Mutated Enhanced Rinnegan

Knock, knock, knock...

"Huh? What is it, Mr. Mizuki?"

Iruka opened the door and saw Mizuki standing outside his home, his expression grave.

He was very confused.

"This is bad! Naruto stole the Scroll of Seals! It's chaos out there—lots of our colleagues are looking for him!"

Mizuki said anxiously.

But inside, he was already overjoyed.

He'd pin the blame on Naruto first, then intercept him halfway and take the Scroll of Seals!

No one would suspect him.

I wanted to be a good person once I got the chance, but now I have no choice.

Why does everyone help Iruka but treat me so coldly?

Is it just because I killed a teammate during a mission years ago?

That little mistake of mine is nothing compared to the dark side of Konoha.

Iruka's neck flushed red with anger. Without giving much thought to whether Mizuki's story was true, he shouted, "Where is Naruto now?! Take me to him!"

Naruto was always causing trouble in class.

On top of that, the Nine-Tails had killed Iruka's parents.

So Iruka had never been very fond of him.

But the Fourth Hokage, Naruto's father,

had given his life to save the village.

That had left Naruto an orphan from birth.

And many people in the village treated him with contempt.

What had he done wrong?

What was his fault?!

He hadn't chosen any of this!

"I think I saw him run toward the forest to the east."

A trace of mockery flickered in Mizuki's eyes.

He'd send Iruka over.

Hopefully, they'd start fighting as soon as Iruka saw Naruto!

Then he could reap the rewards.

Even if something kept the two of them from fighting,

he could step in and take them both out.

Iruka was no match for him.

And Naruto hadn't even passed the Genin exam.

"Don't do anything reckless, you brat!"

Iruka didn't even stop to say goodbye.

He hurried toward the direction Mizuki had indicated.

Naruto was his student.

He had watched him grow up.

No matter how deep the rift between them,

Iruka wouldn't stand by and do nothing.

After all, deep down, the one he truly hated was the Nine-Tails that had killed his parents!

Not Naruto, who had been forced to become a Jinchūriki from childhood.

Sometimes, all it took was a single thought.

Once your perspective changed,

your attitude changed with it.

He was certain Naruto had a good reason for what he'd done!

And Iruka had to find him before things got worse and demand an explanation!

Then he'd bring Naruto and the Scroll of Seals back

and return it to the Third Hokage with an apology!

In a dense forest, the trees were enormous—far bigger than ordinary trees on the Blue Star.

In a clearing,

a handsome, blond, blue-eyed boy sat cross-legged, a scroll strapped to his back.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have completed the mission."

"Obtained the Mutated Enhanced Rinnegan. Please select a color: blue, purple, or gold."

There was no need to think about it!

Gold was so majestic.

With his blond hair, a pair of golden eyes would make him absolutely perfect.

History books said Xiang Yu had golden eyes and an innate aura of kingly authority.

The makings of an emperor.

That was something from a thousand years ago.

Naruto had no idea whether it was true. In any case, he'd just pick gold.

"I choose gold!"

"Reward granted."

Naruto's blue eyes gradually turned gold, their irises rippling with concentric rings.

An incredibly mysterious pressure radiated from him!

It was a pressure that weighed on the mind!

"If only there were a mirror in this godforsaken place."

"Or even a puddle would do."

Naruto wanted to see what he looked like now.

Too bad he hadn't learned any Water Release techniques yet.

Otherwise, he could've used the Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique to get a look at himself.

If anyone else heard that thought,

they'd probably spit up three pints of blood.

What the hell? That was an extremely difficult killing technique.

And he wanted to use it as a mirror?

Was he crazy, or were they?

"Generating mirror... complete. Please look ahead," the system said in its cold voice.

A translucent mirror appeared in front of him, visible only to Naruto.

Golden hair, golden eyes.

And most importantly, no whisker marks!

His features radiated dominance, and he looked imposing even without getting angry.

I, Naruto Uzumaki, really am handsome.

"Th-this familiar feeling... What's going on?"

The Nine-Tails, which had finally calmed down, suddenly opened its beastly eyes again.

Confusion and bewilderment filled its fox face.

It had already been surprised when the other half of its power had inexplicably appeared inside Naruto.

But now it was utterly stunned, its whole face full of disbelief!

"Six... Six Paths??? The Rinnegan—?"

"Am I crazy, or has this world gone mad?"

Smack—

The Nine-Tails raised a paw and slapped itself hard across the face.

After confirming that its mind hadn't gone bad from all those years in prison,

it remembered it had been alone in here the whole time.

There wasn't even anyone to talk to.

Stay cooped up long enough, and not just humans—even animals could go crazy.

A sharp pain shot through it.

The Nine-Tails hadn't held back, and a red paw print appeared on its fox face.

"No! I need to find a chance to pull this kid in here and ask him what's going on!"

Determination glinted in the Nine-Tails' beastly eyes.

If Naruto's seal hadn't weakened yet,

it would have pulled him in to talk already.

"Naruto, so this is where you were hiding! You brat, I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Iruka's neck was red with anger.

He'd rushed here so fast that his clothes were soaked with sweat.

Naruto's eyes returned to normal, and he stared for a moment in confusion.

That voice sounded familiar...

He looked toward the sound.

Iruka, his face red as liver, was glaring at him with fiery eyes.

He charged straight toward him.

The moment he saw Iruka,

Naruto knew a traitor had sold him out.

What's more, the traitor, Mizuki, seemed to have tried to drive a wedge between them.

That man really was asking for it.

Naruto wasn't worried in the slightest.

If that traitor could sell him out, couldn't Naruto sell him out too?