Chapter V: Showdown in the Forest
Mizuki smirked, he'd found his students and, by the looks of it, wasn't far behind. "It won't be much longer."
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A short distance ahead.
"This isn't going to work." Kenichi said through slightly strained breath as he and Naruto beelined to the village, each with a large scroll on their backs.
"You have a better idea?" Naruto fired back as he leapt to another branch. "Just stick to the plan and we'll be fine."
Damn it! I want to go faster but then Kenichi won't be able keep up. He inwardly raged before calming down. "Keep cool Namikaze, it's not his fault. We're making good time as long as M-"
"Namikaze!" Eyes widening, he quickly turned to the boy behind him.
"What is it?" He asked more harshly than intended. "Keep it down or he'll find us."
"I-I heard something." Kenichi responded anxiously pointing to his back left. "I think it was sensei."
Quickly looking back to the area Kenichi mentioned, he didn't see anything of note. Keeping his gaze for another moment he suddenly saw what appeared to be a faint reflection from the moon hit a piece of metal in the distance. It was too small to be a weapon and given the situation and position in the tree he knew it could only be...
His headband. Naruto felt himself tense up before releasing a deep breath. Keep it together, this is what we've all trained for.
"He's here." Naruto affirmed loudly while hiding his own apprehension, while Kenichi looked on with apparent dismay. "Get ready, and don't miss up!"
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Mizuki's POV
Mizuki inwardly cursed at his error, he'd caught up to the boys a few moments earlier. His goal being to get closer and kill Kenichi first with a pre-emptive strike, but in his haste, he'd landed on a bird nest. The sound of the twigs snapping must have alerted Kenichi to his presence as he'd heard the boy scream shortly after.
He held back, hoping that they would assume it wasn't him. While waiting he observed the scrolls on the boys backs. At first glance they both looked like scrolls of sealing, and this had initially confused him; however, a closer inspection revealed that Kenichi's scroll had a slightly different color pattern than the real one.
Clever kids. He silently admitted and gently leaned forward to get a closer look at the scrolls. It might've worked on someone else.
"He's here, get ready and don't miss up." He heard Naruto confirm Kenichi to his presence, making the elder ninja curse again before re-composing himself.
It doesn't matter. He re-affirmed while reaching to his holster and pulling out a kunai. They can't outrun me, they can't beat me in a fight, and nobody is here to save them.
Even so I must make this quick, eventually someone else will come searching the forest. Leaping forward, he instantly landed on a limb directly behind the boys and with resounding speed quickly overtook Kenichi. And when they do all they'll find is a couple of corpses.
"N-naruto!" The boy fearfully yelled at Mizuki's quick approach and barely dodged what would've been a fatal stab by lunging to the right at the last moment; however, instead of stopping after the initial dodge, the Chunin simply watched as the boy kept sprinting away leaving the battlefield and his teammate behind in the process.
"Kenichi!" Naruto yelled in alarm as his teammate continued. "Damn it!" He yelled while greatly increasing his own speed towards the village.
Mizuki paid no attention to the retreating academy student and instead focused all his efforts now on catching Naruto.
He'll he hard to catch with his speed. He noted, coming to a stop and putting away his weapon. Forming a hand sign, he concentrated his chakra to his legs and feet. Then with a dash of chakra enhanced speed, he began chasing after Naruto far faster than he had been before. Pulling out a kunai, he flung the weapon towards the blond only for his student to dodge at the last second.
Fool. By dodging his weapon, Naruto had sacrificed what little distance he held between the two. Quickly readying another kunai, he lunged at the boy to stab him mid-air.
Mizuki struck hard against the child using as much force as he could but in a mix of shock and annoyance was blocked as Naruto turned mid-air and used a kunai to counter his strike. Even so, the force of the attack forced both out of the tree's and unto the ground below. Looking over the blond, Mizuki allowed himself a smirk as he gazed upon the blond holding a defensive stance with hard eyes pointed towards him.
So, no more running. He watched with amusement readying his own weapon. Good. This will be fun.
