My Name Is Namikaze Naruto - Chapter 23

Standing on the tree trunk, Mizuki seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. His loud and arrogant laughter, the shuriken quickly appearing in his palm, and his words full of killing intent, all combined with his increasingly insane and twisted smile showed the pure malice in his eyes.

The cold gleam of metal.
The spreading sense of dread.
These added to the already somber atmosphere of the moonlit night.

Mizuki’s killing intent was blatantly clear, met with a scarlet gaze from his opponent.

This made Iruka’s heart grow colder. His once close friend had vanished.

All that remained before him was the traitor of the village—Mizuki!!!

Iruka’s duty was to eliminate this rogue ninja! This was his obligation as a ninja of Konoha!

Moreover, Mizuki’s words gave Iruka some comfort.

It seemed Naruto had merely been deceived by Mizuki and hadn’t become his accomplice, nor had he betrayed the village out of resentment.

This had been Iruka’s initial suspicion.

Now, Mizuki had inadvertently confirmed it. Just this alone was enough to ease Iruka’s mind. Given the current situation, Mizuki hadn’t met with Naruto yet. Things hadn’t reached the worst-case scenario.

So, Iruka needed to deal with Mizuki here, find Naruto, retrieve the Scroll of Seals, and explain everything to the Hokage. An apology from Naruto should resolve the matter.

This was Iruka’s plan.

Little did the naive Iruka realize.

Everything happening here was within the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expectations. More importantly, the renowned Kakashi Hatake was already on his way, if not already nearby.

Of course.

Mizuki, who fancied himself a genius but was actually a fool, had no idea that his every move was under Konoha’s, under the Third Hokage’s control.

He was still dreaming of killing Iruka, finding Naruto, then killing Naruto and taking the Scroll of Seals.

“Iruka! Go to hell!”

“Boom!”

A burst of energy exploded.

A figure darted out swiftly.

“Whoosh”

That fast-moving figure.

With a cold shout, Mizuki rapidly approached Iruka, swinging his arm.

“Whizz whizz whizz whizz whizz”

Shuriken flew swiftly from his palm.

Aimed directly at Iruka’s vital points.

“Clang!”

The flashing cold light.

Iruka’s eyes narrowed, swiftly catching the shuriken’s trajectory. He quickly dodged several shuriken, twirling a kunai in his hand to deflect the remaining ones.

The next moment.

Before Iruka could catch his breath.

Mizuki was already closing in, grinning savagely. His eyes gleamed with a terrifying red light, and with a flip of his hand, a kunai appeared in Mizuki’s palm.

A cold aura.

Intertwined figures.

Mizuki’s fierce assault.

The chilling gleam of metal reflected in his eyes.

Iruka’s pupils constricted, instinctively turning and swinging his arm.

“Clang!”

In the night.

Two kunai clashed violently.

Sparks flew as they collided.

It seemed like an even match.

But upon closer inspection.

Iruka’s slightly trembling arm showed that Mizuki was overpowering him.

The heavy sensation, and the chilling glint from Mizuki’s kunai, even gave Iruka a faint, cold pain.

‘Is Mizuki really this strong?’

Iruka struggled to withstand Mizuki’s powerful attack, a trace of shock appearing in his eyes.

Mizuki, reading the meaning in Iruka’s eyes, licked his lips with a more terrifying grin.

He leaned forward, increasing his strength.

Pushing his kunai closer to Iruka’s face.

“Iruka! You and I are different. The peaceful life at the Academy has made you weak! You’re not even worthy of being called a ninja! Die here!”

With those words.

Mizuki’s face showed a fierce look, quickly sidestepping and swinging his body, his left leg sweeping towards Iruka’s lower body, forcing him back with his kunai, and aiming directly at Iruka’s chest.

“Clang!”

A direct assault.

A barely managed reaction.

Although Iruka blocked Mizuki’s kunai again at the last moment.

He couldn’t block the side attack.

A low blow.

Mizuki’s left foot slammed into Iruka’s abdomen.

In an instant.

The powerful force was felt.

Iruka winced in pain.

Before he could react.

His body flew backward.

“Bang!”

He crashed into a tree behind him, a dull thud echoing as intense pain radiated from his back and abdomen.

Iruka groaned a sweet taste in his throat, and couldn’t hold back the blood spurting from his mouth, making him look even more disheveled.

“Haha! Do you feel the power difference, Iruka? A Chunin? You’re a joke! You’re not even as good as a Genin!”

Seeing Iruka’s pathetic state.

Mizuki’s mocking expression grew more intense. He wasn’t in a hurry like a cat playing with a mouse. He glanced at his kunai, noticed a small nick, frowned, and casually tossed it away, replacing it with a new one.

“Iruka-sensei!”

In the midst of their rapid battle.

In just a few seconds.

Naruto had already moved to a closer position. He initially wanted to wait for an opportunity, but seeing Iruka being overwhelmed, Naruto’s heart filled with urgency.

Yet, even now.

Naruto forced himself to remain calm, not acting rashly.

Moving a bit closer.

Looking for a chance.

A true ninja walks the edge of life and death, suppresses their presence, reduces their existence, and strikes decisively in the dark. A true ninja kills with a single blow, not needing a second strike.

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