The Scientist's Scheme Within a Scheme!

"I suspected from the start that Kazeka was acting strangely...

He agreed with Mizuki's plan regarding Naruto, then claimed he'd reported to the Hokage, only for the information to be intercepted halfway...

So it was all fake..."

Unable to see the scene before him, Iruka was furious:

"Kazeka's target was the Scroll of Seals from the very beginning!"

"But that doesn't make sense..."

A ninja among those who arrived questioned:

"Kazeka certainly has the ability to do this, but that kid has always been by the book.

That's also why he was never severely punished by Lord Hokage despite his recklessness...

He wouldn't put himself in such a dangerous situation to openly steal the Scroll of Seals!"

"It's useless to say anything now..."

Iruka shook his head:

"Regardless, we need to find Kazeka first!"

"Iruka, you're quite injured, you should rest first..."

The same ninja spoke to Iruka with concern:

"Naruto and Mizuki still need to be handed over to Lord Hokage, so you should go with them."

"That... would be fine..."

Iruka was well aware of his injuries; he wouldn't be able to move quickly even if he searched for Kazeka.

It was better to take the place of one of the ninjas escorting Naruto and Mizuki, so he agreed after some thought.

A large group of ninjas had arrived in a rush, and in the next second, they had vanished completely, leaving only Iruka and another Chunin escorting them.

In reality, this escort arrangement was already quite adequate.

Naruto had no injuries other than being startled and had basically recovered;

Mizuki was beaten black and blue and had basically lost the ability to move.

The reason two ninjas were left behind was only because Mizuki had hidden his true intentions so well.

No one expected the usually gentle and humble Mizuki to harbor such great ambition; this was to prevent him from having any further tricks up his sleeve!

"Don't worry too much, Iruka..."

The usually quiet Chunin Aoki, seeing Iruka frowning, offered rare comfort and handed him a water pouch:

"The main culprit, Mizuki, has been caught. From Kazeka's demeanor, it seems like a spur-of-the-moment decision, and it won't take long for everyone to find him.

After I deliver Naruto and Mizuki to Lord Hokage, I'll continue searching for Kazeka, so you don't need to worry too much.

You're badly injured; you should get medical treatment after the handover."

"What happened today is too big. Until everything is settled, how can I have the mood to go to the hospital..."

Iruka didn't take the water pouch, just frowned:

"My wounds have been treated urgently. After the handover, I'm still going to search for Kazeka!"

"Chunin Iruka truly has the village's best interests at heart..."

Aoki praised Iruka, then said with some distress:

"For a teacher like you, I almost can't bring myself to do it!"

"What!"

Hearing these strange words, Iruka was suddenly startled, then quickly distanced himself, exclaiming in shock:

"You... you're Kazeka!"

"Teacher Iruka is as vigilant as ever, not even drinking the water pouch I just gave you..."

With a puff of smoke, "Aoki" suddenly reverted to Kazeka's appearance:

"What a waste of the Coma Potion I specially prepared. It's colorless, odorless, and incredibly potent; it's always in high demand!"

"Kazeka, what did you do to Chunin Aoki!"

Iruka's eyes widened:

"What exactly are you trying to do..."

"Oh, I lured Chunin Aoki away with a bit of information I deliberately left behind. As for my objective..."

Kazeka's gaze fell on Mizuki:

"Teacher Iruka, you should have figured it out by now, right?"

"Figured what out..."

Naruto, still utterly bewildered, wore a blank expression:

"I don't understand any of this..."

"Mizuki, your original target was Mizuki!"

Unlike Naruto, Iruka's face lit up with sudden understanding:

"The risk of stealing the Scroll of Seals is too great, it doesn't align with your cost-benefit analysis.

But Mizuki is different. He dared to steal the Scroll of Seals, making him a rogue ninja, blacklisted by the village!

As a Chunin, Mizuki holds immense research value for you.

Furthermore, as a rogue ninja, even if you were to act against him, the Hokage would at most issue a minor punishment.

If you presented some research findings, perhaps the punishment would even be waived!"

"Is... is this true?"

Hearing this, Naruto felt a cold sweat break out on his back:

"Experimenting on fellow villagers is strictly forbidden by the village, isn't it?

And such a terrifying act, Third Grandpa wouldn't agree to it, would he..."

Although these things sounded bloodcurdling, Iruka understood that what he said was not wrong.

It was true that the Third Hokage opposed human experimentation, but once things "happened," he wasn't that pedantic.

After all, he was someone who had crawled out of the meat grinder of the battlefield; even if the Third Hokage was kind, he wasn't lacking in cunning methods!

"Kazeka, I cannot agree to your actions..."

Iruka drew his kunai and blocked Kazeka's path:

"Even if Mizuki strayed down the wrong path, he is still my friend.

I still want to help him, and I cannot hand him over to you.

Moreover, Kazeka, I've heard a saying: 'When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.'

Human experimentation will gradually darken your soul; I cannot watch you continue to fall like this!"

"Heh heh heh..."

Seeing that everything was exposed, Kazeka dropped the act:

"Teacher Iruka, give up struggling.

Right now, all the Chunin have been lured away by the 'clues' I left behind, leaving only you.

And you, severely injured, are no match for me!

Oh, right, even though you didn't drink from the water pouch I gave you just now, don't forget, I was the one who bandaged your wounds at the beginning!

Poisoning through a wound is incredibly easy.

The reason I've been talking to you for so long is to allow the poison to take effect!"

"What, no!"

Iruka's eyes widened suddenly, but his body uncontrollably slumped to the ground. An extremely strong sense of dizziness washed over him, and his consciousness plunged into darkness!

"You... don't come near me!"

Seeing Iruka completely collapse, Kazeka's gaze turned towards him, terrifying Naruto, who immediately let out a roar.

Watching Naruto's reaction, Kazeka narrowed his eyes:

"What you're saying now is probably for me not to leave, right?"

"Th-that's right!"

Hearing Kazeka's reminder, Naruto instantly came to his senses and also blocked Kazeka's path:

"Kazeka, after I trusted you so much, you actually set a trap for me!

You've done so many dangerous things; no matter what, I will stop you here!"

"Acquiring benefits through a series of schemes, isn't that just the most basic thing a person should possess, let alone a ninja..."

Kazeka yawned listlessly:

"Get out of the way. I don't have much time for experiments, so don't get in my way. Otherwise..."

Kazeka's eyes fixed dangerously on Naruto's crotch:

"When you were undergoing examination in my lab earlier, did you really think I only did the examination?

Don't make me activate my contingency plan and do something that will make you regret it for the rest of your life!"