Hello all Storm here with chapter six of the triple update! Here we'll be seeing Naruto and Miu confronting Mizuki, which proves to be a bigger challenge than either of them expected. So, without further ado.
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"Is that…Iruka-sensei?" Miu said when they arrived at a clearing in the forest with an old shack, only to find Iruka's body on the ground a deep slash going diagonally across his chest and a look of shock on his face.
"I'm guessing that's what killed him." Stated Naruto, looking at a large Fūma Shuriken buried in a tree, stained with blood.
"Yeah, this is him. He's the one that took the Scroll of Seals, his scents the same one as that in the Hokage's Office." Pakkun said, surprising Miu that Iruka would have stolen the Scroll of Seals.
"That's not surprising. He didn't want me at the Academy and sure as hell didn't want me to be a Ninja at all. But it looks like he bit off more than he could chew." Naruto said, not feeling the slightest bit torn up over his former teacher's death, knowing it's his own fault.
"He was still our sensei." Said Miu, frowning at how nonchalant he's being over their teacher's death.
"Maybe he was yours, but he only ever saw me as a nuisance. One he was forced to have in his class because every other teacher already refused to teach me. He never bother hiding the fact that he didn't like me or care about me, so why should I care that he's dead because of his own foolishness?" Said Naruto, with Miu still frowning but didn't say anything as she looked at Iruka's body.
"Well if Iruka stole the Scroll of Seals but now he's dead and the scroll isn't here, then he must've been working with someone. Could it be Mizuki?" Miu asked while looking at the Uzumaki, knowing Iruka and Mizuki were friends, making it possible he's the other thief.
"Probably. Iruka was too much of a boy scout to even think of stealing the Scroll of Seals. Mizuki probably just saw a chance to use Iruka to steal it, then killed him to tie up any loose ends, while framing me all at once." Naruto replied, not doubting Mizuki is the one who came up with the plan with Iruka being his unknowing pawn.
"Whoever it is, their scent is still fresh. So that means they shouldn't be far, let's keep going!" Pakkun said as the three took through the trees after Mizuki.
Jumping from tree to tree, the trio soon caught sight of Mizuki in the distance ahead along with the Scroll of Seals strapped to his back. Narrowing his eyes at the Chūnin that tried framing him, Naruto quickly rushed ahead making a handsign.
"Wind Style: Air Bullets!" Naruto said, firing multiple bullets of air at Mizuki, which slammed into the Chūnin's back and sent him crashing to the ground.
"Careful! We can't let the Scroll of Seals be damaged!" Said Miu, knowing if the scroll is damaged then it'll only lead to Naruto being accused of trying to destroy it.
"If something as important as that can be damaged that easily, then it's not my fault. Just like it's not my fault it was so easily stolen, either." Naruto stated, making the Senju Heiress frown but she also couldn't fault his logic, knowing the Scroll of Seals should've had much better protections.
"Let's just get it and take Mizuki in for-" Miu said as they jumped down to where Mizuki was, only to be shocked when all they found was a pile of rocks.
"A Rock Clone?!" Said Miu, not expecting Mizuki switched with a Rock Clone, or even that they were only following a Rock Clone.
"Then the real one has to be-" Naruto said, looking around, knowing the real Mizuki must still be around somewhere.
Only to stop when he and Miu stumbled, everything around them going blurry and feeling like they were moving through quicksand, much to Naruto's frustration.
'I'm getting really tired of this fucking Genjutsu!' Naruto thought, realizing it was the Hazy Genjutsu again, swearing the next person that tries casting it on him will die.
"It's…Genjutsu." Miu muttered, trying to focus enough to break it.
"No…shit…" Retorted Naruto, not in the mood for her stating the obvious as he worked to dispel the illusion.
While behind the Genin, Mizuki emerged from the ground like it was water, smirking wickedly as he grabbed the Fūma Shuriken strapped to his back.
