Mizuki in the neighboring classroom had no idea that he'd already been targeted by a group of ruthless ninja students.
Chapter 88: Mizuki's Plot [Part 2]
"Next, Naruto Uzumaki."
Iruka's voice echoed through the room. Naruto rubbed his temples and walked out with a bitter expression. He really wanted to show off using Shadow Clones, but thinking about the upcoming plan, he ultimately gave up on that idea.
"Naruto, don't be nervous. Just do your best!"
Seeing Naruto's anxious look, Iruka quickly called out to comfort him.
"I know, Teacher Iruka!" Naruto smiled. He formed the hand seal for Clone Jutsu, and his chakra surged wildly throughout his body.
"Clone!"
"Puff!"
Two puffs of smoke appeared beside Naruto. Once the smoke cleared, two oddly-shaped clones stood before Iruka. One looked like boiled noodles, lying limply on the ground. The other was even worse—one side of its body was large while the other side was small, resembling a disabled person.
"Naruto Uzumaki, failed."
Iruka sighed and announced Naruto had failed.
"Teacher Iruka, maybe we should just let Naruto pass," Mizuki feigned compassion. "Look how hard he tried. Although these clones look a bit unusual, at least he managed to create them. Why not give him a pass this time?"
"No way! Once they become ninjas, they must carry out missions. I can't endanger Naruto's life because I feel momentarily sorry for him!"
Iruka remained firm. Although seeing Naruto's disappointed expression made his heart ache, when it came to Naruto's future safety, he hardened his heart and stuck with the failing grade.
"Well then..." Mizuki pretended to sigh deeply while secretly grinning inside. He had anticipated this. His earlier words were just a ploy to win Naruto's trust, making his later plans easier to execute.
Head lowered, Naruto walked outside looking very disappointed. Witnessing this, Iruka helplessly sighed again. Truthfully, he wished Naruto could pass too, but rules were rules. And for Naruto's own safety, he forced himself not to look at the boy's disheartened expression.
Yet the moment Naruto left the classroom, having been mistaken by Iruka and Mizuki as being genuinely upset, his unhappy look vanished instantly. Luckily, he'd experienced real disappointment before from being mocked by villagers. That's what made faking it so easy now.
"Naruto, great acting!" Sakura and others had already been waiting for him outside. Seeing his sudden emotional transformation, all of them instinctively gave him thumbs-up.
"Haha, I knew I'm amazing!" Naruto proudly grinned. "Even Teacher Iruka got fooled!"
"Alright everyone, split up and hide. Naruto, you stay on the swing by yourself and keep acting. Just wait for Mizuki to come find you!"
Sakura and the others huddled together, whispering for a moment. Then Naruto instantly returned to his gloomy state, while Sakura and the rest faked cheerful laughter and walked toward the school gate as if leaving him behind.
Sitting on the swing, Naruto watched parents taking their children home with eyes full of longing. How much he wished that at this moment, he too could have a pair of parents holding his hands and leading him away.
"Naruto, why haven't you gone home yet?" Mizuki approached from behind, wearing an oddly sinister smile.
"I don't want to go back. There's no one waiting for me anyway."
Naruto kept his head down, radiating loneliness. Although he now lived with Sakura, only a few close friends knew about it. Everyone else still believed he was alone in his old tiny apartment.
"Is it because you failed the exam today and feeling upset?" Mizuki moved in front of Naruto, crouched down, and gave him a caring smile.
"Mr. Mizuki, why won't Teacher Iruka let me pass? I've been trying so hard!" Naruto raised his head, his eyes slightly teary.
"Now now, Naruto, don't blame Teacher Iruka too much. He really does care about you!"
Mizuki spoke kindly like a supportive confidant comforting Naruto. "Once you become a ninja, you'll start going out on missions — and that can be really dangerous if your ninjutsu isn't strong enough. That's why Teacher Iruka is just being careful and doesn't want you to graduate unprepared."
"But Mr. Mizuki, I really want to graduate. I want to become a real ninja! My goal is to become the strongest Hokage in Konoha's history!" Naruto clenched his fist with a determined expression. "And I even managed to use the Clone Jutsu! Why won't he let me graduate?"
"That's exactly because Iruka cares about you too much!" Mizuki secretly smiled inwardly when seeing Naruto's frustrated face. "But tell me, Naruto, do you really want to graduate and become a ninja?"
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded vigorously.
"Well then, let me tell you another way!" Mizuki pretended to hesitate for a while before finally acting as if he couldn't bear to see Naruto disappointed. "Actually, besides passing the graduation exam, there's another way for you to become a ninja!"
"Really?! Quickly tell me, Mr. Mizuki!" Naruto immediately brightened his eyes and tightly grabbed Mizuki's arm.
"In our Hidden Leaf Village, there's something called the Scroll of Seals. It's a huge scroll hidden by the Third Hokage in a very secret location. If you can get that scroll, won't it prove your strength? At that time, Lord Third Hokage will definitely agree to let you graduate!"
Mizuki smiled warmly on the outside, but silently laughed coldly beneath his mask.
"The Scroll of Seals? Once I get the Scroll of Seals, would Teacher Iruka finally allow me to graduate?" Naruto's face showed a hopeful expression.
"Yup, if you can grab the Scroll of Seals and bring it to the forest, you'll officially be a real ninja!"
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