NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22: Chapter 21:[Mizuki]
The night of the Academy graduation exam, Naruto lay in his secluded training spot, replaying Mizuki's suggestion in his mind.
Though suspicious, he couldn't deny his curiosity about the Scroll of Seals. It was said to contain forbidden techniques, the kind that could elevate any ninja's skill beyond imagination.
After careful thought, Naruto decided to take the scroll—not to prove anything to Mizuki, but for his own reasons.
He transformed into a villager and scouted the Hokage's tower, studying the guards and seal traps with precision.
During his reconnaissance, Naruto made an important decision: if he was going to risk stealing the scroll, he wasn't doing it for Mizuki. He was doing it for himself and Hinata.
Using Shadow Clones to create distractions, Naruto slipped into the Hokage's office under the cover of night.
His chakra chains helped him bypass the complex seal traps that protected the scroll, and soon, the legendary Scroll of Seals was in his hands.
But Naruto didn't leave immediately. Instead, he unraveled the scroll and began the painstaking process of copying its contents. Using his advanced fūinjutsu skills, he created a duplicate, carefully transcribing every detail.
"This'll be our secret weapon," Naruto muttered to himself. "Hinata and I can use this to train without anyone knowing. No one will ever underestimate us again."
He took the original scroll and returned with it to meet Mizuki .
Naruto met Mizuki in the forest as instructed, carrying a second fake scroll he had prepared, filled with altered and incomplete jutsu that would backfire on the user.
"Well done, Naruto," Mizuki said, extending his hand. "Give it to me, and you'll finally show the village your worth."
Naruto smirked but played along, handing over the scroll. "Here you go, Mizuki-sensei. Hope it's worth it."
Mizuki's greed blinded him to Naruto's smirk. As he was about to take it ,the sudden sound of shuriken alerted him enough to dodge.
"You really thought I'd trust you?" Naruto said.
"Naruto, let's make a deal," Mizuki said, his voice smooth and calculated. "Hand me the scroll, and I'll make sure you finally get the respect you deserve."
Naruto tilted his head, his lips curling into a dumb grin. "Respect, huh? That's tempting... but aren't you supposed to be the bad guy right now?"
Mizuki frowned, his patience wearing thin. "You don't get it, do you? The village will never respect you. You're the Nine-Tails in their eyes—a monster. But with the scroll, you could finally make them fear you instead."
Naruto's eyes widened, his body stiffening as if Mizuki's words had struck a nerve. "What... what do you mean?"
Mizuki smirked, his tone dripping with malice. "You're the Nine-Tails fox sealed into a human body. That's why everyone despises you. Why you'll never truly belong."
Naruto lowered his head, his shoulders shaking. Mizuki's grin widened, mistaking it for despair.
"See? You've been lied to your entire life! But it doesn't have to be this way. Hand over the scroll, and I'll—"
Naruto interrupted him with a soft chuckle, his voice low and icy. "You know, Mizuki, I've heard a lot of stupid things in my life. But this? This might be the dumbest."
Mizuki blinked, startled. "What?"
Naruto raised his head, his expression calm and calculating, his eyes gleaming with a predatory sharpness that sent a chill down Mizuki's spine.
"Did you really think I didn't know about the Nine-Tails? Or that I'd be dumb enough to fall for such an obvious trap? Please. Do I look like an idiot to you?"
Mizuki's confidence faltered. "You... you're bluffing!"
"Am I?" Naruto asked, his voice eerily composed. "Or maybe you've just been underestimating me this whole time."
Infuriated, Mizuki hurled his giant shuriken at Naruto. "Die, you demon fox!"
Naruto didn't move, his expression unchanging as the spinning blade raced toward him. Then, in a flash of motion, he sidestepped effortlessly, letting the weapon slice through empty air and embed itself into a tree.
Mizuki froze, his eyes wide. "What the—"
Before he could react, Naruto formed a rapid series of hand seals, his movements precise and fluid. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The clearing erupted in smoke, and when it cleared, dozens of Narutos surrounded Mizuki, each one glaring at him with cold determination.
Mizuki's face contorted in shock. "Impossible! You couldn't even do basic clones in the academy!"
Naruto smirked, his clones stepping forward in unison. "That's what I wanted everyone to think. Hiding my abilities makes it easier to deal with fools like you."
The clones charged, overwhelming Mizuki in seconds. He swung his kunai wildly, managing to dispel a few, but the sheer number was too much.
One clone disarmed him, another tripped him, and the real Naruto delivered a devastating kick to Mizuki's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
Mizuki groaned, clutching his ribs as he glared up at Naruto. "You... you've been lying to everyone... this whole time?"
Naruto crouched down beside him, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Lying? No. I've just been careful. People show their true colors when they think you're beneath them. And you, Mizuki, showed me everything I needed to know."
Naruto stood, towering over the defeated rogue ninja. "Here's some advice for you: don't pick a fight with someone who's ten steps ahead of you."
Naruto dusted off his hands. He glanced at the scroll and sighed. "Too much trouble for one day. Guess I'll take this back to the Hokage and keep pretending I'm clueless."
As the stars began to dot the sky, Naruto walked back toward the village, a faint smirk on his face. Beneath his cheerful façade, his mind was already strategizing his next steps.
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Author's notes.
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