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NARUTO'S POV
That was close Naruto thought while trying to maintain his breathing and take notes of his surroundings. He nearly skewered me up there.
Taking another breath, he mentally evaluated his options while keeping his eyes on the traitorous ninja ahead. Running isn't an option now. Sensei's too fast, and I doubt I'd even make it a few feet before he's on me again. Clutching his weapon even tighter, he knew he only had one chance of surviving this now. I must fight.
"I'll give you one last chance Naruto. Give me the scroll and come with me quietly." Mizuki suddenly offered with an outstretched hand. "Do that and I promise not to hurt you."
Maybe I can stall him until help arrives.
"What do you want with the scroll anyway?' He asked Mizuki who simply grinned in response. "You're going through a lot of work for some old piece of paper."
"The Scroll of Sealing isn't just some old scroll" Mizuki explained, moving his hand for emphasis. "It contains jutsu so powerful and dangerous that even the 1st Hokage himself ordered it sealed away. Just imagine how much someone would pay for to have that scroll. I'll be rich!"
"You betrayed everyone in the village for money? Your friends, your family, everyone?" Naruto asked in disbelief. "That's it? That's all you care about?"
"Not just money kid, but fame and power to." Mizuki said stepping closer. "No more working pathetic jobs or following someone else's orders, no more living a sub-par life of mediocrity. No, after I take that scroll, I'll finally get everything I deserve. Anything I desire will be within my grasp."
"Tch" Naruto replied talking a step back from the approaching Chunin.
"Now give me the scroll." Mizuki demanded causing the blond to mentally curse.
So much for that. Preparing himself for a fight, he relaxed his arm and waited for his "sensei" to make the first move.
"Very well" His former teacher said with a grin and dashed at him with alarming speed.
Moving quickly Naruto managed to block all his teachers blows but could do little else under the fierce onslaught of strikes.
Countering's out of the question. He admitted while blocking another strike. Come on Naruto think, what would Itachi do in this situation?
First attempt to retreat and try to lay a trap or escape. He remembered from a previous training session, while moving to block another stab, only to realize at the last moment that it was a feint to allow Mizuki to use his free hand to grab him.
Yeah, that's not happening. He affirmed after being forced to jump back and do a backwards flip just to avoid the grab and put a few feet between them; however, the respite was short lived as Mizuki closed the gap and was back on him a second later.
I can barely put any distance between us without leaving me or the scroll vulnerable. He parried a few more strikes, this time watching carefully to avoid any more grabs. Come on think, there's got to be something I can use here!
He continued dodging while mentally recapping any piece of instruction he'd be given at any time of his life. Suddenly as he parried a another blow he recollected a piece of advice Itachi had gave, one that could be of use here.
If you cannot run and are forced into a bad matchup, Find out your opponent strengths and weaknesses. Then find a way to use those strengths against him while capitalizing on his weakness's. Use this to defeat your opponent or open an avenue of escape.
"That's it!" He mentally shouted in realization while trying to quickly hash out a plan. "I'm shorter than he is and can move around easier. If I can get behind him and buy a few seconds, I might be able to pull off a jutsu!"
Naruto continued fighting and dodging his teacher for several seconds before he finally saw an opportunity to test out his theory when Mizuki attempted to stab him in the chest, and after being parried quickly transitioned it to a kick aimed at his head.
Moving quickly, he ducked to evade the blow, but instead of simply dodging as he'd done for the last few minutes, he instead dashed under his teachers outreached leg and ran towards the nearby woods.
"What!?" Mizuki yelled as he turned around to see Naruto already a few yards away. "You're not getting away from me!" He yelled in a fury moving quickly to over-take the blond.
Unbeknownst to Mizuki however, Naruto had counted on him doing exactly that. As he ran, the blond began making hand signs for the only real elemental C ranked jutsu he knew.
Here it goes. Finishing his last hand sign, he took a deep breath and quickly built up and focused his chakra into it. Holding his breath, he listened until he was certain Mizuki was right behind him.
