Chapter 3
Four years passed quickly for the Uzumaki, and while the adults always saw the boy as crazy, his classmates started to see him as just Naruto. By the time it was time to graduate Naruto had a school wide underground gambling racket going and although the students quickly learned not to bet against Naruto, when he was the dealer the racket was the thing to be doing in the school yard. The teachers could never understand why all the kids liked the crazy Uzumaki so much when he was only exceeded in laziness by his best friend Shikamaru.
Naruto was happy with his place though. Not only was he still dead last, but he was well known for his betting. Well, at least among the kids his age.
To most of the teachers though, the blond boy was considered a monster only surpassed by the Kyuubi itself. It was this general hatred among the adults that gave one Tochuro Mizuki an idea.
.
Mizuki watched from the academy window as Naruto sat listlessly on the academy tree swing watching as all his fellow age mates were congratulated on becoming genin. With silent steps he made his way from the window to the branch above Naruto and gestured for Naruto to follow him to somewhere more private. When they got there the chunin said, "Don't feel bad about failing it happens to the best of us from time to time." When the blond just gave a grunt Mizuki continued, "I know it never feels good to fail though so I convinced Iruka to allow a makeup test."
Naruto yawned, "No thanks. As long as stay dead last I don't care how long it takes to graduate."
The instructor blinked in surprise, 'What the heck?' he thought. Well if passing with his age mates wasn't enough there had to be someway. Maybe, there was a rumor that the crazy Uzumaki really liked bets, lets see if it was accurate, "How about a bet Naruto?"
The blond immediately perked up, "What kind of bet?"
"I bet that you can't steal the scroll of seals and learn one jutsu off of it without getting caught." Mizuki said, "If you do pull it off then I graduate you as dead last in your class. However, if you lose, or don't do it I graduate you as first in your class."
Naruto paled, "Your on." Mizuki smiled.
.
Five hours later Naruto sat with Mizuki in the Hokage's office waiting for the Third to respond to their story.
The Sandaime hmmed, "So let me get this straight, Mizuki, you bet Naruto that he couldn't get forbidden scroll of sealing; and Naruto, you accepted that bet and proceeded to win it?"
Both ninja nodded and Sarutobi sighed and looked at Mizuki, "Well Mizuki I'll be honest with you, influencing naïve genin into traitorous acts is frowned upon, and it will get 15 years in our shinobi prison. However, I'm willing to take five years off of your sentence if you'll graduate Naruto as first in his class."
"What!?" Naruto shouted, "That is so cheating old man!"
Hiruzen shrugged, "Yes it is, and since we didn't set the prizes for our bet then the rules say the winner gets to choose what they want, and I want you to stay a Konoha shinobi at least until you make chunin."
Mizuki stared at Naruto's scowl in bewilderment. He'd accept the Hokage's offer and then get the heck out of the crazy town as soon as he was free.
