"Hmm?"
Shikamaru stood in the hallway, blinking in surprise. From the moment Naruto entered the classroom to when he walked out, not even two minutes had passed.
And now Mizuki-sensei was leading Naruto somewhere?
"Shikamaru, I didn't see Naruto's forehead protector. Don't tell me he actually failed?"
Chōji leaned forward with effort, eyes wide open as he stared down the corridor. Only when Naruto and Mizuki turned the corner at the end and vanished from sight did he stand back up.
Shikamaru didn't answer. His eyes were still locked on the direction Naruto had gone, lost in thought.
"Uchiha Sasuke!"
The sound of Iruka calling the next name snapped him back. He turned his gaze toward Sasuke.
"Looks like Naruto passed his graduation test. Now it's Sasuke's turn. Next up should be Sakura Haruno."
Shikamaru already knew from his father that Naruto would be teamed with Uchiha Sasuke and Sakura Haruno in Team 7. At first, he had planned to tell Naruto about it.
But recalling the conversation they'd had when he had wanted to reveal Naruto's true parentage… he decided against it.
Sasuke exited the classroom shortly afterward. He took about a minute longer than Naruto. After giving the students in the hallway a cold glance, he turned and walked toward the exit.
"Shikamaru, look," Chōji whispered, moving close. "Sasuke doesn't seem to be wearing a forehead protector either."
Shikamaru squinted. He had noticed that too—and in that moment, a memory flashed through his mind: years ago, Sasuke provoking Naruto in class.
"Sakura Haruno!"
As Sakura confidently entered the classroom, Shikamaru smirked faintly. Tomorrow, once the team assignments were posted, if Sasuke found out he'd been placed on the same team as Naruto… it'd be interesting.
At that moment, Naruto had followed Mizuki into the student record room.
"Mizuki-sensei, is there any advantage to graduating as the top student?"
"Of course!" Mizuki smiled as he filed Naruto's records away in the drawer, then handed him a folder.
"For starters, the village will assign a powerful jōnin as your team leader. And a strong teacher means you'll progress much faster than your peers."
He passed Naruto a document folder.
"Careful with that—it's your ninja registration form. You still need to get your photo taken, right?"
"Photo?" Naruto's face turned a bit awkward.
"I don't think any of the photo studios in the village are willing to take mine."
"I see…"
Mizuki pondered for a second, then smiled and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Why don't I take your photo? I have a camera at home, and since the registration only needs a basic headshot, it'll be no problem."
"Really?"
Naruto looked a bit conflicted.
"Won't that trouble you? Don't you have to get back to proctoring with Iruka-sensei?"
"Heh, it won't take long."
Mizuki said warmly,
"If you don't get this registration done properly, even with a forehead protector, you can't officially become a shinobi. You'll need to personally hand this form to the Hokage for approval, after all."
"Alright then."
Naruto beamed.
"Where should we go for the picture?"
"Hold on~"
Mizuki waved him off with a smile.
"I'll need to swing by my house to grab the camera first."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Then I'll just come with you. We can take the picture right away."
"Ah…"
Mizuki hesitated, his expression suddenly awkward.
"The lighting at my place isn't great. How about this—you wait for me on the rooftop of this building. It's open and spacious. I'll meet you there shortly."
"Okay! I'll head up now."
Naruto turned toward the door. A few steps later, he paused, turned back, and gave Mizuki a deep, respectful bow.
"Thank you, Mizuki-sensei. You're a good person."
With that, he quickly exited the room.
Mizuki stared at the door, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he raised his left hand to his ear and muttered under his breath,
"Camera ready?"
"Naruto, there's no puppet data for Mizuki in the Mirror Dimension."
Isobu's voice echoed in Naruto's mind as he ascended the rooftop stairs.
"Oh? That's interesting."
Naruto expanded his sensory field. In an instant, he detected the presence of the Third Hokage in another building across the campus—with Yamato, the Wood Release ninja, beside him.
Even more intriguing—Iruka's chakra was also present in that room.
"I see. No wonder there's no puppet data for Mizuki in the Mirror Dimension. So both of those people in the classroom today were fakes... Isobu, has the sync for the Third Hokage's data finished?"
Back in the classroom, Naruto had already felt something was off. Iruka's demeanor had been far too friendly, and Mizuki had seemed oddly familiar.
"Hold on, I'll ask Kurama and Matatabi."
Just as Naruto lifted a foot for the next step, Kurama's voice rang out sharply.
"Naruto, something's wrong."
Kurama's tone was unusually serious.
"Since last night, the Mirror Dimension's data for the Third Hokage, Iruka, Yamato, Kakashi, and even Hayate Gekkō has all been updating. None of them have finished syncing. Their memories are inaccessible."
"I've got Isobu and Matatabi monitoring it closely."
Naruto chuckled.
"Relax. A play with no real actors? Let's see how they plan to perform."
Meanwhile, in an office in the adjacent building, an ANBU operative entered.
"Hokage-sama, here's the camera."
The Third Hokage took it with a serious expression.
"Good. Tell Squad One and the Barrier Team to stand by for my signal."
"Yes, sir."
The ANBU left swiftly.
A few minutes later, silver-haired Mizuki entered. After saluting the Third, he glanced at Iruka—whose face was heavy with emotion—then walked over to Yamato.
And then something strange happened.
From both of their bodies, tendrils of wood-like roots began to grow, intertwining. Within seconds, only one Mizuki remained.
