Naruto's eyes sparkled with curiosity, his entire being practically vibrating with excitement."Actually, with your talent, Naruto, even the Shadow Clone Technique is nothing. Not to mention… the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu," Mizuki said cautiously, as if afraid the words themselves might summon disaster.Naruto's mouth fell open. His curiosity immediately went into overdrive."Teacher Mizuki! What is the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu?!" he blurted out, tugging on Mizuki's sleeve.Mizuki's body stiffened. He spun around abruptly, as though trying to escape Naruto's insistent gaze. He waved his hands frantically."I—I shouldn't tell you! It's top secret!"But the more Mizuki resisted, the more intrigued Naruto became. His bright, cerulean eyes shone like twin stars."Please… tell me, Teacher Mizuki!"Mizuki sighed, running a hand through his hair. He hesitated, then leaned in close, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper."Alright… but you must promise me—you won't tell anyone!""I promise! I won't tell a soul!" Naruto said, puffing out his chest.Mizuki's lips curled into a faint, mischievous smile."Very well. The Shadow Clone Technique… it's just basic training. The real power lies in something far greater… the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu."Naruto's jaw dropped."It's extremely powerful. Ordinary ninja can't even hope to use it. It was created by the Second Hokage, and… after that, it was sealed in a special scroll, a scroll that contains top-secret jutsu. Only the strongest can access it."Naruto's mind raced. He could already imagine himself mastering the jutsu, defeating Sasuke effortlessly, and standing atop the village as a celebrated hero. His heart thumped in excitement."Where… where is this scroll, Teacher Mizuki?" he asked, barely able to contain himself.Mizuki's expression darkened slightly."Naruto, you absolutely must not think about stealing it. It's a secret scroll reserved for the Hokage. It's kept in the Third Hokage's house. Obtaining it is harder than reaching heaven itself!"But Naruto, ever the optimist, didn't falter."The Third Hokage's house… huh? Maybe it's not impossible after all," he muttered under his breath, his eyes glinting with determination.Mizuki's lips curved into a sly, sinister smile. Inside, he was thrilled—Naruto's curiosity was exactly what he had hoped for. The young ninja was utterly predictable, and that predictability was the perfect tool to achieve Mizuki's plan.He continued, "Remember, Naruto, you must never tell anyone I told you this. And you must not even think about taking the scroll… it's dangerous, and if you fail, you'll be in serious trouble."Naruto simply waved his hand, barely listening."Don't worry, Teacher Mizuki! I won't tell anyone!"Mizuki's eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmph. Don't take this lightly, Naruto. Stealing from the Hokage's house is no joke. If you get caught, you won't just be in trouble—you'll be in serious danger. Absolutely do not think of sneaky schemes!""I won't! I promise, Teacher Mizuki! Now, help me train!" Naruto said eagerly.Mizuki pretended to sigh in exasperation, but a sinister glint shone in his eyes. Naruto's naivety was perfect for his plan. Even if the boy failed, Mizuki would bear no blame. After all, everyone already knew Naruto as the mischievous troublemaker of Konoha. And on top of that… Naruto was a Jinchuriki, the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox. The risks were all on Naruto, not Mizuki.Now, it was only a matter of whether Naruto could actually succeed. The task seemed impossible—but Naruto, in the original story, had managed it before. Mizuki was banking on that tiny, improbable chance.Meanwhile, he taught Naruto diligently, guiding him through Shadow Clone Technique and basic Taijutsu. Naruto, who had been self-taught until now, began to understand the essence of his techniques. With each passing day, his skill improved.By the time school ended that day, Naruto was exhausted. His chakra reserves were nearly depleted, and his body ached from the intense training. Yet he could not contain his excitement."Thank you, Teacher Mizuki! My Shadow Clone Technique has improved so much!" he said breathlessly.As the dismissal bell rang, his Shadow Clone dispersed. The knowledge his clone had acquired returned to his body, leaving him exhilarated. Naruto's mind buzzed with ideas. If he continued at this pace, becoming Hokage would be inevitable.But Naruto wanted results faster. He secretly formed a daring plan in his mind."Bye-bye, Teacher Mizuki! See you tomorrow!" he called, frog-jumping away with his weighted training gear.Mizuki's eyes followed him, narrowed in slight concern. "This Nine-Tailed Fox is… a monster. Even after exhausting himself all day, he still has the energy to keep training…"But inside, Mizuki's mind was calculating, plotting. He knew exactly where Naruto was heading.Sure enough, Naruto didn't head home. Instead, he veered in another direction—the direction of the Third Hokage's house. Mizuki's lips twisted into a triumphant smile."Perfect… he's walking straight into my plan."Naruto's plan was simple yet daring: he would sneak into the Hokage's house under the cover of night and steal the scroll. He thought of using his Shadow Clone Technique to create a diversion. The thought made him grin."I really am a genius!" he whispered to himself.The sky was overcast that night, dark clouds swallowing any trace of moonlight. The village streets were nearly deserted, and shadows stretched across every corner. Perfect conditions for a stealth mission.Naruto approached the Hokage's house quietly, pausing at the stairs to consider his strategy. His heart pounded in anticipation."Heaven is helping me," he thought. "The darkness will hide me. If I can just grab that scroll…"Mizuki, hiding nearby, watched the boy intently. A thrill ran down his spine as he saw Naruto approaching the house. The boy had fallen completely into his trap, just as he expected."This is it," Mizuki murmured. "Go, Nine-Tailed Fox! Steal the scroll… and bring it to me. Soon, I'll have the forbidden jutsu and leave this village behind. Absolute power will finally be within my grasp!"As Mizuki's ambition surged, his expression grew twisted and sinister. He was almost giddy with anticipation, his mind racing with all the possibilities of what he could achieve.Behind him, however, another pair of eyes had begun to follow Mizuki silently, unseen. Someone else seemed to be watching the entire scene unfold…Inside, Naruto's excitement was tempered with careful calculation. His plan was risky, but the potential reward was enormous. Every step brought him closer to the forbidden scroll. Every breath was a mixture of fear, anticipation, and the unshakable belief that he could achieve greatness.The night stretched on, the shadows deepening. Naruto crouched low, the weight of his training gear pressing against him, his breath barely audible. His Shadow Clone waited, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice."This is it," he whispered again. "The Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu… it's mine!"Little did he know, the events about to unfold would test his courage, intelligence, and stamina like never before. Mizuki's trap was only the beginning, and the road to becoming a true ninja—and eventually Hokage—was about to take a dramatic turn.The chill of the night air did nothing to dampen Naruto's excitement. Every step, every thought, and every plan converged on one single goal: mastering the ultimate technique and proving that he could, against all odds, become a hero worthy of Konoha.And so, under the cover of darkness, with the weight of destiny pressing on his young shoulders, Naruto prepared to take the first step into a world of danger, intrigue, and unimaginable power.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)