The Academy courtyard was alive with students practicing taijutsu, their shouts mingling with the clack of wooden training weapons. Naruto stood in the middle, dodging a lazy punch from Kiba with an exaggerated yelp. "Whoa, almost got me there, dog breath!" he teased, his grin wide enough to light up the yard. Kiba laughed, but Naruto's eyes were scanning the sidelines, where Iruka and another teacher, Mizuki, were talking in hushed tones. He'd learned to watch the adults closely, picking up scraps of their conversations while playing the fool.He'd overheard Mizuki before, griping about the Hokage's rules, about "secrets that should be shared." Naruto didn't trust him—his smile was too slick, his eyes too sharp—but Mizuki's complaints hinted at knowledge, maybe even about the sealed scroll. Naruto needed to know more, but asking outright was too risky. Instead, he'd play his part and wait for an opening.As practice ended, Naruto lingered, pretending to fumble with his gear. "Hey, Mizuki-sensei!" he called, jogging over with a goofy grin. "You ever meet the Fourth Hokage? Bet he was super cool, right?"Mizuki's smile twitched, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The Fourth? He was before your time, Naruto. Why the sudden interest?"Naruto shrugged, scratching his head. "Just curious! Wanna be like him someday, y'know?" He laughed, loud and carefree, but his heart raced. Mizuki's reaction was off, like he was weighing his words."He was a hero," Mizuki said finally, his tone careful. "Saved the village from the Nine-Tails. That's all you need to know." He turned away, but Naruto caught the glance he shot toward Iruka, who was watching them from across the yard.Naruto's grin didn't falter, but inside, he was seething. Another dodge, another lie. Mizuki knew something, and so did Iruka. They all did. The truth was locked away, guarded by people with power he didn't have—yet. He needed to be stronger, not just to sneak into the Hokage Tower but to stand up to those who hid the truth. The Nine-Tails' power was his best shot, but every time he tried to reach it, that flicker of heat slipped away, leaving him frustrated and empty.That night, in his forest clearing, Naruto pushed harder. He formed five shadow clones, each more solid than before, and had them spar with him. The clones were clumsy, but they were an extension of his will, proof he was getting closer. As he dodged their punches, he focused inward, searching for that burning core again. For a moment, he felt it—a surge of raw, wild energy that made his skin tingle and his vision sharpen. But it vanished as quickly as it came, leaving him on his knees, gasping."Dammit," he muttered, his facade gone in the dark. He needed more—more skill, more chakra, more power. The scroll in the tower was his goal, but it was just a step. The real fight was against the village's lies, and he'd need every ounce of strength to win it. He stood, forcing a grin. "One more time!" he said to the clones, his voice bright but his eyes hard. The mask was back, but the fire inside was growing.
