Chapter 8: How to answer?

Leaves rustled down like rain.

Two people were fighting, causing a huge commotion.

The crowd's attention was drawn.

"What's going on over there? That monster is fighting with the teacher?"

"He bullied an ordinary person some time ago. He must have done something even the teacher couldn't stand."

"It's a disgrace for someone like him to become a ninja. What is the Hokage thinking?"

"That's Mizuki-sensei."

Several teachers also noticed, but none had any intention of intervening.

A child who had just graduated from ninja school couldn't possibly be a match for an experienced Chunin.

More importantly, in their eyes, it was like a dogfight.

Naruto didn't need to be mentioned.

Mizuki...

He appeared to be a kind and gentle teacher in front of students and parents, speaking softly and tenderly.

But all the teachers knew Mizuki's record was far from honorable—he had been suspected of harming his teammates during missions and had been under investigation for a long time.

A venomous snake disguised as harmless.

They very much hoped Mizuki would accidentally kill Naruto.

That would solve two problems at once.

The fight continued.

Naruto and Mizuki were chasing each other in the trees.

"I admit you've been impressive lately," Mizuki sneered, smiling cruelly, "but kids shouldn't defy adults."

"Remember today's lesson."

He swung his fist, mercilessly.

Naruto dodged.

The physical difference between an adult and a twelve-year-old child made it hard for him to cope.

Even so, he didn't give up close combat.

Ninjutsu and ninja tools were not his strong suit.

Only in close combat could he try to seize an opportunity.

Mizuki reached behind him, preparing to pull out a kunai, intending to make the annoying kid who ruined his plans bleed.

Naruto's eyes lit up.

An opportunity!

He had found it!

He extended his hand, chanting an incantation.

Mizuki frowned.

That strange technique without hand signs again?

Recalling its previous performance.

The air blast, even deflecting a kunai's trajectory, was somewhat difficult.

It was child's play.

He could withstand it!

It wouldn't cause any harm.

He concluded this in his mind.

He didn't defend, continuing his current action.

But Naruto... wasn't using the destructive "Hadō" technique he had before, but a binding technique aimed at restraint, "Bakudō."

"Bakudō # 1. Sai (塞, Restrain)!"

Chakra infused with spiritual power silently and invisibly hit Mizuki.

His arms twisted uncontrollably, his wrists stuck together tightly behind his back.

Mizuki was astonished.

What kind of technique is this!

It can control my body? My arms are bound...

Damn, I can't use ninjutsu.

He struggled hard.

But... the adhesive strength between his hands was immense, and the position of his arms made it hard to exert full force.

He couldn't break free for the moment.

Naruto kicked him.

Mizuki stumbled and fell from the tree.

The crowd gasped.

What did they just see?

Mizuki-sensei was defeated?

Even if he wasn't a professional combatant, he was still a seasoned Chunin, beaten by a newly graduated Genin.

And by the one who was considered the dead last just a week ago.

Wasn't it a bit too unbelievable?

Uchiha Sasuke clenched his fists and widened his eyes.

He thought the gap between him and Naruto wasn't that big, but... that guy had already become strong enough to defeat a Chunin?

Mizuki was still struggling.

He realized brute force wouldn't work.

It might be a genjutsu requiring a chakra surge to break.

But before he could try.

Naruto landed lightly, standing in front of Mizuki, holding a kunai: "Mizuki-sensei, you shouldn't refuse a student's invitation—"

Before finishing his sentence.

He suddenly looked up.

A massive chakra appeared above, in the trees, where the fight had just taken place.

It was much stronger than Mizuki's or Iruka's.

It was a Jonin.

With a whoosh—

Naruto jumped away and looked up.

It was a ninja wearing a "frog" mask.

"Uzumaki Naruto, stop immediately," he spoke, his voice seemingly disguised.

He didn't have much malice.

Even if Naruto didn't dodge, the kunai would only land between them.

Naruto frowned.

A strange Jonin with a mask.

Was it... a Konoha ninja sent to monitor him, the "Nine-Tails"?

Before the Jonin could say more, Naruto pointed at Mizuki and complained: "I want to see the Third Hokage."

"Mizuki called me a demon fox and used it as an excuse to trick me into stealing the Scroll of Seals."

Demon fox?

Scroll of Seals?

