Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Any similarities between real people, living or dead, or places, standing or demolished, in this story are just coincidences.
But if you like what I do and want to support me, you are more than welcome to donate on Place of Patrons.
After eight years of spending his days among the weak and the sycophantic, and his nights relentlessly pushing his limits, Sasuke Uchiha's lifelong ambition was finally beginning to take shape. Being the strongest among his peers should have been a point of pride, but it wasn't.
That honor belonged to Naruto Uzumaki.
Just a year ago, Naruto had seemed insignificant.
Yet, a month ago, Sasuke had begun to respect him, especially after their fight which pushed him to awaken his Sharingan—a step closer to matching 'that man.' Naruto had left a deeper impression, one that uncomfortably reminded Sasuke of Itachi Uchiha. Naruto's eyes seemed to read the world like an open book, his power immense yet effortlessly controlled, and his skill with Bukijutsu strikingly familiar.
It hit too close to home.
Each morning, as Sasuke awoke, the pain from the wounds Naruto had inflicted felt like a taunt, reminding him that Naruto might just be his generation's Itachi. A fire kindled within him at the thought, fueling a single, consuming desire: he needed to defeat him. Defeating this generation's Itachi would prove he was moving closer to avenging his clan.
Sasuke sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the classroom door with an intensity that betrayed his usual disinterest.
Today was different—it was the graduation exam, and even Naruto Uzumaki couldn't afford to miss it. Sasuke's jaw clenched at the thought that maybe, just like Itachi, the ANBU had already scooped Naruto up for his talents.
That would be just his luck.
The classroom buzzed with the nervous and excited chatter of his classmates, their voices a dull, irritating background noise to Sasuke's focused anticipation.
He barely registered their existence; they were irrelevant to his goals.
Suddenly, the classroom door banged open with dramatic flair.
"And the king is back!" Naruto announced, jumping into the room with an air of expectation.
The room fell into an unusual silence. Naruto frowned, muttering something under his breath as he scanned the room, his eyes briefly meeting Sasuke's before shifting away. Sasuke's attention sharpened as he saw the blonde girl who had once challenged him rise from her seat and drag Naruto out of the room.
As Ino dragged Naruto out, rumors exploded like a detonated seal.
"I bet Ino-chan is going to give Naruto a good talking to!"
"No way," countered another, her voice dreamy and filled with admiration for Ino. "She's probably going to give her boyfriend a pep talk before the exam." She hugged her notebook to her chest, imagining a romantic scene between the two.
"Boyfriend?! Ino and Naruto?"
"I think you need to brush up on your information gathering skills," the second girl elaborated, nodding knowingly. "A few weeks back, Naruto was badly beaten by Sasuke. Afterwards, Ino-sama rejected Naruto but then sought him out. I am 100% sure that Ino found Naruto and helped him by going on a few dates. To give Naruto some confidence, she even went and beat up Sasuke for hurting her boyfriend."
Nearby, Sakura made a face of disgust. "Gross! That Ino pig and Naruto baka dating?"
Kiba couldn't help but scoff at the ridiculousness of it all. "Yeah, like that's ever going to happen. The day that idiot finds a girl he likes is the day pigs begin to talk."
"Well, you are talking."
"What are you insinuating?"
Chōji, while munching on a bag of chips, said, "Kiba, they're saying that you're a pig."
Kiba turned to his loyal companion for support.
"No, they aren't. Right, Akamaru?"
"Arf."
Anger and opportunity flared within Sasuke.
Just as Sasuke reached for the door handle, another hand landed on it. He turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he recognized Hinata Hyuga, the clan heiress. Another weakling, he thought dismissively. However, before he could dismiss her completely, Hinata's demeanor shifted; her eyes assumed the intense, veined appearance of the Byakugan.
"Move," she commanded quietly, yet with an authority that caught Sasuke off guard.
In response, Sasuke's own eyes transformed, the red and black tomoe of the Sharingan spinning into view.
"You first!"
Ino tugged Naruto out of the classroom, leading him down the hall until they reached a secluded spot under the bleachers. They stood in awkward silence, neither quite sure how to start the conversation. Scratching the back of his head, Naruto broke the silence.
"Uh, Ino, the exam's about to start, and I really don't want to fail this time, dattebayo. Can we talk about this later?"
As Naruto turned to leave, Ino reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Why couldn't I find you in the last month?" she blurted out, her voice a mix of frustration and curiosity.
"I was training at home," Naruto replied, his tone slightly defensive.
Ino's voice rose in exasperation. "Practically no one knows where you live!"
"So what?"
Ino took a deep breath, hesitating as if gathering her thoughts. "I wanted to talk to you about last time... when I rejected your date proposal."
Naruto coughed, surprised. "No, really?"
"Yeah, your words about me being shallow... they stuck with me. Made me question why I liked Sasuke in the first place," Ino admitted, her voice softening.
"Okay?"
"I've moved on from that... that prick."
"Good," Naruto replied, still trying to follow the conversation. Ino's eyes met Naruto's, a sincere look in them. "And I wanted to say thank you for that."
Taken aback, Naruto blinked a few times, unsure of how to respond. Acting on impulse, he gave Ino a quick hug. Ino immediately slapped him.
"What was that for?"
"For hugging me!"
"But I thought you wanted a hug," Naruto said, genuinely confused.
"Why would I need a hug?"
"I don't know, you're the one telling me your lame love story."
"It's not lame!"
"It is."
"Okay, fine, it was lame," Ino conceded with a sigh.
Naruto looked at her, still not understanding.
"Okay, but why drag me out of class for all this?"
Ino shifted her weight. "I was trying to establish an atmosphere."
"For what?"
"I needed to ask you something important," Ino said, her voice more serious now.
"You needed all this atmosphere just to ask me something?"
"Yes."
"Okay, so what is it?"
"How can I break Sasuke Uchiha's spell of love over Sakura?"
Naruto stared at Ino for a moment, then said, "Yeah, I'm going back to class."
"No, I'm serious."
"Okay, I don't know."
Ino groaned in frustration. "I thought you'd have answers."
"Why would I have answers?"
"You broke me out of the spell."
"Ino, look, I didn't do anything. You did it all on your own. Why don't you just let Sakura figure it out herself?"
"But I want my best friend back."
"Then try being friends with Sakura again."
"But she won't talk to me," Ino lamented.
"Why not?"
"I don't know... Sasuke," Ino replied, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"But aren't you over him?"
"Yeah, and Sakura isn't."
"So, what's stopping your friendship?"
"Sasuke," Ino said, almost as if it explained everything.
"Did he say something to you?"
"No."
"Then what does Sasuke have to do with anything?"
"Sakura is obsessed with Sasuke."
"And you're not, so I'm sure Sakura would be happier to have less competition."
Ino pursed her lips, considering his words. "Then why isn't she talking to me?"
"Ino, I'm not a mind reader. If you want answers, go talk to Sakura herself."
"But..."
"Ino, enough with these doubts. If you want Sakura to talk to you, go talk to her. And if she doesn't talk back, just ignore her."
"But she's my friend."
"Some people are too stubborn to listen. Look, I'm sure Sasuke and Sakura are going to be on the same team, and she'll see that Sasuke isn't interested in her. Then she'll understand where you're coming from and be your friend again."
Ino stood there for a moment digesting Naruto's advice. Slowly she realized Naruto might be right. Her face lit up with a smile. "You really are a good speaker, Naruto," she said, her voice tinged with newfound respect.
"Thanks."
The familiar scent wafted through the air, abruptly halting Ino in her tracks. It was a perfume, one she had gifted to Takaie. As the fragrance enveloped her, her brain raced to connect the dots, and her eyes widened in shock. The realization struck her with the force of a thunderclap—Naruto was Takaie.
"T-Takaie," she stuttered, her voice trembling and catching in her throat, rooting Naruto to the spot.
