Mizuki directly revealed the truth that Naruto was the incarnation of the Nine-Tails fox demon.
Naruto, who had already known this truth, appeared outwardly shocked and furious.
Because he was certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi was secretly watching him right now.
Mizuki continued to smile darkly: "You've been deceived by everyone in the village. Haven't you ever felt it was strange? Why are you so hated? Because you're nothing but a monster!"
Naruto kept roaring, "Damn it!"
Yet Mizuki kept provoking him: "No one will ever accept you! Everyone hates you!"
In a dark corner of the forest, a pair of eyes were staring toward where Naruto stood.
Those eyes belonged to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen frowned deeply: "Never thought Mizuki would push Naruto this far. So... come on, Naruto, what are you gonna do now?"
The Nine-Tails inside Naruto rumbled: "Watch your back, kid. Someone's watching you."
Naruto had already guessed, so even though the Nine-Tails warned him, he wasn't surprised at all.
Since Hiruzen hadn't come out to stop things even after Mizuki went this far, he must have wanted to see what Naruto would do.
"Damn!" Naruto suddenly leapt forward, rushing straight at Mizuki on the tree branch.
Mizuki sneered: "How ridiculous. Do you actually think you can beat me? I'm not planning on letting you live today anyway!"
Mizuki slammed a kick into Naruto, sending him flying backward and crashing onto the ground.
Naruto grunted in pain as he hit the ground, clutching his stomach and curling into a ball.
Immediately, Mizuki launched a sneak attack against Iruka, who was too stunned to react. A storm of kunai flew toward Iruka.
With no time to dodge, Iruka could only protect his vital areas as several kunai pierced into his body.
Bleeding and bruised, Iruka collapsed to the ground, barely managing to lift his head to glare at Mizuki's twisted expression: "Wh-why... why'd you turn out like this?"
Mizuki coldly said: "Iruka, did you really think we were friends? I've always hated you. Back then, when I said I wanted to be your friend, I was just pitying you for being an orphan. Yet you received encouragement and help from others. How is that fair?
How come you became a teacher at the academy, while I, because of just one small mistake during a mission, got stripped of my teaching eligibility and ended up as nothing more than your assistant?
It's just not fair! I'm clearly better than you! The only people who'd ever choose you over me must be blind!
If you hadn't shown up here today, I could've kept pretending to be your friend. But since you came here today, I can only kill you!"
Mizuki threw another kunai toward the fallen Iruka.
This kunai aimed directly at Iruka's head.
Suddenly,
A stone flew through the air and struck Mizuki's kunai.
The kunai deflected off course and lodged itself into the ground beside Iruka.
Both Mizuki and Iruka turned their gazes toward Naruto.
Tears still streaked down Naruto's face, but his eyes burned with fierce resolve as he faced Mizuki: "I'm not some damn demon fox!"
Hokage-jiji once said that everyone in the village is our comrade, our family. I won't hate them—they've just misunderstood me. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, a Genin of Konoha, and I will protect everyone!"
Iruka stared silently at Naruto.
Mizuki laughed maniacally. "How ridiculous! No one sees you as their comrade or family. Even Iruka, the well-known good guy of the village, hates you!"
Naruto declared firmly, "Maybe I can't change how others see me, but I will never let their opinions change who I am. I'll walk my own path with unwavering determination!
And you, Mizuki, you've betrayed Konoha and betrayed everyone. That means you're not one of us anymore—no longer my comrade, no longer my family. You're my enemy! If you're my enemy, I'll strike back a thousand times over!"
Mizuki sneered, "If you can do it, then try, Youko!"
Naruto formed hand seals with both hands and shouted, "Try my newly learned technique—[Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu]!"
*Poof!* A thick cloud of smoke filled the air.
When the smoke cleared, countless shadow clones surrounded Mizuki.
Seeing this, Mizuki immediately lost his composure: "W-What? How?"
From a distance, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched and smiled proudly. He thought Naruto had really come a long way under his guidance.
And what's more, Naruto was truly a genius—he managed to master the Scroll of Seals' forbidden jutsu—[Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu]—just by reading it!
Mizuki yanked out a kunai, but the fear on his face was plain to see.
The real Naruto, hidden among the clones, smirked slightly at the sight of Mizuki holding the kunai.
All the shadow clones lunged forward at once and pummeled Mizuki.
Naruto had originally assumed that as a Chunin, Mizuki would be quite strong—but Naruto had greatly overestimated Mizuki.
During the beating, Mizuki was literally scared stiff.
Mizuki let out a scream of pain.
But his scream was suddenly cut short.
All of Naruto's shadow clones dispersed, leaving only the real Naruto sitting on the ground, shocked, staring at Mizuki.
"I-I didn't mean to..."
In front of him lay Mizuki, blood pouring uncontrollably from his neck where a kunai was embedded.
Mizuki's eyes were vacant—dead.
Witnessing this scene, Iruka was stunned once again.
Mizuki had actually been killed by Naruto.
Naruto rushed to Mizuki's side, wanting to press down on the wound on his neck but not knowing exactly how to proceed.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally stepped forward, standing behind Naruto, saying gently, "Naruto."
Tears and snot streamed down Naruto's face as he cried, "H-Hokage-jiji... I-I killed someone!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Naruto's shoulder gently. He didn't even spare a glance for the dead Mizuki, then said to Naruto, "Naruto, as a ninja, sooner or later you'll have to face something like this.
Today, Mizuki manipulated you without your knowledge, and besides, he was a traitor to Konoha. You don't need to carry any psychological burden."
"And Naruto, you're not some demon fox from Konoha — you're a ninja of Konoha! You keep heading down that path, Naruto!"
With tears in his eyes, Naruto Uzumaki looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Yes, thank you, Grandpa Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and said, "I never thought Mizuki would go this far. Actually, it's I who should be thanking you, Naruto. You're the one who stopped Mizuki. If the Scroll of Seals had fallen into Mizuki's hands, it could've been a catastrophe for Konoha. You stopped that from ever happening."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, and two Anbu appeared beside Mizuki's corpse, taking the body away.
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