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"Huh?"
Mizuki voiced his confusion.
"Kagaya? Who's that? Hmm... Could it be that Uchiha Kagaya who defected before? So what if you have his acknowledgment? In the end, that guy is just a rogue ninja. Are you craving the acknowledgment of a rogue ninja? Hahahahahaha! Besides, that guy defected when he was so young. I wonder if he had a screw loose, really thinking the world outside the village is some kind of safe haven? Back when the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village was so tense, they didn't even dare to migrate as a whole clan. And he, a little brat, ran off alone outside. He's definitely dead by now, deader than dead!"
Naruto vehemently denied it, his emotions running high. "You're lying! Kagaya wouldn't die! He wouldn't! He's definitely alive and well! He's become really, really strong! Stronger than Iruka-sensei! Stronger than you! Stronger than everyone!"
Mizuki couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Are you out of your mind too? That Uchiha Kagaya, I admit he was a genius, but that's in the past. Right now, even finding his corpse might be a problem. Even if he is still alive, if he survived until now, he'd be at most Genin-level. If he showed up in front of me, I wouldn't mind killing him right before your eyes. I'd kill the Uchiha Kagaya you think is so strong with my own hands, just for you to see!"
On the tree branch.
"That bastard!"
Haku growled in anger. That guy named Mizuki was unforgivable!
"Kagaya, let me go! I need to teach him a lesson!"
Kagaya smiled slightly. "This is the first time I've seen you so angry, Haku."
Haku spoke furiously. "That guy said he wants to kill you, Kagaya! How can that be forgiven?!"
With that, Haku rushed out without even waiting for Kagaya's reply. It seemed he was truly furious.
Kagaya was slightly taken aback, then shook his head with a smile. Well, it was fine. Let Haku handle it; he wouldn't have to intervene himself. This way, he could avoid meeting Naruto for now. He just needed to get the Scroll of Seals.
Below, Naruto was just about to retort Mizuki's words, but before Naruto could speak, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Pay the price for your ignorance!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Countless senbon formed from Ice Release shot towards Mizuki on the branch.
"Huh?!"
Mizuki was startled and quickly jumped to another branch, avoiding Haku's Ice Release attack.
"Who's there?"
Haku, dressed in white, appeared on the branch where Mizuki had just been standing.
"You don't need to know. Ice Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
The branch Haku stood on began to freeze rapidly. Then, from the ice, countless senbon shot out, aiming for Mizuki again.
"Tch, crazy woman!" Mizuki cursed under his breath and jumped high into the air, avoiding Haku's attack.
Haku was a veritable beautiful youth. Although male, his exceptional looks and somewhat delicate features meant most people mistook him for a woman at first glance.
Mizuki jumped high, avoiding the senbon, but his movement had been anticipated by Haku.
"From that position, the optimal way to quickly evade my attack is to jump high. Therefore... Ice Release: Imprisonment!"
The senbon that had shot beneath Mizuki rapidly spread, freezing the entire branch. Then, a pillar of ice erupted violently from the frozen surface, instantly reaching Mizuki in mid-air and freezing half of his body. Mizuki was thus trapped by Haku in mid-air.
Haku looked coldly at Mizuki. "It's over!"
Mizuki drew the giant cross-shaped kunai from his back and frantically struck the ice trapping him, but he couldn't break Haku's ice at all.
"Damn it! Why won't it break?!"
In his frustration, Mizuki threw the giant kunai at Haku, hoping this move would defeat him.
However, Haku simply sidestepped slightly and avoided Mizuki's attack.
"Ice Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
Countless Ice Release senbon shot forth, aimed at Mizuki.
This time, Mizuki could no longer dodge!
"No! No! Wait!" Mizuki screamed in terror.
Yet, Haku didn't pause even slightly because of his words.
Haku just spoke coldly. "Remember, Kagaya is not someone a weakling like you can casually insult!"
Mizuki's eyes widened. Kagaya? What Kagaya? That Uchiha Kagaya? Was the person before him sent by that Uchiha Kagaya? Was someone this strong merely following Uchiha Kagaya's orders?
Just because he said those things, all his plans were ruined? The Scroll of Seals was right there! Damn it! Damn it! I shouldn't have talked about that Uchiha Kagaya, I shouldn't have...
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
The senbon pierced Mizuki's body. Haku was unable to kill, so Mizuki didn't die, but blood spilled everywhere. It was clear that Mizuki wouldn't escape without serious injuries.
The ice began to shatter. As it broke, Mizuki fell heavily to the ground, unconscious.
"Who... who are you? A ninja from another country?" Iruka looked at Haku cautiously. Why did such a strong person suddenly appear? This person, who could easily handle Mizuki, could undoubtedly just as easily deal with him in his injured state.
Haku ignored him and instead looked at Naruto. "What's your name?"
Naruto was startled. He didn't know why this person was asking, but he answered anyway. "I... I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"
Whoosh!
In an instant, Haku appeared right in front of Naruto, startling him into stumbling back a few steps.
Haku reached out his hand and spoke to Naruto. "Can you give me the scroll on your back?"
"No! Naruto, you must never hand over that scroll!" Before Naruto could reply, Iruka shouted loudly. The Scroll of Seals was far too important; it had to be protected no matter what!
Naruto took the scroll hanging on his back and held it tightly in front of him. "I don't know you! I... I won't give it to you!"
Clearly, when facing Mizuki, since Naruto knew both Mizuki and Iruka, he couldn't immediately decide whom to believe. But facing Haku, whom he didn't know at all, Naruto unhesitatingly chose to trust Iruka.
Haku frowned, momentarily unsure what to do.
He had attacked Mizuki because Mizuki had spoken disrespectfully about Kagaya, so Haku could act without hesitation. But facing a combination like Naruto and Iruka—a child and an injured person—the kind-hearted Haku was somewhat reluctant to use force. Therefore, Haku smiled slightly; he decided to try negotiation first.
"There is someone who truly needs the scroll in your hands. Please, hand it over to me!"
Naruto clung desperately to the Scroll of Seals. "Even if you smile so nicely, big sister, I still won't give you the scroll!"
Haku's smile faltered. Big sister? So this child had also mistaken his gender. But that wasn't important. What was important was helping Kagaya obtain this scroll.
Kagaya had told him that the purpose of coming here was for this scroll. Haku had to get it for Kagaya!
"Really, you won't? There's no harm in giving me the scroll, you know!"
Haku continued to persuade. Someone as kind-hearted as him genuinely didn't want to use force against the child before him.