But before Iruka could move,
Naruto's figure flashed first. With a quick sidestep, he opened up some distance and placed himself directly in front of Iruka.
"No! I'm absolutely not running away, Iruka-sensei! Leave this to me. I'll definitely defeat him!"
Run away?
No!
Even though Mizuki's appearance was very different from how it had been in the original story, and even though Naruto could feel the threat of death at that very moment, the unknown green liquid was clearly something that could instantly boost a person's strength. This was a major departure from the original plan, and things were unfolding even more differently than in the original story, but Naruto would never choose to abandon Iruka here.
Almost everyone in this village was someone Naruto resented.
For all twelve years since coming to this world, Naruto had lived almost entirely with hatred.
But even in this world, in this kind of life,
there were still a precious few glimmers of light deep in Naruto's heart.
And Iruka was undoubtedly one of them. In the six years they had known each other, Naruto could clearly see and feel Iruka's sincerity and care for him. Iruka treated him like a younger brother, and Naruto wouldn't—couldn't—abandon him, even if it meant staking his life here.
Naruto wouldn't hesitate.
So,
he absolutely had to protect Iruka-sensei here.
Even though Naruto's right hand, gripping the Kunai, was trembling slightly, his resolve remained unshaken.
After coming to this world,
after truly understanding what a cruel place it was,
Naruto had long since prepared himself for what that meant.
If you wanted to kill someone,
you had to be prepared to be killed yourself!!!
Mustering all the courage he had, Naruto's eyes glowed with an extraordinarily brilliant golden light.
"Naruto, you..."
"Iruka-sensei, once I defeat Mizuki, you have to acknowledge that I've graduated! You said you'd put that Forehead Protector on me yourself!!!"
He glanced back with a bright smile.
It was as if his smile were infectious.
His words made his resolve clear.
The unyielding determination pouring from him
left Iruka's next words stuck in his throat. He slowly swallowed them back.
Iruka stared blankly at the figure standing before him. The boy wasn't all that tall, yet he stood firm, shielding Iruka behind him.
"Naruto's grown up..."
That was the only thought that crossed Iruka's mind at that moment.
Mizuki glared straight at Naruto, who was shielding Iruka behind him with a look that could devour him whole. Naruto's words only made Mizuki's expression more terrifying, his face twisted with mockery and cruelty.
"Defeat me? Become a Genin? There's a limit to how clueless you can be, brat! Just wait—I'll show you how I tear you limb from limb! You want to be a ninja!? Maybe in your next life!"
Mizuki had been distracted for only a moment, yet a rookie who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy had managed to get the drop on him. For someone as convinced of his own strength as Mizuki,
that was an unbearable humiliation. He had to repay Naruto a hundredfold to soothe his rage.
"Die, brat!"
A bloodthirsty look appeared on Mizuki's face, a red gleam shining in his eyes.
The next instant!
A terrifying aura burst from him.
He stepped forward!
His body swayed!
He moved like thunder.
His figure flashed like the wind.
Boom!
A tremendous force erupted.
In an instant,
his figure closed in at full speed.
"Multi-Shadow..."
Naruto's pupils contracted sharply. He wanted to form the Hand Seals, but there was clearly no time.
In less than half a second,
Mizuki's figure was already upon him.
With Iruka behind him,
Naruto had no choice
but to press forward.
He met Mizuki's charge head-on.
The Kunai thrust forward.
Naruto shifted his stance, opening up some distance as he darted sideways.
Clang!
A sharp, grating sound rang out.
Their figures overlapped.
The two Kunai clashed.
The next moment,
sparks burst between them,
their metallic gleam reflecting the light.
"So heavy!"
Naruto was completely outmatched in strength.
Before he could fully react,
Mizuki swung his arm with a sudden, swift motion.
"Not good!"
In that instant,
Mizuki closed in and changed his move,
making Naruto's expression shift.
Naruto barely managed to react,
swinging his arm with all his strength.
"Hmph! A cheap trick!"
Naruto had tried to counter Mizuki and use the force to pull away.
But Mizuki had anticipated it completely.
Thanks to the green liquid he had injected, Mizuki's explosive strength was far beyond what it had been in the original story. Combined with the gap in their combat experience, it was an insurmountable gulf.
"Not good!"
Mizuki gave Naruto no chance to press the attack.
He spun around with a swift, powerful motion.
Clang!
Their Kunai clashed violently once more.
The next moment,
Mizuki reversed his grip. Using the force of his forward momentum, he twisted sideways in an almost exaggerated motion and forcibly dragged Naruto's Kunai to one side. Before Naruto could react, within that brief span of less than half a second,
Mizuki thrust his Kunai across and drove it toward Naruto's chest.
In the blink of an eye,
Naruto felt the chilling aura head-on.
It was as if,
at that moment,
he could even smell the "stench" emanating from Mizuki.
Naruto's eyes widened. He clenched his lower lip and forced his body to shift toward the right.
Squish!
He had reacted quickly, and his evasive move had been the right one.
But he had still missed the best moment to dodge, and Mizuki was faster.
The Kunai still pierced Naruto's left shoulder without resistance.
Metal tore through flesh.
Blood sprayed out.
Naruto's brow furrowed.
Clenching his teeth, he took a sidestep, trying to pull away and avoid Mizuki's assault.
Whoosh!
But Mizuki clearly had no intention of letting Naruto off so easily. He bent low, sprang forward, and swung his left leg with tremendous force, kicking Naruto hard.
Thud!
A heavy blow.
"Ugh!"
A cramping pain twisted Naruto's abdomen. His throat burned, and he couldn't stop a mouthful of blood from spraying out.
His body flew backward.
Thump!
He crashed heavily onto the ground.
Dust rose into the air.
Before it could settle,
Boom!
A crimson gleam appeared in Mizuki's eyes. He turned sharply and charged at Naruto once more.
"Naruto!!"
As Naruto flew backward and Mizuki bore down on him,
Iruka, standing not far away, couldn't help but turn pale.
He tried to get up and rush to Naruto's aid.
But suddenly,
his legs gave way. A stabbing pain surged through his entire body, leaving him unable even to stand steadily. Rushing over to help was simply impossible.