Mizuki lay completely motionless on the ground, defeated not by an elite Jonin but by the overwhelming, combined elements of a freshly graduated Genin.
Yet, even with the traitor unconscious, everyone present could still feel the phantom, blistering heat radiating from Suzuki's jutsu. It sent a terrifying chill down their spines.
"Amazing..."
Naruto stood frozen. He had genuinely thought he was amazing for generating a massive army of solid clones. But looking at the sheer, apocalyptic destruction Suzuki had unleashed, Naruto knew deep down that his entire clone army would have been instantly scorched to ash in front of that white-hot fire.
Meanwhile, Suzuki mentally evaluated the aftermath. He knew this display of raw power would catapult him into the spotlight. Remaining completely low-key was no longer an option, but that was acceptable. In Konoha, being completely invisible was almost as dangerous as being a target. He needed to be visible, but only to the right people—specifically, he wanted to secure Hiruzen Sarutobi's permanent attention.
Suzuki adjusted his glasses, looking at the physical devastation he had caused. The intense heat, combined with the hyper-pressurized wind, had flash-melted the forest floor into a jagged, smoking crater of blackened glass. The oxygen had been violently burned away, leaving a suffocating, smoky silence broken only by the sharp hiss of melting stone.
And he had executed this using a basic C-Rank scroll Hiruzen had handed him just a few days prior.
Unsurprisingly, before Suzuki could even stretch his sore muscles, a squad of ANBU materialized from the shadows.
"Suzuki Tanaka. The Hokage requests your presence immediately."
As for Naruto and the heavily wounded Iruka, medical ninja arrived to escort them to the hospital. But before they left, Naruto suddenly turned around.
"What's wrong, Naruto?" Suzuki asked casually.
"I..." Naruto took a deep, shuddering breath, his blue eyes burning with an intense, unyielding fire. "I will definitely become a true ninja! And I'm going to become the Hokage! So just watch me, Suzuki!"
"I will," Suzuki nodded, his expression completely calm. "Don't give up, Naruto."
"I WON'T!"
As Naruto roared his classic shonen promise and was carried off, Suzuki didn't feel surprised. He knew this was exactly how the protagonist was programmed to act. Yet, from a purely psychological standpoint, Suzuki still found it horrifying. Naruto's toxic positivity was so absolute it felt unnatural. It was as if the boy's brain violently repressed all trauma, pretending the horrific reality of his existence simply hadn't happened. Or perhaps it was the reincarnation of Asura Otsutsuki actively suppressing his darker thoughts.
Whatever, Suzuki thought, turning toward the ANBU. I have a performance review to pass.
"Suzuki-kun, are you unharmed?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in his office, looking at the young boy with genuine paternal worry.
"I am fine. Thank you, Hokage-sama," Suzuki immediately bowed his head in deep respect. "Honestly, if you hadn't gifted me that Wind Release scroll earlier, I don't know if I would have survived tonight..."
"Nonsense," Hiruzen said softly, waving his hand. "Your survival is entirely due to your own hard work and talent. You should reward yourself. You just defeated Mizuki, a veteran who possessed the qualifications to become a Tokubetsu Jonin (Special Jonin)."
It was true. Despite Mizuki's pathetic end tonight, he wasn't inherently weak. If he hadn't been a treacherous, backstabbing coward during his field missions, his rank would have been raised long ago. Unfortunately, his toxic envy had driven him down the path of treason.
"...."
"No, Hokage-sama," Suzuki insisted, perfectly playing the part of the humble subordinate. "The jutsu you entrusted to me is the only reason I am standing here right now."
"Suzuki-kun..." Hiruzen sighed.
He was incredibly touched by the boy's absolute humility, especially since Hiruzen felt a sharp pang of guilt. He had watched through his crystal orb as Mizuki consumed the cursed steroid, and he had actively chosen not to intervene, testing Suzuki's limits.
"..."
Suzuki wasn't entirely sure what the old man was thinking, but he knew corporate strategy. He was currently in a weaker political position. Instead of trying to hide his secrets like a paranoid rogue ninja, he was going to offer them up willingly. To a genius like Hiruzen, transparency was everything.
"However, Hokage-sama... the jutsu combination I used was a bit unorthodox."
"Yes," Hiruzen nodded, his eyes sharpening with genuine intellectual curiosity. "I must admit, the combination jutsu you achieved was remarkable. I have never seen a Genin naturally fuse two distinct elemental natures so seamlessly. How did you do it?"
"...."
Suzuki pretended to struggle with the explanation. "Hmm... It's difficult to explain in ninja terms. But honestly, it felt a lot like doing a BBQ."
"A BBQ?" Hiruzen tilted his head, thoroughly confused.
"Yes. When I'm working the grill, if I want the charcoal embers to burn hotter and stronger, I aggressively fan them with a steady stream of air, right?"
"Well... yes, that seems to be the case," Hiruzen nodded slowly, tracking the boy's logic.
