Mizuki Saw Two Fox Spirits?

Mizuki Saw... Two Demon Foxes?

Iruka practically charged into the clearing in the woods.

His breathing was ragged, his forehead drenched in sweat, and the scar beneath his forehead protector looked even more striking in his anxiety.

He had searched all night, from the little waterfall downstream of the Naka River to the training grounds east of the village, then to the abandoned watchtower on the edge of the Forest of Death... He had gone through every "secret base" Menma had ever mentioned, yet still found no trace of Naruto.

Just as he was almost in despair, searching the forest west of the village—

He finally saw Naruto and Menma.

Naruto stood beside Menma, looking pitifully like a child who had done something wrong and was waiting to be punished. But at the very least, he was whole and uninjured.

And... Mizuki lay collapsed on the ground not far away.

The heart Iruka had kept suspended all night finally eased a little at that moment.

But immediately after, anger surged up.

"Naruto!" He landed in front of Naruto, and before the latter could react, he raised his hand!

Thud!

A merciless fist slammed down on Naruto's head.

"Ah! Ow, ow, ow—!!!" Naruto instantly clutched his head and jumped up, a red lump swelling visibly on his forehead.

"Iruka-sensei, what was that for?!"

"What was that for?!" Iruka's voice trembled slightly with emotion. He pointed at Naruto, even his finger shaking. "Do you have any idea what you've done?! The Scroll of Sealing! That's Konoha's forbidden technique scroll! How could you dare..."

Halfway through, Iruka suddenly stopped.

Because he noticed the confusion and grievance in Naruto's eyes. Those were not the eyes of a child who had deliberately done wrong.

They looked more like he had been tricked.

Iruka took a