Chapter IV: "That's rough, buddy"
So anyways, I- he passed the test…
Except he didn't .
"Naruto, you failed the Genin exam, due to your terrible writing test score…"
HOW ?
After comparing his results with Sakura, he should have the maximum score. Then why ?
He believes he got the answer already.
"Iruka, he is just one point away from passing the exam, not to mention, he is the adopted grandson of Hokage-sama, I think we could make an exception…"
"It is exactly because he is Hokage-sama 's family, Mizuki".
Even in this world, he still hates Naruto, I see. But, to this point ? Blatantly messed with my test papers, took advantage of my infamy as a student, ignoring his fear of the Third Hokage of this world in the process ?
In Naruto, Mizuki is just a power-hungry narcissist. Whatever push him this far is way beyond the jealousy of Iruka he had in canon.
One point for being brave, another one for effort. But I – he won't accepted to still fail after putting all that efforts to make sure this won't happen.
Confronting Mizuki doesn't sound like an good idea, and he could obtain the real Shadow Clone Jutsu by following the original script… So, let's go along with the canon. He hopes that this event wont turn out to be too different.
From afar…
"Iruka, come to my office."
These are the words inside a small letter attached to a pigeon, that just landed on Iruka's desk. His sweats drop from his forehead like a small rain.
"Hey, Naruto."
"Mizuki-sensei ?!"
He has gotten too good at faking his emotion. WHERE IS MY, ahem, HIS OSCAR ?
"Can you come here with me for a little bit ?"
To people who doesn't know his true nature, he look like a charming prince with a smile that carry sunlight. But to our protagonist, he looks like a sus uncle with candies and a white van.
He still steps right into that van tho.
"Iruka was just being strict. He lost his whole family when he was still young. Living independently and alone from early ages easily makes people's heart hardened."
"I knew. That's why I didn't feel angry at him, but just sad. Not for my scores, I can just take the test again next year, but he…"
"You are surprisingly mature for kids your age. Totally different from those rumors."
"I guess I can be childish most of time, but still capable of behaving properly at the right time, ehe."
"What a good child… Guess I will have to lend you a hand."
"What ?"
"You didn't hear that wrong. I will help you passing the test, as an reward for your goodness."
"But how ?"
"Iruka might be strict, but he just wanted his students to be ready as much as possible before truly becoming a ninja. If you showed him that you are more than capable for being a Genin, he will allow you to graduate. Now, I will tell you how to do so…"
Infiltrating where the Scroll of Seals was stored in is way harder than what happened in Naruto canon. Unlike the room a kid could fucking barged in that somehow have no guards (It is in the fucking Hokage Residence for fuck sake), it is a whole storehouse in an unknown place. To enter, you must be at least a Leaf Jonin, and follow these steps:
Meet the Hokage, then say the correct password instead of outright requesting.
Saying the second password for confirmation.
You will get blindfolded, then teleported via Flying Thunder God by Hokage's guards.
When arrive, say the third password.
They will shove you into the storehouse, remove the blindfold, then you can do your things under the supervision of the guards. The storehouse is many times larger than his academy and his village 's libraries combined.
Transformation jutsu is totally out of question. Luckily, my – Naruto's henge is abnormal. And he is supplied with Mizuki's knowledges. Still taking hours to successfully impersonate the Jonin Mizuki managed to befriend, from his personality , to his normal behaviors and habits.
However, something unpexpected happened.
His transformation was undone the moment he got teleported. Maybe, the charka from Flying Thunder God had disrupted his own. He knew that despite the blindfold, because, sudden change in height and overall body shape isn't something comfortable. He can feel it clearly.
Yet, immediately, people accompanied him complained about their sudden eyesores.
Without a second to spare, he instantly returns to his transformation. He was too panicked to realize that, something was wrong.
He also didn't realize that, the guards didn't suspect him even for a moment, despite him runmaging the whole storehouse.
Or that, one of the guard is Iruka in disguise.
The scroll retrieving operation is successful. According to Mizuki's plan, they will meet each other in a newly-built shelter in the forest. Of course, he wont follow that. Instead, he goes to his secret training spot in Forest of Death, through a secret tunnel he dug when he was five, its entrance hid under piles of rocks. Why nobody ever find out about that tunnel, he doesn't know. But no one will go there to find him for sure, as not only the forest is dangerous as hell, it is surrounded by steel fences and wires – which kid would go there ? That will at least buy him time to learn everything in the scroll – at least he wanted to believe so. Open the scroll, he expected to find the Shadow Clone Jutsu, only to be hit to the face with something unbelievable.
