Kyūbi snorted coldly and pulled back its head.

He didn’t explain what happened that day, nor did he want to mention those “Kaleidoscope Sharingan.”

Even though it was sealed inside someone else, as the most powerful tailed beast, it still had its dignity.

Being controlled...

It would be too embarrassing to say that out loud.

Naruto actively left that space.

Lying on the bed, his mind was in disarray.

He really wanted to return to the Soul Society quickly; surely the teachers at the Central Spiritual Arts Academy or older classmates could find a solution for him. At the very least... they would be willing to listen to him vent his feelings.

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

But he hadn’t encountered a “Shinigami.”

He also hadn’t run into any of those “Hollows” with white masks that were recorded in textbooks.

Of course, that was normal.

In any area, there was only one Shinigami, so the chances of encountering one were low.

What troubled him more was how to face that fox.

A “father-killer” residing in his body?

These complicated emotions piled up, making him hate Konoha even more.

The villagers’ hatred of him was hard to understand and was even completely opposite to what he knew to be true.

There wasn’t even one person here he could speak his mind to.

This place was not a “home” at all.

While Naruto was searching for his Shinigami colleagues, the graduation exam also arrived as scheduled.

The exam was very simple; as long as he could successfully perform the Shadow Clone Technique and make the clone appear reasonably normal, he would graduate successfully.

This posed no difficulty for Naruto now.

It was just...

Compared to the Naruto three years ago who eagerly anticipated graduating early and becoming a full-fledged ninja, he didn’t feel that “graduation” was a good thing at all.

He straddled a swing at the school gate, coldly watching the bustling crowd.

Students who passed the test were praised by their parents.

Those who didn’t passed cried in their parents' arms.

There were quite a few orphaned students like himself without parents.

But unlike him, they weren’t solitary; they had friends and teachers around them.

Even beside Uchiha Sasuke, there were a few girls chattering away.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from behind.

A chakra was approaching him.

It was...

Mizuki.

One of the few people in the Ninja Academy, along with Iruka, who didn’t have such a bad attitude towards him.

Naruto immediately turned to look.

Mizuki stopped ten steps away, wearing a gentle smile: “Naruto, you really are sharp.”

“What’s the matter, Mizuki-sensei?” Naruto asked.

He was there to find him.

But their relationship didn’t seem good enough for him to come privately to celebrate.

Mizuki didn’t answer the question but instead moved closer while looking at the crowd at the school gate, sighing: “They really are happy.”

“With parents by their side.”

“With friends by their side.”

“But they alone exclude you, Naruto.”

Naruto didn’t speak, tightening his grip on the swing's rope.

“You’re a very pitiful person,” Mizuki sighed, half-squatting beside Naruto, “Everyone hates you.”

Naruto reflexively asked, “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 everyone in the village hates you?”

Naruto’s eyes instantly sharpened: “Why?”

He certainly wanted to know.

“It’s a secret,” Mizuki lowered his voice, sounding enticing, “It’s recorded in the Book of Seals.”

“That Book of Seals is hidden in the Hokage Building.”

“If you want to know the secret, go steal that book.”

Naruto leaned back slightly.

His gaze toward Mizuki changed a bit.

He was no longer that rash kid who had just arrived in the “Soul Society” three years ago.

He could tell that this guy was encouraging him to steal that “Book of Seals.”

He wanted to use him to achieve his own ends.

Malicious intent!

“So, Mizuki-sensei must know that secret?” Naruto didn’t expose him; he wanted to understand how others saw him and what had sparked their “hatred.”

Mizuki was taken aback.

“If Mizuki-sensei didn’t know the secret, how would he know it’s in that Book of Seals?” Naruto pressed.

Mizuki shook his head.

The situation was somewhat beyond his expectations.

He thought this fool would be easy to manipulate; he figured with a casual remark, he would take the bait.

Unexpectedly... the kid had some brains.

But everything was still under his control.

He was confident.

“You’re a very good child,” Mizuki sighed, feigning a sympathetic expression, “I just don’t want to believe that rumor.”

He paused, as if undergoing an intense inner struggle.

