Naruto Steals the Book of Seals 2/2

It was another year's Ninja Academy graduation exam, this time in spring, when the grass grew lush and orioles sang.

Hayato served as an ANBU guard for the examination site.

Though probably, maybe, perhaps no suicidal fool would cause trouble during the graduation exams, there was always the possibility.

Chūnibyō and brain damage were the two most unpredictable diseases in the world.

The ANBU lurked in the shadows, while other ninja teams were stationed openly. Aburame Shishin's team was one of them.

Hayato crouched in a tree as Aburame Shishin sneaked over.

"I'm wearing a mask and hiding in a tree. Are you from the Inuzuka Clan? How did you spot me?" Hayato asked helplessly.

"Hehe, the Inuzuka Clan are the dog people. My bugs smelled your chakra from far away," Aburame Shishin said with a grin. "It's been so long. Did you miss me? Even just a little?"

"Get lost~~~"

That was Hayato's answer.

"Tch, your mouth says no, but your heart says yes." Aburame Shishin was unfazed. "Fine, we can catch up later. I came to see you about something serious."

What did you do when an unserious person wanted to talk serious business with you?

Hayato shifted two steps away.

Seeing Hayato's movement, Aburame Shishin gave it no thought and continued, "I went to your place several times looking for you, but you happened to be out on missions every time. There was never anyone home. ANBU missions are top secret, so it wasn't appropriate to ask around. Most importantly, I ran into your aunt several times. She..."

"Get to the point, or get lost." If he did not interrupt him, this guy could ramble all the way into outer space.

In a soft, coquettish voice, Aburame Shishin said, "Why are you in such a hurry? So mean~~~"

"Damn it!" Hayato's foot slipped, and he nearly fell out of the tree. "We haven't seen each other for one month, and you've awakened something weird. Tell me honestly, what exactly happened to you?"

The two laughed for a while as the written examination officially began in the classroom.

Rubbing his aching cheeks from laughing, Aburame Shishin said, "No more messing around. Serious business. Do you remember the bugs you brought back from Inari Village?"

Hayato nodded. "I remember. What about them?"

Hayato said, "They're called horsehair worms, also known as hair snakes. They're parasites. When their larvae mature, they control their hosts into seeking out water, drown the hosts, then crawl out of their bodies. The ones you brought back were a very special variant that could absorb moisture from the air and the human body. The clan has decided to cultivate them as contract insects."

"Wait!" Hayato's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you're going to raise them inside your bodies like Kikaichū? I saw firsthand how creepy Mishiyama Daisuke looked."

Aburame Shishin said proudly, "Don't compare the Aburame Clan to a half-baked amateur like Mishiyama Daisuke. When it comes to raising bugs, the Aburame Clan is professional."

"As long as you know what you're doing. So, what now? You came all this way just to thank me?"

"Come on, between us, saying thanks would make things awkward."

"Mm." Hayato nodded in agreement. "Thanks would be inappropriate. Just give me cash instead. I don't need much, just casually hand over a few dozen or a few million ryō."

Aburame Shishin looked at Hayato. "Are you dreaming? Have you brushed your teeth? If not, go brush them, and wash your face while you're at it. Wake yourself up."

The suggestion of cash was naturally a joke.

In the end, Aburame Shishin gave Hayato a test tube containing a red spider. This species possessed an extraordinary sixth sense for danger, as though it could foresee the future. However, each spider could sense danger only once in its lifetime, making it extremely valuable.

The exams went smoothly. During the Three Body Technique test that afternoon, Naruto predictably made a complete mess of things and was directly declared failed, leaving him ineligible for the following sparring matches.

Watching Naruto hang his head in dejection, Hayato felt terrible.

Perhaps this was Sarutobi Hiruzen's test for Naruto, but why did good things always come with so many hardships? Why did good people always have to endure suffering before they could find happiness?

Were hardships like aged wine, making happiness richer and smoother?

Hayato restrained the urge to comfort Naruto. First, as an ANBU ninja, slacking off was one thing, but abandoning his post was serious. Second, if this was Sarutobi Hiruzen's test, acting on his own would disrupt the Hokage's plan.