"Die demon!" Mizuki shouted, rushing forward slashing Naruto and Miu with the shuriken, before scowling when both of them were replaced by logs.
"Earth Style: Dust Storm!" Miu said, jumping out and slamming her hands on the ground, generating a large amount of soil that rushed towards Mizuki.
"Wind Style: Breakthrough!" Said Naruto, following after blowing out a gale of wind, spreading the dust out, trapping Mizuki in a miniature dust storm.
"AH! Worthless demon, you'll regret that!" Said Mizuki, shielding his eyes when the dust got in them, blinding the Chūnin.
"No, but you'll regret getting on my bad side. Wind Style: Air Bullets!" Naruto said, firing another barrage of air bullets blasting through the dust cloud, only for it to clear showing Mizuki nowhere in sight.
"He must be using a Jutsu to move underground! Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" Said Miu slamming her hands on the ground, turning it into a muddy river, trying to either force Mizuki out or get him caught in the mud.
Grunting when a fist and elongated arm suddenly shot up from the ground underneath her, slamming into Miu's chin and knocking her back. With Naruto quickly jumping back when another elongated arm shot up trying to strike him. The Genin tensed as Mizuki soon emerged smirking wickedly at them.
"It must be my lucky day. I get the Scroll of Seals, I got to kill that annoying bastard, Iruka. Now I get to kill the demon and the Hokage's brat." Mizuki said, eager for the chance to kill Naruto and Miu, knowing it'd destroy Dan and Tsunade to find their daughter dead.
Something he's sure will earn him an even greater reward from Orochimaru for delivering such a crippling blow to Konoha.
"Big talk from someone that had someone else do his dirty work." Miu retorted, confident that she and Naruto could handle him since their prior fight had shown that they're both easily Chūnin Level, with them currently having Mizuki outnumbered, two-to-one.
"HA! I could've easily taken the Scroll of Seals, myself! But why do that when I had the perfect opportunity to get rid of Iruka and the demon brat at the same time. After all, I'm sure everyone in Konoha would praise me as a hero for killing you, Naruto! But since I'm feeling generous, why don't I tell you just why everyone ha-" Mizuki said, before he was cutoff when Naruto made a handseal.
"Wind Style: Breakthrough!" Naruto said, releasing a blast of wind blowing Mizuki back through the air before he could react.
"Okay then, straight to the fun it is! Die Naruto!" Mizuki said, throwing his Fūma Shuriken at the whiskered ravenette.
"Then I hope you don't mind us ruining your fun! Earth Style: Mud Wall!" Said Miu, slamming her hands on the ground, creating a stone wall blocking the shuriken.
"Try harder, you little brat!" Said Mizuki, forming Chakra Strings that he attached to the shuriken before having it go over the wall and down towards the Genin, much to their surprise at how it changed direction.
Quickly jumping out of the way of the shuriken, Mizuki smirked as he directed it after Naruto intent to kill him first. His smirk growing when the shuriken stabbed into Naruto's back only to be replaced by a scowl when "Naruto" exploded, revealing it was just a clone and destroyed his shuriken.
"How's this! Wind Style: Air Bullets!" Said Naruto, firing multiple air bullets up at Mizuki, but the moment they made contact the Chūnin substituted himself with a log.
Before Naruto and Miu had to quickly channel Chakra to their feet when the ground beneath them suddenly started moving up and down like a wave. Making it difficult for them to keep their balance with the constant movement.
"Earth Style: Rending Drill Fang!" Mizuki said, shooting up from the ground beneath Miu stabbing a kunai into her chest, only for the Senju to break down into rocks.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" Said Miu, jumping down from a tree, slamming her hands onto the ground turning it into a muddy river beneath Mizuki sending him sliding away.
"Wind Style: Air Bullets!" Naruto said while firing a single, large air bullet at Mizuki as he slid through the mud.
Frowning in annoyance when the Chūnin simply burst into rocks when the air bullet crashed into him, while Mizuki emerged from the ground again behind Naruto.
