Ⅰ
Upon hearing the news that Naruto had stolen the First Hokage's Forbidden Scroll, my immediate reaction was to question his motives. What could have driven him to steal one of the most important historical items of Konoha? Knowing Naruto better than anyone else, perhaps there must have been a significant catalyst that pushed him to take such drastic measures.
The Forbidden Scroll was stored safely in the Hokage Archive. There, it was heavily protected by a group of Shinobis called the Special Tasked Jounin, a.k.a. Tokubetsu Jounin (特別上忍). They are a group of experts proficient in various fields, including archaeology, which was relevant to this scroll.
Named after the First Hokage, the scroll was said to contain thousands of Ninjutsus. Some of the ninjutsu he created are still in use today, while others have been deemed too dangerous, as using them could cost one's life. Earning the title Forbidden, the scroll was carefully stored away in the Archive.
Despite being safely kept away, Naruto managed to steal it. In response, Uncle Asuma rallied all members of the Sarutobi clan in the vicinity and announced a mission to locate Naruto as swiftly as possible. As he further explained the details of the mission, other prominent clans, such as Akimichi, Nara, Yamanaka, and others, would be joining the search too.
Seeing my Uncle and the other Sarutobi members preparing to leave, I volunteered to join the mission. I explained that I knew Naruto better than anyone else and that my dearest friend would never commit such a theft unless there was a big reason behind it. However, despite the earnest plea I gave to him, Uncle Asuma told me I wasn't ready.
Ⅱ
Grappling with disbelief, my mind was swirling with frustration as I paced back and forth in my room.
I may not have the experience of taking part in the mission or know what it's like, but my friend was out there in trouble.
I had sworn I would be there for him, and I intended to keep that promise. If the adults think I cannot handle this, I'll just have to do it by myself without letting them know.
Having said that to myself, I quickly got prepared to gear up.
In order to suit up in appropriate attire, I equipped a pair of hardened leather gauntlets over my forearms and greaves over my shins. For the body, I fastened a black leather vest to add more protection. With the final touch, I draped a dove-grey scarf around my neck to complete the look.
Once all of the body protection is in place, I have gathered all the tools and provisions I need for the search and put them into my pouch. Kunais, shurikens, medicinal pills, bandagesーyou name it.
Finally, as I stood before the mirror, I fastened my headband around my forehead. With one last glance at my reflection, I quickly went to my closet to grab my weapon: the katana.
Inside the closet, it is clustered with clothes, scrolls, tools, and items that were salvaged from a shipwreck. Among the items, the katana rested on the sword rack at the center of the room.
The blade had been my weapon of choice ever since my uncle trained me in its use. Countless hours I have spent honing my skills with this fine weapon. It has become part of me and will always be my trusted companion. I inspected the blade to make sure it was polished. With a quick reflection on the blade, I slid it back into the sheath and began to leave.
However, my shoulder accidentally hit something, and it fell to the ground. I bent down to see what it was. It was an object being tightly wrapped in cloth and secured with a knot. I brought it to the table for a closer examination. Slowly unwrapping the cloth, it revealed a hidden blade.
As I continued inspecting the blade, my fingers traced its edges. I couldn't help but notice an insignia carved at its base. It was the first time I had seen a symbol of an arrow facing upwardsーexuding a mysterious flair with a hint of imperiousness. I do not know what it represents, but I had a feeling that it had a deeper meaning, indicating something important to me.
I carefully placed it underneath my left wrist, wrapping it tighter. As I wondered how to use it, I accidentally activated the weapon with a flick of my wrist.
"Wow..." I whispered, "This... this is incredible."
I had no idea how I was able to use it. The blade extended smoothly with just a flick. But for some reason, it oddly felt familiar to me as if my instinct knew how to use it. But why? How was I able to wield this weapon?
I wanted to find out, but my priority was to find Naruto. I need to find him quickly and bring him safely. Leaving the compound, I ventured into the heart of downtown. The search for Naruto had begun. I would not rest until I found him. "I'm coming for you, Naruto."
Ⅲ
With my Eagle Vision on, I jumped from one roof to another in pursuit of Naruto. However, despite scouring the area for fifteen minutes straight, I couldn't find him.
I soon disabled the vision as I decided to move to a higher vantage point. Somewhere, I could see the whole village. I first thought of the Hokage Tower. It's a perfect place to get the view from above.
But I soon dismissed it. I did not want my grandpa to discover that I was searching for Naruto on my own. There might be some consequences when he learned I disobeyed my uncle's orders.
"Where can I go?" I pondered deeply. Feeling the pressure of the situation, I struggled to think of a better alternative place.
But then, a faint sound caught my attention, causing me to look above. I saw an eagle circling around. With a closer look, I noticed it was the same eagle who granted me the power of Eagle Vision. Sensing it wanted to help me again, I followed the eagle's trail as it flew towards a new destination.
Following the eagle's lead, I soon arrived at the watchtower area. The tower was unguarded. The eagle wanted me to climb to its summit and use my Eagle Vision there.
Climbing up to the top, I expressed my gratitude to the eagle with a nod. The eagle flew away after giving me a silent gaze. I had a feeling it was responding to me, "You're welcome."
