The Snowball Plan had failed.
The Imperial Chakra Control Pill was now stuck in his hands. With no other option, Mizuki took it himself.
The pill dissolved instantly in his mouth. Once it reached his stomach, its power spread throughout his body. In less than half a minute, his chakra control reached 99.9999%.
He couldn't resist trying it out. With a single thought, Naruto beside him suddenly transformed into Iruka with a poof…
Naruto, "…"
What just happened?
Mizuki revealed a strange smile. With 99.9999% chakra control, the power of his jutsu would increase by two ranks — and his techniques would mutate.
What he'd just performed was the Transformation Jutsu, but he hadn't cast it on himself. He'd cast it on Naruto, transforming the boy instead…
'So this is the mutated Transformation Jutsu? Interesting.'
The ordinary Transformation Jutsu could only transform oneself. The mutated version could transform oneself, others, or even objects. Used well, it might have surprising effects at critical moments.
As for its upgrade from E-Rank to C-Rank, he couldn't yet tell what that meant — he'd discover it gradually.
"Master Mizuki, what's going on? How did I suddenly transform?" Naruto panicked. He tried to release the transformation but couldn't.
After five seconds, it released automatically.
Mizuki didn't explain. Instead, he said, "Try the Clone Jutsu again, but this time don't form hand seals."
Naruto, "Master, how can I perform the Clone Jutsu without hand seals?"
{T/N: Since Naruto consumed the other pill, he has Super Chakra Control, where hand seals are not necessary.}
Mizuki, "Just try it. You'll see if it works."
Naruto did as instructed. He clapped his hands together and shouted:
Bunshin no Jutsu ▻ Clone Technique
Poof!
Forty to fifty Narutos now filled the scene. They were all illusions — not solid entities that could be used in combat.
Naruto was stunned!
"It actually works?"
Performing jutsu without hand seals — did they teach that at the academy?
❊❊❊❊❊
Ninja Academy, Iruka's office.
Hiruzen said expressionlessly, "Iruka, you must accept this. He's been pretending all these years. Even you were deceived by his kind exterior. The village didn't act against him before because we lacked evidence."
As Hokage, he had always maintained an image of righteousness and fairness. Arresting someone based solely on suspicion didn't align with how the villagers saw him. That's why Mizuki had remained at large until now.
"But a month ago, the ANBU discovered he was planning to steal the Scroll of Seals and defect. From what we've seen, he's planning to use Naruto. Once he carries out his plan, the village won't show mercy. This is an opportunity — first, we bring Mizuki to justice. Second, we sweep away the darkness in Naruto's heart. His identity is extraordinary. We cannot let him fall into darkness and develop hatred toward Konoha, otherwise…"
Hiruzen didn't specify what "otherwise" meant. But Iruka understood.
If a Jinchūriki — the human vessel that carries the Tailed Beasts — fell into darkness, the village would take ruthless measures. At that point, whether Naruto lived or died would be uncertain.
Hearing this, Iruka finally made up his mind.
Having grown up together, how could he not know Mizuki's character? He had just been pretending not to notice.
"Don't worry, Lord Third. I know what to do. Since he's planning to betray Konoha, I won't indulge him anymore. Tonight I'll expose his true nature in front of Naruto and arrest him personally, while also clearing away the darkness in Naruto's heart."
What choice did he have but to agree?
The Third Hokage had already used Naruto as leverage. Between a beloved student and a seemingly friendly but sinister "good friend", it wasn't a difficult choice.
Hiruzen nodded with a smile and stood to leave.
Just then, the office door burst open and Naruto jumped in.
"Iruka-sensei, I want a retest! I've mastered the Clone Jutsu. I want to graduate. Oh, Grandpa Third, you're here too!"
Iruka maintained a stern expression, "The Ninja Academy has never had anything called a retest. And Naruto, next time knock before entering the office."
Naruto shouted, "I don't care, I want a retest! Since Grandpa Third is here too, let's have him witness this."
With those words, he clapped his hands together and called out:
Bunshin no Jutsu ▻ Clone Technique
With a poof, over forty Narutos appeared in the office. Aside from the original, all the rest were clones.
Hiruzen and Iruka, "…"
What just happened? Naruto's Clone Jutsu was terrible — how could he suddenly create so many clones?
Iruka admitted his own Clone Jutsu couldn't achieve this level. These clones were so perfect that even Hiruzen couldn't immediately distinguish the real body. It was almost like a joke.
His eyes widened, "Performing the Clone Jutsu without hand seals, just by clapping hands — this… this isn't…"
Naruto released the clones, his face full of pride, "So, Iruka-sensei, can I graduate now?"
But Iruka shouted, "Who are you really? How dare you impersonate Naruto and take the exam for him — do you know what kind of behavior this is?"