"NOW!" He mentally shouted as he jumped and turned his body so that he was face to face with his teacher with mere feet between the two. Wind Style: Gale Force Wind He mentally shouted and breathed out a powerful gust of wind, the force of the attack caused tree limbs to blow back and his teacher flying backwards. The wind also blew up a lot of the loose dirt around them causing a dust cloud to emerge, hindering his vision.
Just a bit more. He continued his jutsu for a few more moments before allowing it to subside and took stock of what had become of the battlefield. Several minor cuts could be seen on the tree's in front of him and some of the limbs had been blown back, but other than that the only other thing visible was the dust cloud still trying to settle in.
No way that beat sensei, but maybe it'll buy me time to get to the village. He turned to dash away, only to see a fist flying at his face.
The hard blow connected pushing him back, but before he could even think it was followed by a much stronger uppercut that picked his entire body off the ground, only for yet another blow to follow sending him skidding backwards. His body hit the ground heavily and continued to skid back only stopping after he stuck a tree headfirst.
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Woods around Konoha
Kenichi ran as fast as he still could, half expecting Mizuki to attack him at any moment. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes since he'd left Naruto and even less since he'd changed his course back towards the village.
He was tired, hell exhausted, and running even at this speed was no easy feat. Even so, it was nothing compared to the guilt that had been eating way at him since he ran away from the fight with Mizuki.
Had they started fighting? Was Naruto wounded, dead, or worse? Could I have stopped it? The longer he ran away the more these thoughts took hold. It was killing him.
No. He mentally assured himself while stopping to catch his breath. That idiot knew what he was doing, if he dies it's his own fault. I never asked for his help. I didn't even need his help! Yet nothing he thought or did seemed to stim the tide as thoughts and images of a dead Naruto filled him head. Had he done the right thing? Would his father have approved of what he'd done?
Damn it! He screamed, bashing his head against the tree. What kind of shinobi am I?!
Turning back around he looked at the forest ahead, no doubt it'd take him to the village and safety…but at what cost.
But what can I do?" He mentally asked in despair. I can't take on Sensei…I can't take on anyone.
He fell back against the tree and slid down until he sat limp. The feelings of hopelessness, despair, and self-loathing to much for him to bear. As he sat there, he realized he instead of filling the hardness of bark on his back, he instead felt something much softer.
The scroll? I'd almost forgotten about it.
He starred at ancient cloth for a few more seconds until realization hit him. Maybe I can do something after all. He didn't have much chakra left but even so he might just be able to pull it off.
Smiling for the first time since this ordeal began, Kenichi moved from the tree and made several hand signs. Here goes something!
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"Uh." Naruto groaned as he registered the pain in his head and tasted an iron liquid in his mouth. Opening his eyes, he was forced to shut them again as the entire world appeared to be spinning.
Blood? He thought as he opened his eyes again to force his vision clear and used the tree for support to stand. Images of what happened flashing before his eyes, instantly reminding him of what happened.
Must've got hit worse than I thought. He gave himself an inward smile between breaths. Mom hits harder though.
"You Bastard!" He heard his teacher screech as he finally turned his attention back towards his opponent, only to repress another smile and take a small bit of pride in what he saw.
Despite obviously recovering from or dodging part of his jutsu, it was equally obvious that his ex-teacher hadn't missed it entirely. Where his jacket used to be crisp it was now practically ruined. His whitish-gray hair now appeared nearly brown in comparison due to the dirt and grime, and his body now sported several small cuts on his face and arms. Some of which were bleeding.
"How dare you!" Mizuki continued to scream taking several steps towards the blond, who only now felt comfortable enough to stop using the tree as a crutch, only for his world to start spinning all over again. "I was going to bring you back in one piece and sell you along with the scroll, but now you're dead!"
Damn. Naruto mentally cursed as Mizuki raged closer and closer to him. That technique was my best bet.
Looks like I don't have a choice. He reached behind his back and touched the sacred scroll. I held him back for a while, Kenichi should be back to the village by now.
