Under the setting sun, at Training Ground Three.
Carrying the potion Mizuki-sensei had given him, Inuzuka Kiba walked nervously through the woods. His heart beat violently, and Mizuki-sensei's words echoed constantly in his mind:
"As long as you make him drink it, you can take back your fairness. For the sake of winning... for Akamaru..."
Inuzuka Kiba pushed aside the bushes and stepped into the training ground. However, in the next second, the lines he had prepared were stuck in his throat, stunned by the sight before him. What met his eyes was not the scene he had imagined of Naruto's secret special training. Instead, it was a vast sea of Narutos!
"Fuiton: Daitoppa!" "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" "Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu!"
Nearly a hundred Narutos were spread across the training ground. Some clones were practicing various Ninjutsu, some were practicing Breathing Techniques, some were throwing ninja tools, and some were sparring in Taijutsu... In a corner of the training ground, Sasuke-kun was hanging upside down from a tree, covered in sweat, performing a breathing exercise with a strange rhythm.
"This... what is this..."
Inuzuka Kiba's breathing stopped. It wasn't just one or two, but nearly a hundred... every Kage Bunshin was undergoing high-intensity training. It turned out the real gap was that while he was feeling smug about doing 100 extra push-ups, the other person had already completed more than a hundred times the training in the same amount of time.
The densely packed clones in the field made it impossible for him to say any more excuses. While Inuzuka Kiba was dazed, the Naruto clone next to him disappeared with a "poof." Not far away, the real Naruto, who was sitting on a giant rock reading a book, slowly closed the book in his hand.
As the memories flowed back, he pushed up his glasses, turned to look at the somewhat dazed Inuzuka Kiba, and showed a gentle smile:
"Kiba-kun, do you want to train together?"
Looking at the figure that remained quiet even in the noisy environment, Kiba-kun suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart. The large group of clones in front of him clearly told him that Naruto was indeed exceptionally talented. If it were him, never mind whether he could learn the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, even if he learned it, he wouldn't be able to create so many. In fact, even an average Jonin couldn't create many. And the densely packed Naruto clones before him were something that no secret medicine could explain.
Moreover... facing such an opponent who was both talented and incredibly hardworking, by using those dirty tricks, could he really win back his so-called dignity?
"No... no thanks, I just came to take a look."
Inuzuka Kiba's voice was a bit dry. He looked at Naruto and asked a question almost instinctively:
"Naruto, you're already so strong, why are you still training so hard?"
Naruto jumped down from the giant rock and walked slowly to him.
"Because I want to surpass the past Hokage and gain everyone's recognition."
Naruto spoke of his former ideal. Although his former ideal was no longer what he truly wanted now, as for what he truly wanted in his heart now, he couldn't say for a moment.
Inuzuka Kiba was silent for a moment. Finally, he reached into his ninja tool pouch and tightly gripped that bottle of potion.
Crack.
The glass bottle was crushed inside the pouch, and the liquid soaked the fabric.
"I see."
Kiba-kun took a deep breath, his eyes becoming firm again, "I will work hard too."
He gave up on harming others, but he still wanted to win.
"Naruto, for tomorrow's exam, I won't lose!"
After saying that, Inuzuka Kiba turned and left. Naruto watched his departing back and then looked at the few drops of transparent liquid dripping onto the ground. The corners of his mouth curled slightly. At the moment Inuzuka Kiba conquered himself, Naruto acknowledged him.
"He can still be saved. But, who is the mastermind?"
...Night fell, in a remote corner of Konohagakure.
"I... I can't do it."
Inuzuka Kiba lowered his head.
Useless!
Looking at Inuzuka Kiba in front of him, Mizuki-sensei cursed inwardly. You can't even do this little thing; you deserve to live in his shadow for the rest of your life. Mizuki-sensei originally wanted to use a drug to stimulate and release the Kyuubi, and then while it attracted everyone's attention, he would have Inuzuka Kiba steal the Scroll of Seals. But now that Inuzuka Kiba had hadn't completed the task, he could only take a bigger risk.
Thinking this, Mizuki-sensei showed a look of regret on his face, "It's okay, Kiba-kun. You really are a kind child; teacher is proud of you."
Then Mizuki-sensei changed the subject: "Since you are unwilling to hurt your classmate, then we only have one path left. For the sake of fairness, to prove yourself... tonight, the guards at the Hokage Building will change shifts; that's the only chance to get the Scroll of Seals."
Under Mizuki-sensei's constant manipulation, a flash of struggle appeared in Inuzuka Kiba's eyes, which eventually turned into determination. The two discussed for a long time, and after confirming the action route, Inuzuka Kiba hurried away.
Once Kiba-kun was far away, the smile on Mizuki-sensei's face instantly turned hideous.
"What a fool, but he's enough to be used as bait and a scapegoat. Once I get the Scroll of Seals, I'll send you to the Pure Land to meet the Rikudo Sennin."
After Mizuki-sensei also left, in the tree canopy not far away, a figure was quietly watching all of this. Then the figure turned into white smoke and disappeared.
"I see, so he's inducing Inuzuka Kiba to be the scapegoat and defect with the Kinjutsu?"
Naruto in the training ground put away his books and tidied his clothes.
"Inuzuka Kiba can still be saved, but Mizuki-sensei..."
...Ten minutes later, in the Hokage Office.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of knocking rang out.
"Enter."
The door was pushed open, and Naruto walked in.
"Naruto? It's so late, is something the matter?" the Sandaime was a bit surprised.
"Grandpa Sandaime, I have something important to report. Just now, I accidentally discovered Mizuki-sensei manipulating Inuzuka Kiba, plotting to steal the Scroll of Seals..."
Naruto told everything about Mizuki-sensei manipulating Inuzuka Kiba and the plan to steal the Scroll of Seals tonight. Finally, Naruto requested: "Grandpa Sandaime, Kiba-kun was also deceived; he just wanted to gain your recognition too much. Mizuki-sensei exploited his weakness... Please, you must save Kiba-kun; don't let him make a big mistake!"
After hearing this, the Sandaime's brows furrowed tightly, and he even put down the pipe in his hand. He hadn't expected that a mere Chunin would actually dare to plot to steal the Scroll of Seals. What was even more unexpected was that he would be so useless that before the plan was even implemented, he would be discovered and reported by Naruto.
"Mizuki..."
A flash of killing intent appeared in the Sandaime's eyes.
"Phew..."
The Sandaime exhaled a ring of smoke, and after thinking for a moment, he made a decision.
"I understand, Naruto. I will handle this matter."
"But Kiba-kun..." Naruto hesitated.
The Sandaime looked at Naruto and suddenly gave a meaningful smile:
"Since you discovered it and you're so concerned about the matter, then I'll leave this to you to handle. I will withdraw the Anbu to create an opportunity for you. Go and bring the Inuzuka kid back, and make him understand the Will of Fire. As for Mizuki... you can go all out. If necessary, you may use lethal force."
The Sandaime knew Naruto's strength very well and didn't think a Chunin would pose a threat to him.
"Yes! I guarantee the mission will be completed!"
Naruto said, a glint of "plan successful" appearing in his eyes. With the Hokage's approval, his actions today would be legal. And maybe he could check the authenticity of the Scroll of Seals in advance?