Naruto was his student — how could he not know the boy's capabilities? Half an hour ago, he couldn't even create a single proper clone. Yet now he could produce over forty? Was that believable?
The person before him was definitely not that tricky boy.
Naruto became furious, "Iruka-sensei, you don't believe me! I'm so mad! I'll show you what I'm capable of!"
He clapped his hands together again and called out:
Oiroke no Jutsu ▻ Sexy Technique
A naked beauty appeared, her alluring figure appearing and disappearing in the mist, eyes fluttering with utmost seduction.
Hiruzen and Iruka couldn't resist for even half a second — blood spurted from their nostrils as they flew backward and crashed behind the desk. Their movements were perfectly synchronized!
"Hahaha! Got you, got you! Iruka-sensei, that's what you get for doubting me. Now what do you have to say?" Naruto transformed back to his original appearance, his expression triumphant, "I've mastered the Clone Jutsu, so give me my headband — I want to graduate!"
Hiruzen and Iruka climbed up from behind the desk, looking utterly disheveled.
Hiruzen especially — having suffered this unprovoked disaster, his mood was terrible. Already advanced in years, and still subjected to this kind of stimulus — what a sin!
Iruka exclaimed in shock, "You're really Naruto?"
Hiruzen straightened his hat and cleared his throat twice, "The one who knows this ridiculous jutsu is definitely little Naruto!"
Naruto said proudly, "The genuine article!"
"How is this possible?" Iruka still couldn't believe it.
Hiruzen asked, "Little Naruto, you clearly couldn't use the Clone Jutsu properly before — why can you now create so many perfect clones? And you didn't even form hand seals. Can you tell Grandpa what's going on?"
Naruto didn't hide anything, "Before, I always felt like the chakra inside my body was out of control. Just now, Master Mizuki found me and gave me two blue pills. After I ate them, the chakra in my body became very obedient, and releasing the Clone Jutsu became much easier."
"Mizuki?" x2
Hiruzen and Iruka looked at each other, their minds unable to process this.
What the hell? Wasn't Mizuki's plan supposed to exploit Naruto's desperate desire to graduate and incite him to steal the Scroll of Seals? How did it turn into giving the boy pills?
This way, with Naruto able to graduate directly, would he still go steal the Scroll of Seals?
Something felt off no matter how he thought about it.
Hiruzen's first reaction: are there more of those pills? His second thought: the pills definitely have side effects, and very likely they're destroying the seal inside Naruto's body.
'If the seal is damaged and the Nine-Tails escapes, that would be catastrophic!'
His body flashed. In an instant, he was in front of Naruto, pressing him down with his left hand while lifting his shirt with his right to expose his belly. After a quick check, he found no signs of damage to the seal. He breathed a sigh of relief.
But Hiruzen still wasn't reassured. He picked Naruto up, rushed out of the Ninja Academy, and headed straight for Konoha Hospital.
As he left, he didn't forget to instruct Iruka, "Don't speak of this matter yet."
❊❊❊❊❊
At the hospital, Hiruzen went directly to the director:
"Quick, give him a complete full-body examination!"
Soon, the examination results came out — Naruto was completely normal.
"What on earth is going on?" Hiruzen was utterly perplexed, "Naruto, besides giving you the pills, what else did Mizuki say? Did he ask you to do anything? Tell me everything that happened."
He had no choice but to ask the boy. To make Mizuki feel safe enough to trick Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals, he had withdrawn all the ANBU monitoring Naruto — afraid that Mizuki would notice and abandon the plan.
Moreover, he'd been in Iruka's office the whole time, with no opportunity to use the Telescope Technique. As a result, he knew absolutely nothing about what happened after Mizuki took Naruto away.
Seeing the old man's grave expression, Naruto told him everything, "Master Mizuki took me to Hokage Rock and told me that Iruka-sensei wouldn't let me graduate because he was afraid I hadn't learned enough and would be in danger on future missions. Then he had me call him Master. Then he gave me a blue pill, and after I ate it I could create nine clones. Then he gave me another pill, and after I ate it, I could create over forty clones without hand seals. Then I came to the Ninja Academy to retest."
Hiruzen asked, "Anything else?"
Naruto shook his head, "Nothing!"
Hiruzen's confusion deepened. It made no sense!
'Just two pills allowed Naruto's chakra control to reach a level comparable to the First Hokage. This is what I've pursued my entire life, yet could never reach.'
The question was: why didn't Mizuki take these extraordinary pills himself? Why give them to Naruto instead?
'Could it be that he has so many pills he can't finish them all? Or perhaps he knows the formula and can create more at any time?'
At this thought, Hiruzen's breathing suddenly became rapid.
❊❊❊❊❊
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want to enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)