First Encounter with the Nine-Tails

After confirming Mizuki hadn't followed them, Naruto twisted sideways and flipped, landing steadily on the ground from Iruka's arms.

"Teacher, I'm fine."

Iruka studied Naruto's expression carefully, then put on a stern face. "You little troublemaker. Were you deliberately messing with Mizuki?"

Naruto shook his head. "It's disgusting. Just thinking about how I called that guy 'teacher' for eight years makes my skin crawl."

Iruka frowned and reached for the back of Naruto's collar. "Naruto! Have you forgotten what the school taught you about respecting your teachers? Right now, you're coming with me to apologize to Mizuki."

"He doesn't deserve to be a teacher." Naruto's eyes blazed. "Yesterday, he tricked me into going to Third Grandpa's house to steal the Scroll of Seals. He said I could easily pass the graduation exam with the ninjutsu in that scroll."

Iruka froze, unable to believe it.

His parents had died protecting the village during the Nine-Tails Demon Fox's rampage. Mizuki had always treated him well since childhood and was a true friend he could confide in.

He knew Mizuki was a kind and gentle person, but he didn't think Naruto was lying to him, either.

Iruka forced a smile. "Naruto, was Mizuki telling a story, and did you misunderstand what he meant? Stealing is wrong, but I'm glad you told me."

Naruto shook his head firmly. "No. I'm sure he was encouraging me to steal it. You have to believe me."

The sun hung high overhead, directly above Naruto. The buildings to either side cast no shadow over him. He stood straight on the reddish-yellow earth, his feet planted in a patch of shadow.

Hearing the certainty in Naruto's voice, Iruka nodded. "All right. I'll ask him what was going on."

"Ask him?" Naruto paused. "Teacher, what does the Scroll of Seals have to do with the Ninja Academy graduation exam?"

"What do you mean?"

"I suspect Mizuki plans to wait until I've stolen it, then kill me and take the scroll. He wants the Scroll of Seals! What he plans to do with it, I don't know."

Naruto couldn't stand the thought of someone daring to plot against him. His eyes went wide, like a tiger poised to strike. "Teacher, arrest him! My word alone isn't enough to convict him. We have to catch him red-handed."

Iruka stared at Naruto in disbelief. This was the child he'd raised with his own hands.

If Mizuki truly wanted to get his hands on the terrifying Forbidden Jutsu in the Scroll of Seals, then even as his closest friend, Iruka would have to stop him.

"Naruto, you've grown up."

Naruto looked up, feeling a little ache in his chest. "I'll steal the scroll tonight. I'll leave the rest to you."

Iruka patted his head. "Don't worry. I won't let anyone hurt one of my students."

Hokage's Mansion.

Wearing a red hat emblazoned with the character for "Fire" and a white robe over red clothes, the elderly, goateed Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Iruka's report.

"That plan really came from Naruto?"

"Yes." Iruka nodded respectfully.

"Then do as he says." Hiruzen reached for the crystal ball resting on the tea table. Chakra surged into it, and Mizuki's face appeared.

"Go find Kakashi and have him help you protect Naruto."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Iruka felt reassured. After all, he and Mizuki were only Chunin, while Kakashi was one of Konoha's top Jonin.

Deep in the night, the lamps were out, and only cats cried.

Naruto moved nimbly through the streets and alleys, his footsteps almost silent.

His young body was still far too weak. The profound martial arts he remembered could only bring out the most basic control of his movements. Every time his muscles contracted and stretched, they felt stiff and unfamiliar.

At that moment, his keen instincts told him someone was following him—and more than one person. The more cautious he was, the more he played into their expectations.

Less than ten minutes later, the earthen-yellow cliff carved with four enormous faces came into view.

At the foot of the cliff known as Kage Rock stood a three-story building surrounded by a tiled wall, with a large round emblem bearing the character for "Fire" hanging in the center. This was the heart of Konoha—the Hokage's Mansion.

Naruto came here often. His living expenses came from Third Hokage Grandpa, which was probably why Mizuki had told him to steal the scroll.

He skillfully vaulted over the wall into the courtyard, leaped onto the roof, pressed himself against the outer wall of the third floor, then slipped into a corridor lined with calligraphy and paintings.

