Mizuki's Incitement

The days passed steadily like that until the Ninja Academy's graduation exam.

And Duanmu had already mastered most of the Uchiha clan's ninjutsu.

This time, with Duanmu's help, Naruto still managed to create a clone, barely. Although it only lasted a few seconds, compared to the original story, this was already a huge improvement.

But Teacher Iruka still shook his head and wrote "Fail" on the score sheet.

When Naruto saw the result, his head drooped, his face full of dejection. But when he caught sight of Duanmu standing not far away, he still forced out a smile that looked uglier than crying.

On the way home, Naruto kept complaining to Duanmu.

"Teacher Iruka is way too strict! I clearly made a clone, even if... even if it was kind of crooked." He kicked a small stone by the roadside with the tip of his shoe.

"Don't say that, Naruto." Duanmu stopped, turned around, and looked at him. His gaze was calm, yet carried a reassuring strength. "You've already improved a lot compared to last time. At the very least, you successfully gathered chakra and kept the clone going for a few seconds. That alone is a breakthrough."

"But... but I still failed." Naruto lowered his head, his voice as tiny as a mosquito's buzz. "I want to become a ninja. I want everyone to acknowledge me. I want to become Hokage..." By the last few words, his voice choked slightly, and he stubbornly lifted his head, refusing to let the tears in his eyes fall.

Duanmu reached out and gently patted his shoulder, just like he had wanted to comfort this stubborn boy countless times in his previous life when he saw him on the screen.

"It was just one exam. It doesn't decide anything." He paused, his tone carrying a trace of certainty. "Besides, I have a feeling you won't be eliminated that easily. Teacher Iruka isn't that unreasonable. He may have his own considerations."

"Really?!" Hearing Duanmu's words, a spark instantly rekindled in Naruto's dim eyes. As if he had grabbed hold of a lifeline, he pressed urgently, "Duanmu, is what you said true? Teacher Iruka... he really isn't making things hard for me on purpose?"

Duanmu nodded solemnly. At this point, Duanmu had also arrived home. After saying one last "See you at school tomorrow" to Naruto, he turned and walked into his own yard.

Naruto stood where he was, watching Duanmu's back disappear behind the door, repeating "See you at school tomorrow" under his breath. His heavy mood really seemed to lighten a little.

After Duanmu returned to his room, he slipped out through the window again. He knew Mizuki would appear soon.

Sure enough, Mizuki appeared before Naruto before long. What came next was the classic scene of Mizuki instigating Naruto to steal the Scroll of Sealing.

"Naruto, you long for everyone's recognition and want to prove your strength, don't you?" Mizuki wore a false smile, but his voice was as tempting as a venomous snake flicking its tongue. "As long as you can get the forbidden scroll, the Scroll of Sealing, and learn the ninjutsu inside, all of Konoha will look at you with new eyes! When that time comes, forget passing the graduation exam—even becoming Hokage won't be impossible!"

The word "Hokage" struck straight into the softest part of Naruto's heart. His clear blue eyes filled with longing and hesitation.

"But... that's a forbidden technique... Stealing is wrong..."

"How can that be called stealing?" Mizuki immediately cut him off, his tone even more bewitching. "This is a chance to prove your strength! The Third Hokage and Teacher Iruka look down on you, so they deliberately won't let you pass the exam! As long as you get the Scroll of Sealing and learn the super-powerful ninjutsu inside, they'll never dare underestimate you again! Think about it—when you stand in front of everyone and show them power they can't even reach, what kind of expressions will they have?"

Naruto clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

Mizuki's words were like seeds, growing wildly in the soil of his heart that yearned for recognition. The loneliness of being ostracized by the whole village, the humiliation of being mocked by his classmates, the frustration of being "ignored" by his teacher... all those negative emotions seemed to find an outlet at that moment.

"The Scroll of Sealing... where is it?" Naruto raised his head, a resolute light flashing in his eyes.

Seeing Naruto take the bait, a barely perceptible smugness flashed through Mizuki's eyes. "It's in the basement of the Hokage Office. The guards there are lax. With your potential, you'll definitely succeed!" He deliberately emphasized "the guards there are lax," as if everything was under his control.

Naruto nodded heavily, made up his mind, and ran off into the distance.

That night, Konoha's alarm was sounded once again.

"Lord Hokage, the Scroll of Sealing has been stolen!" An Anbu member stumbled into the Hokage Office, his voice distorted by extreme panic.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been reviewing documents, suddenly raised his head. The pipe slipped from his trembling hand, scattering ash all over the desk. "What did you say?!"

His aged voice was filled with disbelief and shock.

"It was Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly turned ashen. He shot to his feet, his wide Hokage robe stirring a gust of wind with the motion.

"Lock down the entire village immediately! Mobilize all Anbu and the guard force. You must find Naruto before the secrets of the Scroll of Sealing are leaked!"

Soon, most of Konoha's ninja forces were mobilized. The ninja surged toward every corner of the village like a black tide, and a tight search net rapidly spread out. Sirens echoed through the silent night sky, breaking Konoha's rare peace.

At that moment, Naruto was in a hidden forest, learning the Multi Shadow Clone Technique.

Iruka was the first to find Naruto. "Hey, Naruto, what are you doing here?"

He was panting hard, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, clearly having tracked him all the way here. When he saw the Scroll of Sealing lying scattered beside Naruto, Iruka's heart sank to the bottom.

When Naruto saw Iruka, he looked like a child caught in the act of doing something wrong. A flicker of panic crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by stubbornness.

"I... I'm learning ninjutsu! Teacher Iruka, in a bit, I'll show you an incredible ninjutsu. When I do, you'll let me graduate, right?" Naruto said excitedly.

"Let you graduate? Who said that?" Iruka had already sensed that something was off.

"Teacher Mizuki did. The scroll and this place were both things Teacher Mizuki told me about."

Just as Iruka was about to stop him, several shuriken flew at him from behind. Iruka's pupils shrank sharply, and almost by instinct, he turned sideways to shield Naruto behind him while drawing the kunai at his waist to block.

With several crisp clang clang sounds, the shuriken were knocked down with precision and buried deep into the nearby tree trunk, their ends still trembling slightly.

"Teacher Mizuki?!" Naruto stared in shock at the man walking out from the shadows of the trees. The false smile on his face had long since vanished, replaced by an almost savage greed and resentment.

"Iruka, I knew you'd come get in the way." Mizuki's gaze swept over the Scroll of Sealing on the ground, and even his breathing became hurried.

Iruka pushed Naruto a little farther back while he stood in front, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Mizuki, you actually dared to incite a student to steal forbidden techniques! What exactly are you trying to do?"

Mizuki ignored Iruka and spoke directly to Naruto. "Naruto, hurry up and hand over the scroll."

Naruto was terrified by this scene. He instinctively hugged the Scroll of Sealing tightly to his chest, his body trembling slightly.

Iruka turned his head. "Naruto, you absolutely can't hand over the scroll. Mizuki used you!"

Mizuki started making excuses as well. "Naruto, Iruka is afraid you'll get that."

Hearing Mizuki's words, Naruto froze. He didn't know who he should listen to.

Iruka shouted angrily, "Mizuki! Shut up!"

He took a deep breath, turned to Naruto, and spoke urgently and sincerely. "Naruto, don't listen to him! The Scroll of Sealing records forbidden techniques powerful enough to destroy the village. If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences will be unthinkable! Mizuki isn't doing this for you at all. He only wants to use you to obtain forbidden techniques!"