Shikigami Summoning in Konoha

Chapter 63: The Plot Thickens...

At the bustling school entrance, parents are happily praising their children, each of whom wears a forehead protector, signifying their graduation.

When Katsuragi received his forehead protector, just as he expected, he completed his graduation task. However, there was no movement on the Genin task; it seemed that he would have to wait until after tomorrow's team assignments to see the outcome.

By the swings, Katsuragi, having sent Hinata home, stands with Naruto looking out at the school, creating a stark contrast with the lonely atmosphere around them and the lively scene nearby.

"Katsuragi, do you know where Iruka-sensei went?"

Ignoring the occasional malicious glances from others, Naruto asks anxiously.

"Uh, I don't know either."

Katsuragi shakes his head and, seeing Naruto's restlessness, reassures him, "Don't worry yet. Iruka-sensei probably wouldn't leave the school so early. Let's wait here a little longer; he might come out soon."

"Okay," Naruto calms down and looks towards the school gate again, but envy flashes in his eyes as he sees a group of classmates boasting to their parents.

Katsuragi surveys the surroundings. He can feel several gazes on him. Suddenly, in a secluded corner of the crowd, he spots the Third Hokage and Iruka looking at him. Just as he's about to turn back to inform Naruto, a figure approaches them.

"Mizuki."

"Katsuragi, Naruto," Mizuki greets them with a smile.

"Mizuki-sensei!"

Perhaps because Mizuki spoke on his behalf during the exam, Naruto has a very favorable impression of him. Seeing Mizuki, Naruto immediately stands up and asks, "Have you seen Iruka-sensei?"

"Iruka?" Mizuki pauses, a flash of annoyance crossing his face, then continues with a feigned smile, "Sorry, I haven't seen Iruka. Are you two feeling down because Naruto didn't pass the exam?"

Hearing Mizuki's words, Naruto's head droops in disappointment, and he falls silent.

This distraction from Mizuki causes Katsuragi to lose sight of the Third Hokage and Iruka when he looks back in their direction.

"If you guys aren't busy, come with me for a chat; I might be able to help Naruto," Mizuki says with a hint of malice in his eyes, but outwardly he appears benevolent, like a caring teacher.

"Really?"

Eager to become a ninja, Naruto doesn't let slip any chance and immediately grabs Mizuki's arm, asking excitedly, "Mizuki-sensei, can you really help me graduate?"

"Let's find a quiet place first," Mizuki suggests, glancing at the crowd nearby and smiling.

Naruto turns to Katsuragi, his expression torn between waiting for Iruka or following Mizuki to hear his proposal.

Katsuragi understands Naruto's dilemma and shrugs, saying, "If you want to go, then go. If it doesn't work out, we can visit Iruka-sensei at his home tonight."

"Right," Naruto scratches his head, then looks eagerly at Mizuki, anticipating his solution.

The three of them move to a balcony where the soft sunset bathes the entire Leaf Village in a fiery hue. Mizuki sits at the edge of the balcony and begins to speak in a mentor-like tone:

"Naruto, Iruka-sensei isn't intentionally making it hard for you. He doesn't want you to graduate perhaps because he wants you to truly become stronger."

"I know," Naruto replies dejectedly, then turns to Katsuragi, who has been looking up at the sky, and adds, "But I really want to graduate."

"There's nothing I can do," Mizuki laughs lightly, feigning helplessness. After a glance at Katsuragi, he adds, "Then let me tell you a big secret."

"Here it comes," Katsuragi thinks to himself, seeing that events are unfolding exactly as in the original storyline, and relaxes slightly, although he is now certain that the Third Hokage is aware of Mizuki's plans.

"In the village," Mizuki starts in NPC mode, rambling on about a secret manual kept by the village chief, which contains unparalleled martial arts and jutsu techniques that promise invincibility. Learning these, he claims, will make graduating a minor detail.

"So, if I learn the jutsu from the Scroll of Seals, I can definitely graduate?"

Looking at an excited Naruto, Katsuragi almost wants to facepalm, embarrassed. Only someone as naive as Naruto would believe such a story. Katsuragi also feels irritated; it seems Mizuki considers him as naive as Naruto, not even suspecting his intelligence.

"Mizuki-sensei, why haven't I ever heard about this in school?" Katsuragi also questions, though he's just going through the motions as he plans to explain everything to the Third Hokage later, to "prove" his innocence.

"It's a secret among the teachers," Mizuki smiles cunningly, treating others like fools, unaware of how well Katsuragi knows him. If it were Iruka, he would never be so dismissive.

"Katsuragi, you're good friends with Naruto, right? You wouldn't want to see him fail to graduate, would you?"

Seeing Naruto turn to him with a pitiful look, Katsuragi reluctantly nods, though he's curious about how Naruto's intelligence seems to spike in the future.

Afterward, Mizuki shares the location of the Scroll of Seals with Katsuragi and Naruto, arranging to meet later to teach Naruto and speed up his learning.

Katsuragi is beyond exasperated. If it weren't for not wanting to disrupt the plot, he'd have dealt with Mizuki on the spot. Watching a content Mizuki leave, Katsuragi sighs and turns to the still-excited Naruto, asking, "How do you plan to get the Scroll of Seals out?"

"Of course, with my ultimate technique!" Naruto waves his fist excitedly, beaming, "The old man has no defense against my Sexy Technique; I'm sure to succeed."

"Alright," Katsuragi shrugs and tells Naruto, "Go have some food, then go back and get ready. I need to go back and pack some stuff too. We'll meet at the place Mizuki-sensei mentioned tonight."

"Thanks, Katsuragi," Naruto thanks him gratefully, then bounds away from the balcony, seemingly off to eat.

Watching Naruto's departing figure, Katsuragi sighs again and starts heading toward the Hokage's office, thinking, "I knew I shouldn't have come along. Now, running back and forth is such a hassle."

"But, it looks like tonight I might be able to learn the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique as a reward."

Katsuragi contemplates the Scroll of Seals likely to be "stolen" tonight. If it's the original, he might secretly learn some other jutsu, but he suspects that the scroll Naruto will steal has been specially prepared by the Third Hokage, possibly containing only the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique.

End of Chapter 63