While the two were still reeling in shock, Mizuki took the giant shuriken off his back, aimed at Naruto, and hurled it straight at him.
"Die, Nine-Tailed Demon Fox!"
The giant shuriken spun through the air toward Naruto.
But Naruto stood frozen, still stunned by the revelation that Iruka's parents had died at the Nine-Tails' hands.
"Look out, Naruto!"
Seeing this, Iruka pulled free of the kunai embedded in his body and clothes and lunged toward Naruto.
He shielded Naruto in front of him, taking the giant shuriken with his own back.
One point of the giant shuriken pierced Iruka's back, and blood streamed from the wound.
"Iruka-sensei!"
Naruto was taken aback when he saw Iruka block Mizuki's attack for him.
Hadn't Iruka-sensei's parents died because of the Nine-Tails? In a way, that meant I was indirectly responsible for their deaths, too. Why would he still protect me?
"Why?"
"There's no need to ask why. I'm your teacher, and you're my student. A teacher should protect his students! Run, Naruto! Find someone who can help!"
"Iruka-sensei!"
"Run!"
Enduring the searing pain in his back, Iruka pulled out the giant shuriken and threw a smoke bomb onto the ground. Smoke immediately billowed around them.
"A smoke bomb? With your skills, Iruka, cheap little tricks like this are all you can manage."
Mizuki sneered at Iruka's move. He quickly spotted a figure fleeing at speed and gave chase.
What he failed to notice was another, much clumsier figure running off in the opposite direction.
A frantic chase unfolded among the trees, while outside the forest, ANBU ninja surrounded the entire area.
"You're not getting away, brat! Die!"
Mizuki caught up with Naruto and sent him flying with a kick.
Naruto slammed into a tree trunk and instantly burst into smoke. When the