"WHY WOULD YOU SAVE THE KYUUBI?" Mizuki screamed "He will be the catalyst that destroys our village! The Kyuubi is a murderer who will betray the village" Iruka coughed up a gobbet of blood, and smiled. "Yeah… the monster fox would do that… but Naruto is different. I've acknowledged him as… one of my excellent students. He may not be the hardest worker… and he is clumsy and no one accepts him… but he already knows what it is to feel pain inside your heart. He isn't the monster fox. He is a member of the Konohagakure. He's Naruto Uzumaki!"[1] Naruto's eyes widened as he heard Iruka's words, and realized that Iruka was speaking his true feelings. At that point, he realized that the world had not been against him. He had Sarutobi, Iruka, and even the owner of Ichiraku Ramen. Mizuki growled, and pulled his kunai out of Iruka's shoulder. "I'll finish him off myself" he snarled.

Naruto stood up, and looked Mizuki straight in the eyes, red wispy chakra flowing off of him, and his eyes flashing red. Mizuki let out a mocking and spiteful laugh, and flew at Naruto, with a kunai in each hand. As he was about to stab the Kunai through Naruto's heart, he felt dozens of hands grab every part of his body. Mizuki looked around, and saw thousands of Kage-Bunshin surrounding him, each of them with frightening strength. The original Naruto walked up to Mizuki, and murmured in his ear "Touch me or anyone that I care about, and I'll kill you." With a Bijuu energy enhanced punch, Naruto sent a perfect right hook flying into the connection between Mizuki's jaw and skull, instantly knocking him out. Iruka looked at his student in amazement. A failing, talentless individual with low intelligence and talent had just created more Kage-Bunshin than most jonin and even kage could. He pulled off his headband, and wrapped it around Naruto's head. As Naruto was beginning to faint, Iruka murmured "You pass" into his ears, as Naruto's head slumped forward and he fell into Iruka's arms, unconscious, with a smile on his face.