"Wait!" He suddenly yelled, pulling the scroll from his back and into his arms, the action bringing the fuming Mizuki to a standstill. "I surrender!"
What! Mizuki yelled in equal parts rage and confusion. He's giving up?
"I can't fight anymore, you win!" Naruto explained, slowly approaching the Chunin with the scroll in his arms. "You can have the stupid scroll; I don't care anymore. Just…just please don't hurt me. The young blond pleaded as he offered the scroll to the dumbstruck traitor.
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It took several seconds for the treacherous ninja to gather his bearings and realize what was happening. Looking at the blond, whose face was hidden by the extended scroll, he gave a single nod and reached for the object and pulled it into his arms.
Finally! He mentally screamed as he marveled at the ancient object. The scroll of sealing was finally his. Power, riches, stature; It's all mine! It's fina-
However, Mizuki's mental celebration was cut short as his precious scroll, along with his dreams, suddenly became nothing more than a cloud of smoke.
W-what? His eyes widened with shock until he felt the impact of a small fist against his check and a painful pinch on his shoulder. The impact of the blow wasn't devastating but still caused him to skid back a few feet but the pinch of the shoulder continued to hurt and throb.
He opened his eyes to see Naruto, on one knee in front of him while the precious scroll in his arms became nothing more than a literal block of wood.
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"N-no! NO! NO!" Naruto smiled as he heard his former teacher's screams. His only regret being that his dizziness made him miss his mark when throwing his weapon. He'd been aiming at the traitors chest but only ended up hitting his shoulder.
"Still" He reasoned. "At least I got one last hit in."
"Y-you!" He heard his teacher scream as the elder ninja pointed at him with a scowl. "Where did you hide the scroll? Give it to me!"
"You just don't get it do you?" Naruto replied from his kneeling position, appearing calm but honestly not able to get up without falling back down. "I never had it to begin with."
"W-what!" His former teacher asked, eyes widened in horror and realization.
"Put it together yet sensei." Naruto said condescendingly. "Kenichi had the scroll the entire time, I had him use a transformation, so It'd look fake, and you'd think I had the real one. Not bad for a couple of kids huh?"
"I-impossible!" The horrified teacher said. Everything I worked for and sacrificed. Everything I had…gone! Because of mere children!
"Oh, but that's not all" The young ninja continued not bothering to hide his grin and standing up shakily. "Him running off during your initial attack was staged, I told him to do it knowing you'd pursue me instead. As soon as he was clear he would turn course and run straight to the Hidden Leaf. By now he's probably back in the village telling my dad what happened. You'll never get that scroll now; I doubt you'll even leave this forest alive."
"No, no!" Mizuki screamed holding his hair in his hands. "It was all mine! Fame, glory, money, power, stature! It was all mine!"
"You!" He said turning his attention to the blond and lunged forward in a rage. "I'll kill you for this. I'll send you back to your father in pieces!"
Naruto idly watched as his former teacher approached, he knew he couldn't last any longer in a fight. He wasn't sure if it was the blows he took to the face or him striking the tree, but he definitely had a concussion of some sorts. He could barely stand let alone move and fight. At best I can dodge a swipe or two, but even then, without the scroll nothings stopping Mizukii from unleashing any jutsu he had against me.
And here I actually thought I'd make it out of here. Pulling a weapon to defend himself yet knowing this was likely to be his last stand. He took a defensive stance preparing for the worse. Mom, Dad…I-I'm sorry.
As Mizuki closed in, both he and Naruto were taken by surprise as several Kunia landed in the spot between them forcing the elder ninja to come to a halt.
"Halt!" Mizuki's eyes widened in terror as he heard a voice from the tree's and saw the image of several individuals wearing gray armor with a leaf insignia on their foreheads, the shadows of the woods casting them in an even more terrifying light while hiding everything below their chest in darkness.
"N-no!" He cried out in fear and took several steps back rapidly causing himself to fall backwards. Turning in the opposite direction to Naruto, he quickly tried to crawl to a stand only to see three more members of the elite ANBU black ops blocking his escape.
