**Chapter 2: Stealing the Scroll of Seals**
"Hmph, the old Third Hokage is probably guarding the way here, right?"
Arriving before a towering building, Naruto glanced inside before striding in.
"Naruto, what are you doing here?"
Reaching the building's highest floor, Naruto was suddenly confronted by the Third Hokage, who appeared before him, leisurely puffing on his pipe.
"Ninjutsu: Phantom Technique!"
Forming a hand seal, Naruto unleashed the only genjutsu he knew.
"Uh... Lord Third..."
Caught completely off guard by Naruto's genjutsu, the Third Hokage fell easily into the illusion. Within the illusion, a group of fair-skinned beauties surrounded him.
"Ah..."
A torrent of blood gushed from the Third Hokage's nose as his eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing.
"Heh heh, still can't resist the allure of beauty, huh?" Naruto smirked down at the Third Hokage. "But I couldn't use the Sexy Technique—that would mean stripping naked in front of an old man... Ugh!"
The thought sent a shudder through Naruto. *Too terrifying!*
"Heh heh, next, that old fox Mizuki will take the fall for me, right?"
Grinning triumphantly, Naruto strode into the secret chamber before him.
"Hmm... the Scroll of Seals. So it was here all along. Finding it so easily takes all the challenge out of it."
Naruto crouched down and pulled the Scroll of Seals from the cabinet, slinging it horizontally across his back.
"Mission accomplished. Time to scram."
Standing up, Naruto immediately darted out of the secret chamber. With a large group of ninja likely arriving soon, lingering here to study the scroll would be foolish.
*Thump, thump...*
Deep within a dense forest, Naruto leaped and bounded between massive trees with astonishing speed.
After leaping down from a tree trunk, he slipped into a hidden cave, known only to him.
Slowly peeling back a corner of the Scroll of Seals, Naruto felt a surge of nervous anticipation.
*Whoosh...*
Unfurling the scroll, a series of rarely seen, immensely powerful ninjutsu techniques were revealed before him.
"Shadow Clone Technique; Water Release: Violent Water Wave; Earth Release: Earth Flow Great River, Earth Splitter Palm; Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique; Wind Release: Beast Wave Gale Palm, Divine Gale; even Wood Release: Tree World Descent, Black Night Walk Technique, Corpse Demon Sealing, Eight Gates Armor, Peacock Mystic Art, various sealing techniques, and various clone techniques..."
As Naruto scanned the ninjutsu, excitement surged through him, but it quickly turned to frustration. How was he supposed to memorize all this?
"Heh heh, Nine-Tailed Beast..."
Naruto's shamelessly cheerful voice echoed in his mind.
"What do you want, brat? Why are you bothering me?" the Nine-Tailed Beast growled, clearly still annoyed by Naruto's earlier forced severance of their connection.
"Hehe, Big Brother Nine-Tails, don't be mad..." Naruto's wheedling voice echoed inwardly.
"Alright, brat, stop beating around the bush. What do you want from me? Just say it." The Nine-Tailed Beast's exasperated voice rumbled.
"Hehe, I need a small favor. Could you memorize the ninjutsu on this scroll for me?" Naruto pointed to the Scroll of Seals before him.
"Brat, your brain's as dense as ever," the Nine-Tailed Beast mocked, finally getting its revenge.
"Alright, Nine-Tails, enough chatter. Let's get down to business," Naruto said with a sigh. *This guy never changes, always trying to get the upper hand.*
"Fine, let me out. How else am I supposed to memorize anything?" The Nine-Tailed Beast swayed its nine tails, its voice tinged with excitement.
"Nine-Tails, don't start playing around the moment you're out! Focus on the task at hand," Naruto warned anxiously.
"Hehe, got it," the Nine-Tailed Beast nodded eagerly.
Closing his eyes, Naruto gradually relaxed his mind, letting his consciousness sink deeper.
Simultaneously, the Nine-Tailed Beast's consciousness began to rise, gradually taking over Naruto's mind.
"Hah... This great lord is finally out again."
The Nine-Tailed Beast glanced at its golden fur and nodded in satisfaction. But when it looked behind, it nearly flew into a rage—only four tails! It was an utter disgrace!
"Alright, Nine-Tails, focus on memorizing the techniques. Stop gloating," Naruto's voice echoed from within.
"Fine, fine, I get it," the Nine-Tailed Beast snapped impatiently. "Damn it, can't this great lord have a moment to bask in freedom after finally emerging?"
