Prologue
I don't own Naruto or pokemon!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Biju Talking"
'Biju Thinking'
"NARUTO!"
The blonde 12-year-old spun around, eyes wide. "Hey, Iruka-sensei! You found me already. Too bad, I barely had time to learn two techniques. But that should be enough, right? If I show you I can do them, I'll be able to graduate!" Naruto grinned from ear to ear.
"What are you talking about?" Iruka asked, his brow furrowing.
"That's what Mizuki-sensei said. He told me it was my make-up exam. I was supposed to steal the scroll and learn a jutsu—then I'd pass!" Naruto said, his voice filled with excitement.
'Mizuki?' Iruka thought, a sinking feeling in his chest.
Before Iruka could respond, a dozen kunai flew from the bushes behind him. Iruka reacted just in time, shoving Naruto aside, taking the brunt of the attack. The kunai struck him, but their aim was thankfully off.
"Mizuki!" Iruka shouted, spotting the figure standing atop a tree branch.
"Naruto, give me the scroll!" Mizuki's voice was cold and commanding.
"No, don't!" Iruka's voice strained from the pain.
Naruto, now on the ground, looked between the two, confusion flooding his face. "What's going on?"
"He tricked you!" Iruka said, breathing heavily. "He wants the scroll for himself. It contains dangerous forbidden techniques that could threaten the safety of the village if they fall into the wrong hands."
Mizuki grinned. "Haven't they told you why everyone hates you? Why you've been alone your whole life?"
Naruto's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"Stop it, Mizuki!" Iruka struggled to get to his feet, blood running down his arms.
"Let me tell you the truth," Mizuki continued. "Twelve years ago, the Nine-Tails attacked the village. It destroyed everything. And the Fourth Hokage didn't kill it. He sealed it away. Sealed it inside you, Naruto! You're the Nine-Tails!"
Naruto froze. His hands trembled, clutching the scroll tightly. "That… can't be true..."
Iruka winced, watching the pain in Naruto's face. "Naruto..."
"That's why they all hate you," Mizuki laughed. "You're the monster! You've always been the monster."
Naruto stepped back, his heart racing. Tears welled up in his eyes. "No... No, I'm not..."
"Give me the scroll! A beast like you doesn't deserve it!" Mizuki threw a giant shuriken toward Naruto.
Before it could reach him, Iruka moved. He threw himself in front of Naruto, taking the hit. The shuriken lodged into his back. Iruka fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
"Why...?" Naruto asked, his voice shaking.
Iruka looked up at him, blood dripping from his mouth. "Because… I know how it feels... to be alone. After I lost my family during the attack, I was alone and unwanted, so I turned into the class clown to gain attention." He coughed, trying to catch his breath.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"You worked hard... You're strong, Naruto. You're... like me." Iruka smiled weakly.
"Hahaha, he's lying. He hates you for what you did," Mizuki said with a laugh.
Naruto looked between the two. Then he turned and ran.
Mizuki jumped down to Iruka, who was now lying defenseless on the ground. Iruka used all the strength in his body to stand up, pulling the Fuuma shuriken from his back and throwing it at Mizuki. Mizuki sidestepped and let the shuriken pass by.
"As soon as I've dealt with the demon, I'm coming back for you." Mizuki said, before jumping off.
A little while later, Naruto could be seen jumping from tree to tree.
"Everything Mizuki said was a lie. Give me the scroll, Naruto," said Iruka, who had suddenly appeared next to him.
In the next moment, Naruto tackled him, making them both fall to the ground. Naruto, who was able to land on his feet, leaned against a tree.
"How... How did you know I wasn't Iruka?" said the Iruka who dispelled his henge.
"Because I am," Iruka, who had turned back into himself, answered.
"Hahaha. You think you can stop me? It doesn't matter. Even if I don't get the scroll, Naruto will use it to wipe out the village. Don't you understand? He's just like me. He's hungry for power and will take revenge on the village that hurt him, just like a beast," Mizuki said, smirking.
"You're right…"
Naruto, who had heard the whole conversation, froze. 'So Iruka never believed in me,' he thought.
"...that's what a beast would do. But not Naruto. He's one of a kind. He always works hard and does his best. It's true that he messes up and everybody jumps on him, but his suffering only makes him stronger."
Hearing this, tears started to gather in Naruto's eyes. He gathered his resolve and stepped out from behind the tree he was hiding behind.
"There you are! Now give me the scroll!" Mizuki commanded.
"I won't... Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto called out as countless clones of himself appeared around him. In the next moment, thousands of Narutos launched themselves at Mizuki, completely burying him under them. When everything ended, a bloody, beaten Mizuki lay on the ground. The only sign of him still being alive was the periodic twitching.
Naruto walked back to Iruka. He knelt beside him. "Iruka-sensei..."
"I'm fine, don't worry... you did great. Now close your eyes."
Naruto did as he was told.
Iruka reached up, pulled off his headband, and placed it on Naruto's forehead. Feeling the object touch his skin, Naruto opened his eyes. Before him sat Iruka—the only difference was that his headband was missing.
"Congratulations, Naruto. You graduate."
Naruto's eyes welled up with tears. He smiled, clutching the headband tightly.