"Okay Naruto, you only have to perform Bunshin no Jutsu." Iruka informed him.
'Oh damn it! That's my worst skill' Naruto cursed his luck.
"Bunshin no Jutsu!" he yelled.
As the smoke cleared, Naruto could see… a useless bunshin.
"I'm sorry Naruto but I'm gonna have to fail you again."
Naruto dejectedly walked out of the room. As he exited the Academy doors, the sight of parents congratulating their children greeted him. He felt so lonely, sitting on his swing with no one beside him to comfort him. Suddenly, he found Mizuki – sensei beside him.
"Naruto, let's go to somewhere private. I want to tell you something."
Naruto followed Mizuki – sensei to a balcony and sat down.
"Iruka-sensei is not trying to pick on you." Mizuki began.
"Then why only me?" Naruto complained, swinging his feet over the edge.
"He's probably thinking he wants you to become genuinely strong. Since he's also an orphan."
Naruto was surprised.
"But… I really wanted to graduate." Naruto answered, sadly. After failing two times already, he really wanted to pass this time.
Mizuki laughed. "Well I guess there's no choice then…"
Naruto looked up at Mizuki, confused.
"I'll tell you a special secret." Mizuki whispered, sitting down next to Naruto.
'Secret?' thought Naruto and listened intently as Mizuki told him the plan.
That night at Iruka's House
Iruka was thinking about the conversation he had with the Hokage that afternoon when he was suddenly interrupted by incessant knocking.
Iruka swun open the door. Mizuki was leaning on the door frame, panting in exhastion.
"What is it Mizuki?"
"We must go to Hokage – sama's place! It seems Naruto – kun has…taken the Scroll of Seals!"
"What?! The Scroll of Seals?!" Iruka shouted incredously.
Naruto, what have you done?!
In the Forest
"Let's see…the first skill is…Kage Bunshin? What the hell?! Why does it start with the one I'm bad at?!" Naruto complained, running his hand through his hair in frustration.
As Naruto grudgingly started practicing Kage Bunshin, he noticed something.
"Wait a minute…I think I've done this before."
With the Hokage
"He won't get away with this one!" shouted a ninja in the crowd.
"The Scroll of Seals is dangerous and was forbidden by the previous Hokage. If used in certain ways…" another ninja trailed off.
"He can't have taken it outside of the village." Shouted the ninja closest to the Hokage.
"Bring back Naruto, unharmed. Immediately!" ordered the Hokage, emphasizing the word 'unharmed'.
"Hai!"
With that the ninjas scattered to search for the demon vessel.