At that moment, Hatake Kaito appeared before Hayato. "The Hokage's order: secretly follow Naruto Uzumaki and protect his life. Do not intervene unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes!" Hayato let out a breath of relief.

After the Three Body Technique test, Naruto sat on a swing, completely downcast.

When the afternoon sparring ended and the students who had passed the graduation exams gathered in small groups to talk excitedly, Naruto's mood sank to rock bottom.

Even more hurtful were the taunts and gloating of those villagers who knew nothing of the truth.

Then Mizuki appeared, wearing the face of a good man while speaking deceitful lies. Like a drowning man who had spotted a lifeline, Naruto truly believed that learning the ninjutsu in the Book of Seals would allow him to graduate from the Ninja Academy.

Heh, how naïve.

What a Mizuki.

Why did he think Naruto could steal the Book of Seals through layer upon layer of ANBU guards? If Sarutobi Hiruzen had not deliberately withdrawn the guards, Naruto would not even have made it through the doors of the Hokage Building.

Mizuki definitely had not been part of Sarutobi Hiruzen's plan at the beginning. After Hayato reported Mizuki and Naruto's conversation to the Hokage, a plan formed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, and he simply played along.

The events unfolded just like in the original story.

Naruto "successfully" stole the Book of Seals and was then found by Iruka ahead of everyone else. After Iruka learned of Mizuki's plot, Mizuki appeared right on schedule and took responsibility for explaining everything.

Upon learning the "truth," Naruto became emotional, and Iruka was injured while protecting him.

In the end, the agitated Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, creating over a hundred clones at once. The sheer amount of chakra made Hayato's eyes turn green with envy and his mouth water.

The Nine-Tails' chakra leaking through the loosened seal, combined with the Uzumaki Clan's naturally massive chakra reserves—together, they allowed twelve-year-old Naruto's chakra to easily crush that of a jōnin.

Mizuki had ambition, but not the strength to match it. After Naruto erupted, he was beaten up by over a hundred clones. The sight was enough to make those who heard of it sad and those who saw it weep.

One word described it: miserable!

"Who's there?!"

Naruto suddenly shouted toward Hayato's hiding place.

Huh?

Hayato was certain he had not revealed his presence.

Could it be that the leaking Nine-Tails chakra had heightened his beast-like instincts?

Hayato simply stepped out of the shadows.

"Boss Hayato?" Naruto asked uncertainly.

"This mask really is just for fooling myself, isn't it? Anyone can recognize me." Hayato gave a bitter smile.

Iruka said, "You're Hayato? Hyuga Hayato? I haven't heard any news about you in a long time. So you joined the ANBU."

Although Iruka had not taught Hayato's class, he certainly knew of him. Moreover, Iruka had been one of the examiners during last year's graduation exams and had witnessed Hayato's entire examination, leaving him utterly astonished.

"Iruka-sensei, you're hurt."

Hayato stepped forward and tapped twice on the injured area, stopping the bleeding.

"Stitching Thread!"

Chakra threads thinner than hairs extended from between his fingers, stitching together the blood vessels and wound one by one. From the outside, there was not even a trace that Iruka had been injured. If the wound had not still faintly hurt, Iruka would have suspected that he was under a genjutsu.

"The bone wasn't injured. You'll be fine in a few days."

"Thanks, Hayato. By the way, why are you here?"

"I was acting under the Hokage's orders to protect Naruto."

Iruka was a good person, and his thinking was naïve, but that did not mean he was stupid. Putting everything together, he quickly understood the whole story, then smiled in relief.

Hey, hey, what are you feeling relieved about? You were also a pawn in Sarutobi Hiruzen's plan, you know!

Forget it. That brainwashing Will of Fire.

[PS] Thanks to Huangshumi and Niunao for 1 recommendation vote each, and to Liao Wei for 11 recommendation votes. Thank you.

[PS] When watching Naruto, didn't it feel a little strange? How could a Ninja Academy student so easily steal such an important and dangerous Book of Seals?

[PS] Next chapter, tomorrow afternoon.