Alrighty! I do not own Naruto at all! All rights and regulations do go to Masashi Kishimoto! Azuna does belong to me however! Ok now to write this fan fiction I did use the episodes and I used all of the actual sentences said from the anime so all of those rights again go to the producers, Madman Entertainment and of course the beautiful voice actors and everyone on the crew. Thanks guys... hope you like it!
Chapter Three: Enter Azuna Momochi! Part Three:
Naruto started to crawl away but wasn't getting away fast enough when Iruka shouted at him. "Naruto get down!"
Naruto did as he was told and covered his head with his arms dropping to the ground as Iruka used his ninja speed to jump over Naruto and take the Dai Shuriken in his back. Naruto stared up at Iruka, eyes wide, not moving at all.
"W – Why?" Naruto asked his Sensei as he panted above him from the sharp pain in his back.
"B – Because we're the same, when I lost my parents, no one seemed to care. They didn't have time for me; they just forgot I was there. My grades dropped, I became the class clown. I just wanted them to see me, for them to know my name. My school work wasn't good enough to get their attention so I did crazy things, and then I had to pay for it. It was hard." He said sniffing. "I know that's how you feel Naruto. You feel lonely and it hurts inside and I could have been there for you more. I let you down. I'm sorry. No one should have to suffer that much, no one should have to be alone like that."
Mizuki chuckled, completely ruining the moment and spat at them. "Don't make me laugh! Iruka always hated you! He was orphaned because the Nine-Tailed Fox killed his parents and that beast is now inside you. He'd say anything to get the scroll from you!"
Naruto, no longer knowing what to believe, took off with the scroll clutched closely to him. "Naruto!" Iruka shouted again as he watched his student flee further into the forest. "Naruto!"
Mizuki jumped down from the tree laughing. "You know once he makes up his mind nothing can change it. He's going to use the scroll to take revenge on the village. You saw that look in his eyes didn't you? Those were the eyes of a beast."
Iruka pulled the Dai Shuriken out of his back and shook his head. "No, Naruto isn't like that!" He shouted as he threw the Dai Shuriken with as much force as he could at Mizuki. Mizuki dodged the large star weapon with ease with a smile plastered on his face.
"You're a joke. As soon as I eliminate Naruto and get the scroll I'll be back for you." He said before he jumped and took off into the forest.
Iruka got up himself and shook his head. "I won't let you!" He shouted before he jumped into the forest after Mizuki.
Back in the village, Lord Hokage sat watching Naruto run by using his crystal ball and thought deeply to himself. This is not good, Mizuki has a big mouth. He made Naruto feel so bad, worse than he's ever felt, it could unleash the power inside of him. If Naruto keeps tampering with the scroll the seal that locks the fox spirit inside of him could be broken and the beast could come out. If that happens I fear for us all.
Azuna sat by the edge of the water when she heard shouts and strange sounds coming from the forest around her. Azuna stood up quickly pulling out her Kunai knife and standing in a battle position. As she listened she learned that there was a chase and she intended to join it on the battle.
Meanwhile back in the forest Naruto was jumping from tree to tree as quickly as he could with the scroll on his shoulders. Iruka appeared beside him running through the trees with him. "Naruto, everything Mizuki said was a lie! Give me the scroll hurry! He's coming after you to take it away."
Naruto stopped running and jumped off the tree branch he just landed on ramming into Iruka and send him flying towards the ground. Naruto skidded to a stop and took the scroll off his shoulder walking backwards into a tree and sliding down to the ground.
"It can't be." Iruka panted "How did you know Naruto? How did you know that it was me and not Iruka?" He said as he changed back into Mizuki.
Naruto laughed and leant back. "Because I'm Iruka." He said turning back into Iruka and the fake scroll turning into a log
Mizuki stood up and glared at Iruka. "You're a fool. Why are you protecting that freak? He's the one that wiped out your family!"
"I don't care what you say. You're not getting your hands on that scroll."
"As if you could stop me. Don't you get it Naruto is 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."
Naruto who had been hidden behind a nearby tree gasped and leant back against the tree. "So it's true. Iruka Sensei never believed in me. He thinks I'm some beast. Some kind of freak!"
