Naruto's thoughts gravitated towards the Forbidden Scroll, a legendary tome whispered to contain countless forbidden jutsu, from the versatile Shadow Clone Technique to the formidable Reaper Death Seal. Stealing such a relic, however, was no trivial matter, even for a gifted ninja-in-training.
He distinctly recalled how effortlessly the original Naruto had acquired the scroll in the anime, almost as if guided by an unseen hand. A theory began to form: perhaps the Third Hokage had intentionally allowed it. It made a certain kind of sense—the Hokage might have hoped Naruto would develop his strength, pushing him to emulate his father, the revered Fourth Hokage. Furthermore, as the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, a weak Naruto was an undeniable liability to the village. This possibility of a deliberate setup, a calculated risk, made the idea of acquiring the Forbidden Scroll seem less like an impossible heist and more like a pre-ordained step.
With this conviction firmly in mind, the Forbidden Scroll no longer felt like an unreachable goal, but rather a challenge he was meant to overcome.
However, there was one crucial individual indispensable to this intricate plan: Mizuki.
That evening, Naruto retired earlier than usual, ensuring he was thoroughly rested and mentally sharp for the task ahead. The following day, he approached Mizuki's office with a practiced air of innocent curiosity. "Mizuki-sensei," he began, his voice carefully casual, "I've heard whispers that the Forbidden Scroll holds many powerful jutsu. But I... I don't know where it is." He watched, subtly, for a reaction.
As expected, a fleeting shadow, almost imperceptible, flickered in Mizuki's eyes—a tell-tale sign of his true intentions. "Naruto," Mizuki replied, his voice dropping conspiratorially, "I know its location, but you must swear on your honor, you absolutely cannot tell anyone I told you."
Naruto inwardly chuckled, confirming Mizuki's long-standing, greedy desire for the scroll. Outwardly, he maintained a facade of wide-eyed caution and earnestness. "I understand, Mizuki-sensei. You can trust me," he promised. Convinced Naruto was a pliable, naive tool ready to be manipulated, Mizuki, with a triumphant gleam in his eye, readily revealed the scroll's hidden location.
Having successfully extracted the crucial information, Naruto decided to execute his plan that very night.
Under the cloak of the new moon, Naruto slipped silently into the Forbidden Scroll's heavily guarded storage area. He moved with a newfound stealth, a blend of his natural agility and the disciplined training he'd undertaken. While he suspected the Third Hokage would likely be aware of his actions—the old Kage rarely missed a beat—it didn't greatly concern him. Even if he were to be caught, he reasoned, a child wouldn't face severe punishment. And besides, Mizuki, the true instigator, would ultimately become the convenient scapegoat.
Guards, though seemingly vigilant, were stationed around the scroll's location. Whether by sheer dumb luck or by some unseen, guiding design—perhaps the Hokage's calculated allowance—Naruto managed to steal the Forbidden Scroll with remarkable ease, its heavy, ancient cover a surprising weight in his hands. However, his unhindered escape was short-lived; he was discovered almost immediately by a patrolling ninja. Clutching the scroll tightly, Naruto fled, a whirlwind of motion. "The Forbidden Scroll won't be in my hands for long," he thought, adrenaline coursing through him. "Mizuki will surely appear soon, expecting me to deliver it. I need to act fast."
He quickly ducked into the nearby woods, a familiar training ground, and expertly concealed himself amidst the dense foliage. Opening the scroll, the first jutsu that leaped out at him was the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. This technique was paramount; it offered his best, perhaps only, chance against Mizuki. Its hand seals were surprisingly simple, merely an advanced variation of the standard Clone Jutsu. Naruto, with his burgeoning chakra control and enhanced intellect, mastered it with minimal effort, a flicker of satisfaction momentarily eclipsing his urgency. He did, however, note its significant chakra drain—a drawback that would make it utterly impractical for most shinobi. After successfully performing the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Naruto continued to rapidly scan the scroll, his eyes devouring the text. He wasn't attempting to learn every technique immediately, but rather storing the knowledge, committing the instructions for other formidable jutsu to his sharp memory for later study. He briefly glimpsed the Rasengan, a technique he knew would become central to his future, and then the Flying Thunder God Technique, just as Iruka's voice cut through the stillness of the night.
"Naruto, come back with me." Iruka's tone was a mix of concern and sternness.
Naruto rose from his crouched position and slowly walked toward Iruka, his mind racing. This is happening far too quickly, he thought, a hint of frustration in his newfound awareness. I haven't even had the chance to learn a few more essential ninjutsu yet.
