Chapter 2: The Fang's Return

The forest air was tense, thick with anticipation as Mizuki sneered at Sora standing between him and his prize. The moonlight cast eerie shadows across the clearing, glinting off Mizuki's massive shuriken. Iruka knelt a few paces back, holding Naruto's unconscious form, his back still bleeding from the earlier attack.

"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" Mizuki barked, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think you can stop me? I'll show you what happens when you stand in my way!"

Sora tilted his head, his transformed appearance lending an air of mystery. His voice, calm yet charged with authority, resonated through the clearing.

"I'm an admirer of Naruto's spirit. Something you, Mizuki, could never understand. A boy who never gives up is worth a thousand of you."

Mizuki's lip curled into a snarl. "Admirer? Of that failure? Don't make me laugh!" He hurled one of his giant shuriken at Sora with deadly precision.

To Iruka's shock, Sora didn't dodge. Instead, his hands crackled with white-blue electricity as he caught the spinning blade mid-air, the lightning coursing through his palms dissipating the force. He let the weapon drop to the ground with a heavy thud.

Mizuki's eyes widened, but he quickly recovered, growling in frustration. "Not bad!"

Mizuki launched himself forward, engaging Sora in close combat. His strikes were wild but powerful, aiming to overwhelm Sora with brute force. Sora, however evaded his assault.

Sora countered with lightning-infused strikes. Each hit from Sora sent small jolts through Mizuki's body, making him wince in pain.

"You rely too much on brute strength," Sora remarked, delivering a spinning kick to Mizuki's side. The impact sent Mizuki stumbling backward.

"Shut up!" Mizuki growled, quickly forming hand seals. "Earth Release: Underground Death Grip!"

The ground beneath Sora shifted, and a massive earthen hand erupted, aiming to grab him. Sora leapt into the air just in time, avoiding the trap.

But Mizuki was ready. Bursting from the ground behind Sora, he swung a kunai with deadly intent

Sora spun around quickly, lightning erupting from his hand. "Lightning Release: Thunder Palm!"

The strike connected, sending Mizuki flying into a tree. Bark splintered from the impact as Mizuki groaned in pain.

--

Climbing to his feet, Mizuki wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at Sora. "You're good. I'll give you that. But I'm just getting started!"

Forming hand seals again, Mizuki cast a genjutsu. "Demonic Illusion: Binding Chains!"

Iruka, watching from the sidelines, shouted a warning, but it was too late. Invisible chains coiled around Sora's limbs, holding him in place. Mizuki laughed as he brought out a puppet armed with a sword.

"Let's see how you like this!" Mizuki taunted as the puppet lunged forward.

Sora, however, remained calm. "Genjutsu? Is that the best you can do?"

With a burst of chakra , Sora shattered the illusion, his body flickering as he reappeared behind the puppet. Before Mizuki could react, Sora's hand crackled with electricity.

He thrust his hand through the puppet, destroying it instantly.

--

Mizuki staggered to his feet, panting. His frustration was evident. "You think you're better than me? You're nothing! NOTHING!"

Suddenly, black markings began to spread across his body, twisting and pulsing unnaturally. His muscles bulged, his eyes turned feral, and claws sprouted from his fingers.

Iruka gasped in horror, tightening his grip on Naruto. "What... what is that?"

Sora narrowed his eyes. Even he wasn't sure what he was looking at. Mizuki's chakra spiked wildly, the air around him growing oppressive.

The transformed Mizuki let out a roar, his voice distorted. "Now, I'll tear you apart!"

He charged at Sora with terrifying speed, faster than before. Sora barely managed to sidestep the first swipe of Mizuki's claws, but the sheer force of the attack sent a shockwave through the ground.

Sora countered with a lightning-enhanced punch to Mizuki's ribs, but the attack barely fazed him. Mizuki grinned, his tiger-like features twisted with malice. "That tickled."

Before Sora could react, Mizuki lashed out, his claws raking across Sora's side. Sparks flew as Sora's lightning chakra absorbed some of the impact, but the force still sent him skidding back.

"This isn't good," Sora muttered, gripping his side.

Mizuki pressed his advantage, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks. Sora dodged and deflected as best he could.

"Lightning Release: Thunder Burst!" Sora shouted, releasing a surge of energy to create distance. The attack forced Mizuki back, but the beastly man quickly recovered, snarling.

Sora's mind raced." I can't overpower him in this state... but I can outsmart him."

He focused his chakra, channeling it into his hand. The lightning grew brighter, more intense, until it formed a solid blade of pure energy.

Mizuki laughed. "You think a little trick like that will stop me?!"

Sora didn't answer. Instead, he lunged forward, his speed catching Mizuki off guard. Their clash lit up the forest, each strike from Sora's blade pushing Mizuki closer to his limits.

Finally, with a burst of speed, Sora ducked under Mizuki's wild swing and drove his lightning blade into Mizuki's chest. The energy surged through Mizuki's body, forcing him to collapse with a final, guttural roar.

As Mizuki's cursed seal receded, he laid unconscious on the ground. Sora stood over him, his breathing heavy, the lightning blade fading from his hand.

Iruka stared at Sora in awe, cradling Naruto protectively. "Who... are you?"

Sora turned, his transformed appearance fading. His eyes softened as he looked at Naruto. "Just someone who believes in him. Take care of the boy, Iruka-sensei. He's going to change the world."

Without another word, Sora vanished into the forest, leaving Iruka to process what had just happened.

From the shadows, Sora watched as Iruka comforted Naruto, a faint smile playing on his lips. In Naruto, he saw hope, resilience, and a spirit he wished he had in his past life.

--

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair, the glow from his crystal ball illuminating his aged features. His eyes were focused, his mind replaying the scene he had just witnessed.

The stranger's fighting style was precise yet fluid, a seamless blend of overwhelming offense and tactical defense. Each movement seemed calculated, deliberate, and... familiar. Hiruzen's brow furrowed as an old memory stirred.

"It's been years," Hiruzen murmured to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. "But that style... it's unmistakable. The strikes, the control, even the aura he carried. It reminded me of Sakumo..."

The Third Hokage's gaze lingered on the crystal ball, now showing only the still forest. His thoughts were troubled, though a glimmer of hope flickered in his heart. "Whoever that man was, he carries the same strength and resolve as the White Fang once did."

He exhaled deeply, leaning forward to clasp his hands together. "Sakumo... could it be that your will lives on in some way? Perhaps this stranger is here for a reason."

The old Hokage's musings were interrupted by a knock at the door, pulling him back to the present. He sighed, brushing aside his thoughts for now. "Come in."

Even as he returned to his duties, the memory of the mysterious shinobi lingered in his mind,a shadow of the past, standing on the edge of Konoha's future.

Tbc