"Go to hell!" Mizuki roared, swinging the massive shuriken with deadly intent, thrusting it violently toward Naruto!
However… "Get out of my way!"
Naruto's killing intent erupted! His own chakra blended perfectly with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's. With a roar that ripped through the forest, waves of raw energy surged around him. Ignoring the pain, Naruto lashed out with a fierce kick, striking the massive shuriken directly!
*BOOM—*
The huge shuriken was sent flying, but Naruto's own right leg was sliced open by its sharp edge, and blood gushed out! At this moment, however, he couldn't even register the agony of the System's lightning attack, let alone a minor flesh wound.
Naruto closed the distance in an instant. Staring into Naruto's eyes, Mizuki was confronted by a terrifying, murderous aura, like facing a natural disaster, a Tailed Beast incarnate. For the first time, true fear and despair flooded his soul. "Please… don't kill me…"
But the boy standing before him was no longer the Naruto who would show mercy. After these days of transformation and rebirth, Naruto had already understood when he should stop, and when he should show no mercy!
His killing intent broke out! Naruto roared, his furious strength, the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra, his raging fighting spirit and murderous intent, and the amplification of his [Physical Monster] attribute all combined into this final, most terrifying blow.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
*BOOM!*
With a deafening crack, the kick connected with Mizuki's temple. A violent force erupted on impact, and his neck snapped with a sickening crunch. He was sent flying, his body twisting unnaturally before collapsing to the ground with a hideous expression. His legs twitched a few times, and then he fell completely, terrifyingly silent. He was dead.
The forest fell into a dead silence. Both Iruka and the Anbu ninja stared, stunned and speechless, at Mizuki's lifeless form.
At this moment, Naruto was still gasping for breath. The baptism of lightning continued. But his own fury, coupled with the chakra leaked from the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, made him seem unable to feel the intense pain. Only… at this point, Naruto had truly reached his limit. His eyes were burning like fire, and the scenery before him had become completely blurry. He looked at Iruka, who was also lying on the ground, as if muttering to himself.
"Iruka-sensei… are you… okay…?"
After saying this, Naruto completely fainted.
"Naruto!" Iruka paled at the sight, the severe pain and injury in his chest forgotten. An inexplicable surge of heat and power erupted within him. He desperately tried his best, trembling as he stood up again, and moved towards Naruto step by step, gritting his teeth. "Naruto… please be okay!"
Iruka was filled with worry and fear, self-blame and guilt, and all kinds of complicated emotions, which made it almost impossible for him to stay rational. At this moment, the Anbu ninja finally rushed forward and checked Naruto's condition.
"Iruka, don't get worried. Naruto should be fine. It's just that his chakra and strength were exhausted, and he fainted… Hm?"
Iruka had just breathed a sigh of relief, but when he heard the surprised voice of the Anbu, his heart suddenly jumped up again. "What… what happened?!"
The Anbu ninja frowned. "Naruto seems to have suffered a strong lightning attack. However, this shouldn't have been caused by Mizuki. That bastard doesn't know Lightning Release at all, and he didn't use any Lightning Release ninjutsu just now. How strange… It's just like the torture method Captain Morino Ibiki uses…"
"So, is Naruto okay?!"
"Don't worry. This lightning release may seem intense, but it actually seems to be very measured and didn't really hurt Naruto. This feeling seems familiar…"
Iruka finally reached Naruto with great difficulty. Then, he couldn't hold on any longer and fell beside him. He looked at this young, yet pained and haggard face, and a complex mix of emotions arose in his heart. "Naruto, I originally wanted to protect you, but unexpectedly, you saved my life instead. I'm such a failure as a teacher… But… you really shouldn't have taken such a big risk for me. Alas, I…"
The Anbu ninja patted Iruka's shoulder. "Let's talk about this later. We have to go back to Konoha Village immediately and tell Lord Hokage everything."
Fortunately, at this time, the supporting Anbu ninjas also arrived. Looking at Mizuki, Iruka, and especially Uzumaki Naruto lying on the ground, everyone was shocked! To be honest, even if Mizuki had successfully defected, or even if Iruka had died, it wouldn't have had a huge impact on Konoha Village. But if Naruto had died… all these Anbu who were responsible for monitoring and protecting Naruto on a daily basis would be committing the most serious dereliction of duty, and the consequences would be unimaginable! After all, he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha Village!
Only after hearing their companions' explanation did these men feel relieved. Someone supported Iruka, someone picked up Naruto, and someone else cleaned up Mizuki's body, and they all quickly returned to Konoha Village. At this moment, the night was gradually passing. Dawn was coming. Iruka looked at the faint light falling on Naruto's pale cheek and felt heartbroken. Two lines of tears finally slid down his face.
…
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help but take a few deep puffs from his pipe. Especially Naruto's condition, which made his old face twitch slightly. The Anbu were also dejected. "Hokage-sama, it is our fault that Naruto was put in danger. Please punish us, Hokage-sama!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "Iruka, are you okay?"
Iruka hurriedly said, "I-I'm fine, Hokage-sama! Let's check on Naruto's condition first! He… he…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Don't worry, I've already checked him. Naruto will be fine." He glanced at Mizuki's body and couldn't help but show a look of shock on his face. "I didn't expect that Naruto would actually kill Mizuki. After all, he was also a Chunin, and Naruto is just a kid who hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy. Did Naruto unleash the power of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox within him?"
These Anbu in the Hokage's office, along with Iruka, were all his trusted men, so Hiruzen Sarutobi had no reason to hold back. In fact, it had been Hiruzen himself who had asked Iruka to take care of Naruto in the first place.
The Anbu ninja said, "Naruto did have Tailed Beast Chakra leaking out at that time, but… his strength probably didn't just come from the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox inside him. Most of it was still his own power. In that state, Naruto was consumed with worry for Iruka, and coupled with his loathing for Mizuki, his murderous intent burst forth, which was indeed quite terrifying."
Iruka nodded as well. "However, Naruto did not completely go berserk and get controlled by the Tailed Beast. Although he was indeed a little agitated, he was able to control himself."
"Is that so?" Hiruzen Sarutobi exclaimed in admiration. "Not only his own strength, it seems that Naruto's grasp of actual combat is also very strong. A truly powerful person, when fighting, should be in a state of high morale and boiling with murderous intent, but not completely overwhelmed by this hostility."
Iruka also added, his voice thick with emotion, "Naruto… he has been working so incredibly hard recently. He… he saved my life. Hokage-sama, you asked me to take care of Naruto, but in the end, I was the one who got him into trouble, and he had to save my life. I'm so useless…" Iruka couldn't help but burst into tears, filled with remorse.
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "Iruka, don't blame yourself. I know you were the first to discover Mizuki's conspiracy because you cared about Naruto. You did nothing wrong."
"If anyone is truly guilty, it is me," Hiruzen said, his voice heavy. "Alas, I went to see Naruto in person, but he tricked me. I didn't see through his Shadow Clone and let him slip away right from under my nose. This is my incompetence…"
"Hokage-sama…"
"Okay, let's stop blaming each other. The important thing is what to do next."
The Anbu ninjas looked at each other. "Hokage-sama, Naruto witnessed this entire incident. I'm afraid it can't be concealed," one of them stated. "Besides, Mizuki was a teacher at the Ninja Academy. His sudden disappearance would cause unnecessary suspicion and trouble."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "I understand. Then let's do this…"