The Blackened Isekai Anime Heroine – Chapter 45
Author: Gemini no Ling
"Ah… I mean, we can, uh, trade tips on our shuriken skills... you know, see if our techniques complement each other..."
"Oh~ now you're talking. Fine~"
"…Alright then, let's start special training tonight. Before her next challenge, we've got to get our shuriken skills up to where we can actually threaten her from a distance."
Fighting the urge to pummel Naruto on the spot, Sasuke managed to hold himself back.
Tch. As long as this idiot can draw Hinata's attention and last more than one hit, he'll buy Sasuke the opening to strike from the shadows.
Up on the rooftop, Kakashi had heard every word. The silver-haired jonin couldn't help shaking his head with a sigh.
Allies or not, why did this feel so hopeless?
But just then, his expression shifted sharply. In one fluid motion, he slipped behind the water tower on the roof.
Through narrowed eyes, he spotted a shifty-looking figure peeking toward the Uchiha compound. The forehead protector marked him as a Leaf ninja, but…
So, the small fry are finally starting to crawl out, huh?
Kakashi didn't move in. Not yet. He needed proof.
Besides, if this guy wasn't an assassin, maybe he'd serve as the perfect test—for Naruto and Sasuke's instincts.
---
Just as there are good people in any group, bad ones aren't in short supply either.
Mizuki, a Leaf chunin, was squarely in the latter category.
A classmate of Iruka's back in the academy, Mizuki had always been cunning and underhanded—something even his superiors quietly noted.
He'd never qualified as a teacher or advanced in rank, and that gnawed at him.
Watching Iruka get promoted only fueled his jealousy.
And after a fateful encounter with one of the legendary Sannin, Mizuki had made up his mind: he'd abandon Konoha and join that man.
But if he wanted to switch sides, he'd need a gift.
He'd set his sights on the Scroll of Seals, a forbidden text said to contain jutsus passed down from the First Hokage himself.
No doubt, a perfect offering.
Mizuki wasn't stupid. He knew it wouldn't be easy to steal. So he needed a fall guy—a dumb, hated scapegoat who'd take the blame.
Someone just like… Uzumaki Naruto.
A kid everyone already hated.
The village's walking punchline.
A kid Mizuki figured was dumb enough to trick and hated enough that no one would question it.
Originally, he'd planned to wait for graduation exams in two months. But lately, Naruto had been oddly well-behaved.
No pranks, no graffiti on the Hokage Monument… it made Mizuki uneasy.
What if the kid actually started getting his act together? That wouldn't do.
Better act now—while his reputation still stunk.
Convincing Naruto should be easy. Mizuki figured he was no smarter than a duck.
Just promise him power, and he'd wag his tail all the way.
That's why Mizuki had shown up at the Uchiha compound today—he'd heard Naruto had been staying there lately.
Annoyingly, he'd also have to deal with another brat who lived there.
---
"What do you want? Sneaking around like that?"
Sasuke's icy voice came from above, startling Mizuki. The dark-haired boy crouched on a branch overhead, expression unreadable.
"Ah! You're Uchiha Sasuke, right?"
Caught off guard, Mizuki quickly composed himself, flashing a fake, friendly smile.
"I heard you and Naruto have been skipping classes. I came to check if something's wrong."
"Huh? You… I think I've seen you before. Aren't you one of Iruka-sensei's friends or something?"
Naruto's voice came from the bushes.
Had Mizuki made a move just now, he'd be facing a two-sided pincer.
"Ah—yes, yes! I was in the same class as Iruka back in the day, My name is Mizuki, you can call me Mizuki-sensei. He always complains about how naughty you are, Naruto."
He laughed awkwardly, calming himself. He must've been too distracted thinking through his plan.
"Tch. That guy… So what's up, Mizuki-sensei?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head with a slight grin.
Iruka's concern still warmed his heart, even now.
"I heard you two even collapsed from overtraining recently. It's admirable, but skipping class isn't okay. The graduation exam's just two months away. You don't want to fail, do you?"
He'd found his opening. Mizuki's tone turned gentle, encouraging.
"Pft. Just basic transformation and clone jutsu. I've had those down forever."
Sasuke scoffed, full of confidence.
But Naruto's face… didn't look so good.
Even with all the beatings from Hinata, and all the progress in his combat endurance, he still sucked at basic techniques.
"Sure, Sasuke doesn't need to worry. But you, Naruto…? Iruka won't say it to your face, but I will. Your transformation and substitution are barely passable—and you still haven't mastered the clone jutsu, have you?"
Naruto's expression stiffened.
Mizuki smirked inwardly. Just as he thought—still couldn't do it.
"Ah… it's not like clone jutsu's the only thing on the test…"
Naruto's voice wavered.
Sasuke glanced sideways, frowning.
Something about Mizuki's tone felt… off.
So he stayed quiet, watching.
"Wishful thinking won't help. Clone jutsu is a basic and essential skill. If you can't do it, you won't pass."
Mizuki folded his arms, frowning sternly.
"And from what I've seen, you might have a natural flaw when it comes to it. Just being honest—you should prepare yourself."
"Ugh… then what should I do, Mizuki-sensei? I've never passed a single clone jutsu test…"
Naruto's voice was tight with panic. Sasuke's frown deepened.
"See? That's the price of slacking off. You can't just catch up last-minute."
Mizuki's tone turned sympathetic. He glanced at Sasuke—still silent—then relaxed slightly.
"Well… lucky for you, I might have a way to help."
"Really?! What is it?!"
Naruto practically bounced.With a sigh of fake reluctance, Mizuki said,
"There's a scroll… handed down from the First Hokage. The Scroll of Seals. It contains the secrets of generations of Hokage."
"If you were to study it… maybe you and Sasuke could learn something truly special."
---
Up on the rooftop, Kakashi listened carefully.
Then he sighed—and disappeared from the compound.
---
At the Hokage's office, the Third listened in silence as Kakashi reported.
A shadow crossed the old man's face.
"IBIKI's team did flag Mizuki as suspicious, but I didn't expect this. What a pity."
He lifted his hand.
"Pull back some of the guards on the Scroll of Seals. Have Ibiki set up surveillance at the perimeter."
Kakashi gave him a look.
He understood the Third's intent clearly.
Now that Mizuki had exposed himself, this was the perfect chance to test Naruto and Sasuke.
"But… Lord Third, they're still just kids. If they give in to temptation…"
As a by-the-book jonin, it was rare for Kakashi to voice such concern.
The Third exhaled a puff of smoke.
"That's why… I'll personally partly undo the seal on the scroll tonight."
"If they can get their hands on it… what they learn will be their reward—or their burden."