"Let's find out what you're afraid of demon! Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Jutsu!" Said Mizuki, casting the illusion to trap Naruto in his greatest fears.
Though the Chūnin was shocked when Naruto turned around and lunged at him, slamming his knee into Mizuki's chest. Knocking the wind out of the former Academy Instructor. Followed by bringing his elbow down on the back of his head then delivering a spin kick, knocking Mizuki off to the side towards Miu.
"Got you now!" Miu said, pulling her fist back and smashed it right into Mizuki's chest, launching him right into a tree.
But to his credit, Mizuki was able to get back up glaring murderously at the Genin, especially at Naruto.
"How aren't affected by my Genjutsu?!" Mizuki shouted since it didn't even look like his Genjutsu worked at all.
"I guess you aren't at skilled as you think you are." Taunted Naruto, while mentally smirking as the darkness helped hide his Sharingan.
Having activated to avoid getting caught in any more Genjutsu, along with a chance to copy any useful Jutsu that Mizuki used.
'Hell Viewing Jutsu, I'm going to enjoy that.' Naruto thought, knowing he'll be able to cast it with his Sharingan, since a Genjutsu like that will be very useful on certain targets.
"You…worthless demon! I'll show you just how powerful I am!" Yelled Mizuki, enraged that the Jinchūriki daring to insult his power before he pulled out a glass vial filled with a red liquid which Mizuki then drank, making Naruto and Miu tense at what it was.
Only for their eyes to widen when they felt Mizuki's Chakra increasing exponentially, with Naruto's Sharingan allowing him to see the effects of it, even more so when his body began bulking up in size and much more muscle. Tearing apart the upper part of his uniform, as he gained black tiger-like stripes on his arms and face.
'Wh-what was that?!' Miu thought, wondering what that liquid was to cause such a dramatic change and boost in power.
"Hehehehe, now you can see just how strong I really am, with this new power!" Mizuki said before he vanished in a burst of speed, shocking the Genin further at how fast he now was.
With Naruto's eyes widening when Mizuki appeared in front of him, throwing a punch right at his head. Which the Uzumaki only just managed to avoid thanks to his Sharingan before Naruto then quickly jumping back to keep some distance between them.
Letting out a shout, Miu jumped at Mizuki with her fist pulled back before throwing it at his head. Only to be shocked, when Mizuki turned faster than she expected catching her fist.
"Aw, how cute. That almost tickled." Mizuki taunted before immediately yanking Miu close, slamming his fist into her stomach, making the Senju Heiress gag in pain from the strength as she went flying back skidding across the ground.
"Wind Style: Air Bullets!" Said Naruto, channeling a large amount of Chakra into the Jutsu, shooting dozens of air bullets at Mizuki.
But the transformed Chūnin merely vanished again, appearing and reappearing rapidly dodging each of the air bullets.
"How pathetic! You think you can hit me with pitiful Jutsu like that?! Let me show you a real Jutsu! Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" Said Mizuki, going through handsigns before slamming them on the ground, turning the ground beneath Naruto into mud sending him sliding away.
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!" Mizuki said as he then created a large dragon-like head, which he then had fire at a barrage of high-speed mudballs at the whiskered ravenette.
The sight made Naruto's eyes widen before he used a quick Substitution switching with a log, relieved when he did so when the mudballs actually smashed right through it. Only to tense when Mizuki suddenly appeared right behind him.
"You can't run anymore, demon!" Mizuki said, swinging his hand through the air towards Naruto's neck, intent to take his head off.
But before he could make contact the Uzumaki suddenly exploded, engulfing Mizuki. Only for the Chūnin to jump out of the explosion, looking completely fine.
"Don't think your cheap tricks will work on me, demon! I've grown stronger than you could ever hope to be!" Mizuki shouted, looking around for where they could be hiding.
"Let's see how useful that power is when you can't see anything! Earth Style: Dust Storm!" Miu said, slamming her hands on the ground, generating a large cloud of soil.