After a long time, he finally spoke heavily: “Twelve years ago, you’ve heard about the Fourth Hokage sealing the Nine-Tails, right?”

After seeing Naruto nod, he continued, “Since then, there has been an unwritten rule in the village.”

“Only hidden from you.”

“That is... the rule of ‘never mention that you are the Nine-Tails.’”

“Only during these years of teaching you, I found you to be a good child, unwilling to believe this matter.”

“Perhaps only the scroll personally recorded by the Hokage can prove whether this matter is true or false.”

Naruto looked at Mizuki in surprise.

But internally, he felt incredibly clear.

Everything made sense...

No wonder the villagers hated him so much.

They didn’t know he was the “Fourth’s son,” but regarded him as the “Nine-Tails.”

But...

Why did the villagers have this “cognition”?

Could it be that someone was deliberately concealing his identity?

Mizuki gently placed his hand on Naruto’s head, his tone gentle yet firm: “Go verify the truth of this news.”

“Tonight, the security at the Hokage Building will be the weakest...”

Naruto suddenly interrupted: “Mizuki-sensei.”

Mizuki stopped, puzzled: “What is it, Naruto?”

“Mizuki-sensei, let’s go see Grandpa Third together.” Naruto said, his expression resolute.

He wanted to know whether what Mizuki mentioned was true.

Was it a lie fabricated to trick him into stealing the “Book of Seals”?

Or was he utilizing a fact...

Mizuki was startled, as if pricked by a thorn: “That rule is the Third Hokage’s command; you won’t get a real answer by asking him.”

“Everything is recorded in the Book of Seals.”

“Only obtaining it will yield results.”

See the Third?

How could that be!

It was fine to tell Naruto the facts.

But as soon as he heard his purpose was the “Book of Seals,” wouldn’t that expose him?

Naruto reached out and grabbed Mizuki's wrist, his attitude firm: “Mizuki-sensei, let’s go.”

He wasn’t interested in the “Book of Seals.”

After all, he already knew the truth...

He was the “Fourth’s son,” and he indeed had a “fox” inside him.

Now he only wanted to know what kind of explanation the Third Hokage would give him.

Mizuki’s expression twisted.

He cursed inwardly.

What’s going on!

This little brat showed no interest at all in the Book of Seals that recorded the “facts”?

Trusting the Third Hokage to this extent!

“If you don’t trust me, Naruto...” Mizuki swung his wrist, trying to break free, but Naruto held on tightly, gripping his wrist firmly.

“Let go, Naruto!” He finally couldn’t hold it any longer, struggling to maintain the somewhat friendly expression from before, and reprimanded angrily.

Naruto stood up, pulling him toward the Hokage Building: “Mizuki-sensei, just accompany me to see Grandpa Third.”

“I want to know...”

Mizuki grit his teeth and lifted his foot to kick.

He couldn’t take it anymore!

Even though this was at the entrance of the Ninja Academy.

Assaulting a student was indeed not something a teacher should do.

But...

If the target was that brat Naruto, no one would stop him.

Naruto had already anticipated that he would strike.

He raised his other hand and, in an instant, caught his foot, ready to push down.

With a loud bang—

White smoke billowed.

Kunai flew toward him, and Naruto instinctively let go.

When he struck back again, the figure in the smoke vanished, and he only hit a wooden stump.

It was a substitution technique!

Where did he run off to?

The chakra presence moved to the tree.

Naruto looked up.

Mizuki was leaning against the tree trunk, standing on a branch, his features twisted in disgust as he looked at Naruto as if he were trash: “You monster!”

“Since you’re so disobedient...”

“Then don’t blame me for teaching you a lesson.”

He cursed under his breath.

Shurikens and kunai flew toward him.

Naruto raised his hand and chanted the incantation.

“Way of Destruction No. 1, Strike!”

This was one of the few Kido he knew.

It didn’t have much lethality, but the burst of energy it generated in an instant caused the trajectory of those cold metal weapons to go awry, brushing past his body and falling helplessly to the ground.

Mizuki was astonished.

What kind of technique was that?

No hand seals required for Wind Release ninjutsu?

He had never heard of it.

And just at that moment, Naruto bent his body, leaped up, and charged at Mizuki.