"Uzumaki Hayashi-! Behind you!!"
Naruto's shout tore through the night.
Uzumaki Hayashi didn't turn around.
Not only did he not turn around-he nearly laughed out loud.
The moment Mizuki had started creeping toward that old tree, his little trick had been plain as day.
Linshi turned his wrist and braced his blade behind him.
Clang-!!
The deafening crash of metal on metal set the whole clearing ringing.
The Fūma Shuriken came whistling in, struck the blade as it spun, and lost every bit of its momentum. It wobbled away and sank diagonally into the dirt with a sharp scrape.
The swordsman hadn't moved an inch.
Only his red hair stirred in the blast of air, then gently settled again.
Only then did Uzumaki Hayashi slowly turn his face and speak with a cheerful smile.
"Teacher Mizuki."
"I never saw this side of you at the Ninja Academy. Quite a contrast."
At the other end of the clearing, Mizuki stood there, staring at the sword for two seconds.
Then, suddenly, he gave an easy smile.
"Hayashi."
He began speaking at a leisurely pace.
"I've been watching you for a long time."
"On the day of your assessment, I was in the crowd watching."
"Twelve years old, and your Genin assessment brought the Copy Ninja himself into action. Swordsmanship, Ice Release, Wind Release... a genius like you comes along once in a century."
"But what role did the village give you?"
He paused, tipping his chin toward Naruto.
"Protecting him."
"Your presence here tonight is the best proof."
"Hayashi, the whole purpose of a genius like you is to serve as a bodyguard for a Demon Fox—don't you find that ridiculous?"
"There's no reason to protect the Demon Fox."
He extended a hand, palm up, in an inviting gesture.
"The scroll is