In the morning, Shihouin Naraku was still discussing Uzumaki Naruto's graduation with Hatake Kakashi, but by noon, he was summoned to the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen showed no signs of his conflict with Shimura Danzō from the previous night and spoke directly: "Kakashi has left Anbu, but Anbu can't be without a captain for long. Therefore, Naraku, you will be promoted to Anbu Captain, and Tenzō will be promoted to Anbu Vice-Captain!"
Just as the Third Hokage completed the appointment, Shihouin Naraku heard the familiar system notification sound.
[Ding! The host is promoted to Konohagakure Anbu Captain General!]
[Congratulations to the Host for winning four draws! The remaining draws are: four!]
[Friendly reminder: It is more likely to obtain magical items when you draw ten times in a row!]
Hmm?
This time, he was promoted to Anbu Captain, but he didn't qualify for the maximum five draws, only four!
Shihouin Naraku felt a little disappointed but then realized that it had only been a short while since his second ten-draw, and he had already accumulated four draw qualifications. This meant that the third ten-draw would be coming soon.
"This is your first mission as the Anbu's Chief Captain."
Sarutobi Hiruzen handed over a document and motioned for Shihouin Naraku to examine it. "I have already instructed Umino Iruka to confirm that the graduation exam for this Academy class will be the Clone Jutsu!"
Ah?
You knew this was what Uzumaki Naruto was least skilled at, yet you still arranged the Clone Jutsu as the graduation exam.
Oh~
I understand now.
Shihouin Naraku flipped through the information. There was minimal information about Naruto, and the most extensive details were about an Academy teacher named Mizuki.
"He is despicable, cunning, and jealous. He's suspected to be connected to Orochimaru. We should just arrest him and at least find out about his relationship with Orochimaru."
Shihouin Naraku reviewed the information and directly suggested that Mizuki would soon manipulate Uzumaki Naruto, who would fail to graduate, into stealing the Scroll of Sealing. However, Mizuki, who would be trying to catch the cicada while the oriole was waiting, would end up with nothing.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head firmly. He knew his disciples very well and did not believe that Orochimaru thought highly of Mizuki. "Mizuki was just treated as an insignificant tool by Orochimaru. We could hardly extract any valuable information from him."
"I see, he's just a pawn," Shihouin Naraku closed the file and said thoughtfully. "I understand now—you don't intend to let Naruto graduate easily. But he..."
Before Shihouin Naraku could finish, Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled out a huge scroll from under the table. "You have observed Naruto's training before, and you know where his problem lies. The disruption from the Nine-Tails' chakra makes it difficult for him to control his chakra."
"So the normal Clone Jutsu isn't suitable for Naruto to learn, but with his excellent physical strength and abundant chakra, the Shadow Clone Jutsu is perfect for him."
"So, I'll give you this Scroll of Sealing. You come up with a plan—I only want one result, and that's for Naruto to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Really? I don't believe it!
Shihouin Naraku didn't believe for a moment that the scroll before him was the actual Scroll of Sealing!
He had seen the real Scroll of Sealing before and, having made contributions to Konohagakure had been allowed to learn several jutsu from it.
First of all, opening the scroll of sealing requires a special seal. If forced open, the scroll would spontaneously combust into ashes.
After using the seal to open the scroll, one would find that it appeared blank, without a single word. At that point, another seal was needed to reveal the content of the specific Jutsu one wanted to learn, and the seal for each jutsu was different.
The key was that these seals could only be used once, becoming invalid after use, requiring new seals for subsequent access.
That was the real Scroll of Sealing!
Interestingly, if someone wanted to learn a jutsu from the Scroll of Sealing now, they didn't need the actual scroll at all. Instead, they would receive a new scroll with the jutsu written on it, copied by Sarutobi Hiruzen himself!
As for the actual Scroll of Sealing, Sarutobi Hiruzen had hidden it somewhere long ago.
So Shihouin Naraku was certain that what he held was not the real Scroll of Sealing, especially after opening it and seeing the first jutsu recorded: Shadow Clone Jutsu!
The jutsu description was written using the simplest, most easily understood terms. Whoever wrote it clearly wanted to make the Shadow Clone Jutsu as accessible as possible.
"Impressive!"
Shihouin Naraku couldn't help but give Sarutobi Hiruzen a thumbs up. "As expected of the Third Hokage with the title 'Professor of Jutsu'—you've described the Shadow Clone Jutsu in such a simple, easy-to-understand way. I believe Naruto will definitely be able to learn it."
Indeed, the content and even the wording and sentence structure were all tailored to Uzumaki Naruto's language habits.
That's what made him the Third Hokage—his abilities were that exceptional!
Sarutobi Hiruzen was smoking his pipe with a smile on his face, his eyes clearly saying, "Don't you understand what I'm doing?"
Shihouin Naraku pretended to think for a while, then formulated his own plan and reported to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "I've carefully reviewed Mizuki's information, and he is indeed worth using. This is what I think..."
In fact, the plan that Shihouin Naraku outlined matched what happened in the original storyline. Of course, the theft of the Scroll of Sealing in the original plot was also suspicious, seeming like an elaborate script arranged long ago.
"Just proceed as you've described..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen considered it and said seriously: "You will personally oversee this matter. Remember, be cautious about Mizuki at critical moments. You can guide Naruto appropriately, but his safety must be guaranteed."
"Understood!"
Shihouin Naraku became busy again, and everything proceeded according to his plan.
...
Konohagakure, afternoon.
The Academy day had ended, and Mizuki, as a teacher, watched alongside Iruka as the students left one by one.
Iruka watched Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke rushing to leave, and sighed with a smile: "Naruto's personality has become much more cheerful recently, and his relationship with Sasuke has also improved, but his Clone Jutsu is still..."
Umino Iruka truly cared about Uzumaki Naruto. He was concerned not only about Naruto's well-being but also about his academic progress.
Mizuki stood beside him with a smile, but a closer look revealed that his smile was extremely forced.
He looked down on Iruka's behaviour. "Why is he pretending? His parents died because of the Nine-Tails, yet he still cares about the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
He's probably just trying to please the Hokage. How disgusting!
This was Mizuki's true inner thought. He was deeply jealous that everyone liked the serious and responsible Umino Iruka.
"Mizuki, let's go eat together. My treat!"
"No, I have something else to do today."
Mizuki directly rejected Umino Iruka's invitation and went to a pub to drink alone.
Why could Iruka become a respected teacher while he couldn't? Just because he had completed his mission and killed injured comrades with his own hands? What was the big deal?
Mizuki drank alone while dwelling on his troubles, and the noise from the neighbouring table made him even more irritated.
If the guests at the next table weren't also shinobi, he would have confronted them long ago!
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