34 Naruto's mind

' That was so cool! '

Thought Naruto, as he saw Mizuki completely dominating his fight with Iruka.

With Iruka mysteriously getting knocked out at the end, it was definitely Mizuki's doing, he was like a ghost!

' He even put his hands in his pocket and everything, he will reach me all this right?! '

Naruto was really looking forward to fighting in such an awesome way, he wanted to be the one looking at Sasuke with a smirk like that as he beats him!

Naruto was a little sad when Mizuki had told him he couldn't teach him right now.

Naruto didn't have anyone to talk to, he cherished the time with Mizuki, so when Naruto was looking forward to talking a little with his sensei about ramen and Mizuki came and told Naruto he had a little Ninja duel with Iruka, Naruto being the neglected boy he was, took it upon himself to come and check what was Mizuki's and Iruka's duel like.

So he followed, uninvited, his years to running form pranks giving him the benifit of slipping past Mizuki's senses no doubt, and he was glad that he did, he got to see a really cool fight, where Mizuki sensei had vanished like a spectre!

Mizuki obviously sensed him following, his senses even outside sage mode were no joke, covering a large portion of Konoha, but he didn't stop the boy, why would he, that was Mizuki's intention to begin with, ' Ninja duel '. That's how Mizuki had worded it, thoroughly exciting Naruto, any other phrasing would such as a discussion between academy teacher's would get Naruto out of Mizuki's hair.

But he needed the boy to see this in particular, now that his work was done, Mizuki stopped caring about Naruto as he reached Iruka's home and deposited him on his bed.

' It was a three step process '

Thought Mizuki going over his plans.

' Spread my information around different sources that can be trusted by the higher ups, this step is all but finished, just a few little details remaining, I will see those through within this month. '

Mizuki lightly kept a water bottle on the table besides Iruka, he would need the drink after his disastrous defeat.

' The second step would be increasing my actual abilities, this is a work in progress, it would be the required if I am to achieve anything in this world, but for now this requirement is fulfilled, Jonin promotion wouldn't require much more '

Setting everything in it's place, Mizuki made his way out of Iruka's house, gently closing the door behind him.

' And that leaves the final step, it's a game between the higher ups, it would begin soon '

After what Mizuki had just done, utilising this unplanned, seemingly friendly duel with Iruka, he had kickstarted the third step. It could begin any moment, it might be today, or it might be the end of the month, but what is sure, is it will be start before this year's students graduate. And Naruto is the key kickstarting all this.

Mizuki was leaving Iruka's apartment complex, his colleague didn't have a little house like him, he was saving up the money for future use it would seem.

Mizuki went over his plans upto now, going through every link to see if he had missed something.

' Naruto will cover getting this little bout to Hokage's ears, within the graduation month Hokage has to visit Naruto at least once, with Naruto having not much material to talk about, he will sooner or later be talking about my match with Iruka, coupled with me actually trying to get him to pass, with him essentialy putting in a good word for me, I would be subjected to a thorough check '

Smiling Mizuki made his way down the road, his destination being his own home.

' The check would reveal nothing of course, original Mizuki, as opposed to his filler self was obviously much more clean, he wouldn't have gotten the job of being the academic instructor of the most important and influential batch of village with a nasty track record afterall. And I have already set up all the necessary conditions needed for a check at present as well, Iruka and Naruto will manage Hokage, ' Lumi ' will manage the root, unless something goes horribly wrong, something which had evaded my eyes completely, I should be all set to clear the check '

Mizuki narrowed his mouth as he thought of the future.

' Jonin should be within reach, afterwards it depends on the level of need the village has, would I be deployed on some important positions? Should I be relegated to background tasks or would I be taken in anbu directly, all of this will depend on the requirements present and amount of trust I have managed to gain, something Naruto will help me tremendously with '

Smirking Mizuki entered his yard as he pushed open the iron gates.

' I am one of Naruto's ' fetters ' after all, something tying him to the village, Hokage will do everything in his power to get me on his side and keep me safe for a while, at least until Naruto grows up and makes new fetters or my importance fades away, I should be safe within the village '

Aah the things I do to keep living, Mizuki shook his head as he went home with a smile, he has to change his clothes if he wants to begin today's practice.

A/N

Last of my stock chapter, figured I had more..

I think have a good enough idea regarding the results of poll. Unexpected outcome, but doable nonetheless.

So starting next, new story developments coming up.

Anyway, Enjoy!