"Something important?"
The fake Iruka stiffened as Naruto locked eyes with him. A bad feeling rose in his chest. With a serious expression, he said,
"Naruto, we're in the middle of an exam. Whatever it is, wait until after it's finished."
"I can't."
Naruto glanced at the student standing below the platform—a boy whose name he didn't even know.
"This is related to the Hokage."
"What?"
Iruka's brows furrowed instantly.
What's going on? Did the original screw something up?
He was dying to use the seed in his ear to contact his real body and confirm what happened. But Naruto was standing just a meter away from him—too close to risk it.
"Uzumaki Naruto! We're taking the exam! I'm about to become a genin, and you're just messing around!"
The test-taker, a generic-looking male student, raised his voice upon seeing his homeroom teacher's odd reaction.
Naruto turned toward him calmly.
"Sorry. What was your name again?"
"I'm Tezuka Michi!"
Naruto nodded flatly.
"Don't know you. Sorry."
"You bastard! I sit right in front of Shikamaru! How could you—"
"Enough!"
Iruka stood up.
"Naruto, wait outside. Once the test is over, I'll call you back in."
"Then please make it quick."
Naruto raised his head slightly, staring sincerely at Iruka.
"Because what I have to tell you is really important."
"...Mm."
Iruka gave a small nod. His top priority now was to establish contact with the original.
"Then I'll wait outside."
Naruto turned and walked toward the door.
As soon as he stepped out, Iruka sat down again and raised his hand to his ear.
"Tezuka Michi, continue. The next part of the exam is Clone Technique and Transformation Technique."
"Yes!"
Tezuka, energized, began forming hand signs.
Meanwhile, back in his true form as Yamato, the man who had posed as Mizuki received the message from his Iruka clone. When he heard that Naruto seemed ready to report him, a wry smile formed on his face.
After all, he and the Hokage were still discussing the fine details of tonight's operation.
"What's wrong?" the Third Hokage asked, noticing Yamato's expression shift.
"Hokage-sama, there might be a problem."
Yamato glanced awkwardly at Iruka, who was standing beside the Third.
"I'm not sure if I messed up while impersonating Mizuki, but Naruto is at the classroom right now, saying he has something urgent to report to me. It sounds like… he's planning to report me."
"...Hm?"
The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes.
"With your skill, you shouldn't have made any mistakes. And you reviewed Mizuki's intel beforehand. He was only a substitute teacher for a few months and never interacted with Naruto outside of roll calls."
"Did Naruto see through our plan?"
"I don't think so."
Yamato thought for a moment.
"Yesterday, we all agreed—Naruto has long wanted you to teach him advanced jutsu. Learning about the Scroll of Seals should've been tempting enough. I think the issue came up during that last part of the interaction."
"Oh?"
The Third Hokage's face relaxed slightly.
"Perhaps we shouldn't have used Mizuki to approach him. But we didn't have better options."
Yamato looked helpless.
"Exactly. Naruto is a loner. He's extremely cautious around unfamiliar people. Aside from being close to you, he only interacts during class with Shikamaru, Chōji, and Hinata. After school, he goes straight home. He even uses Transformation Jutsu to shop for supplies."
"Over all these years, a child like him has barely formed any real connections in the village."
"Also, Naruto's very sharp. Mizuki suddenly approaching him during graduation to talk about the Scroll of Seals would naturally raise suspicions. But in truth… a personality like his is well-suited for the ANBU."
The Third Hokage sighed, visibly weary.
Naruto had indeed once expressed a desire to join ANBU—but how could a jinchūriki be allowed to operate in such a volatile unit?
Just then, Yamato's ear twitched. His face changed.
"Hokage-sama, Naruto just reported me to my clone. He's urging him to take him to you so we can arrest Mizuki together. With no choice, the clone told him there were still students left to test and asked him to wait in the hallway."
The Third Hokage's eyes glinted.
"Have the clone tell Naruto to go directly to the Hokage's office and speak with the ANBU stationed there."
Yamato immediately shook his head.
"Already tried. But Naruto said he doesn't trust the ANBU. Right now, he only trusts you and Iruka. He said last year he was tricked by two ANBU on his way home."
"...What?"
The Third's expression darkened. He had been pleased to hear that Naruto still trusted him and Iruka—but the moment Naruto mentioned being deceived by ANBU, that joy turned into a storm cloud.
Once again, Naruto had reminded him—the ANBU still hadn't been fully purged of Root's influence. Some operatives planted by Danzo might still remain unidentified.
"Once the last student finishes, have your clone bring Naruto to my office. Also, I need you to make a trip—call in Shikaku Nara. There are a few things I want to reconfirm."
"Understood!"
Yamato vanished instantly.
"Iruka," the Hokage said, turning to him.
"You heard, didn't you? Naruto trusts you very much as his homeroom teacher."
Iruka nodded, his face full of mixed emotions.
"I heard him."
Hokage's Office
"Iruka-sensei, could you please ask another ANBU to notify the Hokage again? We've been waiting over two hours already."
Naruto sat on a long bench he'd once marked as his own. His eyes were fixed on the enormous scroll leaning against the Hokage's desk—the Scroll of Seals.
Sitting beside him, Iruka gave a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. Mizuki said you'd meet tonight, right? Besides, the Scroll of Seals is right there. Once Hokage-sama arrives—"
Click-clack!
Before he could finish, the door opened. The Third Hokage walked in, followed by Shikaku Nara.
"Hokage-sama!" Iruka and Naruto both stood immediately.
The Third nodded to Iruka, then took a few steps forward.
"I've already heard everything, Naruto. You've done a great service. I've ordered ANBU to arrest Mizuki."
"Really?"
Naruto beamed.
"ANBU are awesome!"
"Heh."
The Third Hokage smiled and sat down behind his desk.
"So, Naruto—you've graduated, right? Do you have your registration form ready?"
Naruto held up the folder.
"All set!"
The Third took it, pulled out the papers, and stamped them with the seal on his desk.
"Naruto, you did very well. You saw through Mizuki's plot and didn't let him manipulate you into stealing the Scroll of Seals. On top of that, you came to me to report it immediately. That makes you a truly qualified ninja."
"I've decided to reward you. Go ahead—what would you like?"
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Hokage-sama, could you teach me a new jutsu?"
The Third's gaze deepened.
"Certainly. What kind of jutsu do you want to learn?"
Naruto glanced at Shikaku standing to the side.
"I want to learn the kind of jutsu that Shikamaru and Chōji use!"
"Ahem—"
The Third cleared his throat.
"Naruto, I believe I mentioned before—those are clan techniques. I can't teach them."
Seeing Naruto's disappointed expression, the Hokage softened his tone.
"But I can teach you something else—like the jutsu in the Scroll of Seals."
"There really is such a scroll?"
Naruto looked surprised as the Third picked up the massive scroll from beside the desk.
"Of course," the Hokage said with a smile.
"Why else would Mizuki want you to steal it? He wasn't lying—there really are powerful jutsu inside."
"Want to see?"
Naruto blinked, then answered without hesitation.
"Yes!"
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