Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Mizuki (水木) |
| Alias(es) | Teacher Mizuki; Mizuki-sensei 11 35 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Konohagakure; Ninja Academy, before his betrayal 11 35 |
| Occupation/Role | Academy instructor responsible for shuriken training 11 29 |
| Rank | Chūnin 11 |
| Status | Deceased—covertly killed by Yū through forced self-inflicted injury; officially reported as suicide while fleeing arrest 37 |
| First Appearance | Mentioned as a potential threat 10; first appears as an instructor 11 |
History
Sabotaged Shuriken Lesson
Mizuki becomes one of Yū Hyuga’s early targets after Yū befriends Naruto. When Yū asks for shuriken instruction, Mizuki agrees while privately dismissing him as an illegitimate Hyuga Branch Family child who might eventually be useful. Despite Mizuki’s solid throwing fundamentals, Yū secretly redirects his shuriken with psychokinesis, making successive demonstrations miss 10 11.
Yū mocks the failed lesson as “Shuriken Jerk-jutsu.” Mizuki’s increasingly desperate attempt to prove himself ends with a redirected shuriken passing along Sakura’s scalp and cutting away several tufts of hair. Faced with the students’ demands for an explanation, he claims stomach trouble and abandons the lesson. He wrongly blames Naruto and the Nine-Tails for the interference 11 12.
Attempt to Isolate Naruto
After following Yū and Naruto home from Ichiraku, Mizuki approaches Yū privately. He portrays Naruto as inherently evil because of the Nine-Tails and urges Yū to abandon their friendship. His actual plan is to deprive Naruto of companionship, exploit the resulting despair, and use him to obtain the Scroll of Seals 13 14.
Yū feigns agreement and persuades Mizuki to eat chakra-infused candy. This gives Yū a medium for reading his thoughts and inflicting dreams. Recurring nightmares leave Mizuki afraid to sleep; he takes sick leave and later appears outside the Academy training ground looking haggard. Iruka notices his suspicious behavior and recalls dreams in which Mizuki manipulates Naruto into stealing the scroll before defecting 14 16 25 29 32.
Hostage Plot and Naruto’s Rampage
Mizuki kidnaps Sakura after she leaves the training ground upset over Sasuke’s rejection. He then lures Yū to an abandoned hut by falsely claiming to have spoken with Hizashi, strikes him from behind, and binds him beside Sakura. Yū knowingly plays along. Mizuki intends to use both children against Naruto and declares that they will die that night 33.
Naruto brings the Scroll of Seals to a grove in exchange for their release. Rather than honor the bargain, Mizuki attacks him with a Fūma Shuriken. Iruka intercepts the weapon with his back. Mizuki then worsens Iruka’s wound, blames Naruto for both Iruka’s suffering and his own stalled career, and announces his intention to kill Naruto and leave Konoha with the scroll 34 35.
The attack triggers Naruto’s uncontrolled three-tailed transformation. Mizuki is terrified by the Nine-Tails’ chakra and subsequently witnesses Yū healing Iruka and fighting the transformed Naruto. Overwhelmed by Yū’s unexpected abilities, he escapes without taking the scroll 35 36.
Death and Official Account
Konoha’s pursuers corner Mizuki, who tries to bargain for leniency with supposedly explosive information. Before he can finish his accusation, Yū immobilizes him mentally with Aura Pressure. An invisible Resentment Bat then enters his head, allowing Earth Grudge Fear: Domination to take control and force him to slit his own throat with a kunai 37.
The Anbu interpret the death as suicide to escape punishment. They attribute his unfinished statement and erratic behavior to an abnormal mental state, leaving Yū’s involvement undiscovered. Iruka mourns the friend he realizes he never truly understood. Later, Iruka announces Mizuki’s removal from teaching and assigns Yū his shuriken lessons 37 43.
Appearance
- Light-colored hair and a black headband distinguish him when Yū first approaches him for instruction 11.
- Pronounced dark circles and a haggard expression develop during his prolonged sleep disturbance 25 32.
- A bloodless face and sunken eyes are noted by the Anbu examining his body 37.
Personality
Mizuki maintains a pleasant teacher persona while privately judging students by their background and usefulness. His contempt for Yū’s Branch Family identity contrasts with his outward willingness to teach him. Public embarrassment quickly strains that composure, prompting excuses and increasingly forceful attempts to recover his authority 11 12.
He treats Naruto’s loneliness and affection as vulnerabilities to exploit. His scheme depends on destroying a friendship before offering Naruto a means of obtaining what he wants. When challenged, he transfers responsibility for his failures onto Naruto and the Nine-Tails rather than accepting blame. Yū ultimately regards him as an egoist motivated by tangible benefits rather than genuine affection 12 14 35 37.
Abilities & Skills
Shurikenjutsu
Mizuki has reliable fundamentals and an established reputation for accurate throwing among his students 11.
- Teaches practical shuriken skills at the Ninja Academy 11.
- Uses a powerful, full-strength throw while trying to restore his credibility 11.
- His classroom misses result from Yū’s concealed interference, not demonstrated lack of skill 11 12.
- Attacks Naruto with a Fūma Shuriken, severely injuring Iruka when he intervenes 35.
Deception and Coercion
Mizuki uses his position as a teacher to disguise hostile intentions 13 14 33.
- Presents isolating Naruto as concern for Yū’s safety and asks that their conversation remain secret 14.
- Falsely claims parental permission to lure Yū away from his route home 33.
- Uses Sakura and Yū as hostages to compel Naruto to steal the Scroll of Seals 33 34 35.
Equipment / Weapons / Items
- Standard shuriken and ninja tool pouch — used during his Academy demonstration 11.
- Fūma Shuriken — carried on his back after the kidnapping and used against Naruto and Iruka 33 35.
- Ropes — used to bind Yū and Sakura in the abandoned hut 33.
- Kunai — held while resisting arrest; becomes the weapon used in his forced fatal injury 37.
Relationships
- Yū Hyuga — Student and hidden adversary. Mizuki underestimates him, while Yū sabotages his lesson, reads his intentions, and ultimately kills him without exposing his involvement 11 14 37.
- Naruto Uzumaki — Intended pawn and murder target. Mizuki exploits Naruto’s concern for his friends to obtain the Scroll of Seals 14 34 35.
- Iruka — Fellow instructor and longtime friend. Mizuki gravely wounds him during the confrontation; Iruka later regrets failing to recognize his true nature 35 37.
- Sakura Haruno — Student and hostage. Her attachment to Sasuke and Naruto’s feelings for her create an opportunity for Mizuki’s coercion 33 34.
Notable Quotes
“The cruelest thing in this world isn't never having something, but losing it after you've had it.” 14
“You're the source of all this misery! I'll kill you, take the Scroll of Seals, and leave this village that's brought me nothing but frustration!!!” 35