Chapter 2: The Prophecy Come True"Mizuki…Mizuki-sensei, what brings you here?" Naruto swallowed hard and asked.
Mizuki smiled. "What, Naruto, don't you want to invite me in?"
He wasn't surprised by Naruto's reaction; he'd assumed Naruto was just after the snacks he was holding.
"Ah…Oh! Mizuki-sensei, please come in."
Naruto still clung to a last shred of hope, hoping Mizuki wouldn't tempt him to steal the Scroll of Seals. But with Mizuki's first words, that hope was shattered.
"Naruto, Iruka-sensei didn't mean to cause you trouble."
"Iruka is also an orphan, and he understands your situation. Perhaps he just wants you to truly become stronger."
"Then how can I become stronger?" Naruto asked calmly.
"There is a way. Let me tell you a secret… the Scroll of Sealing."
"If you can successfully obtain the Scroll of Sealing without being detected, and then learn the ninjutsu within before it's found, you can graduate." Mizuki continued to coax him. If he could get the Scroll of Sealing, he'd have enough leverage to join Orochimaru's ranks.
"Really, Mizuki-sensei?"
"Of course, this is Iruka's real test for you."
Everything that had happened today matched the scenes in the manga. Naruto was no longer willing to believe Mizuki's nonsense. Although he often did foolish things, he wasn't truly an idiot. For now, he could only feign composure and agree.
"Okay, I'll definitely do it, Mizuki-sensei."
After explaining the location of the Scroll of Sealing to Naruto and arranging a meeting place, Mizuki left.
After Mizuki left, Naruto frantically searched for the manga, determined to find it and know what had happened. He believed the manga couldn't have simply vanished; it must have fallen somewhere he hadn't noticed.
"Damn it, where did it go?"
Just as Naruto was in a state of extreme anxiety, something suddenly appeared in his hand—the very same *Naruto* manga. As if sensing Naruto's call, it reappeared in his grasp.
"Could this be the legendary treasure?"
But there was no time to think further. Naruto quickly picked up the manga and began flipping through it, trying to figure out how to deal with Mizuki. Because of the warning in the manga, he couldn't share this secret with anyone, and therefore couldn't get help from others beforehand.
When he saw Iruka shield him from Mizuki's shuriken with his own back, Naruto felt his heart tremble violently.
When he saw Iruka, tears streaming down his face, tell him that they were both equally lonely, and that if he had done a little better, Naruto wouldn't feel so alone, Naruto couldn't help but shed tears himself.
"Iruka-sensei..."
Then he saw Mizuki reveal his identity. Was he the Nine-Tailed Fox? Was that why he was hated? For a moment, Naruto felt an urge to escape Konoha.
Fortunately, this thought was fleeting. Konoha was, after all, the place where he had grown up. Although many rejected him, there were also people he cherished there.
Finally, when Naruto saw himself defeat Mizuki with his Shadow Clone Jutsu, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"What? A teacher, and his strength isn't even that great."
"But defeating Mizuki requires Shadow Clones. Looks like I have to get the Scroll of Seals no matter what."
Just as Naruto was about to close the manga, he noticed a strange-looking object at the end of the first chapter. It looked a bit like a pineapple? But why was it blue? Next to it was a line of small print: "Hokuto Opening Ceremony Gift: The Fruit of Wisdom (After eating, it makes the user smarter, possessing intelligence and comprehension far exceeding that of ordinary people. Teacher won't have to worry about my studies anymore!)"
Wow! If he could eat this Fruit of Wisdom, wouldn't he be able to shed his "bottom of the class" title? Naruto knew his own limitations; he knew very well that he wasn't the smartest among the graduating ninjas. With his intelligence, he could only be considered relatively smart at best.
"Really? Too bad it's just a drawing, I can't eat it."
After the initial excitement, Naruto became somewhat disappointed. He couldn't eat the drawing in the manga, and the Fruit of Wisdom didn't say where it was.
Just then, the illustration of the Intelligence-Intelligence Fruit in the manga suddenly disappeared, and an enormous blue pineapple appeared in Naruto's hand.
Naruto hurriedly caught it, his mouth watering at the tempting blue pineapple. Ultimately, caution succumbed to his appetite, and he began to devour it.
"What? It doesn't taste like much, but it seems quite thirst-quenching!"
The enormous Devil Fruit was devoured by Naruto in no time, leaving a bulge in his stomach.
However, this wasn't the main issue. Naruto found himself having a different perspective on many things; his mind seemed suddenly much clearer—a feeling he couldn't quite describe.
---
Following the location provided by Mizuki, Naruto successfully obtained the Scroll of Seals. Arriving at the agreed-upon cabin, Naruto didn't rush to learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Instead, he read through all the ninjutsu listed, regardless of whether he would use them later, his brain rapidly memorizing the training methods for each technique.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Techniques, Flying Thunder God Technique, Rasengan, Impure World Reincarnation, Eight Gates..."
The Book of Seals in Konoha records extremely powerful or dangerous ninjutsu, and there are many different kinds. Just as Naruto was memorizing the last technique, Iruka's voice called from outside.
"Naruto! Naruto!"
Naruto quickly got up, pushed open the door, and went out. Their eyes met.
"Ah, Iruka-sensei, you found out so quickly?"
"How about it, how about it, can I graduate now?"
Iruka asked suspiciously, "Who told you all this? Was it..."
Just then, more than a dozen kunai shot out from behind Iruka.
Iruka didn't have time to think. He shoved Naruto aside, but he himself was riddled with kunai and lay motionless on the ground.
"Heh heh heh, Iruka, I never thought someone supposed to be a Chunin would be so pathetic."
Mizuki's arrogant laughter echoed from the treetop. He was now brimming with malice, all traces of his former gentleness and kindness gone.
Seeing the situation was settled, Mizuki leaped down from the tree and walked towards Naruto.
"Next, it's your turn, Naruto."
Naruto seemed paralyzed with fear, scrambling into the house.
"Haha, instead of running away, he hid inside. What a stupid idiot."
Mizuki said disdainfully. He looked down on children like Naruto, and if it weren't for needing to use Naruto's identity to steal the Scroll of Seals, he wouldn't have bothered with such a brat.
Now that it was over, it was time to send him on his way.
"The cat-and-mouse game is over. I'm very grateful for what you did for me, so please die!"
Mizuki kicked open the door, and the instant he stepped inside, a large clump of dirt was shoved onto his head, blurring his vision. At the same time, a small fist struck his face like a gust of wind.