Warm liquid splashed across Naruto's cold face.
Blood.
Iruka-sensei's blood.
In that instant, Naruto's pupils constricted sharply.
He stared blankly at the figure standing before him. The massive windmill-shaped shuriken was buried deep in Iruka's flesh, like a terrifying, venomous spike.
Blood gushed along the edges of the weapon, staining the familiar green vest a vivid, dark red.
Why?
Why was this happening?
Naruto's mind went completely blank. He couldn't comprehend the scene in front of him.
This was the teacher who usually grabbed his ears and shouted "You idiot!"… the teacher who punished him for pranks by making him clean, but later treated him to Ichiraku ramen… Why… why would he do so much for me?
"Ha! Iruka, how touching!"
Mizuki's harsh, venomous laughter shattered the brief silence.
"You actually protect the one who killed your parents! Don't you hate the Nine-Tailed Fox? Have you forgotten?"
Every word Mizuki spoke was like salt on Iruka's wound.
Iruka stood with his back to Naruto, his body trembling violently from the pain.
He could feel his life slipping away with every drop of blood.
He opened his mouth, his voice weak and hoarse, yet his words were filled with unwavering resolve.
"This is… the right thing to do."
Although quiet, Iruka's voice carried clearly through the forest, reaching the ears of everyone watching under the celestial screen.
"I truly… hate the Nine-Tails."
"But…"
Iruka's voice trembled, not just from pain but from the overwhelming emotion swelling within him a desperate urge to clear the injustice that weighed on this child.
"Naruto… is not the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox."
"He is a hardworking student, and that I acknowledge."
"He is… diligent, but clumsy. That is why he hasn't been recognized by everyone. He has tasted loneliness; he understands that pain better than anyone…"
Iruka's voice shook.
It was not only from suffering, but from a deep, burning desire to vindicate the boy.
Outside the forest, the ninja world held its breath.
Countless ninja and villagers were watching this ordinary teacher.
They wanted to hear the words of someone who had also lost happiness to the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Iruka lifted his head with all his remaining strength and shouted, a roar that shook the forest, ringing out to Naruto, Mizuki, and the entire world:
"He is not the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox!"
"He is a ninja of Konoha "
"Naruto Uzumaki!"
Boom!
Those words rolled like thunder, exploding in Naruto's heart and in the hearts of everyone watching.
Naruto Uzumaki!
He was neither a fox demon nor a monster!
He was Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja of Konoha!
Naruto stared blankly at Iruka's bleeding back, listening to this heartfelt, life-or-death confession.
Twelve years.
In the twelve years since his birth, this was the first time someone had so firmly and resolutely acknowledged his existence!
Not out of pity, not out of sympathy.
But genuine recognition.
"Waaah "
Naruto could no longer hold back his emotions. Twelve years of resentment, loneliness, and pain poured out in a torrent of tears.
He cried like a child, wracking sobs tearing through him.
He was not alone.
Someone… truly recognized him.
"Hmph, how touching!" Mizuki's face darkened with rage. He raised another kunai, aiming for Iruka. "If you want to protect him so badly, then you'll die with him!"
Seeing the attack close in, Iruka turned sharply, summoning the last of his strength to shove Naruto out of harm's way.
"Run, Naruto!"
With the powerful shove, Naruto rolled into the nearby bushes.
Iruka watched Naruto disappear into the shadows, a relieved smile crossing his face.
He turned to face the advancing Mizuki and the open forest, his voice calm yet filled with pride:
"I will never… hand Naruto… my exceptional student… over to someone like you!"
Hidden behind a tree, Naruto heard every word.
"My exceptional student…" Those few words shone like a beacon, completely dispelling the darkness in his heart.
In Iruka-sensei's eyes, he was not a failure. He was not an idiot.
He was a remarkable student.
All the resentment, all the anger, all the gratitude at this moment, it transformed into a new, explosive strength coursing through Naruto's limbs.
"Die, Iruka!"
Mizuki had lost his patience. He raised his kunai, aiming straight for Iruka's heart.
But just as the weapon was about to strike…
"Bang!"
A golden figure shot out from the bushes like a cannonball.
It was Naruto!
His face streaked with tears, yet his eyes were no longer confused or desperate. They burned with volcanic anger and unyielding determination.
He delivered a clean, powerful flying kick to Mizuki's face!
Mizuki screamed in pain, flying back and crashing heavily into a large tree.
"Na… Naruto?" Iruka's eyes widened in shock at Naruto's sudden appearance.
Naruto didn't look back. Using his small frame, he shielded Iruka, just as Iruka had protected him.
His gaze blazed like fire as he stared at Mizuki, who was scrambling to recover, and spoke each word slowly, ice-cold and filled with lethal intent a voice he had never used before:
"You dare not touch a single hair of Iruka-sensei again!"
"Or else…"
"I will kill you!"
As he finished, Naruto rapidly formed the hand signs!
This was a jutsu from the Sealed Scroll, which he had practiced countless times but only now had he succeeded!
"Multi-…"
"Shadow Clone Technique!!!"