"Wind Style: Breakthrough!" Said Naruto, blowing out a blast of wind, spreading out the soil around Mizuki blinding him, much to his growing anger.
"The same trick won't work on me twice nor do I need to see you to hurt you! Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!" Mizuki said, creating another large dragon head from head shooting out dozens of mudballs.
With the mudballs shooting straight through the dust cloud, forcing Naruto and Miu to quickly move to avoid being hit by them. Before the Senju grunted in pain when a mudball slammed into her shoulder before another one hit her leg, knocking her to ground.
"There you are you little bitch!" Mizuki said, blitzing in front of Miu, making her eyes widen seeing his fist coming towards.
The female Genin throwing her own fist, channeling Chakra into it to hopefully overpower the Chūnin's own attack. Only for Mizuki and Miu to both she shocked when the Senju Heiress vanished in a puff of smoke, with Naruto being in her place. Thought Mizuki was especially shocked when he got a clear look at Naruto's eyes.
'Sharingan?!' Mizuki thought, not expecting him to have those eyes as his shock made him falter for a moment, giving Naruto more than enough time to raise his hand.
"Gravity Style: Repulsion Jutsu." Naruto said, releasing a concentrated burst of gravity, sending Mizuki flying back and crashing right through a tree.
'It's gotten a lot stronger and I have much better control.' Thought Naruto, looking at his hand, having noticed since his sudden change that his Jūryokuton has grown much stronger, the same with his control finding it easier to lift heavier objects.
It still required some effort but not as much as it did just a few days ago, something that confused but pleased Naruto at being able to use it much more effectively.
'He…switched places with me.' Miu thought while looking at Naruto with wide, surprised eyes, that he actually Substituted with her.
Even if it had been just a way for him to get the drop on Mizuki with that strange Jutsu, he still willingly got her out of the way of being attacked.
"So that's how you stopped my Genjutsu!" Mizuki said, throwing the broken tree off of himself, glaring at Naruto in pure hatred.
"I don't know how you have those damn eyes or what that Jutsu was! But it'll be useless when you can't see anything! Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Said Mizuki, going through handseals before breathing out a cloud of mist covering the forest in a thick layer of mist.
The sight made Naruto scowl in annoyance as soon he couldn't see anything through the Chakra-laced mist.
'Great.' Naruto thought, seeing his Sharingan is now useless in this mist.
'Now's my chance.' Thought Miu, moving back into the mist, seeing she just got the perfect opportunity to do something that'll turn this fight back in their favor.
"Hahahahaha! Let's see you try fighting me now, you worthless brats!" Mizuki laughed, rushing towards Naruto in a burst of speed, smashing his fist into the Uzumaki.
Only for Mizuki to blink in confusion when all he hit instead was a tree, even when he knew Naruto had been standing there a moment ago. Before he grunted in pain when Miu suddenly emerged from the mist delivering a spin kick to the back of his head.
"Too slow!" Miu said, jumping back into the mist as Mizuki snarled and blitzed after her, intent to rip her apart.
"Wind Style: Air Bullets!" Said Naruto, suddenly appearing in front of Mizuki before firing multiple air bullets that slammed into the transformed Chūnin, unable to dodge in time due to his speed and close proximity to him.
Making Mizuki grunt as he was repeatedly hit by the air bullets throwing him back against another tree, much to his anger.
"I'm gonna ki-" Mizuki roared, lunging right at Naruto, only to end up slamming head first into a tree instead.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" Said Miu, slamming her hands on the ground turning it into a muddy river beneath Mizuki, sending the traitor sliding and crashing into another tree.
"What the hell is going on?!" Yelled Mizuki as he got up, wondering where all these damn trees keep coming from, swearing there weren't this many before.
"I guess you aren't that smart either, if you get lost in your own Jutsu!" Miu taunted, angering Mizuki further.
"I'll enjoy ripping your head off, you bitch! Earth Style: Earth Wave Jutsu!" Said Mizuki, slamming his hands on the ground, causing it begin moving like a wave.