The eyelids of the Anbu hidden under the mask couldn't help but twitch.

He looked at Mizuki with a dangerous gaze.

This man caused such trouble? I should have known better than to stop him.

He jumped down from the tree, grabbed Mizuki, and bound him with ropes: "I understand. Then come with me to see Hokage-sama."

They had not left for long.

Iruka pushed through the crowd, hurrying out, followed by a short-haired girl with pure white eyes and a faint presence.

"Where's Naruto?" He turned his head, scanning the surroundings anxiously.

Earlier, he was handling graduation matters at the school.

Hyuga Hinata had rushed in, saying Naruto and Mizuki-sensei were fighting.

But where were they?

Both Naruto and Mizuki were nowhere to be seen.

Hinata, the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, was usually obedient and cute, not the type to lie.

"They were taken by the Anbu," a nearby teacher explained, as Iruka had a friendly relationship with others.

Iruka was speechless, his face showing surprise: "Anbu?"

The teacher nodded: "Mizuki was just injured by Uzumaki Naruto, and the Anbu appeared right after. They said something and then took Naruto and Mizuki away. It looks like they were heading to see Hokage-sama."

Iruka leaned back: "Hokage-sama?"

Did this situation escalate to such an extent?

The light in his eyes dimmed.

He thought of some rumors about the "Anbu."

He thought of those terrifying interrogation methods – "finger-breaking," "grill-burning," "board-dragging"...

He gritted his teeth.

And also set off towards the Hokage building.

No matter what... Naruto was still just a child. His recent performance had been excellent; whether in academics or life, everything was improving. It shouldn't...

Hokage Building.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had a grave expression, looking at Mizuki tightly bound by the Anbu, puffing heavily on his pipe.

He knew he couldn't hide the truth from Naruto forever.

But...

To let him learn this news at this point in time.

It was like igniting an explosive tag with that bit of chakra.

Fortunately... Naruto brought this man over.

By comparison, this man's goal of the "Scroll of Seals" was insignificant.

"Haru." Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Naruto, meeting his gaze, and waved his hand.

The Anbu with the frog mask stood straight.

"Take him away, interrogate him, find out everything."

The frog-masked Anbu grabbed Mizuki and disappeared instantly.

"Naruto, you did very well." Sarutobi Hiruzen forced a smile to praise him.

Naruto was expressionless: "He said I am the Nine-Tailed Fox, that's why the village hates me. Is that true?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen softened his voice as much as possible: "I said before, they might have some prejudices..."

"So it's true, I am the Nine-Tailed Fox?" Naruto interrupted him without hesitation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback.

He didn't want to lie, or rather, didn't dare to lie.

The consequences of a lie being uncovered later were far worse than those of concealing the truth.

If deceived by lies, what would a "rampaging Jinchuriki" do when he discovered the truth years later...

He couldn't imagine.

Moreover, this was the child of Minato.

"No, you are not the Nine-Tails." Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head gently, picking out the truth he could tell, "It's just that you have some connection with it."

"It is sealed within you."

"Ordinary people don't understand these things well and have some prejudices, so they mistakenly think you are the Nine-Tails."

"In reality, you are a hero bearing a heavy burden."

Naruto said, "Is the Nine-Tails the name of that Demon Fox?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to nod.

"But why did the Fourth Hokage seal the Nine-Tails within me?" Naruto continued with another question, "The Nine-Tails rampaged twelve years ago, I was just a baby then."

"Why not kill the Nine-Tails?"

"Or seal it within someone else?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen had a headache.

He began to miss the previous "ignorant" Naruto.

Although he played pranks a lot, at least he didn't ask these difficult questions.

"This has to do with your constitution." Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a moment and chose a good angle, "Your surname is Uzumaki, you possess the strong constitution of the Uzumaki clan. Others cannot become the container for the Nine-Tails, only you can bear this special, arduous, and honorable duty."

"Are my parents from the Uzumaki clan?" Naruto pursued further, "Are both of them?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded: "Your mother was from the Uzumaki clan, she..."

"Then shouldn't I have my father's surname?" Naruto interrupted again, "Why do I have my mother's surname?"

"What about my father?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, raising his hand to touch Naruto's head.

How should he answer?

Tell the truth, tell Naruto your surname should actually be "Namikaze"?

That wasn't an appropriate answer.

~~~

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