"I am..." Naruto began, his voice trailing off as if to weave a denial, but the sight of Ino's tears stopped him short. A softer, more vulnerable tone took over as he confessed, "I am Takaie, I am Takaie," trying to soothe her.
"You got taller."
It was an offbeat remark, so unexpected that Naruto responded with a baffled, "That made you burst into tears?
Ino's gaze remained locked on him, seeing Naruto anew. Here was the village's notorious prankster, yet also the enigmatic figure who had shifted her perspective on so many things. He was the mystery she had unwittingly been unraveling, the one who made her question her long-held crush on Sasuke and opened her eyes to a world beyond her tunnel vision. He had even saved her from the potential humiliation of confronting Sasuke.
And those deep blue eyes of his—there was so much more to them than she had ever noticed.
A curiosity ignited within her, an eagerness to discover the real Naruto Uzumaki—not the prankster or the class clown, but the observant, mysterious man he truly was.
"You look good in those clothes," Ino remarked, managing to pull a bright smile from Naruto.
That smile sent her heart racing, a fluttering in her chest she couldn't quite control.
"Naruto."
"Yes?" he replied, his body stiffening slightly as Ino traced circles on his chest, a daring move that belied her rising shyness.
"I'll say yes this time," she managed to blurt out, her cheeks flaming with a blush. Without waiting for his response, she turned and dashed away, her heart pounding furiously.
As she ran, a wry thought crossed her mind: You bastard, you didn't break Sasuke's spell. You just put me under yours.
Meanwhile, Naruto was utterly bewildered.
"Yes to what?" he murmured to himself before scratching his head in confusion.
"I don't think I'll ever understand women."
Mizuki was not a content man.
He derived no true satisfaction from slaving away for the children in the Academy, an ungrateful bunch he hoped would get brutally slaughtered on their very first missions. Some, like the Uchiha boy, showed tremendous promise—rare talents capable of becoming deadly shinobi. These he cultivated and promoted.
The rest, however, were mere steppingstones—amalgamations of welcome mats and dusty staircases upon which their more talented colleagues would eventually step and climb in their ascent to greatness. He had been relieved when Naruto, the demon child, ceased attending classes. Mizuki preferred it that way, hoping to keep the boy out of sight and out of mind.
The day of graduation arrived, and with it, Naruto stepped into the class, challenging Mizuki's wishful thinking. From the shadows, Mizuki watched with a sly smile playing on his lips, pondering his cunning plan.
It was all falling into place perfectly.
The final piece involved getting the "demon brat" to sneak into the Hokage Tower to steal the Forbidden Scroll of Seals—even if the Hokage himself might be present. Given Naruto's connections with the Hokage, Mizuki felt a surge of confidence that his plan was foolproof.
All I need to do is to fail the brat, Mizuki thought, a gleam in his eye. The boy had been missing the majority of his classes, making Mizuki's task seemingly effortless.
The graduation exam was divided into two parts: Academic and Practical.
Mizuki hardly concerned himself with the Academic portion—a three-hour long test. He didn't bother altering it; Naruto had missed too many classes to hope for a good performance.
Then came the Practical portion, the real test of his manipulation. This part was divided into three stages: Genjutsu, Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu.
First, the students had to break out of a genjutsu ensnarement.
Mizuki's eyes narrowed as Naruto entered the exam room.
Ready to put his plan into action, Mizuki quickly attempted to ensnare Naruto in a genjutsu, aiming a needle of chakra directly at the boy's nerves to create a false reality. He was certain Iruka wouldn't object, as it was standard procedure; however, unlike with other students, Mizuki didn't hold back with Naruto.
Standing to the side, Iruka watched closely, particularly focusing on Naruto's eyes. To be successfully caught in a genjutsu, one's pupils would noticeably dilate.
"What do I have to do?"
Iruka glanced at Mizuki, who was growing increasingly frustrated with each failed attempt to ensnare the boy. Naruto seemed completely unaffected.
"Mizuki," Iruka finally interjected, his tone calm.
"You try it," Mizuki snapped back.
Iruka took his turn, but still, nothing happened. Naruto's eyes remained clear, unclouded by any genjutsu effects.
"Can you two stop doing that? It's annoying."
"What?"
"Naruto, what do you think we are doing?"
"You're throwing those weird chakra needles at me. I just destroy it the moment it enters my body," Naruto replied nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Mizuki's and Iruka's eyes widened in shock. Naruto was describing dismantling the genjutsu before it could even take hold—a feat of chakra control beyond even some Chunin.
"That's impossible," Mizuki muttered under his breath. His plan was unraveling before his eyes, and his frustration mounted.
Iruka, however, simply smiled and gave Naruto full marks. "Good, Naruto, you passed the genjutsu portion. Now, the Taijutsu, Mizuki."
Mizuki stood up, masking his frustration with a forced smile. As he prepared for the next stage, he reassured himself that he could still salvage the situation. He planned to push Naruto just enough during the Taijutsu to ensure his failure, making it appear as a legitimate defeat.
Mizuki walked to the front of the room.
This part was simple: the Genin must last a minute against a Chunin without being decisively beaten. He glanced at Naruto, who seemed more composed than usual. As their eyes met, Mizuki had the unsettling feeling that Naruto could see right through him, as if he were an open book.
Mizuki steeled himself, waiting for Iruka's command to start. He planned to make quick work of Naruto, to put him in his place and regain some control after the earlier setbacks.
"Hajime!"
The moment the signal was given, Mizuki lunged forward, but before he could even register his own movement, a sudden, sharp pain exploded on his chin. The world spun wildly around him, colors and shapes blurring into an indistinct whirl. He could barely comprehend what had happened; one moment he was on the attack, the next he was sprawled on the floor, the cold, hard surface shocking his system.
What happened?
The thought barely formed in his dazed mind before darkness crept in, swallowing his consciousness.
[ Name: Touji Mizuki ]
[ Status: Infected by Prototype Cursed Seal ]
[ Title: Academy Assistant Teacher ]
[ Level: 13 ]
[ Class: Civilian Shinobi ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ HP: 2350 / 2350 ]
[ AC: 30 ]
[ CP: 2k / 2k ]
[ Lineage Traits: None ]
[ Class Features:
- Mask of a Shinobi ]
[ Feats: Deceiver ]
[ Stats: ]
- [ STR: 20 ]
- [ DEX: 25 ]
- [ CON: 15 ]
- [ INT: 13 ]
- [ WIS: 12 ]
- [ CHA: 9 ]
- [ VIT: 26 ]
- [ LUK: 3 ]
[ Allies: ? ]
[ Equipment: Redacted ]
[ Description: A talentless orphan born during the 2nd Shinobi War never amounted to anything, never praised until he met [REDACTED] and gained everything he ever wanted. ]
Naruto glanced at the window, utterly unimpressed by Mizuki's performance—or lack thereof.
"How?" Looking up, he caught sight of Iruka, whose jaw had dropped in disbelief. It wasn't every day that a student knocked out an instructor with such ease.
"Oh, it's simple," Naruto began, eager to explain his rapid takedown. "I just kicked him very fast with my Flash Fist—or feet, I guess—and used sheer force jutsu."
"What?"
So, Naruto was about to repeat his explanation, thinking maybe Iruka hadn't caught it the first time, but Iruka held up a hand to stop him. "No need to explain it, Naruto, but you just knocked out Mizuki."
Well, he shouldn't have been on the sabotage list. Aloud, Naruto said, "I have an idea."
Iruka motioned for him to continue.
"I use the transformation jutsu to pretend I am Mizuki, and you give me extra points."
Iruka looked uncertain. "And what about that?" he asked, pointing to Mizuki's unconscious form on the ground.
"I channel my chakra onto his body and use the transformation jutsu so that he appears to be a training dummy. I'll move him to the infirmary, and then I come back as Mizuki. It will take a minute, tops."
"And why the extra points?"
"I missed a lot of classes," Naruto explained with a sheepish grin. "I can just make them up here, or you can just do the exam alone."
