"The Third Hokage is truly amazing. Everything is under Lord Hokage's control."
"Exactly! How could a mere Demon Fox hope to escape the Third Hokage's grasp?"
"I knew it! The fox wouldn't succeed so easily!"
"The Third Hokage intentionally let the fox demon take the scroll!"
Seeing the revealed figure of the Third Hokage in the crystal ball, the villagers of Konoha's confidence soared. Indeed, Konoha's defenses couldn't possibly be so lax. It would be ridiculous for a child to easily steal the Scroll of Seals.
So, everything was indeed orchestrated by the Third Hokage.
[Thud!]
[The sound of footsteps pounding on tree trunks rang out continuously. Behind Naruto, a figure caught up—it was Iruka.]
["Naruto, what Mizuki said is all nonsense! Quickly give me the scroll! Mizuki's target is the scroll!"]
[As he spoke, Iruka sped up and blocked Naruto's path, trying to seize the scroll.]
[Bang!]
[Faced with Iruka blocking his way, Naruto didn't slow down at all and simply crashed right into him. Both of them tumbled to the ground.]
["H-how... how could this be?"]
[Iruka lay on the ground, speaking with disbelief.]
"A Demon Fox is a Demon Fox! How dare he repay kindness with enmity!"
"He's finally shown his true colors!"
"Iruka just saved him, and he's already this ungrateful!"
"If a monster like him gets the Scroll of Seals, he'll definitely seek revenge on the Village. Thankfully, the Third Hokage is a master strategist; everything is under his control."
"Yes, yes, otherwise we'd all be in danger."
Seeing Naruto mercilessly crash into Iruka, the villagers of Konoha immediately erupted in a chorus of scolding. In their eyes, Naruto was repaying kindness with enmity, especially after Iruka had just taken a shuriken for him!
"Naruto must have been too panicked, otherwise he wouldn't..."
Sakura also widened her eyes, but she still defended Naruto, unwilling to believe he could be that kind of person.
Sasuke also turned his gaze towards Naruto, his expression unreadable.
"I... I..."
Naruto stammered, unable to get the words out.
"Keep watching. This isn't as simple as it seems."
Kakashi patted Naruto's head, a hint of suspicion already forming in his mind.
[On the screen, the 'Iruka' who lay on the ground stared at the other 'Iruka' (who was actually the real Iruka, disguised as Naruto). A puff of white smoke enveloped the fallen figure—revealing his true identity: Mizuki. He had used the Transformation Jutsu.]
["H-how... how could this be?" Mizuki muttered in disbelief.]
["Naruto," Mizuki snarled, looking at the Iruka-disguised-as-Naruto. "How did you know I wasn't Iruka?"]
["Hehe," the 'Naruto' leaning against the tree chuckled. Another puff of white smoke, and his form shifted, revealing the true Iruka. "Because I'm the real Iruka."
The actual Naruto was revealed to be hiding a short distance away, clutching the Scroll of Seals.
["So that's how it is," Mizuki sneered, rising to his feet. "What good does it do you to shield that brat, disregarding your parents' hatred?"]
["You should know that the Nine-Tails and you are one and the same. As long as he uses the Ninjutsu on the scroll, he can do as he pleases. That Demon Fox will definitely use the scroll's power to destroy everything!"]
[Mizuki looked at Iruka, who was leaning against the tree trunk, severely injured but defiant.]
[Iruka, already gravely wounded, still held his ground, though he posed no physical threat to Mizuki.]
["Perhaps the Nine-Tails would do that, Mizuki... but Naruto won't," Iruka said softly, his voice trembling but firm.
"That guy is an excellent student I acknowledge. He works hard, he's persistent, and because of that, he's a bit clumsy. No one recognizes him, but I do."
"That guy can understand the pain in others' hearts. That guy isn't a Demon Fox. He's Konoha's Uzumaki Naruto!"]
[Iruka's words, though not loud, brought fresh tears streaming down Naruto's face as he watched from his hiding spot.]
[Mizuki looked at Iruka, speechless. What was this sentimental nonsense? Getting so emotional was truly annoying.]
["You're still so naive, Iruka," Mizuki growled, pulling the massive Fuma Shuriken from his back once more. "I've decided to finish you off right now!"]
[Bang!]
[Just as Iruka closed his eyes, awaiting death, Naruto burst from his hiding place and delivered a powerful kick, sending Mizuki sprawling backward!]
["Don't you dare lay a hand on Iruka-sensei," Naruto's voice was dark, his eyes blazing with furious killing intent, "or I'll kill you!"]
["Heh," Mizuki sneered, scrambling to his feet. "Truly overestimating yourself. A brat like you, I can finish off with one move!"]
["Then try it if you can, you scum!"]
[Accompanied by stirring, heroic music, Naruto suddenly activated the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. Instantly, dense white smoke enveloped the surroundings. One after another, figures of Naruto in orange clothes appeared. On the ground, on tree trunks, they surrounded the area in layers, packed tightly with Narutos.]
["Come on!"]
["Didn't you say you could finish me with one move?"]
["Over here!"]
["This side!"]
[...The surroundings were densely packed with Narutos, and Mizuki's ears were filled with the boy's taunts. Mizuki had never seen such a scene and was immediately terrified, stumbling backward and falling to the ground.]
["Then I'm coming!"]
[Since Mizuki wasn't moving, the army of Narutos took the initiative. Mizuki only managed to let out a miserable scream before being overwhelmed and beaten to a pulp!]
[Faced with so many Narutos ganging up on him, it was only natural Mizuki couldn't win.]
[After defeating Mizuki, Naruto returned to his sunny, cheerful self. Iruka also gave his own forehead protector to Naruto, signifying that Naruto had successfully graduated and was now a shinobi.]
[First episode check-in complete!]
[Baby Naruto is so adorable! My heart!]
[ The entire Ninja World owes Iruka a massive debt.]
[ Naruto and Iruka are still different. Iruka only felt loneliness; no one cared about him. But besides that, Naruto also had to face the villagers' malicious gazes and hateful attitudes. Honestly, that kind of constant judgment is truly suffocating.]
[ It's only because it's Naruto. Anyone else would have turned dark long ago. Even Naruto, if Iruka hadn't pulled him back, and if not for his companions at the Academy, would definitely have turned dark.]
[No, it's not just Naruto. People in the whole Ninja World are strange. Naruto isn't the only Jinchuriki with a tragic experience. Take Gaara, for example—he became completely withdrawn and homicidal, yet he didn't immediately try to raze the Hidden Sand Village to the ground. That's already pretty good restraint.]
[Are those talking about Ninja Academy classmates not joking? Didn't they only have the opposite effect, reinforcing his isolation?]
[ Still, having people interact with you, even negatively, is much better than being completely ignored.]
[ Putting that aside, the few peers among the 'rookies' didn't show overt hostility towards Naruto; it was a relatively normal classmate relationship.]
[Yes, friendship, bonds—it's these hard-to-sever feelings that kept Naruto from falling into darkness and allowed him to become the Ninja World's savior.]
[Is it really not just because he's the protagonist, though?]
[ Tsk, but it really looks miserable. That oppressive environment... if it were me, I'd have razed Konoha to the ground.]
[Shadow Clone Jutsu! Naruto's signature skill!]
[Naruto's talent is still very strong; it's just that the Nine-Tails interfered with his Chakra control.]
[ No, where did you get the conclusion that Naruto's talent is strong? He's a terrible student.]