processes of the higher-ups seemed to be stuck in the sewer.

If they wanted to protect the Jinchuriki's identity and prevent the villagers from knowing he was the Fourth Hokage's son, then what was the point of releasing the news about the Nine-Tails?

They desperately concealed the fact that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son, but they didn't care about the rumors that Naruto was a Fox Demon? It was so hypocritical, such blatant kicking someone when they're down.

Even capitalists don't play like this; they don't give the compensation they owe and then gaslight you. They let the villagers target him while simultaneously trying to brainwash him into protecting the village. They had some nerve.

The stage was set, the actors were in place, and a grand brainwashing performance of the Will of Fire targeting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was about to begin.

As long as he agreed, Mizuki would immediately notify Iruka that he had stolen the Scroll of Seals, and Naruto could indeed steal it with ease.

Mizuki must have lost his mind to believe so naively that a child could steal the Scroll of Seals, which was almost as important as the Nine-Tails.

But judging by his eyes, he truly believed it.

Naruto didn't want to agree. He wasn't interested in the Scroll of Seals. He could only learn Shadow Clone in a short time anyway, which wasn't very meaningful for him with the system he had now.

Besides, he didn't want to fall into their pre-arranged tear-jerking drama. Forcing himself to act moved would be more unbearable than killing him.

The village treated him like this. If he were to protect those who treated him equally in the future, he might accept it, but it was really hard for him to believe in words like "protecting the village."

Why should he repay evil with good?

No way!

Just as Naruto was about to refuse, the system panel popped up again.

[Option 1: Refuse Mizuki's invitation and tell him to scram, don't disturb your nest. Reward: Max-level Fishing Skill.]

[Option 2: Accept Mizuki's invitation and steal the Scroll of Seals. Reward: Reanimation Jutsu (Imperfect)]

Glancing over them, Naruto immediately made his choice.

Although stealing the Scroll of Seals would allow him to learn the A-rank Ninjutsu Shadow Clone and also the imperfect version of Reanimation Jutsu.

But... what good was the imperfect version of Reanimation Jutsu? Using this technique required sacrificing living beings! It was tasteless and a waste to discard.

Currently, Naruto didn't have anyone he particularly wanted to revive.

Although Shadow Clone was quite tempting, getting involved in troublesome matters for it would make him very passive in the future.

"Mizuki-sensei, I must refuse," Naruto said calmly.

"What?" Mizuki seemed surprised.

He apparently didn't expect Naruto to refuse him. In his impression, Naruto was always a simple-minded, impulsive underachiever.

"Why? Naruto, this is a valuable opportunity. If you give it up, you'll definitely regret it later!"

"Mizuki-sensei, you don't need to waste your breath," Naruto glanced at him. "My mind is made up. Talking more won't change anything."

"Don't you want to become stronger and be recognized by the villagers, Naruto?" Mizuki made a final struggle.

"Ah, I don't want that. It's too troublesome," Naruto said indifferently. "Since I was little, the villagers haven't liked me."

"If I continue to act out, they'll only hate me more."

Hearing this, Mizuki was momentarily speechless.

After a long pause...

"Naruto, don't you want to know why the villagers treat you that way?" Mizuki's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of seduction.

"You're trying to say I'm a Fox Demon, right?" Naruto's voice was devoid of emotion as he lazily said, holding his fishing rod, "The Nine-Tails Fox Demon that destroyed the village and killed villagers?"

"You! How did you know?" Mizuki took a few steps back, saying with a shocked expression.

"Come on, I'm twelve years old, not a three-year-old child." Naruto turned to stare at Mizuki, "Teacher Mizuki, I have ears."

"I grew up in the village, and ever since I can remember, people have disliked me. I have very few friends. The shopkeepers always had grim faces when they saw me, and so did the surrounding villagers."

"I want to buy fresh vegetables too, and I want to live in the sunlight like a normal person. But I'm destined to be confined to the shadows, watching my peers go home from school for dinner."

"Teacher Mizuki, you've been isolated too, right? You must understand. Suffering isn't a treasure, it's just unavoidable."

"When I was bullied, no one spoke up for me."

"But so what? I'm not a Fox Demon, it has nothing to do with me. I'm just myself, Naruto Uzumaki."

Mizuki: "Why you? You know everything! Don't you resent this village?"

Naruto withdrew his gaze, his eyes fixed on the fishing rod under the moonlight, the hook dangling in the water, ripples spreading around it.

He didn't know if the person asking this question was Mizuki himself, or the person behind the scenes controlling Mizuki. Resent the village?

Of course he did, but he couldn't say it. Not now, at least.

After a long while, a mechanical synthesized voice appeared in Naruto's mind.

[Max-level Fishing Skill activated]

A grass carp was reeled in by Naruto, and at the same time, his voice rang out. His voice sounded very calm in the night sky, as if harmonizing with the night breeze.

"No."

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