Iruka considered this for a moment, then finally nodded. "Fine, but let's finish your exam first. Show me the three basic jutsu."
[ Quest: Pass the Graduation Exam ]
[ Status: Successfully Completed ]
[ Rewards Granted: ]
- [ 1000 Experience Points ]
- [ Konoha Forehead Protector ]
- [ Skill Stone Rune ]
- [ Bonus Title: Genin ]
Naruto strode out of the exam room, the weight of his new Forehead Protector feeling both heavy and exhilarating on his forehead. Hinata and Ino beamed at him, proud and happy that he had passed.
The rest of the class, however, looked puzzled as they watched him lug what appeared to be a training dummy out of the room.
"Teme, can you move out of the way?" Naruto called out, his gaze locking onto Sasuke who was obstructively standing between him and the door.
"Fight me."
"No, I'm busy," Naruto retorted, but Sasuke remained unmoved.
"Fine, meet on the rooftop after the exam is done. Now, move teme, I have to get him to the infirmary."
Sasuke finally stepped aside, though his confusion about why Naruto needed to move a dummy to the infirmary was evident in his furrowed brow.
A few minutes later, Mizuki re-entered the classroom, further confusing everyone.
Mizuki quietly sat beside Iruka.
"So, what do I do?"
"You just need to assist me with the remaining students."
"So, you have to cast Genjutsu..." Iruka began, but then corrected himself, "No, wait, I'll cast the genjutsu."
"No, no, just teach me how to cast Genjutsu."
Iruka hesitated, about to argue that Naruto couldn't possibly learn Genjutsu on his first try, but then he remembered how quickly Naruto had mastered the Fireball Jutsu. "Okay, the mechanism is simple—you need visualization and a medium..."
Naruto half-listened, his attention split as he glanced at the system window, hoping it would grant him a Genjutsu skill. His fingers drummed impatiently on the desk.
[ System Quest Alert ]
[ Quest: Learn Genjustsu Ensnarement ]
[ Objective:
- Chakra Control level 10
- Basic Knowledge on the Mechanism of Genjutsu
- INT: 15
- WIS: 15 ]
[ Reward: Skill Genjutsu Ensnarement ]
[ Failure: None. ]
[ Action Required: Confirm acceptance or declination of class skill ]
Naruto's lips curved into a satisfied smile as he mentally tallied up the objectives.
[ Stats:
- [ INT: 13 → 15 ]
- [ WIS: 12 → 15 ]
Naruto quickly activated Spirit Possession to grasp the nuances of Iruka's rapid-fire lecture on Genjutsu.
The concept of Genjutsu was fascinating. It worked by the user throwing their chakra into the nervous system of their opponent, specifically aiming for the brain's sensory processing centers. This chakra then acted like a bioelectrical signal that could interfere with or alter the normal sensory data being processed, effectively creating illusions or false sensations.
[ Quest: Learn Genjutsu Ensnarement ]
[ Status: Successfully Completed ]
[ Rewards Granted: Skill Genjutsu Ensnarement ]
...
[ Skill: Genjutsu Ensnarement ]
[ Level: 1 (Active) ]
[ Description: A C rank jutsu that enables the user to cast basic illusions, affecting the perceptions of those ensnared within them. ]
[ Passive Enhancements: ]
- [ Yin Affinity: Involves the creation of form from nothingness, enhancing the potency and believability of illusions. ]
[ Active Enhancements: ]
- [ Casting Speed: Increases the casting speed of genjutsu by 5%, allowing for quicker deployment and response in combat situations. ]
As Naruto felt the sensation of the Yin Affinity, he experienced an unusual stir within his mind, a sensation of drifting into a dream. It was as though he had stepped through a veil into a world where the line between reality and imagination blurred.
"Naruto, look, let me just do the genjutsu..." Iruka started to speak when suddenly the room bizarrely transformed.
The walls seemed to melt away, replaced by an endless cascade of dancing ramen bowls. Iruka couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all, his chakra flaring as he quickly dispelled the illusion.
"Okay, fine. Let me call in the next student."
The moment Sakura entered, her eyes dilated, and a sudden nosebleed overtook her as she collapsed onto the floor with a blissful smile plastered across her face. Iruka's eyebrow twitched in bewilderment, as he sweatdropped.
"Naruto, what was the genjutsu you used?" Iruka asked, trying to keep his voice level.
"A crowd of emo temes half-naked in towels."
Iruka frowned, the pieces clicking together all too clearly. "Sasuke?"
"Yep."
Iruka shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he marked Sakura's grade as failed.
"Iruka Sensei, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Who do you think are going to be my teammates?"
"I don't know, Naruto."
"Didn't you give recommendation letters to the Hokage about the students?"
"I am going to do that tomorrow."
"Okay then, can I request that you recommend me and Hinata to be in the same team?"
"Sure."
"You are the best, Sensei," Naruto beamed, his gratitude evident as he gave Iruka a thumbs-up before turning back to help Sakura regain her bearings.
As the exam concluded, Naruto stepped out of the academy, his face lit up with a broad smile. That smile faltered slightly as he observed his classmates being embraced by their families. Mothers cried tears of joy, fathers swelled with pride.
Naruto's heart sank a little as he realized, yet again, that he had no one waiting for him.
Just as he was about to get lost in his familiar feelings of loneliness, a voice cut through his reverie.
"I thought your forehead protector would be orange."
Naruto's spirits lifted instantly at the sight of Tenten. "They didn't have any in orange."
"Congratulations," Tenten said warmly, and in a spontaneous burst of emotion, Naruto reached out and hugged her.
"What, is Naruto going to become a crybaby?" Tenten teased, her voice light, but as she felt Naruto tighten his grip, she wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace.
"You deserve this, don't let anyone tell you otherwise," she whispered into his ear.
"Yeah."
In that moment Naruto was happy, truly happy.
Suddenly, the chime of a system notification snapped him back to reality.
[ Alert: World Quest Generated ]
[ Due to the negative reputation between Touji Mizuki and Player Naruto, a new quest has arisen from Mizuki's Hatred ]
[ Alert: World Quest ]
[ Quest Title: A Traitor's Puppet ]
[ Objective: Meet with Mizuki in the Infirmary to gain a chain quest ]
[ Rewards: ]
- [ A scenario that will enable Naruto Uzumaki to learn the truth about why he is hated. ]
[ Failure: ? ]
[ Action Required: Acceptance or Declination of Quest ]
Naruto was wary of Mizuki—he trusted him about as far as he could throw him.
Reflecting on that now, Naruto realized that might not be the best way to measure trust; with enough effort and his sheer force jutsu, he could probably hurl Mizuki quite a distance.
As Naruto walked into the infirmary to meet him, Mizuki greeted Naruto with a broad smile, congratulating him on his recent exam performance.
The bastard was putting on a good show, but that smile of his? It didn't quite reach his eyes. It felt off, and Naruto knew better than to take it at face value. Mizuki's acting might fool someone else, but not Naruto—and definitely not the system.
[ Alert: Reputation Change with Touji Mizuki ]
[ Previous Status: Despised ]
[ New Status: Midas' Hand ]
...
[ Midas' Hand Details: ]
- [ Description: Granted to non-players with whom the player has a negative reputation. ]
- [ Effect: Mizuki will seek to undermine Naruto, turning seemingly beneficial actions into harmful outcomes. ]
- [ Warning: Engagements with Mizuki may appear promising but are likely to lead to adverse results. Proceed with caution. ]
Mizuki had just pitched an "extra credit exam" that suspiciously involved stealing the Forbidden Scroll of Seals.
As Naruto stood there listening, his mind raced through his options.
On one hand, he could just march right up to the Hokage's office and spill the beans about Mizuki's plan. That would surely land Mizuki in jail.
On the other hand...
[ Alert: World Quest ]
[ Quest Title: Knowledge is Power ]
[ Objectives:
- Infiltrate the Hokage's Library.
- Acquire the Forbidden Scroll of Seals.
