At that very moment.
Naruto was about to create a Shadow Clone when a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Detection: It is now the time to go home after school. The host is requested to return home immediately and prepare for tonight's training, otherwise the system will punish you!"
"Warning! Lightning Release baptism countdown: 5..."
Naruto was instantly dumbfounded, slapping his hands on his cheeks, his face filled with shock!
"Wh-what's going on?!"
"system big brother, didn't you agree to let me come to Lord Third Hokage's house?!"
"The host going from the Ninja Academy to the Hokage's house and then back to his own house means an extra distance of training on the way home. This is allowed, but no further delay is permitted!"
"Moreover, the host's attempt to steal something is absolutely not allowed!"
"Warning! Countdown 4..."
"Ahhh—"
"Then what about my sealing scroll?!"
"What about the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu?!"
"Didn't I come here for nothing?!"
"Warning! Countdown 3..."
"I'm not reconciled!"
"2..."
"Can't you make an exception, system big brother?!"
"1..."
"Alright, alright! I get it!"
Naruto had no choice but to grit his teeth, turn back for one last look at the light from Hokage-sama's window, and reluctantly crouch down again, heading back towards his own home.
"The host need not be discouraged. You can comprehend the Shadow Clone Technique on your own, and it's not impossible to deduce the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Naruto: "...system big brother, what you said makes so much sense!"
"That's right, why would a genius like me need to resort to stealing? Isn't it enough to research and develop the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu myself?!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Naruto, having understood this point, sprinted back home even more cheerfully... The smile on Mizuki's face, stretched to its widest, suddenly vanished!
"Wh-what's going on?!"
"It was already about to succeed, why did that Nine-Tailed Demon Fox brat suddenly go back?!"
Mizuki looked as if he had been struck by lightning, standing there dumbfounded!
"Instead of asking what's wrong with Naruto, you're the one who should be asked, aren't you?"
"Mizuki."
"What exactly are you doing? And what do you intend to do to Naruto, and to Lord Third Hokage?!"
Mizuki's heart jolted, and he spun around, looking back. In the darkness, vague and indistinct, that extremely familiar face was right before his eyes!
"I-Iruka?!"
Chapter 52: Iruka's Death? Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shock! Please vote for me!
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Mizuki's attention was completely focused on Naruto, and he didn't notice that he, too, was being secretly followed... And, it was his closest old friend... Iruka Umino.
In the dark night, facing Iruka who was so close, Mizuki was greatly alarmed, and cold sweat instantly broke out.
"Iruka... you, why are you here?!"
Although Iruka didn't know what he intended to do.
He could guess that it wouldn't be anything good!
Moreover, this matter involved Naruto, which ignited a furious anger in Iruka's heart.
"I should be asking you that question!"
"Mizuki, what exactly have you done to Naruto?!"
Mizuki didn't dare to cause trouble near the Hokage-sama's house.
He quickly looked around, confirming that there were no other people nearby, then shushed, lowering his voice to explain.
"Don't make a fuss, Iruka!"
"I... I just saw Naruto acting a bit strangely, and I was afraid something might happen to him, so I followed him all the way here..."
"After all, he wasn't taking the route home..."
"Iruka, you're not the only one who cares about Naruto!"
Of course, Iruka wouldn't believe such nonsense.
"Don't lie to me, Mizuki."
"I saw you guiding Naruto's training all day, and you secretly whispered something to him."
"Then he changed his unshakeable training routine and strangely headed towards the Hokage-sama's house, clearly intending to do something bad..."
"Do you expect me to believe that all of this has nothing to do with you?!"
Mizuki looked at Iruka's solemn and stern expression, and his own face couldn't help but darken.
"Iruka, what exactly do you want to do?!"
"I want to know the truth!"
"We're not just colleagues, we're the best of friends!"
"I don't understand why you would do this!"
Mizuki let out a cruel sneer.
"Alright, you want to know the truth, do you?"
"Since we grew up together, I'll make an exception and tell you..."
"Listen carefully..."
Bang—
Caught off guard, Mizuki suddenly threw several Shuriken at Iruka!
They shot out instantly into the deep night!
The distance was extremely close, and the speed was extremely fast!
Although Iruka was somewhat prepared and dodged quickly, he still couldn't completely avoid them, and a Shuriken instantly pierced deeply into his right arm and shoulder!
Intense pain struck, and Iruka couldn't help but let out a cry of agony, but Mizuki took the opportunity to immediately flee, his figure instantly merging into the night!
"Stop! Mizuki!"
"Explain yourself to me!"
"Don't even think about escaping!"
Iruka-sensei fiercely pulled out the Shuriken and shot it back at Mizuki.
As Mizuki rapidly fled, he wielded the kunai in his hand, deflecting the Shuriken. With a crisp clang, sparks flew, then quickly faded into the darkness... But in reality, behind them, another group of people was hidden.
The hawk behind the oriole.
It was the ANBU Ninja who usually monitored and protected Naruto.
However, Mizuki's and Naruto's interactions did not arouse any suspicion from the Anbu.
Because Mizuki was originally a Ninja Academy teacher.
His actions were completely reasonable.
It wasn't until Naruto deviated from his usual route and headed towards the Hokage-sama's residence, with Mizuki quietly following behind, that these Anbu realized something was wrong.
Of course, they also noticed Iruka-sensei, but they didn't make a move to alarm him.
Their mission was to watch over Naruto. When Naruto gave up on going to the Hokage-sama's house and returned home, they had to split off most of their personnel to continue following Naruto.
Only two Anbu remained, one of whom went to report to the Hokage's house, and the last remaining one tracked Mizuki and Iruka...
"Mizuki?"
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was not actually at home.
He was still busy in the Hokage Office.
After hearing the report from the ANBU Ninja, his heart couldn't help but jolt.
He took a deep puff from his pipe, then exhaled a long smoke ring.
"It seems Mizuki incited Naruto to do something for him..."
"But, my house?"
"There doesn't seem to be anything unusual, unless it's..."
The ANBU Ninja also suddenly understood.
"Hokage-sama, could it be..."
"The sealing scroll?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in silence.
"It's very possible."
"You mean Mizuki used Naruto as a pawn to try and steal the sealing scroll from the Hokage-sama's house?"
"But why did Naruto give up?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.
"That, I don't know..."
"Naruto is always unpredictable in his actions, it's hard to say..."
"However, Mizuki's malicious intentions are undeniable."
"He actually harbored such sinister intentions, I truly misjudged him..."
"Iruka going after him alone could be very dangerous. Take a few more Anbu and go support him immediately!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment: "I'll go ask Naruto myself to get to the bottom of this!"
...Mizuki knew the plan had failed. Unless he completely killed Iruka and destroyed the evidence, his ambitions, once exposed, would lead to no good end.
He and Iruka were indeed friends.
But his emotional ties to Iruka were all just a pretense.
In fact, he had always been extremely jealous and dissatisfied that everyone recognized Iruka more.
And before he entered the Ninja Academy, he had secretly killed a severely wounded comrade while on a mission!