Shinigami in the Ninja World

The Nine-Tails snorted coldly and withdrew its head.

It didn't explain what happened that day, nor did it want to mention the "Mangekyō Sharingan."

Even if sealed inside someone else, as the strongest tailed beast, it still had its dignity.

Being controlled...

It was too humiliating to speak of.

Naruto left the space on his own.

Lying on the bed, his mind was in turmoil.

He really wanted to return to the Soul Society quickly. The teachers or upperclassman at the Shin'o Academy would surely find a solution for him, at least... they were willing to listen to his feelings.

During his time back in Konoha, he had been searching.

But he hadn't encountered a "Shinigami."

The monsters known as "Hollows" with white masks recorded in the textbooks were also nowhere to be seen.

Of course, this was normal.

There was only one Shinigami in an area, and the chances of encountering one were not high.

What troubled him more was how to face that fox.

A fox that resided in his body... the "enemy who killed his father"?

These complex emotions made him detest Konoha even more.

The villagers' hatred towards him was hard to understand and completely contradicted what he knew.

This place couldn't find anyone to talk to about his true feelings.

It was not a "home" at all.

While Naruto was searching for his fellow "Shinigami."

The graduation exam came as scheduled.

The test was simple: just successfully perform the Clone Technique and make the clones look somewhat realistic to graduate.

For the current Naruto, this was no challenge.

But...

Compared to three years ago when he was eager to graduate and become a full-fledged ninja.

Naruto didn't think "graduation" was a good thing at all.

He sat on the swing at the school gate, watching the bustling crowd coldly.

Students who passed the exam were praised by their parents.

Those who didn't pass cried in their parents' arms.

There were quite a few orphaned students like him who didn't have parents.

But unlike him, they had friends and teachers around.

Even Uchiha Sasuke had a few girls chattering around him.

Suddenly, a rustling noise came from behind.

Someone with chakra was approaching him.

It was...

Mizuki.

One of the few teachers at the Ninja Academy, like Iruka, who wasn't overly harsh to him.

Naruto immediately turned to look.

Mizuki stopped ten steps away, wearing a gentle smile: "Naruto, you're really perceptive."

"Is there something you need, Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto looked at him.

He had come to find him.

But their relationship wasn't good enough for Mizuki to come privately to congratulate him.

Mizuki didn't answer the question. Instead, he looked at the crowd at the school gate and sighed: "They're really happy."

"With parents by their side."

"With friends around them."

"Only Naruto is excluded."

Naruto didn't speak, gripping the rope of the swing tightly.

"You're a very pitiful person." Mizuki sighed, squatting beside Naruto, "Everyone hates you."

Naruto asked casually: "Does Mizuki-sensei think so too?"

Mizuki shook his head decisively: "Of course not, I feel sorry for you."

"Do you... want to know why the villagers hate you?"

Naruto's eyes became sharp immediately: "Why?"

Of course, he wanted to know.

"It's a secret." Mizuki lowered his voice, full of temptation, "Recorded in the Scroll of Seals."

"That Scroll of Seals is hidden in the Hokage's office."

"If you want to know the secret, steal that book."

Naruto leaned back slightly.

Looking at Mizuki, his expression changed subtly.

He was no longer the naive kid who had just arrived in the Soul Society three years ago.

He could tell that this guy was trying to incite him to steal the "Scroll of Seals."

He wanted to use him to achieve his own goals.

Ulterior motives!

"So, Mizuki-sensei should know that secret, right?" Naruto didn't expose him. He wanted to understand how others saw him and why they harbored "hatred."

Mizuki was stunned.

"If Mizuki-sensei doesn't know the secret, how would you know it's recorded in the Scroll of Seals?" Naruto pressed on.

Mizuki shook his head.

The situation was beyond his expectations.

He thought this fool would be easily manipulated, and he would take the bait with just a few words.

Unexpectedly... he had some brains.

But everything was still under control.

He was confident.

"You're a good kid." Mizuki sighed, pretending to be sorrowful, "I just don't want to believe that rumor."

