Chapter 3: First Task
[Alright, Little Ai is going to issue a task!] [Master, please accept your first mission!]
[Ding!] [Beginner Task: Successfully pass the graduation exam and become a Genin!] [Task Reward: Max-Level Swordsmanship + All Attributes ×2!]
Max-level swordsmanship?
He understood the all attributes ×2 part, but what exactly was max-level swordsmanship?
[Ding!] [Max-level swordsmanship means sword skills that surpass the world's greatest swordsman~ Master!]
!!
Not bad. As expected from Little Ai.
[That's right, Master! Little Ai only produces premium goods!]
Little Ai seemed overjoyed after receiving two compliments from Naruto — if she had limbs, she would probably be dancing right now.
[Master, you're being rude again!]
"Heh."
Naruto gave an awkward laugh and turned his attention back to the task.
The mission required him to become a Genin. But how was he supposed to do that?
Konoha did have precedents of people becoming ninja without mastering ninjutsu — like Rock Lee. But Rock Lee had Might Guy's recommendation. What did he have?
Should he follow the original Naruto's plan and steal the Scroll of Seals?
He had no memories or knowledge of ninjutsu. Even if he got the scroll, he might not be able to learn anything from it.
However… Mizuki could still be useful.
If he could defeat Mizuki in front of Iruka and prove his strength, he might be able to graduate as a special case. After all, beating a Chunin should be more than enough to qualify as a Genin.
As Naruto was thinking about how to use Mizuki, a voice suddenly sounded beside him.
"Naruto, what are you thinking about?"
Naruto looked up and saw Mizuki standing there.
A sly smile instinctively appeared on his face.
Speak of the devil…
Mizuki felt uneasy under Naruto's meaningful gaze. "W-what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking about you, Mizuki-sensei, and then you suddenly appeared. I'm pleasantly surprised."
Naruto quickly wiped the smile off his face and returned to his usual emotionless expression.
Where was the "pleasantly surprised" part?
This little brat…
Mizuki cursed inwardly at Naruto's completely blank "surprised" look, but he kept a gentle smile on the surface.
"Is that so? I thought you were still upset about the graduation exam," Mizuki said deliberately, trying to poke at the wound.
Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew Mizuki was trying to make him feel depressed so he could manipulate him into stealing the Scroll of Seals.
But… he wasn't the original Naruto anymore.
The roles had reversed.
Naruto lowered his head, pretending to look dejected. His acting wasn't great, but it was enough to fool Mizuki.
"Want to talk about it?" Mizuki asked, clearly pleased.
"Sure."
Naruto agreed readily and followed Mizuki without any apparent suspicion.
Soon, they arrived at the roof balcony of a building.
They sat on the edge, legs dangling over the quiet street below, with a beautiful sunset in the distance.
"Actually, with your usual performance, you should have passed the exam. Iruka wasn't deliberately making things difficult for you," Mizuki suddenly said.
"I know," Naruto replied flatly.
Trying to perform the Clone Technique when I couldn't even make a single clone? Of course I'd fail.
Mizuki gave him a strange look.
Naruto had been unusually quiet ever since the exam started. The usual loud, energetic Naruto was gone.
Was it because of the failed exam?
Mizuki made up an excuse in his mind and didn't think too deeply about it.
As the first minor villain of the series, Mizuki wasn't particularly smart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come up with the idiotic plan of tricking the jinchuriki into stealing the Scroll of Seals and then trying to kill him.
"So, do you want to graduate?" Mizuki went straight to the point.
"Yes."
Naruto stared at the distant sunset and answered calmly.
"If you really want to graduate… I'll tell you a secret about Konoha's ninjas."
A light breeze blew through Mizuki's hair as he spoke. With his decent features, he actually looked somewhat handsome. No wonder this stupid villain still had a fiancée…
"What secret?"
"Konoha actually possesses a scroll that records many powerful ninjutsu techniques. It's called the Scroll of Seals!"