- Escape undetected with the Forbidden Scroll of Seals.
- Deliver the Forbidden Scroll of Seals to the designated secret location.
- ?
- ?
- (Bonus Objective)
- (Bonus Objective) ]
[ Rewards:
- 2000 Experience Points per completed objective.
- Additional 1000 Experience Points for completing any bonus objectives.
- A scenario that will enable Naruto Uzumaki to learn the truth about why he is hated. ]
[ Penalty for Failure: Capture and imprisonment. Decrease in reputation within Konoha. ]
The promise of uncovering the hidden truth was incredibly tempting.
If Naruto turned down this chance, would another opportunity ever come up? What was this secret the system was dangling in front of him? Was it tied to why the Hokage himself delivered a monthly stipend to Naruto? Why was he always looked at with those eyes full of disdain? Was this connected to the Uzumaki clan or was it something entirely different?
But let's be honest—Naruto knew he could be a bit of a fool sometimes.
Yet, even a fool could see the reality of a situation when it was staring him in the face. This mission was dangerous; if he was really going to steal the forbidden scroll, he had to bring his A-game.
Naruto's gaze inadvertently drifting to the inventory.
He clenched the rune tightly in his hand, feeling its cool, smooth black surface against his skin.
"Please, something powerful, please," he muttered under his breath, squeezing his eyes shut. It felt more like he was making a birthday wish than activating a magical item.
[ Item: Skill Rune Stone ]
[ Status: Used ]
[ Acquired Skill: Earth Style: Diamond Skin ]
[ Skill: Earth Style: Diamond Skin ]
[ Level: 1 (Active) ]
[ Chakra Points (CP) Required: 100 per inch ]
[ Description: A B rank jutsu that coats the user's body in earth chakra, manipulating it into a diamond lattice to create a diamond coating for one minute. ]
[ Passive Enhancements: ]
- [ Earth Affinity: Allows manipulation of the ground for defense and attack, solid and reliable. ]
[ Active Effects: ]
- [ Durability: Applies the durability of diamond to the coated area. ]
[ Warning: Use on mobile parts causes stiffness, preventing movement. To remove the immobilization debuff, increase the skill level. ]
As Naruto reached the rooftop, Sasuke was already there, casually sitting on the handrail as if he owned the place.
"What took you so long?"
Naruto rolled his eyes at Sasuke's impatience. "Whatever let's just get this over with," he muttered, more eager to test out his new skill than he let on.
"Indeed."
He didn't waste another moment, appearing right in front of Naruto in a blur. His feint was smooth and deceptive, his body twisting slightly. Sasuke's leg swept around in a swift, circular motion—a round kick aimed directly at Naruto's shoulder traps.
Naruto reacted, channeling earth chakra to his shoulder.
As he concentrated, the chakra began to crystallize, morphing into an intricate diamond lattice shape. The fine dust particles in the air were drawn to the charged chakra lattice, clinging to it layer by layer until a solid shell of diamond emerged, encasing Naruto's shoulders just in time to intercept Sasuke's kick.
Sasuke's kick landed hard against the diamond-hard barrier. Naruto couldn't help but wince inwardly for him as he saw Sasuke's expression contort—a mix of agony and surprise, as he tried desperately to hold back a scream.
It was fair, really; Sasuke had just kicked diamond with his shin.
Internally, Naruto was buzzing with excitement. The skill worked even better than he'd hoped, and the look on Sasuke's face was an added bonus.
Sasuke jumped back, and Naruto instantly recognized his stance—he was gearing up for the Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.
His Sharingan was already active.
Naruto wasn't about to just stand there; he responded with his own Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.
As their fireballs collided, they exploded with a deafening roar, the force of the blast sending a rush of hot air swirling around them. The heat prickled against Naruto's skin, and the light from the flames briefly lit up the entire rooftop like a sudden burst of daylight.
Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto saw Sasuke weaving signs for another jutsu. A giant cloud of smoke erupted and began to swirl around them, obscuring Naruto's vision.
He could tell Sasuke was moving within it, probably circling around for a better angle.
"New jutsu, Teme!"
Naruto wasn't really worried; closing his eyes, he tapped into the Mind's Eye to pinpoint Sasuke's location. The swirling smoke might have confused anyone else, but Naruto wasn't just anyone. He played along, pretending the smoke was disorienting him, periodically turning his head as if searching blindly. When he sensed Sasuke had paused, likely thinking he had confused him, Naruto decided it was time to surprise him. As he turned his back Sasuke struck, launching two kunai wired with ninja wire at him.
Naruto spun around just in time to catch them, his fingers brushing against the cold metal. He felt a pulse of fire chakra building in Sasuke's lungs, ready to turn this setup into a fiery trap.
"Dumbass."
Before Sasuke could unleash whatever, he planned, Naruto quickly cast a Genjutsu Ensnarement.
Sasuke felt the smoke around him morph unsettlingly into an orange goo, which then grotesquely formed into a giant head of Naruto. The exaggerated features of Naruto's face loomed over him, the familiar grin stretched grotesquely wide.
"Dattebayo!" the giant head screamed, its voice echoing around him, and Sasuke felt a chill of mortification.
He frantically tried to break the genjutsu, pouring his chakra into dispelling the illusion, but to no avail.
"Why isn't it breaking?" Sasuke thought desperately, his fingers forming seals rapidly. His frustration mounted with each failed attempt.
"Because I am reapplying the genjutsu again and again, faster than you can break it. You should really work on your chakra control, teme," the floating Naruto head taunted him with a smugness that made Sasuke grit his teeth.
Sasuke clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Teme," the head mimicked him mockingly.
"Hn."
"You know, if I hadn't ensnared you in this genjutsu, you would have killed us both," Naruto's voice came from the giant head, slightly more serious this time.
"Hn," Sasuke replied, confusion knitting his brows.
"Dust, smoke and fire cause explosions, teme."
"Hn."
"Don't 'Hn' me. So, you have two choices: either give up, and I'll give you this." The giant Naruto head turned, and from a swirl of white smoke, a figure emerged. Sasuke's eyes widened as a beautiful model walked out—her body was human, perfect in form, but absurdly, her head was a bowl of ramen.
"Isn't she beautiful?"
"You have a problem," Sasuke retorted dryly, his voice flat, the situation straining even his usually stoic demeanor.
"So, are you going to accept it, or..."
"Not—"
The floating head gave Sasuke a look and then opened its mouth.
"Caw Caw Bitch!"
A bizarre rubber chicken noise echoed through the air, and just as Sasuke tried to make sense of the sound, the scene took an even stranger turn.
From the gaping mouth of the floating Naruto head, a muscular humanoid rubber chicken emerged.
It strutted confidently towards Sasuke with a comically serious expression on its rubbery face. Before Sasuke could even raise his guard, the rubber chicken swung a powerful punch.
It connected squarely with Sasuke's face, knocking him out cold in an instant.
As darkness closed in around him, the last thing Sasuke saw was the absurd figure of the rubber chicken flexing its muscles triumphantly, a ridiculous sight that would have been hilarious under any other circumstances.
"Should have listened, teme. Should have taken the ramen, babe," Naruto chided, shaking his head at the unconscious Sasuke, with the rubber chicken casually slung over his shoulder.
"Anyways," Naruto mused aloud, "I tested the diamond skin; it's awesome, but the hampered mobility is quite the drawback." He glanced down at the rubber chicken. "I wonder..."
Pausing for a moment, he channeled chakra into the rubber chicken, then performed the Earth Style: Diamond Skin jutsu. To his delight and surprise, the rubber chicken shimmered, turning into a gleaming diamond statue.
"Haha, I have a diamond cock!"
Just then, he heard a creak.
Turning around, Naruto saw the school janitor standing in the doorway, his eyes flicking from the knocked-out Sasuke back to Naruto, and then remembered Naruto's comment about his cock.
"Congratulations for coming out," the janitor said dryly, tipping his hat with a barely concealed smirk before slowly closing the door behind him.