He paused, as if struggling intensely within himself.

After a long time, he spoke heavily: "Twelve years ago, when the Fourth Hokage sealed the Nine-Tailed Fox, have you heard of it?"

Upon seeing Naruto nod, Mizuki continued, "Since then, there has been an unwritten rule in the village."

"Only kept secret from you."

"And that is... the rule of 'never mentioning that you are the demon fox.'"

"Just by teaching you these past years, I have found that you are a good kid, unwilling to believe this matter."

"Perhaps only the scrolls personally recorded by the Hokage can prove whether this is true or false."

Naruto looked at Mizuki in shock.

Yet he felt an immense clarity within.

Everything became clear...

No wonder the villagers hated him so much.

They didn't know he was the 'Fourth Hokage's son,' but instead saw him as the 'demon fox.'

But...

Why did the villagers have this 'perception'?

Could someone be deliberately hiding his true identity?

Mizuki gently placed his hand on Naruto's head, his tone both gentle and firm: "Go verify the truth of this information."

"At night, the security at the Hokage building is the weakest..."

Naruto suddenly interrupted: "Mizuki-sensei."

Mizuki paused, puzzled: "What is it, Naruto?"

"Mizuki-sensei, come with me to see the Third Hokage." Naruto spoke firmly.

He wanted to know if what Mizuki said was true.

Was it a lie concocted to trick him into stealing the "Scroll of Seals"...

Or was he using the truth...

Mizuki was startled, feeling as if a thorn was pricking his back: "This rule is a command from the Third Hokage. Asking him won't get you the real answer."

"Everything is recorded in the Scroll of Seals."

"Only by obtaining it will you know the result."

See the Third Hokage?

That's impossible!

There's no harm in telling Naruto the truth.

But once he hears the goal is the "Scroll of Seals," that would expose everything.

Naruto grabbed Mizuki's wrist firmly: "Mizuki-sensei, let's go."

He wasn't interested in the "Scroll of Seals."

After all, the truth... he already knew it.

He was the "Fourth Hokage's son," and he did have a "fox" inside him.

Now he just wanted to know what the Third Hokage would say to him.

Mizuki's face twisted.

He cursed inwardly.

What is this!

This brat has no interest in the Scroll of Seals at all?

Such trust in the Third Hokage!

"If you don't trust me, Naruto..." Mizuki tried to wrench free, but Naruto held on tightly, not letting go.

"Let go, Naruto!" He finally lost his composure, his earlier gentle demeanor giving way to a vicious scowl, and he shouted harshly.

Naruto stood up, dragging Mizuki towards the Hokage building: "Mizuki-sensei, just come with me to see the Third Hokage."

"I want to know..."

Mizuki gritted his teeth and kicked.

He couldn't stand it any longer!

Even if it was at the entrance of the ninja academy.

Beating a student was certainly not something a teacher should do.

But...

If it's Uzumaki Naruto, no one would stop him.

Naruto anticipated his move.

He raised his other hand, catching Mizuki's foot, and pressed it down.

With a bang—

White smoke billowed.

A kunai was thrust forward, and Naruto instinctively let go.

When he threw another punch.

The figure in the smoke had disappeared, hitting only a log.

A substitution jutsu!

Where did he go?

The chakra aura moved to the tree.

Naruto looked up.

Mizuki stood on a branch, leaning against the trunk, his features twisted with hatred as he looked at Naruto like he was trash: "You monster!"

"Since you are so disobedient..."

"Don't blame me for teaching you a lesson."

He cursed.

Throwing shurikens and kunai.

Naruto raised his hand and chanted an incantation.

"Hadō # 1. Shō (衝, Thrust)!"

This was the only Kido he knew.

It wasn't very lethal, but the burst of air disrupted the trajectory of the cold iron weapons, which brushed past him and fell weakly to the ground.

Mizuki was shocked.

What technique was that?

A wind release jutsu without hand seals?

Never heard of it.

At that moment.

Naruto crouched, then leapt up, crashing into Mizuki.