Smirking cruelly when he heard where the Genin were, roaring as he leapt through the mist tackling Miu to the ground.
"Now I've got-" Mizuki said, pulling his fist back to turn her head into paste, before "Miu" suddenly exploded throwing Mizuki backwards.
Right into Miu's waiting fist smashing into the back of his head, sending Mizuki crashing through another tree.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" Mizuki shouted, grabbing the fallen tree and threw it through the mist.
"What's the matter?!" Miu asked, making Mizuki look around for where her voice was coming from.
"I thought you were so strong!" Said Miu, her voice now coming from a different direction.
"Why would you be worried, fighting two Genin?!" Miu taunted, as Mizuki breathed heavily feeling ready to explode with rage.
"Sh'I'll keel you! Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!" Yelled Mizuki as he began slurring his words in his anger, forming a dragon head of mud that began firing dozens of mudballs all around him, knowing he'll have to hit the brats somewhere.
While in the mist, Naruto heard the mudballs crashing into the trees before he was suddenly behind a tree for cover by Miu. The Senju raising a finger to her lips and motioned him to follow her, with Naruto frowning but nodded as he followed Miu through the mist.
'How's she doing this?' Naruto thought when Miu had them duck behind another tree, one he really doubted had been there before the mist went up.
Until Miu then pointed towards Mizuki through the mist, gesturing with her hands for him to attack when she attacked. Seeing the Chūnin looking around rapidly for them, Naruto nodded before looking at Miu to know when she'll strike. Only to be surprised to see she's already gone, despite having just been right next to him a moment ago.
"Over here asshole!" Said Miu, suddenly jumping through the mist to Mizuki's right slamming her fist into his head sending him stumbling, with her going back into the mist just as quickly.
"You'resh fulcking dead!" Mizuki screamed while lunging forward, only to crash through a tree instead.
"You must be blind and stupid! I'm over here! Earth Style: Dust Storm!" Miu said, slamming her hands on the ground, generating a large amount soil she launched at Mizuki.
'She's faster than I expected.' Thought Naruto, not expecting Miu to move that fast before he saw Mizuki charging through the dust cloud at Miu, seeing his back was now turned.
Taking his chance, Naruto jumped out, rushing at the transformed traitor while holding his hand up once he was close enough.
"Gravity Style: Repulsion Jutsu!" Naruto said while releasing a blast of gravity, throwing Mizuki forward, slamming him into yet another tree as he did so.
"Ieve glot you slnrow, de-" Said Mizuki, quickly turning and throwing himself at the whiskered ravenette, only to once again crash into a tree instead.
"This is just getting sad now! Why don't you save yourself some humiliation and give up?!" Miu said, while Mizuki felt something in him snap at the repeated taunting
"EeLL FULCKING KEEL YOU!" Mizuki roared as his Chakra skyrocketed and he transformed further.
Growing even larger in size with fur growing across his body, until soon Mizuki now resembled a bipedal, humanoid tiger.
"RAWRG!" Roard Mizuki, his blind rage combined with his latest transformation shattering what's left of his psyche, mentally devolving into a feral beast.
"Not there kitty cat!" Said Miu jumping down from another tree slamming her feet into Mizuki's head making him stumble
"ARGH, GRRAWRG!" Mizuki screamed, swiping his arm at the Senju, which Miu managed to avoid backflipping away into the mist with the Chūnin after her.
"Wind Style: Breakthrough!" Naruto said, suddenly in front of Mizuki, blowing out a gust of wind which Mizuki was able to withstand thanks to his greater size and strength, but was still slowly pushed back.
"ROARGH-" Roared Mizuki, crouching down before leaping the Uzumaki.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" Said Miu, turning the ground beneath Mizuki into a muddy river, causing to slip over his feet and sending him sliding right into another tree.