[ Spirit Possession has been Activated ]
A shadow flitted from rooftop to rooftop, swallowed by the darkness of a moonless night.
Naruto paused only when he reached the looming structure of the Hokage Tower. It was a stout, round building, painted in vivid red and flanked by two smaller replicas. Yet, it was actually shorter than the blue-topped Broadcast Station next to it, which stood tall like a defiant finger against the skyline.
Catching his breath, Naruto counted silently, waiting for the right moment. Then, with a burst of chakra using Flash Fist, he sprinted and leaped, grabbing onto a gutter along the wall of the Broadcast Station. His fingers found purchase in the smallest crevices between the bricks, pulling him up like a phantom cat in the night. Reaching the peculiar blue roof, shaped like a witch's hat and topped with an odd sphere, Naruto moved with deliberate care. He secured a rope to one of the beams jutting out from the woodwork and then eyed his target: the flat roof of a secondary tower.
"For the most secure part of Konoha, the security here is pathetic."
With a deep breath, he steeled himself for what came next. This was a one-shot deal; a miss could land him in the hospital—or worse.
Naruto circled the roof, gauging his angle and trajectory, then started his run.
The air hissed past as he sprinted along the station's wall at an oblique angle and then leaped into the void. The rope snapped taut, whizzing as gravity claimed its due. The pendulum motion kicked in, the beam creaking ominously above him as he swung toward his goal. At the apex of his swing, feeling a brief moment of weightlessness, he cut the harness.
He plummeted like a stone, landing on the northern secondary tower with a grunt and a roll to absorb the impact. Naruto found himself sprawled among the ornamental bushes lining the tower's edge, catching his breath and checking his bearings.
He should be right between the guards' rotations if his timing was correct.
Now, unnoticed, he needed to move fast.
The roof dusted beneath his hands as he stood, brushing off the debris. From here, scaling the main tower was easy. The first and second levels were heavily guarded and nearly impossible to climb, but the third level's defenses were mitigated by an array of pipes and cables.
Naruto took another deep breath and moved on.
The hardest part was behind Naruto, or so he thought. The real challenge was just beginning.
Navigating the corridors was almost too easy. The pairs of Chunin and occasional Jonin patrolling the hallways didn't even come close to spotting him. He could do this part in his sleep, which made the thrill of the heist a little less thrilling.
Digging into his pocket, Naruto pulled out one of his proudest inventions—a special scroll he'd designed for situations just like this. Holding the scroll in his right hand, he quickly unrolled it on the floor right in front of the door to his target: the heavily guarded vault.
"Fuin: Sensory Mirror Wall," he whispered, pressing his hands together in a ram seal and stepping onto the scroll.
The air around him shimmered and shifted, cloaking him in a reflection of the empty corridor. This seal was the result of his personal project, where he had created a seal that released chakra in the same way as the transformation jutsu. The air was used as a medium to create a cloak of camouflage, making him practically invisible to anyone watching. Now invisible, he had exactly four minutes to work.
The lock was no ordinary lock. Hidden behind a genjutsu-like barrier and laden with fuinjutsu, it was a real challenge. But that's what made it exciting. "Let's open you up," he muttered, his fingers working quickly and precisely.
Three minutes and forty seconds later—just as another oblivious patrol walked past—the vault clicked open.
Time was running out.
Naruto darted inside the vault, slinging a large, fat scroll onto his back. Every second counted now, and he couldn't afford to waste any. Outside, he formed a half tiger seal with his left hand and whispered, "Katsu."
The scroll he'd used as a decoy disintegrated into ash, just as the fuses on his makeshift fireworks burned down. The night sky above Konoha erupted in bursts of color, drawing every eye to the spectacle.
With the guards distracted by the fireworks and the vault alarm, his escape was simple. He tossed a rope out of a second-floor window and slid down with ease.
His body moved fluidly, adrenaline surging as he felt the rope burn slightly against his gloves. The cool night air brushed against his face as he made his descent, the chaos he'd left behind ensuring a clean getaway. As he hit the ground and tucked into a roll to absorb the impact, a grin spread across his face. The thrill, the rush of executing a perfect heist—it was exhilarating.
Naruto adjusted the heavy scroll on his back and sprinted into the shadows, already planning his next move.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was having a peaceful night when he was awakened by a burning sensation.
The old ninja woke up immediately—years of combat did that to a man—but he searched for a second to find the reason for his awakening. His heart grew cold when he realized it was the tattoo signaling a breach of the vault that was heating up.
Just as he considered the implications of such a thing happening, fireworks illuminated the sky of Konoha.
The old Kage swore under his breath.
Naruto made his way swiftly to the southern forest, a perfect location for anyone seeking to escape from Konoha. The jungle was dense, a sprawling green mass that led directly into the wilderness of the Fire Nation.
The only barrier between Konoha and freedom was a simple guard post.
He had already pieced together Mizuki's scheme—stealing the Forbidden Scroll of Seals, kill Naruto, and then make his escape from the village.
Naruto snorted at the thought.
Loser forgot that I'm stronger than him.
He shrugged off the danger, his focus fixed on a greater mystery. The big secret that it seemed everyone else knew but him gnawed at his curiosity. As long as he could uncover that, he didn't care much about Mizuki's plans.
[ Alert: World Quest ]
[ Quest Title: Knowledge is Power ]
[ Objective: Acquire the Forbidden Scroll of Seals from the Hokage's Library. Specific tasks include:
- Infiltrate the Hokage's Library.
- Escape undeterred with the Forbidden Scroll of Seals.
- Bring the Forbidden Scroll of Seals to the secret location.
- Select and learn a skill from the Forbidden Scroll of Seals Skill Catalogue.
- Bonus Objectives:
- Distract the Sandaime and escape undetected.
- Additional undisclosed bonus objective. ]
[ Rewards:
- 2000 Experience Points per Main Objective.
- 1000 Experience Points for each Bonus Objective.
- 10000 Ryo upon completion of all objectives.
- Increased reputation with Konoha.
- ?
- ? ]
[ Penalty for Failure:
- Capture and Imprisonment.
- Reputation decrement within Konoha village parameters. ]
Naruto's eyes lit up with anticipation as he unfurled the Scroll of Seals. The best way to describe it was a complex interlocking web of storage seals, each meticulously protected by barrier seals, shock seals, and explosive seals.
He licked his lips with excitement at the sight of the barrier and shock seals. Two new seals to work with.
[ Library Update: Naruto has interacted with new seals, expanding the Fuinjutsu Scroll Library. ]
[ Fuinjutsu Scroll Library: ]
- [ Fuinjutsu seals recorded: ]
- [ Explosive Seal: ]
[ Description: A seal that contains chakra, which when released, manifests as an explosion. ]
- [ Storage Seal: ]
[ Description: Stores non-living objects by converting their matter into energy and vice versa upon release or storage. Records a blueprint of the object within the seal. ]
- [ Sensory Mirror Wall: ]
[ Description: A seal that uses chakra to create a barrier using the air as a medium, functioning on principles similar to the Transformation Jutsu. This barrier mirrors sensory perceptions to create illusions or hide presences. ]
- [ Shock Seal: ]
[ Description: Contains chakra that, when released, takes the form of electricity. Note: This seal can only be used once. ]
- [ Barrier Seal: ]
[ Description: Forms a durable barrier using the air as a medium, capable of lasting a full day without sustaining damage. The barrier can absorb up to 40M Joules of energy before breaking. ]
[ Note: Interact with more seals or level up to further expand the library and discover new Fuinjutsu capabilities. ]
Naruto's gaze then shifted to a single storage seal that appeared unprotected, almost inviting. It seemed this particular seal was accessed so frequently that the Fuinjutsu scribe hadn't bothered to secure it.
This was his chance.
Naruto focused, channeling his chakra into the seal with precision. With a faint hiss and a puff of smoke, a scroll popped out, materializing in front of him.
