Chapter 7

Naruto decided to close the group chat. He had no interest in continuing to talk about his childhood or the Third Hokage.

Just then, Mizuki appeared by his side and asked him to follow him for a private conversation.

Naruto couldn't understand how his past self had ever trusted Mizuki. It was obvious he was up to something. His behavior wasn't natural—he seemed far too interested in something.

"You know… I'll tell you a secret," Mizuki said with a smile.

[Fugaku Uchiha: This is suspicious.]

[Minato Namikaze: You noticed it too, Fugaku?]

[Kushina Uzumaki: Huh? What did you notice? Minato, tell me!]

[Hashirama Senju: I don't understand what's happening either.]

[Tobirama Senju: Hmm… This Chūnin's behavior is odd.]

The group's suspicions were confirmed when Mizuki continued speaking.

"There's a secret way to pass the academy graduation exam… Do you want to know it?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow, pretending to be interested.

"Is it really okay for you to tell me this, Mizuki-sensei? I don't want you to get into trouble for helping me..."

Of course, he was just acting.

[Minato Namikaze: Naruto, be careful! There is no secret exam! He's trying to trick you, though I don't know why!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Idiot, I can see that for myself.]

"There's a scroll in the Hokage Mansion. The secret test goes like this…"

Mizuki explained that the "secret test" involved infiltrating the Hokage Mansion and stealing the Scroll of Seals. Then, Naruto would have to learn at least one technique and bring the scroll to the forest near a cabin, where Mizuki would be waiting to "congratulate" him and hand him his headband.

Finally, he warned Naruto that no one should find out about the test or how he had learned of it.

Naruto accepted without hesitation and bid Mizuki farewell with a grateful smile.

[Madara Uchiha's three-minute silence has ended.]

[Hashirama Senju: The Scroll of Seals? If I remember correctly, that's where I dumped all the techniques Tobirama created. They were too powerful to be made public.]

[Tobirama Senju: Not all of them deserved to be sealed.]

[Kushina Uzumaki: That doesn't matter right now! That bastard is trying to trick my baby into stealing the scroll!]

[Minato Namikaze: Naruto already knows. Trust in our son—he must have a plan.]

[Izuna Uchiha: Your own son called you an idiot… Pfft…]

[Minato Namikaze: Naruto, mute him for me.]

[The group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, has muted Izuna Uchiha for three minutes.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: You didn't even need to ask. I had already decided to do it.]

[Madara Uchiha: …]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Trying to say something, Madara?]

[Madara Uchiha: No…]

[Hashirama Senju: HAHAHA! Madara, I never thought I'd see you back down from a child!]

[Tobirama Senju: Brat, do you even know what you're planning? The Scroll of Seals is not a toy.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: A B-Rank Earth Release technique might convince me to talk.]

[Tobirama Senju: …]

[!Tobirama Senju has granted the group leader the B-Rank Technique – Earth-Style Wall!]

Since most of the techniques in the scroll had been created by Tobirama, the Second Hokage was curious about what Naruto planned to do.

[Naruto Uzumaki: I'm going to steal the Scroll of Seals to learn the A-Rank Technique – Shadow Clones.]

[Tobirama Senju: Just for that? Aren't you interested in the other techniques? Kid, you could become incredibly powerful if you learned more than just that one.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I only want that technique. With all due respect, the others are trash. Maybe the Edo Tensei is mildly interesting, but I'm not interested.]

[Tobirama Senju: Mildly interesting?! That technique can bring back the dead!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: The group chat can do that too.]

[Tobirama Senju: …]

[Minato Namikaze: With your chakra reserves, Shadow Clones are the perfect technique for you, son. It seems you've thought this through… though stealing the scroll isn't the best way to do it.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I also want to expose Mizuki as a traitor.]

[Mito Uzumaki: Wouldn't it be easier to just tell the Third Hokage? I'm sure he wouldn't ignore something like this.]

[Tobirama Senju: I refuse to believe that Hiruzen would overlook this. He's made mistakes, but if he ignores this, I'll return from the grave myself to deal with him.]

[Hashirama Senju: Did you hear that, Madara? With his own hands! That reminds me of when—]

[Madara Uchiha: Nobody asked you, Hashirama! Shut up!]

[Minato Namikaze: If all you want is the Shadow Clone technique, I can teach it to you myself, Naruto. You don't have to steal the scroll.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Hmm… But I also want the S-Rank Technique – Flying Thunder God! I want to be like you, Dad!]

[Kushina Uzumaki: Heh, look at that, Minato. Our son wants to follow in your footsteps… That's adorable!]

[Madara Uchiha: He's clearly manipulating you.]

[The group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, has muted Madara Uchiha for three minutes.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I would never do something like that…]

[Minato Namikaze: If that's the case… Then I'll teach you too, son!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Really?! Then let's not waste any time!]

[!Minato Namikaze has granted the group leader the A-Rank Technique – Shadow Clones and the S-Rank Technique – Flying Thunder God!]

[Izuna Uchiha's three-minute silence has ended.]

[Izuna Uchiha: Can you stop muting us? It's annoying.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Are you saying I'm annoying? Do you want me to mute you again?]

[Izuna Uchiha: N-no! I didn't mean that!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: You're lucky I'm in a good mood.]

[Minato Namikaze: Now that you have the techniques, will you go speak to the Third Hokage, Naruto?]

[Naruto Uzumaki: It'll be a hassle to explain everything, but fine, I'll do it.]

He closed the group chat window and started running across the rooftops toward the Hokage Mansion.

The sooner he finished this, the better. Talking to the Third was always a headache.