The first jutsu of the scroll is called "Projection".
He quickly opens and skims through the whole scroll, but cannot find anything with "Shadow Clone" in it. After giving up 'cuz he doesn't want to watse time, he decided to learn this "Projection" jutsu.
He didn't expect it to be one of the pillar of Ninjutsu as a whole.
After seeing Naruto left the Hokage Residence, Mizuki followed him until he reached the forest. Mizuki then went to where that Jonin was. Upon spotting him eating at Ichiraku, Mizuki casually greets the Jonin:
"Oh, hello ****-san, a while ago I've seen you at the Hokage's Residence, but I didn't greet you thinking you were busy. What was that Scroll of Seals for ?"
Mizuki laughed in his mind as the Jonin's face visibly worsen.
Knock, knock.
Iruka opens the door to see Mizuki's hurried face.
"Iruka, we need to go to Hokage's place ! Naruto…"
Feigning ignorance, Iruka followed Mizuki.
Soon, they arrived.
Upon hearing Hokage's command, all ninjas flicked away.
Being alone now, Mizuki rushes to the forest with a crazy grin across his face.
Unbeknownst to him, every single ninja that was supposed to find Naruto is tailing him from behind.
Projection.
The materialization of the caster's imagination, through the shaping and changing in properties of charka.
Raising imagery within the caster's heart as pseudo-matter…
…To project the world within yourself to the outside world.
Judging the concept of creation.
Hypothesizing the basic structure.
Duplicating the composition material.
Imitating the skill of its making.
Sympathizing with the experience of its growth.
Reproducing the accumulated history.
Excelling every manufacturing process…
Um, this is clearly a blatant plagiarism.
A clear copy of the "Projection" spell from the Fate franchise of the TypeMoon verse…
What the fuck did that fox think ? She is lucky she is free from copyright laws.
But, the important thing to do is what he can use this for.
Copying swords ?
The moment he thought about it, something clicked in his brain.
That's why, Shadow Clones Jutsu isn't in here.
Mizuki is running out of patience.
Hours of waiting, but Naruto still not here.
What the fuck was the brat doing right now ?
Did he get caught ? No, then they would've annouced his capture.
Did he lost ? Naruto, lost in this forest ? The brats lived most of his day at school and at here. The shelter belonged to him in the first place.
Did he run away ? Why ? Did the brat knowthat I tricked him ?
Konohagakure, and the forest surrounding it, is covered by the Third Hokage's barriers.
He cannot leave the Leaf without alerting the Third.
That's why he planned to give the corpse to Orochimaru's subordinate, and the mysterious Missing-Nin would have his way to trick people that Naruto is running away with him.
So, at least, the brat is still here...
Well, fortunately, he has secretly stick a tracing tag on the brat. Closing eyes then weaving handsigns, Mizuki tried to sense the seal…
The tag is coming here.
The sound of footsteps, small and wet, go on from behind.
Something is clearly wrong.
The moon gets out of the cloud, revealing Naruto's figure.
His eyes are no longer that of a human, but glowing red orbs with slit irises.
Mizuki's heart stopped for a moment.
"Hello, Mizuki-sensei."
The answer is quite unexpected.
Mizuki screaming like a wounded beast, throw every shuriken and kunai at him.
Tears run down his cheek, while incomprehensible words went out of his mouth.
The projectiles miss more than hit.
Those that should've hit got casually deflected by Naruto using his tanto that popped up out of nowhere.
"WHY YOU ARE ALWAYS RUINING MY LIFE, DAMNED DEMON ? WHY YOU DON'T JUST DIE ? IS LOOKING ME IN PAIN THAT FUNNY ? IS MY EXISTENCE JUST MERELY YOUR ENTERTAINMENT ?".
Mizuki draws and throws the huge shuriken that was strapped on his back. Its size is about Naruto himself.
A similar shuriken appeared inside a puff of smoke beside that Naruto. It got thrown to the incoming original to intercept its path.
"I WAS ALWAYS DOUBT MYSELF ABOUT "THAT", BUT NO LONGER. IT ALWAYS WAS YOU ! THE SAME THING THAT TAKE AWAY MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY, MY FUTURE-"
Mizuki tripped and throw up blood. His hands is covering his face, shaking non-stop alongside his whole body.
Damn it… Who could've expected this world's Mizuki has a backstory… This tragic...