[ Item: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu ]
[ Description: A scroll that contains the handsigns and basic mechanisms of the forbidden multi shadow clone jutsu. This scroll is given only to Jonin level ninjas because of its high chakra demand ]
[ System Quest Alert ]
[ Quest: Learn Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu ]
[ Objective:
- Possess 5k or more CP ]
[ Reward: Basic Academy Taijutsu ]
[ Failure: None. ]
[ Action Required: Confirm acceptance or declination of class skill. ]
Naruto blinked. That's it.
[ Skill: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu (Kage Bunshin no Jutsu) ]
[ Level: 1 (Active) ]
[ Chakra Points (CP) Required: ½ total CP ]
[ Description: A bubble of chakra made of Yin, given life through Yang ]
[ Passive Enhancements: ]
- [ Yang Affinity: Yang relates to breathing life into form ]
- [ Clone Capability: Each clone can fight, use jutsu, and learn independently. ]
[ Active Boost: ]
- [ Return: The Clone's Knowledge and remaining chakra returns to the user ]
Naruto swiftly formed the tiger seal, channeling chakra along the frame of his body and pushing it outward in a dramatic puff of smoke, mimicking the academy's basic clone technique. However, this was different; a substantial chunk of his chakra filled the bubble, solidifying into a clone that was far more substantial than the typical academy clone.
Facing his clone, Naruto couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He stuck out his tongue, and the clone exaggeratedly mimed being shocked, clasping its hands to its cheeks. They took turns inventing silly poses and facial expressions, each trying to outdo the other with more ridiculous gestures. At one point, Naruto pretended to pull an invisible rope, and the clone played along perfectly, pretending to be tugged forward, stumbling with theatrical clumsiness.
"Can you talk?"
"Yes," the clone responded promptly, causing both of them to cheer in unison, "Yatta!"
"Can you use the system skills?"
"Like fireball?"
"No, idiot, like spirit possession skills that directly connect to the system."
"Let me try," the clone said, its demeanor suddenly shifting, adopting a more serious and composed posture that Naruto recognized from his own use of spirit possession.
Naruto watched, fascinated and slightly weirded out. "Wow, do I do that when I use spirit possession?" he asked, one eyebrow arched as he leaned forward to get a better look.
"Depending on the situation, I can appear both smarter and like you," the clone answered, causing Naruto to grumble, "Smart ass."
"Let's get some more powerful jutsus from the scroll. We have plenty of time before Mizuki comes."
"Now you're speaking my language," Naruto replied with a grin.
All things considered, the seals on the Forbidden Scroll were hard and complex for a normal person. For an Uzumaki, the flaws in the scroll's seals stood out like sore thumbs, beckoning Naruto to exploit them.
Naruto's hand glowed with chakra as he focused on the seals. Alright, let's see... Fuin Kai: Senryaku Teikai!
The seal reacted immediately, the intricate patterns shimmering under the influence of Naruto's chakra. He could feel the layers of the seal unraveling, like threads being pulled from a tightly woven cloth. This is like picking a lock, only a thousand times cooler.
The seal's defenses were formidable, but Naruto's level over Fuinjutsu gave him the upper hand. With each passing second, the seal's resistance waned, until finally, with a flourish of his hand, Naruto uttered, "Fuin Hōkai!"
The seal broke, dissipating into a cloud of chakra particles that glowed briefly before vanishing. Yes! That's how you do it!
He stepped back, admiring his handiwork. Naruto stood before the Forbidden Scroll of Seals, now cracked open and revealing its contents. Naruto stumbled upon a dozen scrolls scattered across the ground. Eagerly, he picked one up, the kanji on it sparking his excitement. It read: Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
With a grin spreading across his face, Naruto unfurled the scroll, only to find it completely blank. "What?" He quickly grabbed the next scroll labeled Acid Blood Jutsu. It too was blank.
One after another, he went through the scrolls—Chakra Implosion Jutsu, Reaper Death Seal—all of them empty, void of any writing or diagrams. Every single jutsu scroll was blank except for one...
[ Item: Shadow Weapon Jutsu (Kage Buki no Jutsu) ]
[ Description: A scroll that contains the hand signs and basic mechanisms of the forbidden Shadow Weapon Jutsu. This scroll is given only to Jonin-level ninjas because of its high chakra demand and because it's a jutsu that Hiruzen Sarutobi created on his own. He only gives it to people he knows will protect the village. ]
[ Skill: Shadow Weapon Jutsu (Kage Buki no Jutsu) ]
[ Level: 1 (Active) ]
[ Chakra Points (CP) Required: 100 per copy ]
[ Description: An A rank that creates physical copies of the user's weapons. Can be used to create an area of effect with replicated weapons. ]
[ Passive Enhancements: ]
- [ Area of Effect Accuracy: Increases accuracy of weapons in AoE by 5%. ]
[ Active Boost: ]
- [ Weapon Durability: Increases the durability of weapon copies by 10% ]
Naruto leaned back against a tree, his mind whirling with possibilities. The Forbidden Scroll of Sealing, filled with nothing but empty scrolls, hinted at many things.
One possibility was that the scroll was a fake, but Naruto dismissed that thought quickly. He had sent a shadow clone back to Konoha to use the Mind's Eye technique to observe the chaos as the Shinobi scrambled to find him. The presence of Genin, Chunin, Jonin, and even ANBU chakra signatures in the turmoil confirmed the scroll's authenticity.
This left Naruto considering other options. Perhaps the Hokage had swapped out the real scroll with this decoy in case of theft, or maybe someone outside the Hokage's knowledge had managed to replace the real scrolls with these blanks. However, Naruto leaned toward the former explanation. It made sense that the Hokage would have a failsafe for such a critical and dangerous item.
A golden palace becomes hollow when its own guardians dig beneath its walls.
He shook his head to clear the somber thoughts as he sensed Iruka rapidly approaching his location.
"Okay, showtime."
"Naruto!" Iruka's voice hit Naruto, tinged with a sharp edge of anger he hadn't heard from him before. Naruto looked up to see Iruka storming towards him, his hands firmly gripping Naruto's shoulders as his eyes bored into his with an intensity that made Naruto wince.
"Do you know what you've done?"
"I just did the secret exam set by Mizuki Sensei," Naruto lied, trying to sound confident, but his voice betrayed a slight quiver.
"What?"
Out of nowhere, a barrage of shurikens whistled through the air towards them. Reacting on pure instinct, Naruto flicked his wrist, sending a kunai spinning into the path of the incoming projectiles. With precise timing, the kunai tagged each shuriken, redirecting them away from both him and Iruka.
The shurikens clattered harmlessly to the ground around them, and Naruto could feel Iruka's gaze on him, heavy with surprise and a flicker of admiration.
When did he learn to do that?
"Well, well, I didn't expect that. I'm impressed you found this place, Iruka," Mizuki's voice came from the shadows, dripping with feigned surprise and underlying menace.
"I see how it is."
"Naruto, give me that scroll," Mizuki demanded sharply, his eyes greedily fixed on the forbidden scroll clutched in Naruto's hands.
"Naruto, never give him that scroll. It's a dangerous object that contains forbidden ninjutsu. Mizuki used you to get it for himself," Iruka's voice cracked with urgency.
"Naruto, Iruka is only afraid of you having that scroll."
"Huh? Is the scenario finally happening, but I haven't even finished the mission?"
"Don't let him fool you, Naruto," Mizuki pressed on, his voice persuasive and dangerous. "I will tell you the truth."
"Don't you dare, it's forbidden!"
Thirteen years ago, a rule was set, a rule that everyone but Naruto knew. As Mizuki spoke, Naruto's heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice.
"Everyone but me? What are you talking about?"
"Stop it, Mizuki!"
"This rule is to keep you from knowing the truth about what you are. Do you want to know?" Mizuki taunted.
"What? What am I?"
"You are the Kyuubi no Kitsune that nearly destroyed the village thirteen years ago. You killed the beloved Yondaime Hokage," Mizuki's words were like venom. "You even killed Iruka's parents."