"Now, let's see..." I closed my eyes and prepared myself to tap into my chakra. With concentration, I felt the warmth building under my eyelids, a sign that my chakra was nearing its peak.
After taking a steady breath, I let my vision cover the entire view, bathed in a calming blue. Gazing at the downtown area, I observed the figures colored in green. The green meant they were allies. These must be the search party, looking for Naruto high and low.
I tried to find him in the streets, the buildings, and even in the residential or academic areas. But he was nowhere to be found.
"Hmm...Where could he be?" I thoroughly scanned every inch of the area to ensure there wasn't a single one to be missed. And then, I finally found where he was. His figure was glowing in a distinctive gold in the woods.
"There you are!"
Ⅳ
Moving from tree to tree like a monkey, I arrived at the spot where Naruto was last seen. Standing on the branch, I found him sitting on the ground. He was panting heavily as he leaned against the Forbidden Scroll. The scroll was massive; it was the size of a thick log. Carrying that around must have worn him out.
Just as I prepared to jump down and confront him, Iruka sensei had just arrived, to my surprise.
"Iruka-sensei?!" The last thing I wanted was for my homeroom teacher to notice my presence. Choosing to remain silent, I began to observe.
"There you are…!" He narrowed his brow. His hands were on his hips as he stood there while keeping his gaze fixed.
Naruto recognized the familiar voice and looked up. His smile spread across his face as he greeted Iruka-sensei. "Oh hey, Iruka sensei! You got me so quickly. I only had time to learn one jutsu,". He seemed to be unfazed by the teacher's anger. He stood up from the ground and brushed the dirt off.
Wait a minute. Did he say he learned one jutsu from the Forbidden Scroll?
As I watched him closely, I noticed his sweat-soaked clothes. Had he been spending all this time practicing the jutsu he'd learned it? If that was the case, why would he do it?
To get a clear picture of it, I continued to watch.
"Listen, Iruka-sensei! I'm going to show you this amazing jutsu, and you'll let me graduate. Then everything will be okay! That's how it works, right? Anyone who learns a jutsu from this scroll passes!" Naruto said excitedly.
Iruka-sensei was perplexed when he heard this. He seemed to have no clue what Naruto had just said. "Huh? Where did you get that idea?"
"Mizuki-sensei told me about it. Believe me! He told me where to find the scroll and said to be here!" Naruto replied.
Mizuki sensei? Wasn't he the chunin instructor who was a judge for the graduation exam?
Something wasn't right. Getting Naruto to steal the scroll and meet him here in the middle of the woods, where no one would know what would happen to him. It almost felt like Naruto was being lured into aー
Then, a sudden rustling came from the trees. Iruka-sensei was quick to see what it was, and he pushed Naruto away. "Look out!"
Naruto was confused. He slowly rose his body and turned towards Iruka-sensei. To his horror, his eyes widened in shock when he saw our teacher being covered with shurikens. "Iruka sensei!"
My heart raced when I saw it happen. Pondering my mind to figure out who had done it, a familiar voice cut through the tension. "I see you have found our little hideaway, Iruka."
I turned my head to see Mizuki sensei standing on a tree branch. There was a lack of remorse on his face when he had thrown the shuriken. It was as if he had been waiting to kill them.
"Naruto! You did a good job, boy. Now, give me the scroll!" Mizuki-sensei beckoned with his crooked finger.
"W-wait a minute! What's going on here?" Naruto's voice quivered with confusion. He looked between Iruka and Mizuki-sensei, not understanding what was going on.
Despite the injuries, Iruka managed to respond urgently. He painstakingly removed the shurikens from his body one by one. "Naruto, don't let Mizuki get the scroll! It contains forbidden jutsu that could put the village in grave danger! He was using you to get the scroll for himself, for his own gain!"
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. He glared at Mizuki sensei with frustration, his hands clenching into a fist.
But Mizuki sensei quickly dismissed it with a calm demeanor. "Naruto, don't listen to him. Iruka's just trying to frighten you. He knows the danger you have if you use the scroll for yourself."
"D-danger...?"
"Mizuki! Don't!" Iruka sensei interjected firmly.
As the tension built, I narrowed my brow as I focused my attention on Mizuki-sensei. What did he mean by the danger you have? Why was Iruka-sensei so adamant about not letting him continue? I had a feeling that the mystery surrounding Naruto was about to be revealed.
"Have you ever wondered why everyone in the village mistreated you? Do you know why you were being an outcast?" Mizuki-sensei asked.
"No…" Naruto slowly shook his head.
"Well, it's because of a decree twelve years ago."
"A decree...?"
"Yes. Everyone knows except you. Iruka's trying to hide it from you even now. He'd do anything to shut me up."
"W-what is this decree about? What does everyone else know about it?" Naruto curiously asked. His emotions were building up as he couldn't take any more of the suspense.
As Mizuki-sensei was about to answer it, Iruka-sensei shouted at him not to speak. But Mizuki-sensei ignored it and revealed the truth, which shocked me deeply to the core.
"The decree is that no one can tell you that you carry the sealed Nine-Tailed Fox within you! The very same beast that killed Iruka's parents and almost destroyed the village twelve years ago!"
