Mizuki walked unhurriedly to the edge of the swing set in the academy courtyard. The setting sun bathed the playground in a soft amber hue, but it did nothing to warm the mood. There, Naruto Uzumaki sat alone, head bowed, his small frame shaking as he sobbed quietly.
"Naruto," Mizuki said in a gentle tone, crouching beside him. "Are you still upset with Iruka-sensei? I really don't think he's targeting you. Becoming a ninja isn't easy, and there's always next year's exam."
But Mizuki's words did little to ease Naruto's sorrow.
With clenched fists and tear-filled eyes, Naruto looked up and muttered bitterly, "I know what you mean, Mizuki-sensei... but why is it always me? Why am I the only one who failed? I trained so hard…"
There was raw pain in his voice—the kind only a boy starved of love and recognition could feel. For someone like Naruto, who carried the burden of being ostracized since birth, failing the Genin Exam was a crushing blow.
Nearby, a few villagers whispered cruelly as they passed by. Words like "monster" and "it should've been expelled long ago" drifted toward them. Naruto's shoulders hunched further at the familiar sting of rejection.
This wasn't the place to talk. Mizuki gave Naruto a reassuring pat on the back.
"Hey, how about we go somewhere quieter?" he offered. "There's something important I want to tell you. About the exam... it might not be too late."
"Really? You're not lying, right?" Naruto perked up, hope flashing in his eyes.
"Of course not. You're actually quite talented, Naruto. With the right training, I'm sure Iruka will acknowledge you. But let's talk somewhere private, okay?"
"Okay! Where should we go, Mizuki-sensei?"
"Hokage Rock. The view's great today. You go ahead—I'll catch up in a bit."
"Alright! I'll be waiting!" Naruto shouted, already dashing off in high spirits.
Mizuki watched him disappear over the hill, wind tugging at the edges of his orange jacket. That kid… so desperate to be seen. For someone so thoroughly neglected, the dream of becoming a ninja wasn't just ambition—it was salvation.
Mizuki smirked to himself, the corners of his lips tight with irony.
In the manga's world, power scaling escalated absurdly over time. Characters once deemed formidable became mere stepping stones for rising stars. Mizuki? Barely Chūnin level. No clan. No Kekkei Genkai. No destiny. Even Orochimaru's favor had been a fleeting illusion.
He recalled how he once believed himself superior to Iruka. Iruka—the teacher who barely scraped through the academy, yet had the nerve to judge Naruto. And Naruto—the "dead last" who couldn't even perform a basic Clone Jutsu. How could Mizuki believe that he, of all people, would master the forbidden Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?
But then… he did.
The boy succeeded where Mizuki failed. It was the world's cruel joke. The so-called "Child of Prophecy" overcoming the very hurdles designed to break him. Mizuki could only watch as fate propped up its chosen hero—Naruto Uzumaki—while casting others, like himself, aside.
But now... with reincarnated memories and a second chance, things might be different. He couldn't rely on brute strength, but he had knowledge—an edge. He couldn't change the rules of the world, but he could navigate them better.
He thought back to Xunzi's philosophy: "Human nature is evil; goodness is acquired." Mizuki wasn't inherently malicious, but in this world, naive virtue was a luxury of protagonists. Hypocrisy would have to do for now. "Propriety and righteousness" were tools—not ideals. The sages had said as much.
Finally, he arrived at Hokage Rock.
"Sensei, you're so slow!" Naruto called, waving from atop the carved face of the Third Hokage. "I'm starving already!"
"Sorry, sorry," Mizuki replied with a chuckle. "But we've still got time."
"So, how do I pass the exam?" Naruto asked, eyes alight with anticipation.
"Don't rush, Naruto," Mizuki said, his tone soft. "Before that, I want to tell you something. About Iruka."
Naruto pouted, clearly not thrilled with the change of subject.
"Listen… Iruka-sensei isn't your enemy. He's an orphan too. He knows what loneliness feels like. If anything, he cares more about you than anyone else."
"I get that, but… why did he fail me? I want to be Hokage so people will respect me! How can I do that if I'm not even a ninja?"
"It's not that simple, Naruto," Mizuki said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Being a ninja isn't just about ninjutsu. It's about sacrifice, resolve… and being recognized by others."
"I will be recognized," Naruto said firmly. "I swear I'll become Hokage!"
Mizuki nodded slowly. "That's admirable, Naruto. But you said something wrong. You think becoming Hokage will make people acknowledge you. But in truth—only those who are already acknowledged by others can become Hokage."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Naruto blinked.
Mizuki exhaled quietly. "Never mind. You'll understand someday. For now… let's talk about that exam."
"Finally!"
"You failed because your Clone Jutsu was incomplete. But what if you could learn a more powerful jutsu? One that proves your potential, even to Iruka?"
"Really!? Can you teach me?" Naruto's face lit up.
"I wish I could," Mizuki said. "But I'm no expert. Still, I know of a secret technique—one sealed by the First Hokage himself. It's hidden in the Scroll of Seals. If you learn a technique from there, even Iruka will have to accept you."
"The Scroll of Seals? That sounds awesome! Where is it?!"
"I'll tell you. But remember, Naruto—this is top secret. Only a few even know of its existence."
Mizuki watched Naruto run off again, full of excitement.
"The first step is done," he murmured. "The 'brave' has gone off to train… and I'll be waiting in the shadows."
He sighed, looking toward the village.
Everyone else had destiny. Teammates. Power. A place.
Mizuki had none of that. Just memories, bitterness… and maybe, just maybe, a plan.
"Let's see where this second life leads. Even if one plus one doesn't equal two... it has to be better than one."