Naruto merely smiled at the sight and allowed himself to fall back down. "Heh, I don't believe it." He thought with a smile. "That idiot actually came through."
Mizuki got to his feet but made no moves as in total 8 members of the ANBU watched him from the outskirts of the clearing. Naruto heard footsteps behind him and turned to see another member of the ANBU approaching him. He watched in relief as the ninja approached, only for it to then morph into something indescribable the moment the shinobi's body became fully visible.
No, no, no! He mentally screamed at the top of his lungs and mentally shouted curses that would make even his Uncle Jiraiya blush.
The ANBU wore typical armor associated with the elite force, everything looked normal…except a pair of shorts. More specifically Kenichi's shorts.
"Are you alright?" The ANBU asked kneeling in front of the blond.
"You idiot." Naruto growled lowly as he facepalmed himself temporarily forgetting his head injury. "What are you doing here?"
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"I came to save you." Came the ANBU's hushed response, causing the graduate to look at him.
"Save me?!" The blond repeated more to himself than the boy in front of him before facepalming himself again. "Aaargggghh!" He mentally screamed. Everything he'd done to keep both Mizuki from the scroll and this idiot alive may have just went up in smoke because said idiot…IS…AN…IDIOT.
"Yep." Kenichi said in a proud voice, completely oblivious to Naruto's mental breakdown. "I decided the only way you could win against him was with a real ninja's help."
Naruto opened his mouth to retort, but the response died in this throat as he looked over the false ANBU's shoulder to see Mizuki's looking back towards him with ever widening eyes.
"Crap!" Naruto yelled and tackled the kneeling academy student just as Mizuki launched several weapons at them. The weapons flew overhead harmlessly, but the action only caused the former instructor to draw even more weapons to launch at his two ex-students.
"You!." Mizuki yelled, readying more kunai. He wasn't sure why that brat had come back but if he was here so must the scroll. "Tell me where you put that scroll and I'll make this quick."
"Nice rescue." Naruto sarcastically said as he somehow managed to get to his feet and helped Kenichi do the same.
"You're welcome." The boy retorted, releasing his henge and revealing a very tired looking boy.
"Just tell me you at least hid the scroll." Naruto deadpanned while turning to face Mizuki. "Surely you didn't bring it back with you.".
"Don't worry it's safe and sound." Kenichi assured.
"It better be." Naruto threatened.
"Relax Namikaze."
"A-are you ignoring me you brats!" Mizuki screeched in a fury and then charged at the kids.
"Just get ready." Naruto warned as he prepared for another fight; however, before any other fighting could take place the other ANBU, who Naruto had assumed were merely Kenichi's clones, jumped down and began fighting the former instructor themselves.
"What the-how?" Naruto questioned in disbelief. Their solid clones? He watched with shock as he saw one of the clones land a hit on the dumbstruck teacher.
"A trick I learned from the scroll." The brown-haired boy explained as he suddenly started holding his knees and panting. "I-I think there called Sh-shadow Clones or something, their clones but their actually solid."
"Whoa." Naruto said in amazement as he continued to watch the clones fight their ex teacher head on. Sadly, the clones seemed as strong as the original with their attacks being just as sloppy. Even so the odds were 8 on 1 but Mizuki seemed to be able to 'kill' each clone with one hit despite taking a few punches along the way.
"Look's like they don't last long." The blond-haired ninja deadpanned as the last of Kenichi's clones disappeared in smoke.
"Shut it Namikaze." Kenichi replied suddenly feeling far more weak than normal.
"Can you make more?" Naruto asked as Mizuki turned his sights back on them.
"Yeah, about that." Kenichi said while attempting to stand back up.
"What?"
"I don't even think I can move right now." Kenichi grunted out after instead of standing fell down on his back. "I'm spent."
"You've got to be kidding." The blond said to himself as the enemy ninja got within a few yards and prepared to strike.