The world seemed to stop spinning.
The revelation hit Naruto like a physical blow, knocking the wind out of him. His legs felt weak, and he staggered slightly, his hands trembling as the full weight of Mizuki's words settled upon his shoulders. It all clicked in an instant—the sabotaged exams, the relentless glares from villagers, and the whispers behind his back. Even the seemingly benign monthly stipend from the Hokage.
Naruto's entire life in Konoha, wrapped in a shroud of disdain he never fully understood until now. Demon Child... that nickname wasn't just a cruel joke; it was his reality. He wasn't hated for being an Uzumaki; he was despised for being the Kyuubi.
"How dare you?" Iruka's voice cut through the heavy silence, hissing with a venom Naruto had never heard before.
Mizuki's face twisted into a sneer as he drew a giant shuriken. "And now, I'll kill you and become a hero to the village."
"Naruto, don't listen to that traitor," Iruka urged, stepping slightly in front of Naruto.
Mizuki laughed coldly. "Why protect him, Iruka? He's the one who killed your family."
Iruka's fists clenched, his anger palpable. "I'm not letting an idiot like you get that scroll."
Mizuki's eyes narrowed. "You're the idiot. Naruto is a monster like me," he shot back, venom dripping from every word. "Anyone with that scroll can do anything they want. The Kyuubi would abuse its power."
"Ah, you're right..." Iruka conceded, his voice heavy, causing Naruto's heart to sink. But then Iruka's tone shifted, firm and resolute. "But Naruto is different. He's one of my best students. He works hard. He's not the Kyuubi. He's Uzumaki Naruto of Konohagakure."
Mizuki's face contorted with rage. "Then die!" he screamed, hurling the shuriken with lethal force.
As Iruka unleashed his Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu against Mizuki's incoming Fuma Shuriken, Naruto could tell it was a decoy. His suspicion was confirmed when another shuriken, the real threat, came hurtling from the side. Iruka's body tensed, his eyes widening with a fear that momentarily paralyzed him.
It was clear in his stance—he was prepared to sacrifice himself for Naruto. He couldn't let that happen.
Giving Iruka a reassuring smile, Naruto signaled his readiness to take over. Iruka understood immediately, nodding slightly.
Naruto's hands buzzed with chakra as he reached out, snatching the blade of the flying shuriken from the air. Its momentum was strong, but he used it to his advantage, allowing it to spin him around. His feet found their pivot, rooted firmly to the ground as Iruka's fireball exploded mid-air, providing a smokescreen.
With the world momentarily hidden behind the fiery curtain, Naruto whipped around on his heel. The motion was fluid, almost instinctual. Every muscle, every fiber in his body coiled like a spring, ready to release the energy. His fingers tightened around the shuriken, the metal cool and unyielding beneath his grip.
As the explosion's echo thudded in his ears, Naruto launched the shuriken back at Mizuki.
"Fuin!"
In the brief moment Naruto had touched the blade, he had managed to transfer an explosive seal onto the weapon.
Boom!
A massive explosion echoed through the treetops, and through the settling smoke, Mizuki's body thudded to the ground.
Although it seemed like he might be dead, Naruto knew better. The seal he used was only medium-grade—a Chunin could survive it.
Sure enough, Mizuki was horribly burned, his clothes nearly destroyed, hanging in tatters from his charred skin. Then something unexpected happened. A weird purplish chakra began to exude from his body.
Naruto noticed a fuinjutsu seal on Mizuki's forearm—a green skull with an open jaw—that seemed to pulse with dark energy.
As the chakra enveloped him, Mizuki's body began to heal, muscles bulking up, tiger-like stripes appearing on his skin, and his nails morphing into sharp claws.
Mizuki roared, more beast than man now.
[ Name: Touji Mizuki ]
[ Status: Infected by Prototype Cursed Seal ]
[ Title: Academy Assistant Teacher → Traitor of Konoha ]
[ Level: 13 ]
[ Class: Civilian Shinobi ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ HP: 2350 / 2350 5350 / 5350 ]
[ AC: 30 → 20 ]
[ CP: 2k / 2k → 1.5k / 2k ]
[ Lineage Traits: None ]
[ Class Features: ]
- [ Mask of a Shinobi ]
[ Feats: Deceiver ]
[ Stats: ]
- [ STR: 20 → 30 ]
- [ DEX: 25 → 35 ]
- [ CON: 15 ]
- [ INT: 13 → 3 ]
- [ WIS: 12 → 2 ]
- [ CHA: 9 ]
- [ VIT: 26 → 36 ]
- [ LUK: 3 ]
[ Allies: ? ]
[ Equipment: Redacted → None ]
[ Description: A talentless orphan born during the 2nd Shinobi War never amounted to anything, never praised until he met [REDACTED] and gained everything he ever wanted. To repay [REDACTED], he was given an order to steal the Forbidden Scroll of Seals, and this gave him an opportunity to repay his master and also get his revenge on the Kyuubi for killing his wife and their unborn child. ]
Feeling the raw, murderous intent from Mizuki wiped any pity from Naruto's heart. He attempted to trap him with Genjutsu Ensnarement, but the wild, chaotic chakra surging through Mizuki's veins shattered his attempt before it could take hold.
"Okay, let's beat him the old-fashioned way," Naruto declared, glancing at Iruka for agreement. "I'll be the DPS and you'll be Utility Support."
"What?"
"I'll attack, you help," Naruto simplified, hoping Iruka would catch on quickly.
Without waiting for a full agreement, Naruto launched into the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. Clouds of smoke burst around them, and he felt a chunk of his chakra drain away as over forty clones materialized, circling them. He could almost see Iruka's hesitance dissolve as he realized the seriousness of their strategy.
"What do I need to do?"
"Can you provide something like a smoke cloud to hide us?"
Iruka nodded.
"Will you be able to, see?"
"Yes," Naruto assured him, remembering the brief flashes of insight from the clones he had sent earlier to test Mizuki's reactions.
Earth Style: Dust Cloud.
A thick cloud of dust enveloped the forest around them, masking their movements.
"Let's go, boys!" Naruto yelled, enthusiasm spiked with adrenaline. He spat out a mouthful of sand that had found its way in during the commotion.
"Yatta!" echoed his army of clones, who also spat out their own mouthfuls of sand.
Iruka watched, a look of mild regret passing over his face at letting Naruto fight, but there was no turning back now.
As Mizuki's more animalistic form rolled and slashed, his claws tore through another one of Naruto's shadow clones, dissipating it into smoke. He was stronger and faster with this new power, but he also seemed less strategic, more driven by raw instinct.
As he swiped at another clone, Naruto took advantage of his predictability. A clone, using Flash Fist, zipped right into Mizuki's personal space. Mizuki snapped viciously at it, aiming to bite the clone's head off.
Naruto reacted instantly, pivoting on his heel using the swirling kata—a clockwise movement—to evade and counter. He leaped up and delivered a forceful kick to the back of Mizuki's head.
"Sheer Force," he murmured as his foot connected, and Mizuki's head smashed into the ground.
Mizuki grunted, staggering to his feet, only to be met by another clone that kicked his head like it was a soccer ball. The Sheer Force Jutsu propelled him like a ragdoll, slamming him against a giant stone.
Before he could recover, another clone accelerated with Flash Fist and drove a knee into his stomach, using Sheer Force to shatter the stone behind him.
The clone vanished in a puff of smoke, and yet another clone swooped in, delivering an uppercut that launched Mizuki skyward.
A dozen clones simultaneously executed Fire Style: Fireball Jutsus, lighting up the night and the entire forest around them. Mizuki let out a roar, filled with raw chakra, but before he could react further, Naruto propelled himself into the sky. His leg stretched out, armored with Earth Style: Diamond Skin. He focused every ounce of his chakra into the heel of his leg, maximizing the speed of expulsion for maximum impact.
As Mizuki twisted mid-air, reacting to Naruto's ascent, he timed his attack perfectly.
