If the original plot really changed,
Naruto would have to find some other way to make up for it.
Either he could try persuading Iruka again,
or go straight to the Third Hokage. In any case, at this point, when the original story was about to begin, he had to graduate successfully. First, it would make things easier for him to act; second, there was no point in staying at the Ninja Academy anymore. In fact, the Academy had offered Naruto almost no help at all for the past three years. All he had done during that time was repeatedly strengthen his physical fitness. If he wanted to grow stronger from here, he needed more advanced training—in other words, opportunities for real combat!
That was one of the most important ways for most ninja to grow stronger.
And it was something the Academy simply couldn't provide.
Even the most ordinary mission could help him gain experience, let alone genuinely difficult ones.
If he hadn't wanted to attract attention and known it was completely impossible,
Naruto would have applied to graduate two or three years ago.
So he absolutely had to pass this year's graduation exam and become a ninja. He couldn't afford to let anything delay him now.
But clearly, Naruto's worries were unnecessary.
Just as Naruto was wondering whether he needed a backup plan or some other way to fix things,
Mizuki appeared in the distance, entering Naruto's line of sight.
The moment Naruto saw Mizuki,
all his worries vanished. As long as Mizuki showed up at this point, Naruto could be one hundred percent certain that the original plot hadn't changed at all. He breathed a sigh of relief, secretly delighted. Of course, he still had to act disappointed and dejected. After all, he was supposed to be heartbroken because he'd failed the exam. He couldn't let Mizuki see through that.
With a fake smile, Mizuki waved to Naruto and slowly approached him.
"I'd better make good use of this opportunity!"
As the two met each other's gaze, both putting on an act,
the same thought came to them at the same time.
Teacher Mizuki,
thank you for coming all this way and so generously bringing me my first big bundle of experience. I'll gladly take it!
Looking at Mizuki, who sat beside him and feigned concern with a deliberately gentle expression,
Naruto wore a naive, happy look, but inwardly he thought coldly.
Night fell.
A bright new moon hung in the sky, partly veiled by clouds. Konoha was shrouded in darkness, making it the perfect time for "thieves" to prowl.
Most of the night had passed.
Aside from the necessary security personnel and a few entertainment venues,
nearly all the residents of Konoha had fallen into a deep sleep.
In the quiet, peaceful village,
at that very moment,
a figure used the clouds as cover and raced through the night toward a spot near the center of Konoha.
That figure was none other than Naruto Uzumaki, whom Mizuki had "deceived" and "urged" into taking on a "special graduation mission."
Naruto, of course, knew exactly what was going on. This so-called "special graduation mission"
was to steal one of Konoha's most classified secrets, the Scroll of Sealing.
And the theft was not to take place at the examination site Mizuki had mentioned, but at the Third Hokage's residence.
Although the task involved violating one of Konoha's most highly classified secrets—a crime that would get him branded a rogue ninja in ninety-nine percent of cases—
Naruto wasn't nervous at all.
That was because Naruto knew perfectly well that he would steal the Scroll of Sealing without a hitch!
And he would even walk away with it openly, right under the watchful eyes of numerous Anbu.
There was only one reason.
The Third Hokage had allowed it!
That's right. In the original story from his previous life, Naruto had never understood how he could steal one of the village's most classified secrets so easily and even take it away. Either it was a glaring plot hole, or something fishy was going on.
After giving it some thought in this life,
Naruto had come to a clear conclusion: the Third Hokage had tacitly allowed him to take the Scroll of Sealing. The purpose was simple enough—it was a kind of compensation for Naruto. Of course, that was only Naruto's own theory, but he was more than eighty or ninety percent sure he was right.
Otherwise, forget about Naruto as he'd been in the original story.
Even with the strength he had in this life,
stealing the Scroll of Sealing?
Give me a break. He probably wouldn't even get close before the Anbu surrounding the place subdued him. And that was not to mention the fact that the place where the scroll was kept would certainly be protected by a barrier. At his current level, Naruto couldn't break one, and he might not even be able to understand how it worked!
"Heh? So this is where the Third Hokage lives? It's pretty spacious..."
Naruto hid in a tree outside the Third Hokage's residence, peering with interest at the building in the distance from behind the trunk and leaves.
According to that "gentle and kind" teacher, Mizuki,
this was the so-called secret mission site.
As long as he could retrieve the mission scroll from this place, he would complete the special graduation test, pass the graduation exam, and become a real Genin.
Thinking of the utterly fake smile on Mizuki's face that afternoon,
Naruto's lips curled slightly, and a faint look of disdain appeared on his face.
Mizuki was an arrogant fool,
but since he could be useful to Naruto, he would have to give his teacher a proper send-off later!
"Right, let's go in. No one's stopping me, anyway."
After observing the area for a moment,
Naruto nodded, pushed off lightly with his right foot, and vaulted over the wall in front of him. He landed soundlessly in the courtyard. He deliberately slowed his steps, making sure not to make a sound. Even though he knew perfectly well that this theft was a joke and that there wouldn't be any Anbu or barriers in his way, he still had to put on a proper performance. He couldn't just stroll in through the front door. A proper actor—and thief—had to maintain certain standards.
The only thing Naruto needed to think about now was how to learn some other ninjutsu besides Multi Shadow Clone after stealing the Scroll of Sealing, but before meeting Mizuki. More importantly, he had to do it without the Third Hokage finding out. If the Third Hokage found out,
who knew what that damned old politician would do?
That was the only thing he needed to worry about in tonight's plan!
You ask how he'll deal with Mizuki?
Come on, even the original story's golden boy could easily beat Mizuki to death.
There was no reason Naruto in this life couldn't crush a mere Mizuki too.