The Third handed him the camera with a smile.
"Good work."
Mizuki nodded silently, accepted the camera, and left the office.
"Hokage-sama… could I see Mizuki one last time?"
Iruka's voice was tinged with sorrow.
"Iruka…"
The Third Hokage sighed.
"You know what happened last night. I truly intended to give Mizuki a second chance. But who would've guessed his ties to Orochimaru ran so deep?"
"You've seen the interrogation reports. The crimes he committed… were unforgivable. He chose a path of no return."
Iruka's voice was low.
"But… Chubana still doesn't know…"
The Third shook his head.
"I'll have someone tell her. You just focus on your duties."
Click!
"Naruto, here's your photo. Not bad, right?"
"Thanks, Mizuki-sensei."
Naruto pasted the photo onto his form and smiled.
"I'll head to the Hokage's office to submit it. Once he approves it, I'll officially be a ninja of Konoha."
Mizuki's eyes flickered and he quickly stopped him.
"Not today. It's already midday—the Hokage isn't in his office. Around this time, he's always tied up with ANBU meetings. Those usually last until late at night."
"He's currently reviewing potential candidates from among the jōnin and ANBU to become your generation's instructors. You should go tomorrow morning instead."
"Is that so?"
Naruto frowned.
"In that case… I'll just head home."
"Wait a second."
Mizuki crouched down, his voice gentle.
"Naruto, did you know? Just because you're the top student doesn't mean you'll get the best teacher."
"If your skills are weak, even a great teacher won't focus on you."
Naruto paused.
"Teachers really treat students differently?"
Mizuki nodded.
"Of course. Take me, for example. I wasn't strong enough, so I became a chūnin years later than Iruka—even though we were classmates."
"In the shinobi world, strength is the only measure of a ninja's worth. If you can't keep up, your teacher may not even look at you twice."
Naruto's expression tightened.
"My strength..."
Mizuki smiled.
"If you're worried about falling behind, I can tell you a shortcut."
"A shortcut?" Naruto's eyes lit up.
"What is it?"
Mizuki leaned in.
"The Hokage brought the Scroll of Seals—which contains powerful forbidden jutsu—to his office a few days ago. It hasn't been returned yet. If you can get your hands on it and learn what's inside, your power will skyrocket."
"That scroll can really make me stronger?"
Naruto held the registration folder tightly, clearly hesitating.
"Absolutely."
Mizuki coaxed patiently.
"Once you see it for yourself, you'll know I'm not lying. If you have trouble understanding any of the jutsu, I can even help guide you."
"But the Scroll of Seals is in the Hokage's office…"
Naruto shook his head.
"I've been there plenty of times. There are ANBU stationed on every floor."
"Heh."
Mizuki chuckled.
"Didn't I say? The Hokage's been tied up with ANBU stuff lately. While the office is still guarded, it's not as tight as usual. Especially at night—security is even looser."
"Even so, I wouldn't dare. ANBU are elite."
"Fine~"
Mizuki stood up.
"If you're still hesitant, let me help you again."
Naruto blinked.
"Help me?"
Mizuki nodded warmly.
"I know the office layout well. I'll draw the guards away during the shift change tonight. That way, you won't run into anyone."
"That… might work."
Naruto slowly nodded, then looked up seriously.
"But why are you helping me, Mizuki-sensei?"
Mizuki gave him a sincere look.
"Because I see my younger self in you. I was the same—never quite fitting in. No one ever recognized me. Everyone flocked around Iruka."
"I don't want you to end up like me—never seeing any hope of rising above."
Naruto murmured softly,
"To rise above…"
Mizuki's eyes glinted.
"Exactly. If you learn the jutsu in the Scroll of Seals, everyone will acknowledge your existence."
Naruto's gaze sharpened.
"What do I need to do?"
"It's simple."
Mizuki clapped his shoulder.
"Tonight, at… this time and this place—got it?"
"Got it!"
Naruto took a step back and gave him another deep bow.
"Thank you, Mizuki-sensei. I'll repay your kindness one day!"
"Mhm~"
Mizuki waved.
"I'll go make preparations now. Don't forget our meeting time."
"I won't!"
Naruto grinned.
"I've memorized it clearly."
"Then I'll see you tonight."
Once Mizuki's figure vanished from the rooftop, the voices of the tailed beasts rang out.
"Naruto, the data just finished syncing. That Scroll of Seals is fake."
Isobu spoke first.
"That guy isn't Mizuki. He's that Wood Release user—Yamato. The real Mizuki… was lobotomized by the Intelligence Division last night."
Kurama followed, clearly irate after realizing the truth.
"And the Iruka proctoring your exam? Also one of Yamato's Wood Clones. Right now, Kakashi and Hayate Gekkō are in your bedroom. They even visited Sasuke's home earlier."
After Kurama finished, Matatabi spoke at last.
Naruto adjusted his forehead protector, the Leaf symbol glinting.
His consciousness entered the sealed space.
"Then let's go meet this Wood Release ninja again—oh, my bad. I meant to say, my homeroom teacher."
A few minutes later, Naruto arrived outside the classroom where the graduation exams had been held. Only a few students remained waiting outside.
Without hesitation, Naruto pushed the door open and strode in.
The Iruka clone proctoring the exam and the student inside both froze in surprise.
"Naruto, you—"
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto interrupted, his tone serious.
"I have something extremely important to report!"
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