"Wind Style: Air Bullet!" Said Naruto unleashing one powerful air bullet, while adding his Jūryokuton to it, making the Jutsu shoot straight through the air impacting Mizuki
The traitor gagging in pain as the air bullet hit his chest as he was sent flying through the air, somehow missing any trees despite how they kept randomly appearing. Only to soon crash right through a tree, skidding across the ground as he did so.
"ARGHH, RAWRG ROARGH, GRRRAAAR! Y-yo-y-you…w-w-w-wo-worthless…d-d-de-d-d-demon…I-I-I-I-I'm n-n-no-not…d-d-done y-y-ye-ye-" Mizuki roared as his sanity began to return to where he could start speaking in broken up sentences, not helped by the pain he's currently in, while trying to get up only to let out a pain-filled groan as he felt his strength starting to fade.
The mist beginning to clear up, showing Naruto and Miu as they approached Mizuki, though the Uzumaki glanced around the forest with a frown. While also deactivating his Sharingan now that the fight was over.
'Everything looks different.' Thought Naruto, having memorized how the forest look before the mist appeared with his Sharingan, so he knew where the trees had been.
But now it either looked like they had been moved around or there were even more than there were before.
'And she doesn't look surprised or confused.' Naruto thought while glancing at Miu, also noticing how heavily she was breathing and her shaky steps.
Wondering how exactly she was able to basically dance around Mizuki like it was nothing, while at the same time keeping him from getting hit and directing him on when to strike. It left Naruto confused before he shook his head. While he had his suspicions, Naruto figured that it ultimately didn't matter in the end. They were able to deal with Mizuki and retrieved the Scroll of Seals.
Before they looked at Mizuki, watching as his body began emitting steam and shrinking back down to normal. Only to see it didn't stop there as he shrunk even further, growing emancipated, his skin turning a shriveled brown color.
"N-n-no-no-no…th-t-th-th-this…c-c-c-ca-c-ca-can't…b-b-be-be h-h-ha-happening…m-m-my-m-my-my…p-p-p-po-power…" Mizuki muttered, struggling to move until his body went limp on the ground.
"I-is…is he…" Miu muttered uneasily as they approached Mizuki, wondering if he's dead.
Stepping closer, Naruto nudged his arm with his foot before jumping back in shock and a bit of horror when it actually crumbled away like dust.
"Yeah! I'd say he's dead… I guess whatever that potion was, it had some unfortunate side-effects." Naruto stated while grabbing the Scroll of Seals off Mizuki's body.
"Oh…that's good." Miu said before she suddenly collapsed, only for Naruto to quickly move in to catch her.
Leaving both Genin flustered, with Naruto feeling Miu's spandex-clad body pressed against him, able to feel practically everything underneath. While Miu could feel Naruto was pretty muscular beneath his clothes, making her blush brightly as she involuntarily wondered what he'd look like underneath them.
"S-s-s-s-sorry, I-I-I…I guess I-I u-u-used…more Chakra th-than I th-thought. And…it's been a pretty eventful night." Miu said, embarrassed at collapsing, knowing what she did likely would've left her completely drained, but covered it up with fatigue from the events of the night.
"Whatever. Let's just…get back." Muttered Naruto, doing his best to ignore the feel of her body against him, which was easier said than done.
Hokage's Office*
Meanwhile, back in the Hokage's Office, Dan, Tsunade and Orochimaru continued looking for the Ninja sent out to find Naruto with the Crystal Ball Jutsu. With them about to go to another one, just as the office door burst open as Shizune rushed in with a worried expression.
"Uncle! Tsunade-sama! Miu's missing!" Shizune said, having gone to check on her cousin, only to find her nowhere at home or anywhere in the compound before she immediately rushed to the Hokage's Residence.
"I believe we found her." Stated Orochimaru when Dan's and Tsunade's heads snapped towards Shizune at hearing their daughter was missing, only to look at the crystal ball.
With the Slug Princess scowling furiously when she saw her daughter being held by Naruto, the latter also having the Scroll of Seals strapped to his back.
