Iruka is Out
"I didn't lose… I'm still alive…"
Mizuki's final words barely left her lips before she drew her last breath. Her eyes, still staring into the distance, held a lingering desire for life.
[Darkness Value +100]
[Current Corruption Level: 3300]
Feng Xu's revenge against Mizuki earned him another 290 points of corruption value. There were advantages—and consequences.
At that moment, Naruto regained control of his senses. Relief at Mizuki's death washed over him, but it was quickly overshadowed by a stronger, conflicting feeling.
"Feng Xu… you killed someone!"
"You killed Mizuki-sensei!"
"You promised not to use my body to kill people!"
Naruto's emotions were a mix of excitement and fear. Excitement came from witnessing Feng Xu's sheer power—clearly beyond anything Naruto had seen. Fear stemmed from the brutal, psychopathic way Mizuki had been killed. He didn't want Feng Xu to become a killer who would lose his humanity.
[Master Personality Dependence Trust Value: 20%]
Feng Xu had anticipated a drop in Naruto's trust, but the decline was minimal—still around 20%. He had already gained a solid reputation in Naruto's eyes.
"I didn't kill indiscriminately. Even if I hadn't acted, that traitor Mizuki would have been dealt with by the village eventually."
Naruto reluctantly accepted this casual explanation.
"Alright… since you saved us, I'll forgive you this time."
"Forgive me?" Feng Xu's smile faltered. His brows knitted slightly, but he said nothing, his intentions toward Naruto never being particularly kind anyway.
Naruto didn't notice Feng Xu's fleeting emotion. Only when he saw the Book of Seals in Feng Xu's hands did he remember he hadn't finished learning the ninjutsu.
"Feng Xu! Give me back my body!"
There was no room for Feng Xu to resist. A tremendous suction force dragged his consciousness downward, and in the next moment, their identities were switched.
Naruto reappeared outside, fully in control of his body. Feng Xu returned to the void of consciousness.
"Wow… that's amazing!" Naruto exclaimed.
This was the first time he had actively switched personalities, and excitement surged through him.
Thinking of Feng Xu, forced to give up his body, Naruto quickly apologized:
"I'm sorry, Feng Xu! I'll let you out for some fresh air again when we get home!"
Then, his attention turned to learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
[Master Personality Dependence Trust Value: 30]
Feng Xu accepted the arrangement. The more opportunities he had to come out for 'fresh air,' the more he could make his own plans. Remaining a secondary personality confined to the consciousness space was never his goal.
---
Outside, Naruto successfully mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Naturally, he wanted to try it out immediately.
Several hand seals later, his presence filled the forest.
"What an amazing ninjutsu!"
"I feel like I could take on two of Mizuki-sensei now!"
As Naruto admired his handiwork, Iruka's surprised voice rang out from a tree branch behind him.
"Naruto! There are… so many Narutos!"
"Could this be a technique that creates multiple shadow clones?"
"Ah! Iruka-sensei!"
Naruto turned to face Iruka.
"You were sent by the Third Hokage, weren't you? But I've already learned a ninjutsu. Here—take this back and explain it to your great-grandfather!"
He handed the Book of Seals to Iruka and immediately fled, leaving clones behind to block the path.
As he ran, Naruto called out:
"And there's Teacher Mizuki! She betrayed me, tried to kill me, and steal my things! But I handled her. Teacher, make sure you tell Grandpa Three Generations!"
Iruka froze. His pupils contracted in shock.
"Shuimu… betrayed you, tried to kill you… and got killed instead!?"
"Naruto, wait! You need to explain all of this!"
But before Iruka could act, the clones prevented him from moving. Ahead lay Mizuki's mutilated corpse.
Iruka's fear and unease intensified. Naruto's shadow clones, coupled with the grisly sight, made him feel as if he were witnessing the Nine-Tailed Fox of twelve years ago.
Naruto's expression darkened as Iruka's fear became evident. The same fear and dislike Mizuki once held toward him now mirrored in Iruka's eyes.
Iruka realized he could no longer treat Naruto the same way. Sympathy for the orphaned child was extinguished by fear.
---
Suddenly, loud bangs echoed from the shadows.
A masked member of the Dark Guard emerged.
"No need to chase. The mission the Hokage gave you has already failed."
"Return the Book of Seals, and the Hokage will decide whether to continue your mission."
Iruka, still processing the scene, looked toward Naruto. The boy's distant expression made it clear—the mission had failed.
"I… I was just startled. I didn't mean to!"
Iruka tried to explain, but the ANBU member was uninterested. He grabbed Mizuki's body and disappeared.
Iruka sighed deeply, glancing toward Naruto's direction one last time. Then, he ran in another direction, choosing not to pursue or comfort him.
The gruesome image of Mizuki's mutilation replayed in his mind. Any sympathy Iruka had felt for Naruto's orphanhood had vanished. He now understood—he could no longer treat Naruto the same way as before.
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