Graduating Without a Hitch

Ten minutes later, Iruka came rushing over, panting. He bent down and glared at him through gritted teeth. "Hey, Naruto!"

Naruto looked up as if he had only just noticed him. He scratched his head and gave an awkward smile.

"Wow, I didn't expect you to find me so quickly. I just learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. If I show you, you'll let me graduate, right?"

Iruka froze. "Who told you that would be enough to graduate?"

"Mizuki-sensei. He told me to steal this scroll and wait for him here."

Naruto looked up at Iruka with wide, innocent eyes while sensing Silly Mizuki, who had just arrived.

"What?!" Alarm flashed through Iruka. Realizing something was wrong, he turned and went on guard.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Dozens of kunai suddenly shot from a nearby tree toward Iruka and Naruto.

Iruka shoved Naruto aside and faced the barrage alone. In an instant, several kunai struck him.

Silly Mizuki lived up to his name in both foolishness and incompetence. Even at such close range, only a few kunai hit Iruka, and none struck a vital spot.

The rest traced an outline around Iruka before embedding themselves in the wall of the wooden house behind him.

I, Naruto Uzumaki, hereby name you the greatest Outline Ninja! Naruto fought back a laugh as he looked up at Silly Mizuki on the branch.

"Naruto, hand me the Scroll of Seals!" Silly Mizuki ordered with a smug grin.

"Um... what's going on?" Naruto asked, feigning confusion.

"Naruto, don't give him the Scroll of Seals," Iruka said between breaths. "It's a dangerous scroll containing forbidden ninjutsu. Mizuki used you to get his hands on it!"

"What?!" Naruto showed confusion and anger right on cue.

"Iruka only says that because he doesn't want you to have the Scroll of Seals!" Silly Mizuki launched into his smug attempt at manipulation.

"Hahaha! I'll tell you the truth, Naruto. After something happened twelve years ago, the Third Hokage established a certain rule!"

"What rule?" Naruto asked, looking puzzled.

"A special rule meant to keep one secret from you, Naruto, and you alone!" Mizuki continued.

"Just me? Why?" Naruto cried, widening his eyes in disbelief.

"Shut up, Mizuki!" Iruka shouted.

"Because the rule forbade anyone from telling you that you're the Demon Fox!" Mizuki stared at Naruto. "In other words, you're the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox who killed Iruka's parents and destroyed the village!"

"What?!" Naruto's eyes went wide with shock.

This time, Naruto wasn't entirely acting. The Third Hokage's sinister rule genuinely shocked him.

In his previous life, he had overlooked that detail. He had only suspected that the Third Hokage was behind the villagers' abuse of Naruto.

Now he had proof.

The Third Hokage had done this precisely so everyone would know Naruto was the Demon Fox!

You scheming old bastard!

To hell with your whole family!

You always act so kindly, but you're the real fox!

Naruto put on a look of grief, shock, and resentment, like an award-winning actor—or a jilted wife abandoned for years. Then he turned and ran into the distance.

He left Silly Mizuki wanting to give chase and Iruka at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage watched the scene through a crystal ball like some old witch.

He frowned and cursed. "Damn Mizuki. He actually told Naruto all that! I hope Naruto doesn't read too much into it."

He kept watching Naruto through the crystal ball, paying particular attention to his changing expression.

By now, Naruto felt as though his face might stiffen for good. Holding so many emotions on it at once for so long was exhausting.

He stopped when he reached the Konoha Village Wall and hid behind a tree. In truth, he was waiting for Iruka and Mizuki to catch up.

Iruka soon reached the area too. Wounded in several places, he sank weakly to the ground.

Mizuki came after him, panting. He glanced around but saw no sign of Naruto, then turned on Iruka in a fury. "You idiot! What do you get out of being so good to Naruto?"

"Hmph. Whatever happens, I won't let the Scroll of Seals fall into the hands of a fool like you!" Iruka retorted.

"You're the fool!" Mizuki shot back. "That Demon Fox Naruto wants the same thing I do. Once he learns the forbidden jutsu inside, he can do whatever he wants!"

"So what if Naruto is the Demon Fox?" Iruka said with contempt. Then a smile appeared on his face. "He's a student I believe in now! He works hard, and he has real talent. The others just haven't seen it yet."

As he spoke, Iruka remembered the Seduction Technique Naruto had once used on him.

"So to me, he isn't the Demon Fox. He's Naruto Uzumaki, my student! Naruto Uzumaki!" Iruka shouted at Mizuki.

Disbelief darkened Mizuki's face.

Hidden nearby, Naruto was genuinely moved. A teacher like that could have touched the whole world back on Blue Star.

He had come to this world all alone, yet just like the Naruto in the original story, he had found someone who believed in him and cared about him. Warmth welled up inside him.

Too bad you've been brainwashed by the Will of Fire...

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage watched with satisfaction. He nodded.

"Iruka really is an excellent teacher for spreading the Will of Fire!"

"At this point, perhaps there's no need to confine Naruto to Root. Giving him a few more bonds in the outside world will make him easier to control. Isn't that what I've been working toward for the past twelve years?"

In the forest, Mizuki had no idea what Iruka was talking about. Growing impatient, he pulled a huge Fūma Shuriken from his back and hurled it at Iruka.

Too weak to move, Iruka sat on the ground and closed his eyes with a bitter smile, waiting for death.

Suddenly, Naruto burst out from nearby and sent Mizuki flying with a kick!

Disbelief flashed across both Iruka's and Mizuki's faces.

"You moron! Don't you dare touch Iruka-sensei!" Naruto snarled at Mizuki.

He gave Mizuki no chance to say another word. He needed to show both his bond with Iruka-sensei and what he could do.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Naruto formed hand seals. In an instant, more than a hundred Shadow Clones filled the area, surrounding Mizuki on every side!

Mizuki panicked, unsure what to do. Iruka, meanwhile, smiled in shock and relief.

The hundred-plus Shadow Clones lined up and took turns kicking Mizuki, each blow aimed straight at his head or neck.

Mizuki was dead in no time.

Now no one would know that Naruto had been the one to approach Mizuki in the first place.

Whenever a villain died, sunlight seemed to spill over the scene.

This time was no exception. Of course, that might simply have been because dawn had broken.

"Iruka-sensei, can I open my eyes now?" Naruto asked Iruka, who stood in front of him.

"All right! Open them and take a look!" Iruka said with a smile.

Naruto curiously felt what was on his forehead and immediately understood.

"Congratulations on graduating, Naruto!" Iruka said with a radiant smile.

At that moment, Naruto saw the system notification in his mind confirming the mission was complete. He let out a huge sigh of relief.

Then, half sincerely and half for show, he threw his arms around Iruka and cheered with excitement.

Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage watched the scene in his crystal ball and nodded with satisfaction. After a moment's thought, he murmured to himself.

"We'll stick to the original plan. Once Naruto graduates, he'll join a team and take on missions."

"Also, we still need to find that 'mastermind' from the Uzumaki Clan. Judging by how she operates, she's probably only standing up for Naruto. She wants him to graduate smoothly and receive normal treatment from the village, too."