Chapter 5: Mutated Enhanced Rinnegan
Knock knock knock…
"Huh? Mizuki-sensei, what's the matter?"
Iruka opened the door and saw Mizuki standing there with a grave expression.
He was immediately puzzled.
"Big trouble! Naruto stole the Scroll of Seals! The village is in chaos—tons of colleagues are out looking for him!"
Mizuki spoke urgently.
But inside, he was already grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Pin the blame on Naruto first. Then, halfway through, he'd ambush him and snatch the scroll for himself!
No one would ever suspect him.
Back then I wanted to be a good guy, but now I've got no choice.
Why does everyone help Iruka but treat me like dirt?
Just because I killed a comrade on a mission once?
That kind of small mistake is nothing in the dark underbelly of Konoha.
Iruka's neck flushed red with anger. He didn't stop to question whether the story was true or not—he was too worked up.
"Where is Naruto right now?! Take me to him!"
In class, Naruto was always mischievous and troublesome.
Plus, there was the fact that the Nine-Tails had killed Iruka's parents.
That made Iruka dislike him quite a bit.
But the Fourth Hokage—Naruto's own parents—had sacrificed their lives to save the village.
Because of that, Naruto was born an orphan.
And he'd been looked down on and hated by so many people in the village.
What had he done wrong?
What crime had he committed?
None of this was his choice!
"I think I saw him running toward the eastern forest."
A flash of mockery passed through Mizuki's eyes.
Let Iruka go over there.
Best case, the two of them would start fighting the moment they met!
Then he could swoop in and reap the rewards.
Even if—for some reason—they didn't fight,
he could just step in and eliminate both of them.
Iruka was no match for him.
And as for Naruto, who hadn't even passed the genin exam? Even less of a threat.
"Damn brat, you better not do anything reckless…"
Iruka didn't even say goodbye.
He rushed off in a panic toward the direction Mizuki had pointed.
Naruto was his student.
He'd watched him grow up.
No matter how big the grudge in his heart,
Iruka could never just stand by and do nothing.
Deep down, what he truly hated was the Nine-Tails that killed his parents—
—not Naruto, who had been forced to become the Jinchuriki since birth.
Sometimes a person's mindset is only one thought away from changing.
Once the perspective shifts,
the attitude follows.
He firmly believed Naruto must have some unavoidable reason!
And he, Iruka, had to find Naruto before things got worse,
get a clear explanation,
and bring both Naruto and the Scroll of Seals back.
He would return them to the Third Hokage and apologize!
In a dense forest, the surrounding trees were thick and massive—far larger than ordinary trees back on Earth.
In a clearing,
a handsome blond boy with blue eyes sat cross-legged on the ground, the huge scroll strapped to his back.
Ding! Congratulations, host! Mission completed.
Reward: Mutated Enhanced Rinnegan. Please choose a color (Blue, Purple, Gold)
No need to think twice!
Gold is the most domineering!
Paired with his blond hair and a pair of golden pupils—
it would be perfection.
History books said Xiang Yu had golden eyes, born with kingly aura and imperial charisma.
Whether that was true or not—who knows? It happened a thousand years ago.
Naruto didn't care. Gold it is.
"I choose gold!"
Reward issued.
Naruto's originally blue pupils gradually transformed into rippling gold.
An invisible, profound sense of oppression emanated from him!
This pressure was purely spiritual dominance!
"This godforsaken place—if only there was a mirror."
"Or even a puddle of water would do."
Naruto really wanted to see what he looked like now.
Too bad he hadn't learned any water-style ninjutsu yet.
Otherwise he could've used something like the Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique just to check his reflection.
If anyone else heard that thought,
they'd probably spit blood.
That's an extremely difficult killing technique!
And you want to use it as a mirror?!
Are you insane, or are we the insane ones?
"Mirror generation in progress… complete. Please look forward, host."
The system's cold voice sounded.
A translucent mirror—visible only to Naruto—appeared right in front of him.
Golden hair, golden pupils.
And most importantly—no whisker marks!
His brows carried an imposing aura; he looked authoritative even without trying.
Uzumaki Naruto is seriously handsome.
"…This familiar feeling again—what the hell is it?"
The Nine-Tails, who had only just calmed down, suddenly opened its beastly eyes wide again.
Its fox face was filled with pure confusion and disbelief.
First, half its power had mysteriously appeared inside Naruto.
That had already surprised it.
Now this—it was completely dumbfounded, the fox face screaming this can't be real!
"Six… Six Paths??? Rinnegan—?!"
"Have I gone mad, or has the world gone completely insane?"
Slap—
The Nine-Tails raised a massive claw and smacked its own face hard.
Making sure that after all these years locked up,
its brain hadn't rotted.
It had been alone in this prison the whole time.
Not a single person to talk to.
After being cooped up so long, even a fox might lose its mind.
A sharp pain surged through.
The Nine-Tails hadn't held back—bright red claw marks were left on its furry face.
"No… I have to find a chance to drag this kid in here and ask him what the hell is going on!"
Determination flashed in the Nine-Tails' eyes.
If Naruto's seal hadn't been strengthened,
it would've pulled him in for a conversation right then and there.
"Naruto! So this is where you've been hiding, you little brat! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Iruka's neck was beet-red with fury.
Because of the frantic run, his clothes were completely soaked in sweat.
Naruto's eyes returned to normal. He blinked in confusion.
That voice sounded so familiar…
He looked toward the sound.
There was Iruka—face flushed like pig liver, eyes blazing with anger—charging straight at him.
The moment he saw Iruka,
Naruto knew he'd been sold out by that two-faced traitor.
And worse—Mizuki had probably pulled some divide-and-conquer scheme too.
That guy really deserves to die.
But he wasn't panicked at all.
If that traitor could sell him out,
why couldn't he sell the traitor out instead?