"Tch!" Naruto exclaimed drawing his kunai and preparing to defend both himself and his collapsed friend as best he could; however, just when Mizuki came within a few feet of them something white with red writing blocked his vision.
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MIZUKI'S POV
He felt the sting of the cuts all over him while the pain from his head and shoulder throbbed. These kids had made a mockery of him. Him! He'd keep Kenichi alive long enough to get the scroll, but after that he was dead. Before all of that though he was going to enjoy killing that Namikaze brat, almost as much as he would selling the scroll.
I'm at my limit. He admitted to himself, but his anger allowed him to move much more easily than he should. But Namikaze must be in worse shape, once he is out of the way the rest will be easy. All I need is one strike!
As he approached the two boys, only Naruto made a move to defend himself, but he didn't care, he'd be dead soon regardless. Just when his target was barely a few feet away he zeroed in on the face of the soon to be death youth however, Naruto's face soon disappeared and replaced instantly with cold, hard eyes starring directly into his soul.
Before he could even register the change, his eyes widened as a powerful punch to his chest caused him to lean over the person's shoulder.
"D-dad?" He thought he heard the young boy say, but the words fell on semi-deaf ears as the only thing Mizuki truly heard before feeling his body thrown over a hundred yards was a single sentence whispered so that only he may hear yet holding the power a thousand paper bombs.
"Don't ever touch my son again."
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NARUTO'S POV
"D-dad?" Naruto questioned with widened eyes before watching Mizuki's body go flying away deep into the woods.
"W-wow." He heard Kenichi gasp but only watched as his dad turned around and gazed at him with eyes he only remembered seeing once before; eyes that held nothing but coldness and death instead of their usual warmth.
Naruto took an involuntary step back at the intense gaze only for Minato to quickly move and capture the boy into his arms.
"Are you alright?" He asked, hugging him gently before releasing him to look him over; his eyes now holding the same warmth he remembered.
"Y-yeah." Naruto stumbled out as he heard several more footsteps approaching.
"N-Naruto!" He heard his mom cry out as she ran into the clearing with several other shinobi on her heels. A few moved to secure the area while more went to apprehend the now unconscious Mizuki.
"I've got him, he's fine!" Minato called back while still examining the boy, only to have Kushina rush towards them and fling him to the side.
"Alright?" She questioned in disbelief and looking at her son. "He's covered in cuts and bruises!"-
"I-I'm fine mom. Just a little tired." Naruto stated with a smile, glad that everything appeared alright; however, his eyes slightly widened and looked behind him to see a ninja hovering over Kenichi's unmoving form.
"Is he alright." Kushina asked the medic ninja after noticing her son's glance.
"He just passed out, but other than a bruise or two he appears to be suffering from advanced Chakra exhaustion." The medic said, bringing his hands to the boy's chest. "I'm infusing chakra into him now. We need to get him to the hospital to make sure, but other than being out for a few days he should make a full recovery."
"Thank you very much." Kushina said nodding her head in understanding and Naruto released a breath he didn't know he held in.
"G-glad to hear it." Naruto said suddenly feeling far more tired than before, but that made sense. He'd taken the exam, miraculously found Kenichi, went on a wild chase, and then topped it off by practically beating a Chunin.
"Naruto?"
That's a busier day than he's had in a while.
"Naruto!" He thought he heard someone scream, a woman…his mom. He'd worry about it later, right now he just wanted to sleep.
Chapter END
AUTHORS NOTES
Originally this chapter was going to be quite a bit longer, but at the last moment (as in 5 min before uploading this chapter) I decided to cut off the last 1/3 of it and make it's own chapter just to keep the chapters somewhat more consistent. The good news for that is that the next chapter will be up either today or tmrw. The bad news is that I had to leave it on a cliffhanger.
I know there' s going to be a lot of questions about this one. Things like "How did Minato and Kushina get there and know where to find them?" along with many others. I intend to answer all of this and more next chapter.
Lastly thanks to everyone whose reviewed, favorited, and put me on their alerts for this and my other stories. Your awesome!