Mizuki smiled and continued while glancing at Naruto from the corner of his eye. "If you can get that scroll and learn even one or two techniques from it, you'll be able to graduate from the academy easily!"
"Where is this Scroll of Seals?" Naruto asked cooperatively.
Mizuki shook his head mysteriously. "I only know its general location, not the exact spot."
"If you want to find it, you should check the Hokage Residence!"
He pointed toward the center of the village, where an old, distinctive building stood.
"That's where the Hokage Residence is located!"
"Then I'll go get it right now!"
Naruto stood up abruptly like an impatient fool and started heading toward the Hokage Residence, but Mizuki quickly pulled him back.
"You… seriously."
Mizuki looked helpless. "The Scroll of Seals contains Konoha's most powerful forbidden techniques. How could it be left somewhere for anyone to just take?"
"Then can you help me get it?" Naruto tilted his head and asked with a blank face.
"..."
"I have things to handle later, so you'll have to get the scroll yourself."
Mizuki made up an excuse and continued, "There are Konoha ninjas guarding the area around the scroll. If you want to take it, it's best to go at night when it's dark."
"Follow me."
Naruto followed Mizuki to a secluded wooden cabin in the forest.
"Once you take the scroll, Konoha's ninjas will definitely start searching for you. You won't be able to return home."
Mizuki said, "Hardly anyone knows about this place. After you get the scroll, hide here and study the techniques. No one will find you."
Naruto nodded. "I understand. When do we take action?"
"..."
"Naruto, it's not 'we'. It's you!"
Before Naruto obtained the scroll, Mizuki had to distance himself from the matter. If the plan failed and he got exposed, he would lose everything.
"Don't you want to learn the techniques inside?" Naruto suddenly asked.
Mizuki's heart skipped a beat. Did this kid figure something out?
"I don't need them!" Mizuki lied. "I'm already a Chunin. Those techniques are useless to me."
"Oh."
Naruto's completely expressionless face made it impossible for Mizuki to guess what he was thinking.
As the sky grew darker, Mizuki knew he couldn't waste any more time.
Even if Naruto had guessed something, who would believe the words of a demon fox over the gentle and kind Mizuki-sensei?
With that thought, Mizuki relaxed his guard.
"I'll head out first. Good luck, Naruto!"
"I hope I'll hear news of your successful graduation tomorrow!"
After giving one final push, Mizuki quickly left.
However, he didn't go far. He hid in the shadows to observe Naruto's movements.
He was still uneasy. If Naruto didn't go steal the scroll, he planned to come back and persuade him again.
After Mizuki left, Naruto did not head toward the Hokage Residence. Instead, he walked straight into the wooden cabin Mizuki had prepared.
"Tch!"
"What is that demon fox planning?"
Mizuki looked annoyed and moved to the other side of the cabin to peek through the window — only to find that Naruto had closed it completely.
"Is he just going to sleep in there?"
Mizuki was completely confused and felt a growing sense of unease.
The Naruto today was far too unpredictable.
Meanwhile, inside the locked cabin, Naruto had a different plan.
Before stealing the Scroll of Seals, he wanted to familiarize himself with the Glint-Glint Fruit's abilities first.
A craftsman must sharpen his tools before working.
The current Naruto didn't know the Sexy Jutsu. If he ran into the Third Hokage, he had no weird trick to defeat him.
He chose to practice inside the cabin because he suspected Mizuki was watching from outside.
He didn't want Mizuki to know his true strength. Otherwise, when he "stole" the scroll, Mizuki might refuse to take the blame, making Naruto look like the mastermind.
Although even if that happened, he could simply defect. Being a ninja was the same anywhere.
But if he didn't have to, Naruto preferred not to cause unnecessary trouble.
After locking the doors and windows to ensure no one could see inside, Naruto activated the Glint-Glint Fruit's power for the first time.
Golden light gathered at his fingertip, forming a dazzling flash.
The brilliant light instantly illuminated the entire dim room!