Naruto's heel kick, powered by every ounce of chakra he could muster, connected squarely with Mizuki's cheek. The impact felt like striking a sledgehammer against a wall—there was a solid, satisfying thud as his foot met Mizuki's face.
The force of Naruto's kick sent Mizuki hurtling down into the inferno below, a cascade of fireballs that the clones had unleashed.
Mizuki's body, covered in soot and embers, crashed into the forest floor, creating a shockwave that tore through the area.
Trees bent and snapped, debris flew in all directions, and a cloud of dust and leaves mushroomed into the air. The ground itself seemed to shudder under the force of Mizuki's descent, leaving a crater rimmed with scorched earth and splintered wood.
Naruto's chest heaved with rapid breath. The physical demand of the maneuver was intense; he could feel every muscle in his body tensing, his heart pounding against his ribs. Yet, there was a clarity in that moment—the satisfaction of executing a move exactly as he had planned.
Landing softly among the broken foliage, Naruto steadied himself, his eyes never leaving the crumpled form of Mizuki in the center of the crater. His body was on high alert, every sense sharpened, ready for any sign that the battle wasn't over. But as the silence stretched, broken only by the crackling of residual fires and the distant calls of startled wildlife, he allowed himself a brief moment to relax.
That was for everything you've done, Naruto's gazed hard on the defeated form before him.
"Not bad, huh?" he said, turning to Iruka, who stood with his jaw practically hitting the floor.
[ Quest : Knowledge is Power ]
[ Status: Successfully Completed ]
[ Objectives Completed: ]
- [ Infiltrate the Hokage's Library ]
- [ Escape undeterred with the Forbidden Scroll of Seals ]
- [ Bring the Forbidden Scroll of Seals to the secret location ]
- [ Select and learn a skill from [Forbidden Scroll of Seals] ]
- [ Protect the [Forbidden Scroll of Seals] ]
- [ Protect Iruka, defeat Mizuki ]
[ Bonus Objectives Completed: ]
- [ Distract the Sandaime and escape his wrath ]
- [ Select and learn an additional skill from the [Forbidden Scroll of Seals] ]
[ Rewards Granted: ]
- [ 2000 Exp per Objective ]
- [ 1000 Exp for Bonus Objectives ]
- [ 10000 Ryo upon completion of all objectives ]
- [ Increase in reputation with Konoha ]
- [ A scenario that will enable Naruto Uzumaki to learn the truth about why he is hated. ]
- [ Bounty Awarded: 15000 Ryo for Touji Mizuki, +100 reputation with Konoha. ]
Author's Note:
Graduation done!
Now, a few things I want to go over alongside some questions I want to ask you.
1- Ino's Comment: If you are confused by "yes to what" like Naruto was—it's yes to his confession. That's what Ino meant, since Naruto, in her eyes, confessed and she rejected him. She was trying to lead him to confess again, and this time she'll say yes.
Anyway, how did I do?
At this point, none of the females "love" Naruto; they have a crush on him.
I feel like I have created enough material to make the crush realistic. Like Shikamaru revealing in chapter 47 that Ino's type is someone who brought an element of intrigue and suspense into her life, much like the characters in her beloved mystery thrillers. And I believe from Ino's POV, Naruto fits all of this, plus his actions that have cemented him in her mind for weeks and even affected her social life. I hope I've done a good enough job to say that the crush doesn't feel forced.
Give me your thoughts in the reviews.
Also, I uploaded some cute Naruto x Ino fanart but only on Webnovel because I have no idea how to upload on other websites.
2- Genjutsu: How do you guys like my explanation/interpretation of genjutsu?
Essentially, the user utilizes a medium, which could be light escaping the eyes like a Sharingan user, or sound, or even smell—just a medium.
By the way, Naruto and Mizuki used air as a medium to throw a needle of chakra into the other person's body. Sharingan users use the light escaping from their eyes, some use smells, sound, etc., essentially a medium to transfer chakra into the opponent. The chakra is then used to stimulate or inhibit certain neural pathways, leading to altered perceptions. For example, stimulating the pathways that interpret visual data could make the victim see things that aren't there, while inhibiting those that process auditory information could create deafening silence. Every genjutsu works on this same mechanism, but the difference in S, A, B, and C rank lies in subtlety, complexity, the number of neural pathways targeted, and even the victim's ability to escape. The principle of all genjutsu is the same; the jutsus, however, provide more different neural pathways to target, making it harder to detect. Masters like Itachi can target hundreds to thousands of neural pathways at the same time, as opposed to Naruto, who can target one pathway. How is Naruto able to use genjutsu? The system.
3- Images: If you are reading this on Webnovel or , I have posted pics of the Naruto floating head, muscular chicken, and ramen babe. Speaking of the absurdity, I hope you liked it. I had fun because I think if Naruto in canon had genjutsu, he would totally be a troll.
4- Also, thoughts on the Earth Style: Diamond Skin Jutsu? I know many of you wanted Naruto to get Wood Style, but that didn't happen.
Will Naruto get Wood Style? Keep reading and find out.
Speaking of jutsu, where did Sasuke get a jutsu to blow out smoke? Well, remember chapter 46 where Iruka proposed that everyone in the class should get a D-rank elemental jutsu? Sasuke chose the Smoke Cloud Jutsu, which complements the Fire Style: Fire Ball, as Sasuke uses the residual fire chakra to make the smoke.
5- Also, I added the special status: Midas' Hand, which is the opposite of Damocles's Sword.
Now, since Damocles's Sword was a reference to a Greek parable, what is Midas' Hand a reference to? The Midas Touch originates from a Greek myth that illustrates the pitfalls of greed and the unintended consequences of seemingly favorable blessings. King Midas, renowned for his wealth, was granted a wish by the god Dionysus as a reward for his hospitality. Midas wished that everything he touched would turn into gold, a wish that was swiftly granted. Initially, Midas rejoiced as his touch turned branches, stones, and even his palace into gold, vastly increasing his wealth. However, his joy turned to horror when he found that his food and drink also transformed into inedible gold, and the true tragedy struck when he turned his beloved daughter into a golden statue with his touch. This story underscores the adage "be careful what you wish for" and serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of avarice. Midas' desperate plea to Dionysus to reverse the curse highlights the realization that true value lies not in gold but in life's intangible aspects, like love and connection.
6- The Scroll of Seals is empty, and if it wasn't, Naruto would have gained around 11 S-rank death jutsu and 1 Flying Thunder God. It's not like he can't get them eventually.
Will he? Yes, the answer is yes.
When? Find out by reading.
Who do you guys think is responsible for emptying the forbidden death jutsu? The answer is obvious and is actually going to be explored in the next chapters.
7- In the context of Naruto's use of Fuinjutsu (the art of sealing in the Naruto universe), the lingo he used can be broken down into simpler terms for better understanding:
-Fuin Kai: Senryaku Teikai - This phrase is a combination of different elements. "Fuin" refers to sealing techniques. "Kai" typically means "release" or "open" in Japanese, suggesting the act of unlocking or unsealing. "Senryaku" translates to "strategy" or "tactics," and "Teikai" means "dismantling" or "demolition." Put together, "Fuin Kai: Senryaku Teikai" could be interpreted as "Seal Release: Tactical Dismantling." This implies a methodical, strategic approach to breaking down or unlocking a seal.
-Fuin Hōkai - "Hōkai" means "collapse" or "destruction." In this context, "Fuin Hōkai" would translate to "Seal Collapse" or "Seal Destruction." This term signifies the final action of completely breaking or destroying a seal, indicating that Naruto has successfully bypassed or undone the seal's protective mechanisms.
In Naruto's use of these terms, he's essentially verbalizing his actions while using Fuinjutsu. How do you guys like the explanation for seals that I gave in this chapter?
Thank you for your support and for enjoying my work. I upload every week on Sunday.
I hope you have a blessed rest of the day, and please share your thoughts in the reviews!