"Damn it…"Mizuki glared down, watching the shuriken bounce off the ground after grazing his forehead. Blood trickled between his brows as he snarled, turning that fury on Naruto.
"What's with that look?" Naruto leaned on his heel, smirking from above. "It suits you, y'know. Really brings out your inner traitor."
"You little brat…" Mizuki's lips twisted. "Fine then! You can die here too! I was going to take out Iruka first, but killing you will be a nice bonus. I'll grab the Sealed Book, join Lord Orochimaru, and finally get the recognition I deserve!"
"Recognition, huh?" Naruto's smile thinned. "Guess we'll see whose dream survives."
A kunai flashed into his hand. The air cracked as he launched himself from the tree branch, feet digging into bark before he shot forward like a thrown spear.
Mizuki barked a laugh. "A Genin? You think you can take me? I'm a Chunin, kid. Don't overestimate yourself!"
Naruto didn't reply. His eyes sharpened, focused. He wasn't pretending to be weak anymore—he just didn't care what others thought. The only thing that mattered was the end of the fight.
Steel clashed. Sparks burst like fireflies in the night.Each strike rang like a bell.Ding. Ding. Ding.
Mizuki's confidence faltered as the rhythm pushed him back. "Impossible… you're just a rookie!"
Naruto's grin widened. "Then what's that make you? A failure of a Chunin?"
Mizuki's teeth ground together. "I'll kill you!" He lunged forward, kunai whistling through the air.
Naruto sidestepped cleanly, his movements calm. "Your heart's a mess," he said quietly. "You're fighting scared."
Mizuki's eyes went wide. "You—!"
"Let's end this before ANBU show up."Naruto's tone changed—calm, cold. His chakra flared, golden heat licking around him. Mizuki hesitated for half a heartbeat, and that was all Naruto needed.
With one sharp parry, Naruto disarmed him—Mizuki's kunai went flying.Naruto spun, slammed a kick into Mizuki's gut, and sent him crashing backward through the trees.
"Wha—how!?" Mizuki roared, spinning helplessly in midair.
Naruto's fingers flew through seals. "Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!"
The night exploded in light.A four-meter fireball roared from Naruto's mouth and engulfed Mizuki before he could even scream properly.
The blast rocked the forest. Leaves rained like ash.
When the flames faded, Mizuki's charred body hit the dirt with a dull thud. He twitched once. Then stopped.
Naruto exhaled slowly. "Guess that settles that."
He turned to the fallen Iruka, voice softening. "Iruka-sensei… you okay?"
Iruka coughed, forcing a faint smile. "Still alive… barely. You… you beat him?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. "Yeah. Not that I planned to babysit a traitor tonight."
Iruka laughed weakly, then his head dropped, and he slumped unconscious.
Naruto sighed. "You're kidding me. You just had to faint now, huh?"
He looked at the Sealed Book beside him, then at the bodies. "Guess it's up to me again."
He formed a hand seal."Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Three clones appeared beside him in flashes of smoke.
"Alright, you guys grab Iruka and Mizuki. I'll carry the book. Let's wrap this up before ANBU make a dramatic entrance."
Naruto glanced once more at the dark forest. For a brief second, he smiled—not mockingly, not arrogantly. Just quietly satisfied.
"Next time, I'll make sure everyone knows what a real ninja looks like."