For Mizuki, everything happening tonight was almost trivial, like a stroll through a familiar park. He moved with ease and precision, his thoughts sharply focused on his mission as he sped through the darkness. The Forest of Death, located on the outskirts of Konoha Village, loomed ahead. Its dense trees and shadows made it the perfect place for a confrontation, one in which Mizuki felt confident he could easily overpower anyone who dared to pursue him.Behind him, Iruka was in relentless pursuit, his heart burning with a mixture of anger, fear, and sorrow. The pain in his arm from earlier battles gnawed at him, but it was nothing compared to the worry and shock he felt for the events unfolding around him. "Mizuki! Stop right there! Tell me the truth!" Iruka shouted, his voice raw and desperate.Mizuki, however, paid no heed. Almost reaching the edge of the village, he suddenly froze on a tree branch, his eyes narrowing with deadly intent. With a swift movement, he drew a massive shuriken from behind his back and hurled it toward Iruka with frightening precision.Bang!The sound of the shuriken slicing through the air was deafening. But this time, Iruka was ready. With a quick sidestep, he narrowly avoided the deadly projectile. Mizuki, far from slowing down, pressed the attack, drawing a kunai and thrusting it downward toward Iruka's chest with lethal intent."Dammit, Iruka!" Mizuki's voice was cold, filled with a cruel satisfaction.Caught off guard, Iruka barely managed to parry the strike with his own kunai. The clash of metal rang sharply through the night. But Mizuki was relentless. With a powerful slash, he cut across Iruka's chest, the blade carving a deep wound. Blood immediately gushed from the wound, staining the leaves below."Ahhh—!" Iruka cried, his body losing balance as he fell from the branch. He landed painfully on the forest floor, his body battered but still alive.Seizing the opportunity, Mizuki leapt down after him, his kunai raised to strike at Iruka's neck. The cold edge of the weapon hovered just inches from Iruka's throat."Iruka, I've hated you for a long time…" Mizuki hissed. "And now, you dare to interfere with my plans! I can't let you live..."The tension in the forest was palpable. Every leaf, every shadow seemed to tremble as the two former comrades faced off in a deadly dance of attack and defense.---Meanwhile, back in Konoha, Naruto struggled with his heavy burden, the enormous scroll strapped to his back. His legs ached, and sweat poured down his face as he frog-jumped home, eager to reach safety. He climbed the stairs, only to find a familiar figure blocking his path."L-Lord Third Hokage?!" Naruto stammered, feeling an unfamiliar pang of guilt.The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood there, his face serious and composed, but his eyes betraying his concern."Naruto," Hiruzen began, puffing slowly on his pipe, "I need to ask you a question. And you must not hide anything from me.""W-What question, Lord Third Hokage?" Naruto asked nervously."What did Mizuki tell you?" Hiruzen asked, his voice deep and steady.Naruto froze. Memories of Mizuki's manipulations and half-truths flashed through his mind. He remembered promising Mizuki that he would not reveal anything, and a part of him wanted to honor that promise. "He… he didn't say anything," Naruto murmured, avoiding the Hokage's piercing gaze.Hiruzen exhaled slowly, the smoke curling up in the dim light. "Naruto, what Mizuki wants you to do is extremely dangerous. He's using you as a pawn, and I fear… he may have already betrayed Konoha."The word "betrayal" struck Naruto like a lightning bolt. His eyes widened in shock and fear. "W-What did you say?" he gasped.Hiruzen nodded gravely. "You should understand the gravity of the situation now. Tell me the truth, Naruto."Swallowing hard, Naruto recounted everything Mizuki had told him. Hiruzen listened intently, nodding slightly as the story unfolded. It aligned perfectly with what he had suspected."I… I just wanted to…," Naruto stammered, guilt heavy in his chest.Hiruzen patted him gently on the shoulder. "It's alright, Naruto. You didn't actually do anything wrong. You realized your mistake before it was too late. That shows great courage and wisdom."Relief washed over Naruto, but only briefly. His mind immediately shifted to Iruka. "Teacher Mizuki… he… where is he now?"Hiruzen's expression changed slightly. He coughed, considering how much to reveal. "Don't worry. He won't escape. I've already dispatched the Anbu to pursue him."But before Naruto could process this, an Anbu suddenly appeared from the darkness."Hokage-sama! The Anbu have split into two groups, heading towards the Forest of Death to intercept Mizuki. They should catch up with Iruka shortly!"Hiruzen's face tightened with concern. Naruto's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Iruka's name."T-Teacher Iruka?!" he exclaimed. "He… he went after Mizuki?"Hiruzen reassured him quickly, trying to calm the young ninja's panic. "Iruka discovered Mizuki's location and went with the Anbu to investigate. With them, he will be fine. Once Mizuki is captured, I will report back to you. Go home and wait for news."Naruto nodded, but inside, his mind was a whirlwind of worry. He knew he couldn't sit idly by. His training, his meals, even his very breathing felt meaningless while Iruka was in danger. Yet, he also understood the Hokage's authority and rules. He had to appear calm and obedient.As he returned home, Naruto concealed his true intent. In the shadows of the staircase, he quietly performed the Shadow Clone Technique. The Naruto who climbed the stairs and entered the house was only a clone. His real body slipped out of the window behind the stairs, moving swiftly and silently toward the outskirts of Konoha.Iruka wasn't just a teacher to Naruto—he was a friend, a mentor, and the closest thing to family Naruto had ever known. The thought of him in danger ignited a fierce determination in Naruto's heart."The Forest of Death…" he muttered under his breath. "That's where Mizuki is… and I won't let him harm Iruka. I'll make him pay for this!"Every step of Naruto's journey was fueled by urgency and emotion. The guilt of having trusted Mizuki, combined with worry for Iruka, made his movements almost frantic. His body and mind were pushed to their limits, yet he never slowed down.---High above, the Anbu quietly observed Naruto from the rooftops, ensuring that no unauthorized movements could escape their notice. They watched the clone inside the house, believing everything to be normal. Meanwhile, the real Naruto sped toward his goal, a shadow among the trees."Iruka… please be safe," he whispered, the night air carrying his voice. "I won't let anything happen to you."With every fiber of his being focused on his mission, Naruto raced through the night. His heart pounded with anticipation, fear, and determination. He could not fail—not when the safety of someone so important to him depended on it.As the night deepened and the forest drew near, Naruto's resolve hardened. No obstacle, no enemy, no fear could deter him. He had a mission: protect Iruka, confront Mizuki, and ensure that justice was served.And so, in the quiet of the night, a lone figure dashed through the shadows, determined to face danger head-on. The Forest of Death awaited, and the storm of confrontation was about to begin.Naruto's journey had only just taken its most perilous turn. But one thing was certain—he would not let anyone he cared about be harmed.
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