"He did steal it! And now he went after Miu!" Tsunade said, now fully intending to crush that brats head for daring to touch her daughter.
"Wait! Wait! Calm down, Tsunade! We weren't searching for Miu's or Naruto's Chakra, the crystal ball was tracking Mizuki's Chakra Signature next. But…where is he?" Said Dan, stopping his wife from doing anything rash, only to frown when he didn't see Mizuki anywhere.
"It seems Naruto and Miu have dealt with the real traitor. Look there." Orochimaru said, pointing towards the image of Mizuki's body in the crystal ball, shocking the others at the sight of him.
"What happened to him?" Questioned Shizune upon seeing the state of Mizuki's body.
"I…can't be sure. I'd need to study his body to find out what caused this." Tsunade said while frowning, both that she was wrong about Naruto being the thief and at how close Miu was to him.
"Indeed. Though now that we have proof, perhaps it'd be best to call off those still searching for Naruto." Said Orochimaru, pleased at Naruto having dealt with Mizuki, along with how it seems he and Miu have grown closer from the encounter.
"Yes. Bird, Boar, Fox. Please go out and inform the teams the search for Naruto is off and go retrieve him, my daughter and the Scroll of Seals." Dan said, knowing the hidden Anbu have left to carry out his orders.
Later-With Naruto and Miu*
"So…tonight was pretty interesting." Miu stated, looking at Naruto as they left the Hokage's Residence after returning the Scroll of Seals.
The Senju Heiress having regained enough energy to walk on her own, but was eager to get back to her bed before she collapsed again.
"Mmmm." Muttered Naruto, only feeling pleased at the training he got done and the new Jutsu he copied from Mizuki, especially the Hell Viewing Jutsu and Hidden Mist Jutsu.
'I'll also need to learn to utilize Earth Chakra, if I'm going to be able to use Earth Flow River and Earth Dragon Bullet.' Naruto thought, having memorized them as well, knowing they'd be an effective combo.
"I…also wanted to thank you." Said Miu, making Naruto glance at her,
"What for exactly?" Questioned Naruto, only for Miu to smile at him,
"You know what? When you switched places with me before Mizuki could attack me, you saved me from getting hurt." Miu replied, with the whiskered ravenette merely grunting.
"It was nothing. I only did that because I saw a chance to surprise Mizuki, leaving him open to attack. It also would've been detrimental if I was forced to protect you as well as fight him, after that power boost he received." Naruto stated, brushing it off, while Miu simply kept smiling.
"And…I suppose your presence helped end the fight faster than if I dealt with him alone. So…I guess you have my gratitude…you made a useful distraction." Added Naruto while offering his own backhanded thanks, making Miu's smile grow.
"I'm happy I could help. We did make a great team, maybe…we'll get the chance to do it again." Miu said as Naruto merely turned and began heading back to his apartment.
Though it did nothing to dampen Miu's mood as she practically skipped back home, knowing she's now made real progress in getting Naruto to open up to her.
'Just wait Naruto, you won't be getting rid of me so easily now.' Miu thought, more determined than ever to earn his friendship and hopefully more.
With Dan*
"We've searched Mizuki's residence, Hokage-sama. It seems he's been a deep-cover spy for Iwagakure this entire time. Being sent to gather intel on Konoha's security, while stealing the Scroll of Seals had been his own plan." Said Bird, handing the Yondaime the "evidence" they gathered from Mizuki's home after raiding it to find out if he was working for anyone or if he was working alone.
As well as finding out who he was working for, should it turn out to be the former scenario.
Dan frowned deeply as he looked over the "evidence", not believing they had a spy in their midst this entire time. Even more so, one that had worked in the Academy for so long.
"What about his fiancée? Tsubaki?" Dan asked, knowing how close they were, wondering if she could've been a spy or even defected to join Mizuki once he left.
