After that, Naruto sat on a swing watching the parents of the other students pick up their children as he sat on a sing. He heard people saw that they were glad he didn't become a shinobi. Anko couldn't be there for him because she was in detention for that stunt earlier and Hinata had been pulled away by Yoruichi for a moment to give her a surprise. Personally, he didn't mind; he wanted to be alone for a while. He had failed, and they had passed. If he stayed around them it would just be a reminder that they were now genin and he was still a student.
Soon Mizuki came over to Naruto and asked if he wanted to talk. Naruto agreed and followed Mizuki to the top of the Hokage Monument.
"Don't be too hard on Iruka," said Mizuki. "He just wants to see you do your best. He really cares about up." Naruto said nothing; he just looked down at the ground until Mizuki spoke again. "There is another way to pass, but it's a secret."
"What is it?" asked Naruto.
"All you have to do is sneak into the Hokages office, steal the Forbidden Scroll, and learn one jutsu from it before someone finds you," he explained.
Later that night, Naruto snuck into the Hokages office and grabbed the scroll. While he was making his escape, the Hokage entered the office and saw him. Thinking quickly, Naruto used his Oiroke no Jutsu on the old man, knocking him out cold. After that, Naruto quickly made his way to the place where Mizuki had told him to go to. As soon as he got there he opened the scroll.
"Ok, time to learn a jutsu" he said aloud. The first jutsu was Kage bunshin.
It was about an hour later when Iruka showed up. Naruto looked like he was exhausted.
"Hey Iruka-sensei, looks like you found me," said Naruto with a laugh.
"Naruto what are doing here?"
"I did it Iruka-sensei!" cried Naruto as he ignored the question. "Not only did I steal the scroll, I also learned two new jutsu from it. It looks like I passed the secret test."
"What secret test?" asked the dumbfounded teacher.
"The one Mizuki-sensei told me about. He said all I had to do was steal the Forbidden Scroll and learn one jutsu and I could become a genin."
"Naruto," began Iruka, but stopped when he sensed Mizuki appear on a tree branch above them.
"I see you found him first," said Mizuki with a smug look on his face.
"What's going on sensei," asked Naruto.
"Naruto, Mizuki lied to you," said Iruka as he pulled out a kunai. "He used you to steal the Forbidden Scroll for himself."
"Naruto," said Mizuki with an evil look in his eyes, "have you ever wondered why you are hated? Would you like me to tell you?"
"Why," asked Naruto.
"Don't," shouted Iruka.
"It's because you are the Kyuubi no Kitsune," said Mizuki with a look of glee on his face.
"What? That's impossible!" yelled Naruto.
"Think about," said Mizuki. "Why do you think everyone hates you? Your birthday is October tenth, the say day as the day the Kyuubi attacked. And those whisker marks. Think about the names all the villagers call you. Face it, you are the demon fox! Even Iruka hates you because you killed his parents."
Naruto fell to his knees. This was too much for him to take in. but it was beginning to make sense. Seeing Naruto in this state, Mizuki flung one of his giant shuriken at Naruto. However, it impacted with Iruka's back. When Naruto looked up he saw Iruka as he began to cry.
"Iruka-sensei, why," asked the demon vessel.
"Naruto, I'm so sorry. I was the same as you. I know what it feels to be all alone. When my parents died, I became the class clown so people would notice me and my grades slacked. I'm so sorry I never helped you when you really needed it." With that Iruka fell down. In pure panic, Naruto grabbed the scroll and ran away. Mizuki soon began to chase him and shortly after that so did Iruka.
Iruka saw Naruto jumping from tree to tree with the scroll on his back.
"Naruto," he called out. "Give me the scroll and let's go see the Hokage." Then, all of a sudden, Naruto turned and tackled him. Iruka fell down onto the ground and turned into Mizuki. Naruto jumped down onto the ground and laid it back against a tree.