Skill Upgrade Scroll

Looks like my only option is to steal the Scroll of Seals!

"System, I choose the second option," Naruto said without hesitation.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on making your choice. You have been awarded the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and one Skill Upgrade Scroll. Complete the mission within one day, or the rewards will be revoked!"

[Skill Upgrade Scroll]: Can upgrade the level of skills, including Ninjutsu, Secret Arts, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu.

Skills were ranked by proficiency: Uninitiated, Novice, Minor Accomplishment, Proficient, and Masterclass.

"Ding! Generate a Personal Status Panel?"

"Generate it!"

Soon, Naruto saw his Personal Status Panel in his mind:

Host: Naruto Uzumaki

Age: 12

Strength: Genin

Bloodline: Uzumaki Clan Sage Body (Level 3)

Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai (Level 1)

Skills: Uzumaki Clan Sage Body innate skills (Proficient) (Huge Chakra Amount, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Physical Healing, Fuinjutsu Talent)

Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai innate skill (Novice) (Clay Ant)

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique (Novice)

Transformation Technique (Masterclass)

Clone Technique (Novice)

"Huh? My Clone Technique reached Novice?" Naruto asked in surprise. Had the problem been solved that quickly?

"Ding! The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique is an advanced form of the Clone Technique. Upon receiving the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, the host automatically attained Novice proficiency in it, and the Clone Technique rose to Novice as well!"

"I see." Naruto nodded.

Now he could graduate without worrying about ending up in Root.

But since he had chosen the second option and received the rewards, he had to steal the Scroll of Seals. Otherwise, the system would take them back.

As for the other reward, the Skill Upgrade Scroll, Naruto considered the skills he currently had. In the long run, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique would help him most. It was practically a training cheat!

"System, use the Skill Upgrade Scroll on the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."

"Ding! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique upgraded to Minor Accomplishment."

"Ding! The host has been detected possessing a Masterclass skill. Special reward: one Skill Upgrade Scroll!"

"Huh? I get a bonus for that? Thanks, old Naruto. He must have given everything he had to mastering the Sexy Technique!"

Naruto grinned, then used the new scroll on the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique too.

"Ding! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique upgraded to Proficient. As an advanced form of the Clone Technique, it has also raised the Clone Technique to Proficient."

Naruto ran through the hand seals for the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique in his mind and smiled with satisfaction.

He was hiding in a stall in the school bathroom. It was the only place he could keep the Anbu Ninja watching him from discovering his secret.

He closed the system interface, thought for a moment, and rapidly formed the hand seals.

An identical Shadow Clone appeared beside him without a sound. Using Mind's Eye of the Kagura, the clone concealed his Chakra and hid.

Naruto himself then strolled out of the bathroom and headed straight for the schoolyard. The Anbu Ninja watching him noticed nothing and continued following him.

Five minutes later, Naruto's Shadow Clone slipped into Silly Mizuki's office.

"Naruto, what brings you here? I was just about to come find you." Mizuki's eyes lit up when he saw him.

Obviously. Was I supposed to let you lure me in front of everyone like in the original story, you idiot?

That was what Naruto's Shadow Clone thought, but he put on a dejected face. "Mr. Mizuki, I want to pass the graduation exam. Is there anything I can do?"

Silly Mizuki's heart leaped. What luck! Just what I needed!

"There is one way," Mizuki said with a gentle smile. "There's an enormous scroll in Hokage's Office containing many powerful Ninjutsu. Once you've learned them, you'll pass the graduation exam for sure!"

"Really? What do I need to do, Mr. Mizuki?" Naruto's Shadow Clone asked, feigning excitement.

"Steal it and bring it to the Northwest Forest. I'll meet you there and teach you the powerful Ninjutsu inside!"

Mizuki gave Naruto's Shadow Clone a coaxing smile. He was certain a brainless kid like Naruto would be easy to manipulate.

"Okay!" Naruto's Shadow Clone grinned at Silly Mizuki, showing his white teeth. Then he added:

"Mr. Mizuki, someone might overhear us here. Let's go to the open schoolyard and work out the whole plan."

Silly Mizuki eyed Naruto's Shadow Clone curiously. Such caution was unlike Naruto. But he gave it little thought, too lost in his fantasies of stealing the Scroll of Seals.

The open schoolyard was a good place to discuss secrets. There was nowhere to hide for hundreds of meters, so no one could get close enough to eavesdrop.

Naruto's Shadow Clone said goodbye to Silly Mizuki, then slipped into an empty corner and dispelled himself.

Five minutes later, Silly Mizuki arrived at the schoolyard. Sure enough, Naruto was practicing the Clone Technique in the middle of it. Mizuki scoffed, then walked over with a kindly expression.

Naruto sensed the Anbu Ninja hiding in a tree two hundred meters away. Keeping his back to him, he flashed Silly Mizuki a brilliant smile as the man approached:

"Mr. Mizuki, do you know what 'shā diāo' means?"

"Shā diāo? A sculpture made of sand? I haven't heard of that," Silly Mizuki said, shaking his head.

"Never mind, Mr. Mizuki. You'll find out tonight."

This was Naruto's second night in this world.

Last night, he had blown up the fat shopkeeper's store.

That morning, he had killed the Dog-Faced Anbu Ninja and the fat shopkeeper, who had tormented him and tried to kill him.

Now he was about to steal the Scroll of Seals.

In his previous life, he had been an upstanding citizen. He had never imagined that, so soon after arriving in this world, he'd be driven to this. This world had been anything but kind to him.

Naruto and Silly Mizuki had worked out a fairly complete plan for stealing the Scroll of Seals.

A moonless, windy night. The perfect time to kill.

Using the same method as before, Naruto's Shadow Clone slipped quietly out of the house.

With the sensing and concealment abilities of Mind's Eye of the Kagura, he avoided the patrolling Military Police Force and Anbu Ninja. Carrying a can of oil, he quietly reached Hokage's Office.

He sensed two Hokage Guards hiding inside Hokage's Office.