Stealing The "Scroll Of Seals" (1/2)

[[[ Somewhere in Konoha ]]]

Ninja Mizuki could be seen getting ready for something. He wore his usual green jacket and blue pants.

"I'm sure Orochimaru would praise me and give me more power."

His hands trembled in joy, his lips curled, and he had teeth showing like a fanatical believer. He couldn't wait to steal the scroll of seals and present it to Orochimaru.

"Konoha, you made me do this. Hahahaha"

His disturbing laughter echoed throughout his room. Looking closely, he also had a black cursed seal on his shoulder, just like Anko. It looked almost the same, yet there were some differences.

"How can I entice nine-tails brat to steal it?" He bit his nails as he walked around the room, thinking of a way. He needed someone disposable to take the scroll of seals while distracting the Hokage.

"Hehe," He got a brilliant idea. "I'll entice him by revealing about his parents. I would surely be able to manipulate him then."

As he finally stopped walking around the room, his nails were severely damaged from his endless biting. This only displayed his ugly, mentally unstable self, which Mizuki hid behind his facade.

─𖥔⋅⋅──❀──⋅⋅𖥔─

Mizuki was quite a hypocrite. He detested others looking down on him and sought more power even at the cost of others, but all the while belittling who were weaker than him.

In some ways, he was like Orochimaru. He had no comradery. He was willing to do anything for himself, going as far as forsaking others for his own gain. In the end, his loving fiancee, Tsubaki, was also used by him.

─𖥔⋅⋅──❀──⋅⋅𖥔─

The sky was slowly being swallowed by the darkness. The orange color of the setting sun was getting dimmer by the second. Naruto could be seen sitting on a swing near the academy. By now, it was a familiar sight for anyone. Almost all the time, only Naruto visited the swing in the evening, as he was the only one ever really used it.

However, today was a bit different, as another figure could be seen walking towards Naruto. Indeed, it was none other than Mizuki. His evil look morphed into a fake smile as he got closer.

"Naruto, congratulations on your graduation," Mizuki said to Naruto, who was looking at him.

"Thank you, Mizuki sensei."

'So it's finally here,' Naruto thought as he looked at Mizuki, whose negative emotions were overflowing. He really thought viewing negative emotions was a handy ability. Anyway, he decided to play along with Mizuki.

"Today, I came here to let you know about a secret."

Naruto looked at Mizuki apprehensively. Seeing Naruto's worried expression, he looked around and continued.

"Do you know why everyone has hated you since childhood?"

Mizuki looked sorrowful and had concern written all over his face. If Naruto didn't know better, he would easily believe him. He couldn't help but appreciate Mizuki's acting ability.

"What are you talking about? Why are you telling me this?"

"I just want what is best for you, Naruto. I couldn't bear to see the village deceiving you any longer." Seeing Naruto looking at him nervously, he dropped the bomb. "It's because you have the nine-tails inside you. Everyone had been lying to you all the time. Including your Iruka sensei."

"Noooo!! You are lying!!!" Naruto raised his voice with shivering hands. He couldn't even properly hold onto the rope of the swing. "So my parent's killer is inside me?"

Seeing the angst-ridden gaze of Naruto, Mizuki felt elated as he continued. "Your father was the fourth hokage."

"Whaaat!!"

There were tears in Naruto's eyes. His words were erratic.

"Noooo, it can't be... You are a liar."

"You don't believe me? .... Try reading the scroll of seals in Hokage's office for yourself. You will see how everyone lied to you."

Mizuki felt satisfaction at seeing Naruto break down in front of him. Naruto's tears were like an elixir to him. He wanted nothing more than to make him suffer, use, and discard him. Mizuki hated the nine-tails in front of him with all his heart.

How could a kid know what a "scroll of seals" is?

Naruto started running in the direction of the Hokage building. Knowing his plan had worked, Mizuki commenced his plan as he went to distract the Hokage so Naruto could successfully steal the scroll.

After making sure Mizuki couldn't see him, Naruto changed his expression as quick as a flash. The shivering and crying were nowhere to be found.

"Haha, it was quite fun to see him fooled."

Naruto snickered while carefully approaching the Hokage building bypassing the guarding ninja.

(Hmph, you are such an actor. Even I was fooled.) Kitsune spoke telepathically.

(Wasn't I good? I think I can give myself ten out of ten.)

(Sure… by the way, are you planning to kill him after?)

(I can't. Mizuki will most likely divert others by saying I stole the scroll. Following that, he would just dispose of me and get away during the disturbance. So, in the end, everyone would think I was the one who really stole it as he got away.) He continued. (At least, that's what he thinks. So if I kill him off, I would have no good reason to explain how I killed him when others find us. It would bring me unnecessary trouble.)

(Arrr… So complicated. I'm going to take a nap for now. Wake me up later) Kitsune said as he cut off the telepathic connection. She knew better than to worry about this monster. She only felt sorry for the pitiful Mizuki.

Although Naruto sounded confident, he knew there were many chances for his plan to go haywire. How could he be sure Iruka Sensei would definitely get there in time? He needed a witness, so Iruka sensei was the best choice.

So at first, he took a detour and slipped a note under Iruka sensei's door explaining how he got to know he was the nine-tails jinchuriki and how he was going to steal the scroll and see the truth for himself.

He even left subtle hints for Iruka to guess where he would be with the scroll. He didn't mention the name of Mizuki for apparent reasons.

In this way, he could be sure Iruka sensei and other ninjas would come as soon as possible, making it easier to wrap up the situation without much trouble.

Naruto lamented at the fact of not having plot armor thingy in his memories. He honestly wondered many times how his past self could even infiltrate the Hokage's office and steal the scroll.

He had no words to explain how lucky he was. Come on now. It was a miracle even he survived with just enough time to learn the shadow clone jutsu. If there were a few seconds of delay, there would be no Naruto.

After sneaking around, he finally reached the Hokage's office. After searching for a while, he found a large scroll akin to the one Tenten carried. After checking the contents, he rushed to the designated place, where he orchestrated the incident to happen.

He ran to a place in the forest relatively close to the village, so others could easily reach him.

"Haaaaa, I just hope it goes well," Naruto murmured as he reached the place inside the forest. He could clearly hear the sound of Mizuki following him in the distance.

[[[ Meanwhile – Iruka's perspective ]]]

Iruka was sleeping soundly when he was awoken by the village alarm bell. By reflex, he got up, put on his ninja clothes, and ran to the door in a hurry.

He saw a note sticking out from the bottom of the door. As he read the message, he had a look of horror on his face.

"NARUTO!!"

He yelled as he ran to the forest without stopping to tell anyone. He understood the importance of the scroll of seals. If it got into the hands of another village, the consequences would be disastrous.

─𖥔⋅⋅──❀──⋅⋅𖥔─

As Iruka was running towards the forest, Naruto was studying the scroll of the seals like there was no tomorrow. Just as he finished memorizing the scroll, he could hear the sounds of footsteps behind him.

Naruto turned around only to see Mizuki looking at him with an evil grin.

{A/N - POWEEEEEER STOOOOOOONES}