"That is how beasts are." Iruka finished making Naruto's eyes go wide as he gasped again. "But that's not who Naruto is. He's nothing like that. Naruto is one of a kind. Works hard, puts his whole heart into it. Sure he messes up sometimes and everyone jumps on him, but his suffering only makes 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 Naruto Uzumaki of the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
Tears were streaming down Naruto's cheeks as he clutched the scroll. And even Azuna who was standing on the other side of the tree Iruka was leaning against felt herself smile at Iruka's warm and kind words towards Naruto.
Mizuki looked unfazed by his speech though. If anything, he though Iruka was even more of a wimp than he did before. "You really believe that dribble?" He spat. "Iruka, I was going to save you for later but I've changed my mind. You're finished!"
Mizuki lurched forward swinging his Dai Shuriken ready to kill Iruka. But Iruka only smiled and looked down. So this is it. Iruka thought to himself. But out of nowhere Naruto jumped out and hurled himself into Mizuki sending him flying backwards, his Dai Shuriken flying off into the trees randomly.
Azuna who was glad that Naruto acted came out from the back of the tree and knelt beside Iruka resting a hand on his shoulder. Iruka's eyes were wide as Mizuki was still flying backwards. "Naruto!" He said happily, his voice filled with shock. Iruka only just seemed to notice Azuna to but turned back to Naruto and Mizuki.
Naruto stood up placing a hand on the scroll as he glared at Mizuki. "Not bad." Mizuki laughed. "For a little punk."
"If you ever lay a hand on my Sensei, I'll kill you!" Naruto said darkly.
"Such big words. I could completely destroy you with a single move."
"Take your best shot fool." Naruto said holding his hands in a special hand sign. "I'll give it back to you a thousand full!"
"Let's see you try! Show me what you can do Nine-Tailed Fox!" Mizuki yelled.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled. Iruka and Azuna's eyes widened as all around Mizuki thousands of Naruto's stood all shouted different things at him, both in complete and utter shock. Naruto. Iruka thought. Those aren't illusions their solid clones! He's mastered an extremely advanced Jutsu!
Mizuki who was surrounded by the Naruto Army was freaking out and stumbled backwards, falling over cringing as he looked around.
"If you're not coming!" A Naruto shouted.
"Then were gonna come after you!" Another yelled.
Each Naruto leapt at Mizuki then throwing punches and kicks wherever they could. Azuna smiled as she watched Naruto kick some serious butt. Well, I'm glad I've got him as a friend. Azuna thought happily as she stared in awe.
Mizuki lay on the floor unconscious, the scroll lying beside Naruto as he scratched the back of his head grinning. "Sorry I kind of got carried away. Are you ok Iruka Sensei?"
"Yeah." Iruka sighted happily. He's amazing. He wants to surpass al the Hokage. And I'm starting to believe he might do it. "Naruto come here a minute. I have something I want to give you."
Iruka looked over at Azuna who nodded, showing she understood what he meant and the she believe he deserved it to.
Back at the village the Shinobi who were trying to find Naruto were arguing about where he could be. No one could find him and many were voicing their opinions about where he could be and how no one could find them. They were all angry and didn't know what to do.
But the Hokage came walking towards them smoking on his pipe. "There's no longer any need to worry." He said. "The scroll's safe, Naruto will be back soon."
In the forest Azuna stood behind Naruto, her hands over his eyes making sure that he couldn't see anything as Iruka tied his headband onto Naruto's forehead. "Iruka Sensei how much longer?" Naruto complained. Azuna could feel Naruto's eye lashes fluttering on the palm of her hand and Azuna lifted her hands away.
"Ok, you can open your eyes now." Naruto opened his eyes and saw Iruka smiling holding his goggles in his hands, Iruka headband missing. "Congratulations you graduate! And to celebrate I have a surprise! We're going out for ramen tonight!"
Naruto's mouth was hanging open as Azuna and Iruka gave him closed eyed smiles, both extremely proud of Naruto. It didn't take Naruto long though for the tears to start burning in his eyes. His mouth was rising and falling as he tried to control his emotions.
As Iruka started to think that he was unhappy Naruto flung himself at Iruka in a tight hug knocking him to the ground. "Iruka Sensei!" He laughed.
"Ow hey that hurts!" Iruka giggled wrapping his arms around Naruto accepting his hug. Naruto, this is only the beginning. The road gets tougher now that you're a ninja. But if I told you that, I guess it would ruin the moment. So I'll tell you later, over ramen.