Mizuki's Malice

The door to the Ninja Academy teachers' office was not fully closed.

Mizuki sat behind the second desk by the window, flipping through a roll call book whose edges had grown frayed from use. The setting sun outside cast his shadow across the filing cabinet opposite him, stretching it long. His gaze was not on the roll call book, but passed over the edge of its pages to settle on two figures at the far end of the training ground, packing up their ninja tools.

One had black hair, the other blond. The black-haired one was sorting shuriken into his ninja tool pouch with brisk, efficient movements; the blond one crouched beside him, passing over kunai one by one while chattering away. Even from half a training ground away, his distinctive loud voice could be heard. Naruto Uzumaki and Senju Shinichi.

Mizuki narrowed his eyes, lightly rubbing the folded corner of that page in the roll call book. He had been observing this pair for several days. No, more precisely, he had been observing Naruto for years—ever since the Third Hokage had classified the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki identity as confidential, he had kept an eye on that blond child. But what had truly piqued his interest was this friend who had suddenly appeared at Naruto's side.

Senju Shinichi. He had reviewed the enrollment file: a collateral member of the Senju Clan, both parents deceased, with guardianship personally signed off on by the Third Hokage. In taijutsu class, he could fight the Uchiha Clan brat evenly; in theory class, he could casually explain the principles behind the composition of the Wood Release bloodline limit. He had even gone through every third-year reference book in the library. There was also a supplementary note tucked into the file: "Senju bloodline preliminarily activated"—but it did not state the extent of that activation. The Third Hokage was deliberately obscuring crucial information.

Mizuki closed the roll call book and lightly tapped its cover twice with his fingers. He recalled some office chatter from a few days ago—Iruka Umino had told another teacher, "Senju Shinichi is mature to an abnormal degree. At six years old, he's steadier than some genin." Iruka had sounded gratified when he said it, but Mizuki heard something else in those words: overly mature children often had more meticulous minds. And children with meticulous minds were easier to exploit through their weaknesses.

There was something else that particularly concerned him. Some time ago, people on Lord Danzo's side had seemingly been investigating Senju Shinichi as well. Though that investigation had later come to nothing for some reason, Root would not take notice of a child without cause. If Lord Danzo believed this child was worth investigating, then he must possess something—his bloodline? His abilities? Or perhaps some as-yet undiscovered value that could be exploited.

The Nine-Tails' jinchuriki could not be touched directly. The Third Hokage had placed too many ANBU around Naruto; anyone who made a move would be exposed. But if he approached through Naruto's most trusted friend, things would become much simpler. Senju Shinichi—this child was the best stepping stone for getting close to the Nine-Tails. Either he could be used as a key to unlock the door, or as a hostage to force it open. Either way, there was nothing to lose.

Mizuki rose and walked to the window. The smile on his face was kind and gentle, perfectly matching the image of a "kind teacher" he presented to his students. Yet the eyes reflected in the glass were calculating something entirely different. Graduation exams were approaching. Once they were over, he could begin acting.

Meanwhile, at the rear training ground of the academy.

Shinichi was sorting shuriken into his ninja tool pouch. Two rows had already been neatly arranged beside him—one of blunted practice blades, the other of standard combat models. Naruto crouched nearby, picking up the kunai scattered on the ground and passing them over one at a time, endlessly complaining about getting splashed in the face during water-walking practice earlier. Shinichi took the kunai, placed them with their blades facing inward, and moved at an unhurried pace, but his mind was simultaneously processing something else.

He was recalling details from the original story. Mizuki, the first minor boss of the Chunin Exam arc, appeared to be a gentle, approachable young Ninja Academy teacher, but had actually been coveting the Book of Seals all along and intended to use Naruto to steal it. In the original timeline, Mizuki's plan ultimately resulted in Naruto learning the Multiple Shadow Clone technique, while Mizuki himself was sent flying by Iruka Umino and Naruto. But now that Shinichi had been added as a variable, Mizuki's target would likely shift. The line he used to deceive Naruto would probably change from, "I know you're outstanding. Just steal the scroll for me," to something like, "I know you care most about your friend. Just steal the scroll for me, and I'll make sure he graduates."

"Shinichi?" Naruto handed over the last kunai and tilted his head at him. "Why are you packing up slower than usual today?"

"I'm thinking about what to practice tomorrow," Shinichi replied. He took the kunai, put it into the inner compartment of the pouch, zipped it up, then tightened the strap and wound it once more around his palm. Mizuki was still an official Ninja Academy teacher at this stage. Before he made a concrete move, Shinichi could not touch him. But intelligence had to be gathered in advance. Shinichi decided that when he returned tonight, he would start a new page in his notebook: Mizuki's behavioral patterns, the times he spent in the office, the frequency of his outside contacts—he would begin with scattered observations. Once Mizuki exposed a weakness, Shinichi would show him what comprehensive product-manager-level surveillance really meant.

"Tomorrow's the weekend! You said you'd teach me a new ninjutsu!" Naruto slung his ninja tool pouch over his shoulder, his eyes shining brightly enough to serve as flashlights.

"Meet at the riverbank tomorrow morning. Don't be late."

"When have I ever been late?"

"The first day of school."

Naruto choked on his words, then righteously declared that was in the past and did not count. He grabbed Shinichi and ran toward the school gate. As they passed the teachers' office building, Shinichi caught sight of a figure standing by a second-floor window out of the corner of his eye. The sunset shone from behind the person, obscuring their face; all he could make out was a head of light-colored short hair. He looked only once before withdrawing his gaze. Mizuki was probably admiring the layout of his next move. No matter. He could take his time admiring it—Shinichi had already placed his first piece on the board.