"I simply applied that same principle to my chakra. I thought that if I unleashed my Fireball Jutsu and immediately fed it with the Great Breakthrough wind jutsu, it would create a similar, compounding effect. Like fanning a massive piece of charcoal. Fortunately, the theory held up in practice."
"....."
Hiruzen was momentarily speechless.
This boy... this absolute prodigy... hadn't spent years studying complex elemental theory scrolls. He had created a devastating, lethal A-Rank elemental combination jutsu based entirely on his experience grilling meat!
Despite his frail appearance, Hiruzen was universally revered as the "Professor of Shinobi." He had mastered all five basic chakra natures. He could combine jutsu as easily as he breathed. But his mastery was born from decades of grueling, repetitive experience. To see a twelve-year-old boy intuitively grasp that level of elemental synergy based purely on civilian logic...
Hiruzen realized he wasn't just looking at a genius. He was looking at a prodigy who might one day rival Minato Namikaze.
"Suzuki-kun..." Hiruzen took a deep breath, his expression turning incredibly serious. "You must know that attempting an untested elemental jutsu combination is incredibly dangerous. If your chakra control had faltered even slightly, the jutsu could have backfired and incinerated you. Why did you take such a reckless gamble?"
"It was for Naruto and Iruka-sensei, Hokage-sama."
"...For them?"
"Yes," Suzuki nodded, his voice dropping into a somber, intensely earnest register. "I probably could have used my speed to run away. But if I retreated, I would have abandoned them. Mizuki would have slaughtered them both. I absolutely could not let that happen. So, I decided to bet my own life on that theory to ensure I had the overwhelming firepower needed to put Mizuki down instantly. It was reckless... but seeing them both survive made it worth the risk."
Was he lying?
Was he telling the truth?
Frankly, Suzuki's internal corporate monologue admitted it was a 50/50 split. He genuinely would have felt uncomfortable letting Iruka and Naruto die, especially since his mere existence in the timeline might have caused butterfly-effect variables. More importantly, he had 120% confidence in his Manager, but he knew he couldn't say the truth out loud; instead, he had to package his deliberate heroic act in a good package.
Overcome with sudden emotion, Hiruzen stepped forward and pulled the boy into a tight, fatherly hug.
"Hokage-sama?!"
Suzuki was genuinely startled. His combat instincts spiked, and he almost reflexively slammed a Judo throw into the Hokage's pelvis, but he violently suppressed the urge. Hiruzen didn't notice the tension, assuming the boy was just shocked by the sudden affection.
"Thank you, Suzuki-kun... thank you for saving those two..." Hiruzen whispered, his voice thick with genuine emotion.
"No, it's fine, Hokage-sama... They are my comrades. It was the only right thing to do..."
"Even after hearing Mizuki reveal that Naruto is the Demon Fox?"
"...I don't care what Mizuki said," Suzuki answered immediately, his tone resolute. "In my eyes, Naruto is just Naruto. He is loud, he is stupid, and he is my dear friend."
As the first rays of the morning sun began to filter through the Hokage's window, the golden light cast a warm glow over Suzuki. To Hiruzen, the boy literally looked like a shining beacon of hope for a decaying village.
Hiruzen felt tears pricking the corners of his eyes. Moved by the sheer purity of the boy's "Will of Fire," the Hokage pulled back and reached into his desk drawer.
"Here. This is for you, Suzuki-kun."
"...What?" Suzuki blinked, staring at the scroll. He immediately shifted back into his humble subordinate persona. "No, please, Hokage-sama! I cannot accept that! I didn't save my friends for a reward!"
"Nonsense! I insist you accept this!" Hiruzen smiled warmly. "This is an original jutsu I created myself. After witnessing your ingenuity tonight, I know you are the perfect candidate to inherit it."
"No, no, I am afraid my mediocre talent will only insult your legacy, Hokage-sama!"
"Take it!"
"..."
Suzuki reluctantly, hesitantly reached out and accepted the heavy scroll. Outwardly, he looked deeply humbled and slightly overwhelmed.
Inwardly, he was cackling. Hook, line, and sinker.
"Unlike me," Hiruzen chuckled, "I believe your brilliant, unorthodox mind might be able to make this jutsu truly shine in the modern era. Use it well, Suzuki-kun."
"Y-Yes, Hokage-sama... I will treasure it!"
Suzuki bowed deeply, feeling as if he had just successfully manipulated the CEO into handing over the company's highest-valued stock options.
"Try to open it."
"Yes."
Suzuki unrolled the scroll in the hallway, his triumphant internal cackling instantly flatlining.
He stared at the ink. He had just been gifted the absolute, most iconic signature jutsu of Hiruzen Sarutobi's entire arsenal:
The Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
"..."
Suzuki stood frozen in the hallway, his corporate brain desperately trying to process the absolute uselessness of the transaction.
What the hell am I supposed to do with this?!