"Go to hell!"Mizuki roared, his voice filled with malice, and he raised the giant Shuriken high above his head. In one swift motion, he stabbed it down towards Naruto with lethal intent.However—"Get lost!"The voice that echoed was no longer the gentle, inexperienced tone of the Naruto they all knew. This was Killer Naruto—the young ninja whose rage had fused with the monstrous power of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. His chakra surged violently, coiling around him like a living storm, crackling and raw.Naruto's own chakra perfectly merged with the Nine-Tails' energy, and with a deafening roar, a violent surge of air erupted. Ignoring the searing pain from the lightning-strike scars that still ran along his body, he lifted his leg and struck the giant Shuriken with a force that defied reason.Boom!The massive Shuriken flew backward, spinning uncontrollably through the air. Yet Naruto's right leg had not escaped unscathed. The jagged edge cut deep, and blood gushed freely. But at this point, pain had no meaning. The frenzy of his chakra, combined with the Nine-Tails' power, had rendered him almost impervious to physical suffering.Mizuki froze, suddenly pressed to the brink of defeat. Standing before him was not the Naruto he had once underestimated, the mischievous child of the Ninja Academy. No, this was a being of pure wrath—a storm wrapped in human form, a harbinger of chaos. For the first time in his life, Mizuki felt the cold, paralyzing grip of fear."You… you..." he stammered, his face pale."Don't kill me!" Mizuki begged, his voice trembling as he realized the truth. He was facing something far beyond the abilities of any ordinary ninja—or even himself.But Naruto showed no mercy. Years of hardship, ridicule, and betrayal had sharpened his instincts and his judgment. He had learned the balance between restraint and decisive action—and now, there was no turning back.A terrible aura began to radiate from him, the raw energy of the Nine-Tails mingling with his own fierce determination. Every muscle in his body tensed as he channeled his fury, amplifying his strength to terrifying levels. His signature trait, the legendary [Physical Strength Monster], had reached its apex. Naruto was no longer a child. He was a weapon.With a roar that shook the very trees around them, he leaped forward, releasing the full magnitude of his wrath."Leaf Whirlwind!"Boom!The attack struck Mizuki directly at the temple. The impact was cataclysmic. Mizuki's neck snapped with a sickening crunch, his body flying backward violently before crashing onto the ground. His legs twitched for a few agonizing seconds, but finally, the movement ceased. He lay there, utterly defeated, lifeless, and unrecognizable.The battlefield fell silent.Iruka and the ANBU operatives, who had been observing the fight, were frozen in shock. The sight before them was almost surreal. Mizuki—the traitorous ninja who had once appeared invincible—was dead. Naruto, on the other hand, lay panting heavily, his body battered, his energy nearly depleted, yet his presence radiated an aura of fearsome strength.Even as lightning continued to ripple chaotically around the area—a remnant of Mizuki's failed attempts—the young ninja seemed detached from the pain. The overwhelming fusion of his own fighting spirit and the Nine-Tails' chakra had made him almost untouchable in that moment.Eventually, the full extent of Naruto's exhaustion caught up with him. His eyes, still blazing like molten fire, began to dim as he looked around at the wreckage of the fight. He turned toward Iruka, lying weakly on the ground, and whispered, almost inaudibly, "Iruka-sensei… are you… alright…?"Then, without waiting for an answer, his body gave way, and he collapsed, utterly spent."Naruto!"Iruka's voice cracked with panic. He leapt forward despite his own injuries, his heart hammering with fear and guilt. Seeing Naruto in such a state, he felt an unfamiliar surge of helplessness. His mind raced with remorse and worry."You… you must be okay! You absolutely must!" he stammered, gripping Naruto's arm. The weight of all the emotions he had bottled up over the years—fear, guilt, shame, pride, and love—pushed him to the edge of collapse.The ANBU operatives quickly moved in, assessing the young ninja."Iruka, calm down," one of them instructed firmly. "Naruto isn't seriously hurt. He just ran out of chakra and strength. That's all.""I… I see…" Iruka murmured, relief washing over him, but only for a moment. Something still nagged at the ANBU."This Lightning Release… it's strange," another operative said. "Naruto received a powerful strike, yet it doesn't match Mizuki's abilities. He doesn't even know Lightning Release techniques."Iruka's brow furrowed. "Then… what happened?"The ANBU shook their heads, confusion mingling with awe. "It's familiar… almost like the interrogation techniques of Morino Ibiki-taichou. Intense, but measured."Iruka finally allowed himself to breathe, collapsing next to Naruto. His eyes filled with tears as he took in the young ninja's haggard, pale face. "I… I wanted to protect you… but… you… saved me instead," he whispered, his voice trembling with regret.The ANBU nodded solemnly. "Let's worry about that later. First, we need to get back to Konoha and report to Hokage-sama."As they carefully lifted Naruto and the fallen Mizuki, the night slowly gave way to dawn. Pale light spilled over the landscape, signaling the arrival of a new day. Iruka gazed at Naruto, the weight of both relief and lingering guilt pressing down on him. Tears slipped quietly down his cheeks as he whispered, "You… you shouldn't have had to do that…"In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the scene before him, pipe in hand, eyes narrowed in concern. Naruto's condition drew a sharp frown across the old man's face. The ANBU were tense, guilt and fear written plainly across their faces."Hokage-sama," one ANBU spoke quickly, "we let Naruto fall into danger. Please… punish us."Hiruzen shook his head. "Iruka, are you all right?"Iruka, still shaken, replied, "I… I'm fine, Hokage-sama. But… please… check on Naruto first."Hiruzen's eyes softened as he observed the young ninja. "He… he will be fine. I've already seen him."His gaze then shifted to Mizuki's body. Shock flickered across his face. "I didn't expect… Naruto to actually kill Mizuki," he murmured. "He's only a child, barely out of the Academy…"The ANBU and Iruka exchanged glances. Hiruzen continued, "Did he… unleash the Nine-Tails' chakra?"One ANBU stepped forward cautiously. "There was indeed leaked Tailed Beast chakra, but most of his strength came from himself. Naruto, because of his concern for Iruka and his anger toward Mizuki, was in a state of high killing intent. He was terrifying—but he didn't lose control completely."Iruka nodded solemnly. "He… he saved my life."Hiruzen placed a comforting hand on Iruka's shoulder. "You did nothing wrong. Your care for him uncovered Mizuki's treachery. The guilt lies with me—I failed to see through Naruto's shadow clones."The ANBU and Iruka exchanged silent nods. It was clear—no blame would solve anything. Action was needed."Hokage-sama," one ANBU finally said, "Naruto witnessed the incident. We can't keep it a secret. Mizuki's disappearance alone would draw suspicion. It's better to tell the truth."Hiruzen exhaled deeply. "I understand. Then… that is what we shall do."As the first light of dawn filtered into the Hokage's office, it illuminated the quiet determination on the faces of the village's protectors. Naruto, though unconscious, had already changed the course of events through his courage, his rage, and his unyielding spirit. The future of Konoha would never be the same again.
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