Suddenly, without warning, Mizuki launched a vicious attack from behind, striking Iruka with a volley of razor-sharp shurikens, leaving him gravely wounded. Naruto, though capable of deflecting the attack, chose to observe. He wanted to confirm Iruka's true loyalty, to see if the man's kindness was genuine or merely a facade. Seeing Iruka collapse, bleeding profusely, Mizuki's cruel gaze shifted to Naruto. A massive, menacing shuriken hurtled towards Naruto, a deadly spinning disc of steel. But Iruka, summoning a desperate burst of strength, threw himself forward, using his own body as a shield. "Naruto, run!" he cried, his voice strained with pain, his action a clear, undeniable testament to his unwavering care.
Though Naruto's soul was an anomaly in this world, this selfless act ignited a genuine surge of emotion within him. He picked up a kunai, its cold steel grounding him, and advanced purposefully towards Mizuki. Mizuki, seeing Naruto approach, sneered, a cruel twist to his lips. "Hand over the Forbidden Scroll, brat, and I won't kill you." Naruto offered no verbal reply, letting his actions speak for him as he suddenly charged at Mizuki. Mizuki, still confident, laughed mockingly. Iruka, witnessing the unfolding confrontation, frantically cried out, "Naruto, run! You're no match for Mizuki!"
Naruto delivered a swift, powerful kick that landed with a sharp crack, instantly wiping the smug smirk from Mizuki's face. Mizuki, surprised, instinctively raised his kunai to parry. Naruto's movements were fluid and relentless, like a flowing river—one attack seamlessly leading into the next, a continuous barrage. Mizuki's confidence began to waver, replaced by a growing unease. I was careless, he thought, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his temple. This isn't the strength a ninja academy student should possess. He's far more dangerous than he appears.
However, Mizuki was, after all, a ninja of Chunin rank, on par with Iruka. Though initially caught off guard by Naruto's unexpected prowess, he gradually began to gain the upper hand as the prolonged skirmish continued. Yet, Mizuki grew increasingly anxious; he knew the village's elite ninjas would soon arrive if the confrontation dragged on. Seeing Naruto was just a child, despite his fighting skill, Mizuki decided to employ psychological warfare, aiming to break the boy's spirit.
He agilely leapt onto a tree branch, gaining a slight elevation, and called out, his voice laced with venom, "Naruto, do you know the real truth? Iruka... he has always hated you! He hates you because you are the Nine-Tails!" Iruka, still struggling with his injuries, could only watch in horrified silence, unable to stop Mizuki's cruel revelation. Naruto, however, showed remarkably little reaction, his expression unreadable.
Naruto merely cast a calm, discerning glance at the injured Iruka. "How could someone who truly hates me risk his life to save me just now?" Naruto's voice was clear, firm, and filled with a logic that cut through Mizuki's deception. "It was you, Mizuki. You used me to steal the Forbidden Scroll, believing I was foolish enough to be your pawn. But in the end, it was you who coveted its forbidden techniques, wasn't it?"
Mizuki, completely exposed and furious that his carefully laid plan had been seen through, snarled, "You actually figured it out, you insufferable brat! Then you can die!"
Seeing Mizuki charge forward, his rage blinding him to the obvious trap, Naruto couldn't help but feel a surge of amusement. With a rapid series of movements, he formed the necessary hand seals.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Naruto effortlessly created hundreds, no, thousands of clones, instantly filling the clearing. When Mizuki found himself utterly engulfed, trapped in a swirling sea of identical Narutos, his confident demeanor shattered. He immediately lost his will to fight, his legs trembling uncontrollably as he desperately clutched his kunai, utterly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.
Naruto, or rather, the collective voice of thousands of Narutos, couldn't help but laugh at Mizuki's pathetic, cowardly expression. "What's wrong, Mizuki?" they taunted in unison. "Didn't you just say you wanted to kill me? Come on! Let's see you try now!" With that, all the clones surged forward, a tidal wave of fists and feet, mercilessly beating Mizuki until his figure was utterly disfigured, a broken, barely conscious heap on the forest floor.
Iruka, watching the astonishing display from his injured position, was overcome with pride and joy at his student's incredible power. At this point, the real Naruto walked towards Iruka and knelt, gently checking his injuries. Fortunately, none of them were fatal. Together, the two, with the help of a few remaining shadow clones, took the half-dead Mizuki to the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage, seeing the seriously injured Iruka and the battered Mizuki, set down his pipe, a long sigh escaping his lips. "This entire unfortunate incident," he began, his voice weary but firm, "is all because of Mizuki's treachery, Iruka. You've done well. Now, you should go back and recover."
(End of this chapter)