Naruto: Mizuki The Savior

Chapter 30: Getting Addicted to Being a Villain

While the second stage of the Chūnin Exams raged on within the Forest of Death, Mizuki was leisurely strolling through the streets of Konoha, deliberately lingering around bars and women's bathhouses.

Not that he had any interest in indulging in such places—his life was already a resounding success compared to his previous one.

But there was something he needed to confirm.

"That white-haired guy… should be Jiraiya."

Mizuki spotted the infamous Pervy Sage peeping outside a women's outdoor bathhouse.

This put him at ease.

"If this guy hadn't returned on schedule, who knows if Konoha would've been able to fend off Orochimaru and Sunagakure's joint invasion. If something unexpected happened, the village could suffer catastrophic losses, and that would be a major problem."

With his concerns put to rest, Mizuki turned to leave.

But then, a new idea struck him.

Turning back, he began making his way toward the Hokage's Office.

At the office door, Mizuki knocked.

"Come in," came Hiruzen's voice. The village had been in turmoil these past few days, so the Third Hokage was likely swamped with work.

Mizuki entered, closing the door behind him.

"Mizuki?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "As far as I recall, you don't have any assignments right now. What brings you here?"

"I have an important intelligence report, Hokage-sama."

"Oh?" Hiruzen put down his work, sensing the serious tone in Mizuki's voice. "What is it about?"

"It concerns Jiraiya-sama."

"Jiraiya?" This was unexpected. "Where did you see him?"

"Near the women's outdoor bathhouse."

"...Ahem."

A moment of awkward silence.

The location alone made it almost certain the information was accurate.

"You weren't spotted, were you? And you haven't told anyone else?"

"No, sir. I only noticed it by chance and came straight here. I wasn't detected, nor have I informed anyone else."

"Good." Hiruzen nodded, issuing a brief order. "Keep this information to yourself."

"I understand."

"You're dismissed."

"Yes, sir."

Mizuki left.

Hiruzen leaned back, opening a sealed intelligence report regarding suspicious activity from Otogakure and Sunagakure from a month ago.

"Jiraiya, did you sense something wrong too? Hopefully, this is just a false alarm…"

While exam candidates fought for survival, Mizuki's clone had already infiltrated the forest using camouflaged water-based organisms—small, nearly transparent jellyfish-like creatures that shimmered faintly as they drifted toward the shore.

Had it not been for the collective distortion of light caused by their numbers, no one would have noticed them.

Once they reached the riverbank, a small humanoid figure surfaced—Mizuki's imitation Jinchūriki.

Relying on a concealment barrier generated by the jellyfish, combined with his detailed knowledge of the terrain from a previous mission, he had slipped into the forest undetected.

"Good, still on track. Weaker candidates wouldn't have made it far. My guess was right."

He checked the hidden markers he had left earlier, making tracking effortless.

Avoiding conflict was his top priority. He wasn't Orochimaru—he couldn't afford to act recklessly.

"There they are."

Mizuki found his targets perched on a thick tree branch below—Team Kusagakure, a standard two-male, one-female squad.

They weren't the fake Grass ninja disguised by Orochimaru, but Karin's original team.

Mizuki had planned carefully.

He couldn't afford to mess with Orochimaru or Kabuto.

Messing with Suna was also out of the question.

And Jinchūriki?

Definitely not. That was a political nightmare.

Even targeting Konoha's rookies was too risky.

Mizuki had been fortunate to collect blood samples in Wave Country without raising suspicion. But anything more? Too dangerous.

That left Karin.

A Uzumaki orphan with a special healing ability.

More importantly—she might hold clues to the Reaper Death Seal.

If he could use Karin to locate the Shinigami Mask, that would be invaluable.

Seeing Karin hadn't been approached by Sasuke yet put him at ease.

And Orochimaru?

That snake was still sulking after his defeat at Itachi's hands—far more interested in the Sharingan than some weak girl.

"This is my last chance to abduct her before someone else does."

Mizuki spent half a day setting up barriers and traps around Karin's team, waiting for the perfect moment to isolate her.

Watching her teammates get pummeled, he couldn't help but shake his head.

"Unlucky bastards."

They weren't weak, but they also weren't strong.

With Karin acting as a healing battery, they should have had a fair chance.

Unfortunately, this year's Chūnin Exam was stacked with monsters.

They simply weren't good enough.

Watching them vent their frustration on Karin after every defeat, Mizuki knew they were doomed.

"Even if they survive this exam, they'll never make it far."

Suddenly, a proximity alarm went off.

"Sasuke?"

Mizuki was shocked. He had expected him to arrive later that evening.

"Oh well. This works too."

Sasuke was the perfect test subject.

Mizuki formed a Shadow Clone, transforming it into a Grass ninja.

Meanwhile, Sasuke was out fetching water when he stumbled upon Mizuki's traps.

Already frustrated from his fight with Rock Lee, Sasuke was itching for payback.

When he detected movement, he immediately gave chase.

But as he stepped forward—

Kunai rained down from above.

His body tensed.

Then—the tree branch beneath him burst into flames.

"Shit—! I was careless!"

The ensuing explosions engulfed him in smoke and shrapnel, hurling him backward.

From his hidden vantage point, Mizuki sneered.

"Typical Konoha arrogance. Chasing after enemies alone? He never even considered an ambush."

As the chakra-based illusions activated, dozens of masked Grass nin appeared, surrounding Sasuke.

"Let's give him a taste of what's to come."

Trapped, Sasuke quickly retaliated.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

A massive sphere of flames surged forward, scorching everything in its path.

"Heh. As if that would work."

A distant voice echoed through the illusion—Mizuki, using a projection technique.

"So, this is all the Uchiha have to offer?"

Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"You know about the Uchiha?"

"Of course. The only Uchiha left alive is some pathetic failure, left to rot like the coward he is."

Sasuke's eyes flashed with fury.

"You bastard…!"

Mizuki smirked.

The more experience he gained as a villain, the more he enjoyed it.

Nothing felt quite as satisfying as getting under someone's skin.

And with Sasuke? It was far too easy.

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