Naruto wisely ignored the bait. He knew that if he responded, the Nine-Tailed Beast would never stop ranting.
After a moment of silence, the Nine-Tailed Beast gave up complaining and turned its attention to the ninjutsu listed in the Scroll of Seals.
"Kid, these ninjutsu are pathetic," it scoffed, its four tawny fox tails swaying behind it. "Even a casual False Dog Cannon from me would be more powerful."
"Uh..." Naruto was speechless. "You're the Nine-Tailed Beast! Of course these techniques are useless against you... And could you at least look at the whole list before judging?"
"Oh? Are there actually ninjutsu in here that could harm me?" The Nine-Tailed Beast's interest was piqued.
"...Corpse... Corpse Demon Sealing?"
The Nine-Tailed Beast trembled inwardly.
"Haha, scared now? Serves you right for being so cocky..." Naruto teased.
"Who's scared? Would this great lord fear something like that?" The Nine-Tailed Beast leaped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, its tone turning resentful.
Sensing the shift in the Nine-Tailed Beast's mood, Naruto stopped teasing him and fell silent.
"Haha, brat, you seem a bit down too. Don't worry, I'm just a little annoyed. Actually, being with you isn't so bad." The Nine-Tailed Beast's voice took on a rare, subdued tone.
"Really? Heh heh..." Naruto scratched his head and grinned, glancing at the Nine-Tailed Beast, who lay prone with its eyes closed, confined by iron bars.
"Alright, brat, I've used my Chakra to imprint all the Ninjutsu and their casting methods from the Scroll of Seals." The Nine-Tailed Beast stretched languidly. "I'll gradually transfer this Chakra to you over time. It's far too vast for you to handle all at once."
"Yeah, Nine-Tailed Beast, thanks." Naruto said sincerely.
"Heh heh, do we really need to thank each other?"
The Nine-Tailed Beast outwardly feigned indifference, but its tone was filled with relief and joy.
"Alright, brat, anything else? If not, this old man's going back to sleep."
Reverting to its usual brash tone, the Nine-Tailed Beast lazily called out to Naruto.
"Nine-Tailed Beast, you're such a lazy fox! All you ever do is sleep."
Naruto's playful nature resurfaced.
"You little brat! What did you just say?"
The Nine-Tailed Beast glared with its fox-like eyes, baring its fangs.
"I said... you're a pig!"
The moment his consciousness returned to his body, Naruto blurted out the insult and swiftly severed his connection with the Nine-Tailed Beast.
"Heh, that guy must be furious!"
Naruto smirked inwardly.
"Alright, the Scroll of Seals has served its purpose."
Rolling up the scroll and slinging it over his shoulder, Naruto leaped out of the tree hollow and began moving through the forest.
"Naruto, I'm over here!"
Seeing Naruto's figure, Mizuki waved and called out excitedly.
"Naruto, don't go near Mizuki!"
Iruka, rushing from behind, shouted urgently.
"Iruka?"
Mizuki's expression twisted into a sinister grin. "In that case, I'll just deal with this brat first and then take the Scroll of Seals."
*Whoosh!*
Mizuki detached the massive shuriken from his back, gripped its center, and rapidly spun the razor-sharp weapon.
*Whoosh!*
With a violent flick of his wrist, Mizuki hurled the shuriken, his expression twisted with bloodlust as he watched it hurtle toward Naruto.
"Naruto, get down!" Iruka shouted.
"Teacher Iruka, I'm fine, I can—"
Before Naruto could finish saying "dodge it," a powerful force shoved him to the ground.
*Thud!*
Blood splattered as the shuriken pierced Iruka's back, crimson liquid seeping from his mouth.
"Naruto, are you alright... *cough cough*..." Iruka wheezed, propping himself up weakly on his arms as he gazed at Naruto.
"Teacher Iruka... I'm fine," Naruto replied, his heart swelling with gratitude.
"Mizuki, you bastard!"
Pulling the shuriken from his back, Iruka summoned a surge of strength and lunged to his feet, hurling the weapon back with all his might.
"Heh heh, Iruka, I'll kill you first, then that Nine-Tailed brat." Mizuki smirked, tilting his head to dodge the incoming shuriken with ease, his confidence unwavering.
"Mizuki, you're not hurting Teacher Iruka again! I'll kill you! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto roared, forming a hand seal.
*Poof! Poof! Poof!*
Countless shadow clones of Naruto materialized, filling the forest clearing to bursting.
In the end, the outcome was inevitable. Mizuki was beaten into a swollen, pig-like mess, and Naruto finally graduated.