"Dead, I'm afraid. She was found crushed from an Earth Style Ninjutsu. She could've discovered Mizuki's allegiance and planned to turn him, but it seems he got to her first, or there were some Iwa Ninja in the area that decided to silence her in case she proved to be a loose end." Bird replied, which did nothing to improve Dan's mood.
"Send out some tracking and reconnaissance team if it turns out to be the case. Even if a spy has been dealt with and the Scroll of Seals secured safely, we can't run the risk that Iwa Ninja are lurking around in Konoha and its territory." Said Dan, knowing that in light of the evidence they've found that there was more they needed to do before they can rest easily.
With Orochimaru and Kakashi*
"How did he do?" Orochimaru said, leaning against a gazebo with Kakashi standing nearby, wanting to hear how Naruto did for his test.
"He performed excellently, managing to hold his own against the Chūnin with his limited abilities and being tired from training. With him and Miu making short work of them, together. While they did have some trouble against Mizuki, especially after he transformed, they were still able to hold their own. Even with the Hidden Mist Jutsu, they were able to hold out long enough for Mizuki to burn himself out while also accelerating said burnout by aggravating him." Kakashi explained, the Snake Sannin nodding with a pleased smirk at Naruto's progress.
"And what about his interactions with Miu?" Questioned Orochimaru, intrigued when he saw how close they were through the crystal ball.
"Naruto still seems distant. But I believe tonight's events have triggered a change in him and Miu, though I can't say for certain where it will lead." Said Kakashi while feeling glad at the chance Naruto could form a bond, believing that Miu genuinely wanted to be his friend while knowing it will be invaluable for Naruto to have comrades that he could rely on.
He just wasn't sure if it would last in the coming days.
"Yes, it's certainly an interesting development. And I believe that young Miu may even surprise us with the choices she'll end up making." Orochimaru said as his smirk grew, knowing these recent developments will prove very interesting to watch unfold.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruto and Miu finding Iruka dead, having been killed by Mizuki, and the Scroll of Seals gone. With them chasing after Mizuki to retrieve the scroll, but once they find him Mizuki proves much stronger than they anticipated. Forcing Naruto to use his Sharingan to avoid being caught in any more Genjutsu, along with copying some of Mizuki's Jutsu.
Before Mizuki then drinks the Animal Curse Seal transforming and boosting his power exponentially, forcing Naruto and Miu onto the defensive from the sudden power boost. Until Naruto uses his Jūryokuton, which also reveals his Sharingan leading to Mizuki using the Hidden Mist Jutsu. Only for this to prove to be a mistake as Miu begins dancing circles around him, driving Mizuki mad with rage at how he's now being toyed with, pushing the Animal Curse Seal further to kill them.
Only for him to be defeated as the Animal Curse Seal wears off, though now leaving him as little more than a dried out husk, erasing any trace of the Curse Seal from his body. With Miu collapsing afterwards due to having left herself drained in order to get them the advantage again, only for Naruto to catch her leaving them both flustered before returning to the village with the scroll.
Then we see Dan, Tsunade and Orochimaru locating them through the crystal ball, having locked onto Mizuki's Chakra Signature next, just as Shizune runs in revealing Miu's disappearance. With them seeing proof Naruto wasn't the thief and helped stop Mizuki.
As we then see Naruto and Miu after returning the Scroll of Seals, with Miu being happy at them working together and her progress in breaking past Naruto's walls. With Naruto even offering his own backhanded thanks for her help, before they go their separate ways, Miu now being more determined than ever.
Finally we see Dan learning Mizuki had been an "Iwa Spy" the entire time, planning to steal the scroll for Iwagakure, with Tsubaki being found killed by an Earth Style Ninjutsu. Sending out teams in order to make sure there were no Iwa Ninja in or around the village that had been working with Mizuki.
While Orochimaru gets his own report from Kakashi on Naruto's and Miu's performance against the Chūnin and Mizuki. Pleased at the progress Naruto's made, as well as interested in the new bond he has with Miu, wondering what it will lead to and the choices Miu will make. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out