Chapter 4
Naruto is running through the forest jumping from branch to branch. He is desperately trying to get away. Suddenly Iruka catches up from behind.
"Naruto" said Iruka "Everything Mizuki said was a lie. Hurry up and give me the scroll. He's coming after you to take it away."
Naruto then suddenly punches Iruka in the stomach and he goes flying to the ground. Naruto then falls back and leans against a tree.
"This can't be" said Iruka "How?" Iruka then suddenly changes into Mizuki. "How did you know that it was me and not Iruka?"
Naruto smiles. "Because" said Naruto. He then changes into Iruka. "I'm Iruka."
"You're a fool" said Mizuki. "Why are you protecting that freak he's the one who wiped out your family."
"I don't care what you say" said Iruka. "You're not getting your hands on that scroll." Naruto is hiding behind a nearby tree listening to them.
"As if you could stop me. Don't you get it Naruto's just like me."
"How's that"
"He wants the scroll for his own power and his own vengeance. That's how beasts are. He'll pour all his rage into the scroll and destroy everything."
"You're right" said Iruka. "That is how beasts are. But that's not who Naruto is." Naruto gets a surprised expression. "He's nothing like that. Naruto's one of a kind. He works hard puts his whole heart into it. Sure he messes up sometimes and everyone jumps on him but his suffering only make him stronger. That's what separates him from being a beast. So you're wrong he's nothing like the nine tailed fox. He's nothing like you. He's Naruto Uzumaki of the village hidden in the leaves." Naruto starts crying and smiling.
"Huh you really believe that drivel?" said Mizuki. He grabs the shuriken from his back. "Iruka I was going to save you for last but, I changed my mind. You're finished!" Mizuki spins the shuriken in his hand and charges at Iruka. Naruto jumps out with the scroll in his hand and kicks Mizuki knocking him away and letting the shuriken fly into a tree.
"Not bad" said Mizuki as he stands to his feet.
Naruto stands tall holding the scroll right next to him. "If you ever lay a hand on my sensei again, I'LL KILL YOU."
"Such big words. I can completely destroy you with a single move."
"Take your best shot fool. I'll give it back to you 100 fold."
"Then let's see, show me what you can do Nine Tailed fox."
"Naruto wait don't…" Iruka started to talk but Menma places his hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry sensei" said Menma. "Naruto's got this."
"Shadow Clone Jutsu" yells Naruto. At that moment Naruto created a hundred shadow clones all surrounding Mizuki. Iruka and Mizuki look on in shock. Iruka starts to smile.
Mizuki stumbles back panicking. "What is this" he says. All of Naruto's clones start mocking Mizuki. Mizuki falls on his ass.
"If you aren't coming to get me" said one of Naruto's clones.
"Then we're going to come after you" said another of Naruto's clones. They all start jumping Mizuki as Mizuki's screams can be heard echoing through the forest. Once he was unconscious, Naruto dispels the jutsu. He walks back over to Menma and Iruka.
"Sorry I kind of got carried away" said Naruto. "You okay Iruka-sensei?"
"Yeah" said Iruka
Menma gets up and walks over to Mizuki. Mizuki starts to wake up. Menma kicks him in the face knocking him unconscious again. He takes of Mizuki's headband. "You don't deserve to be called a leaf ninja Mizuki."
Iruka smiles and turns to Naruto. "Hey Naruto come over here for a second. I got something I want to give you." Naruto walks over to Iruka. "I need you to close your eyes." Naruto does and Iruka stands up. He takes off Naruto's goggles and then takes off his headband.
"Iruka-sensei" said Menma in shock. Iruka nods and smiles at Menma.
The sun starts to rise illuminating the forest. "Sensei how much longer?" asked Naruto
"Just a second" said Iruka as he ties the headband onto Naruto's forehead. "Okay you can open your eyes now." Naruto opens his eyes and sees that Iruka doesn't have his headband on. He sees that his goggles are in his hand. It takes him a minute to realize what happened. "Congratulations, you graduate. You are officially a ninja and to celebrate we are going out for Ramen tonight." Naruto stayed silent for a minute. Then jumps onto Iruka and they both fall to the ground.
"Iruka-sensei" says Naruto
"Hey Naruto that hurts." The two of them start laughing.
Menma walks over to Iruka and Naruto with a big smile on his face. "Congratulations Naruto" he said.
"Aren't you going to try yours on Menma?" asked Iruka
"What?" said Menma in confusion.
"Now that Naruto graduated, you have no need to hide it anymore." Menma reaches into his pocket and takes out the red headband. Menma stares at the headband and rubs the metal plate. He smiles and slowly proceeds to put it on. He tightens the knot and stands tall with his new leaf headband.
"Ahh yours is so cool Menma with the red cloth instead of the blue" said Naruto. "I really want that one."
"Come on Naruto" said Iruka. "You have my headband doesn't that count for something."
"Ohh Sorry Iruka-sensei."
Menma starts laughing and everyone joins in.
The three of them start heading back to the village with Menma carrying the scroll and Iruka leaning onto Naruto for support.
"Come one guys let's hurry" said Naruto. "I can't wait to get some Ramen."
Menma and Iruka laugh as they disappear over the horizon.