First Battle

Several Kunai flew at Iruka from behind. He could dodge them, but Naruto would be in danger, so he threw himself over Naruto. The enemy did not attack Sasuke at all, completely treating him like an insignificant bystander. Sasuke was greatly dissatisfied by this. With a casual flick of his hand, he threw several Kunai and easily knocked aside the enemy's Ninja Tools.

"Oh? As expected of the Uchiha Clan's genius, Sasuke-kun, who always ranks first. Your reactions are truly quick." Mizuki's voice came from above. He stood on a nearby tree, looking down at them. Iruka was unharmed. At the same time, he had heard the clash of metal. Turning around, he saw Sasuke standing behind him, helping block the enemy's attack. Iruka immediately got to his feet. "Sasuke, take Naruto and return to the village quickly. I'll hold them off here."

Sasuke glanced at Iruka, who had stepped forward. He truly was a good teacher, but Sasuke had no intention of leaving. He wanted to test what he had learned over the past four years.

"There's no need to be nervous. It's only Mizuki. It's still uncertain whether he can even defeat you, sensei, let alone with Naruto and me here." Sasuke did not underestimate Naruto. His Chakra reserves were terrifying. During his practice earlier, he had created hundreds of clones. If he became angry, a Thousand Person Beatdown was entirely possible.

"Heh, what an ignorant brat. Iruka, it seems you've taught quite an excellent student. Uchiha boy, are you and Naruto friends?"

"Of course we are. Do you even need to ask? I'm sure you don't have any friends, because you're far too deceitful." Sasuke mocked him. This was the first time Naruto had heard Sasuke acknowledge that they were friends. They had never brought up the subject when they talked or ate together. Naruto had been afraid of not getting an answer, while Sasuke simply thought there was no need to say it.

"Heh. Then do you know what Naruto is?" Mizuki sneered. Sasuke knew what he was about to say, while Iruka froze for a moment before shouting, "Mizuki, don't say it!" He immediately threw several Shuriken, but Mizuki pulled the Giant Shuriken from his back and held it in front of himself. Amid a series of clangs, all the Shuriken fell to the ground.

"Don't be so hasty. We have plenty of time." What puzzled Sasuke most was this: why had the Third Hokage allowed Mizuki to say everything? And why had he not appeared even after Mizuki had clearly provoked Naruto? Was he testing Naruto? That was too cruel.

"Naruto is the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox—the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that once attacked the village. The Fourth Hokage and countless ninja died beneath the Demon Fox's claws, including Iruka's parents."

Iruka finally could not hold back any longer and rushed out. "You bastard!" Clutching Kunai in both hands, Iruka attacked. The two engaged in close combat, yet Mizuki still had the energy to continue. "Do you know why the people of the village dislike him? Because they're afraid. They all fear that Demon Fox. Hahaha! And you became friends with him. How laughable."

Naruto was stunned upon hearing the truth about himself. Then he slowly turned to look at Sasuke. Would his friend hate him like everyone else did? Sasuke sensed Naruto's gaze and gave him a smile before turning back to Mizuki. "I truly pity you. Is something so trivial really worth being so happy about? No matter what happened in the past, the Naruto I know is no Demon Fox, all right? He's Naruto, who can barely even graduate. He doesn't have the ability to destroy a village. Am I right?" With that, he looked at Naruto.

"Although I think that sounded pretty good, why do I feel like you were calling me stupid?" Naruto said blankly.

"Haha, see? This is Naruto—silly and absentminded, yet always full of energy. Mizuki, you really don't know the difference between life and death. I looked at the Scroll of Seals earlier. It contains countless advanced ninjutsu, even techniques belonging to several Hokage. Yet something so important was allowed to be carried out in the open by Naruto, and you actually thought victory was already yours. I really don't know what to say about you." As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, Mizuki realized something was wrong. In the instant he froze, Iruka's attacking foot slammed into his chest, sending Mizuki flying into a tree.

A perfect chance. Sasuke instantly threw several Kunai, each following a curved trajectory toward different parts of Mizuki's body. However, Mizuki was still a Chunin, and he had the Giant Shuriken in hand. With a sweep to either side, clangs rang out endlessly as he knocked the Kunai away. Yet Sasuke's attack was not over. His hands moved, and glittering Wire Strings reflected a cold, deep gleam under the moonlight. The Kunai seemed to come alive again, stabbing into the ground all around Mizuki.

"Haha, you're only a newly graduated brat after all. It seems your control technique still needs work." Mizuki mocked him, though he was already planning to flee. "Naruto, Iruka has always resented you. That's why you were never able to graduate." Even now, he did not forget to sow discord. "Naruto, come with me. As long as we offer the Scroll of Seals to Lord Orochimaru, we can learn even more advanced ninjutsu and make all those people who look down on you die!" Mizuki's face had twisted grotesquely.

"Hmph, Mizuki, shut your mouth. Naruto is Naruto. He is my student, not a Demon Fox." Sasuke had not been idle either. He brought his hands together, gathering all the Wire Strings into one place. "Fire Release! Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!" Bird-like flames burst from Sasuke's mouth and raced along the Wire Strings, instantly trapping Mizuki within a cramped space.

"Sasuke, do you think what he said is true?" Because of Sasuke's smile and answer earlier, the confused Naruto now trusted only Sasuke.

"You really are an idiot. When has Iruka-sensei ever given up on a student as stupid as you? Only when you were sleeping, late, skipping class..."

"Don't say that, Sasuke!" Naruto said, his face flushed bright red.

"All right, but sensei only scolded you at those times, didn't he? Usually, he cares about you a lot. Especially whenever you skip class, he always manages to catch you and bring you back. Come to think of it, sensei really understands you." After trapping Mizuki, Sasuke spoke with a smile.

"That's right! Mizuki, you big villain! I'm going to beat you to death!" Naruto thought about it and realized it was true. No matter where he hid, Iruka-sensei could always find him and drag him back to school.

"Heh, forget it. Looks like it's time for me to leave. These little tricks can't trap me." As he spoke, he raised the Giant Shuriken, intending to cut through the Wire Strings. Iruka immediately fired Shuriken to stop him, while Sasuke began forming hand seals at high speed. He would never neglect such a fundamental ninja skill. "Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!" Sasuke formed a seal before his mouth, took a deep breath, and exhaled a massive fireball directly at the area where Mizuki was trapped.

Boom. The fireball exploded, heat waves rolling outward. When the flames faded, Mizuki stood with the Giant Shuriken planted before him as a shield, though his body was still covered in severe burns. "Impressive. As expected of a genius. But it's still not enough." He was still talking at a time like this. The art of talking really was the strongest technique in the ninja world.

"Let me handle this." Naruto formed hand seals. "Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" A rapid series of poofs rang out as more than a thousand Narutos appeared. It seemed he was truly angry. "Naruto! Thousand Person Beatdown!" After a storm of impacts, Mizuki collapsed on the ground. "Sasuke, I'm stronger than you, right?" Naruto said with a hearty laugh.