He didn't even see a single guard. He sauntered right up to the double vermilion doors of the archive and gave them a gentle push. They opened.

A short figure radiating an indescribable pressure came into view.

Hiruzen stood with his hands behind his back among cabinets packed with scrolls, watching Naruto.

After eight years apart, Naruto felt every hair on his body stand on end.

A powerhouse! An unquestionable powerhouse!

His fighting spirit began to boil, and instinct drove his Chakra to circulate through the Dharma Sutra.

Hiruzen's pupils were tiny, his eyes almost entirely white. His prominent cheekbones and baboon-like face made him look especially fierce.

Without a word, he flicked his withered hand. A green-skinned scroll, a meter long and as thick as a person's head, shot out of a cabinet and flew straight at Naruto.

Naruto knew the Hokage suspected him—suspected he wasn't Naruto.

For a twelve-year-old who'd never been through much, coming up with a plan like this was practically impossible.

But when faced with a test of strength, how could Naruto back down? How could he?

His fist shot out.

A fist tempered through countless trials in his memories.

Red-yellow Chakra wrapped around his arm as he slammed it into the scroll.

Thud!

Fist met scroll.

Naruto's firmly planted legs slid backward across the floor.

So strong! That impact was incredible! It was like a steel bar slamming into his tender fist. How could he stop it? Where would he find the strength?

Naruto gritted his teeth and scrunched his nose. His blond hair fluttered, and the six whisker marks on his cheeks grew longer and longer.

Strength burst from his lower back! Chakra blazed across his skin and hair!

Bang!

His elbow straightened, his arm extending fully.

The scroll shot backward and slammed into the ceiling.

Hiruzen flashed into the air, caught the scroll, then landed and planted it upright on the floor. His eyes glinted with barely concealed surprise.

He had indeed suspected Naruto had been replaced, so he'd planned to distinguish the real Naruto by the nature of his Chakra. That probing strike had been meant to knock down an adult Genin.

The instant Naruto struck back, his surging aura stirred Hiruzen's killing intent. He'd nearly acted to subdue the impostor.

But Naruto's Chakra had revealed itself—the Nine-Tails Chakra he could never mistake.

It really was Naruto.

Hiruzen rolled the scroll to Naruto's feet and released the silent barrier.

Naruto was now filled with violence and hatred, as though a monster in the depths of his soul was whispering to him.

But he simply picked up the scroll, slung it over his shoulder, waved goodbye with a smile, and ran down the corridor. He climbed out the window, leaving Hiruzen behind, deep in thought.

The waning moon hung high in the night sky, casting a layer of silver light over the dim village. Naruto raced onward, left the village, and plunged into the dense forest.

He was annoyed. Extremely annoyed.

Faint roars and crashing sounds seeped out of his consciousness, twisting his mood into a mess.

He casually leaned against a tree, propped the Scroll of Seals—which was longer than his arm—upright with his right hand, and pulled it open with his left.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique? What a coincidence."

The subject Naruto had failed in the graduation exam was the Clone Technique.

He was just about to read when his consciousness suddenly blurred. It felt as if a giant hammer had struck his head, sending him plunging into a bottomless abyss, falling and falling.

The next moment, water gushed and splashed around him. He was inside a dim, enclosed sewer.

"Genjutsu?"

Naruto looked toward the passageway. Low growls and the clang of metal crashing together came from deep within it.

Without another thought, he strode inward.

He'd heard that Genjutsu magnified the fears in a person's heart. He couldn't wait to see what he was afraid of!

Killer Whale Orga? Or Great White Shark Heavenly Dao?

Naruto stepped over the reflections rippling on the water and emerged from the passage. The space before him suddenly opened up.

A towering copper-colored prison gate rose before him, stretching all the way to the ceiling. A piece of white paper with the character "Seal" written on it was pasted at its center.

Behind the gate, a huge black face whose features were impossible to make out blazed with rolling red flames.

On its ghastly white fangs, two crimson eyes stared down at him with cruel malice.

Naruto was terribly disappointed. As expected, this despicable Genjutsu couldn't conjure a true powerhouse.

Fear? His breathing hadn't even faltered!

The enormous fanged mouth opened and closed, and a muffled voice that seemed to rise from its chest spoke. "Kid..."

"Son of a bitch! My name is Uzumaki Naruto!"