03

"Let's see, The first one is... Multiple Shadow Clone Technique? Araaagh! Not this again. It's my worst jutsu!" Naruto whines. After almost an hour of practicing Naruto sat on the ground, tired, with the scroll of sealing scraped to his back. A distant sound of footsteps trampling grass beneath them slowly began get closer. Suddenly, a large shadow towered over the yellow-blonde haired boys body.

Iruka places his hands on his hips twitching with irritation radiating off him. "It's all over now," Iruka laughs creepily.

"Tehehehehe." Naruto laughs nervously,"Caught me already? Not bad. Your quick Sensei. I only had time to learn one technique."

"Huh?" Iruka gives Naruto a once over. 'He's been out here practicing! I can tell how hard he's been working.' Iruka's eyes widen.

"Listen Iruka-Sensei! I'm gonna show you this amazing jutsu and your gonna let me graduate, then everything will be okay! That's the way it works right? Anyone who learns a jutsu from this scroll passes."

"Huh? Where'd you get that idea?!"

"Mizuki-Sensei told me about it. Believe it!" Naruto turns around to show the scroll. "He told me where to find the scroll, and this place..."

'Huh? Mizuki?'

"Naruto!" Iruka quickly pushes Naruto out of the way multiple kunai flying towards them. A couple manage to hit Iruka in his arms and legs. "I see you've found our little hideaway." Mizuki smirks.

"So that's the way it is, huh? I should've known!" Iruka snarls.

"Naruto! Give me the scroll now!" Mizuki demands.

"Wait a minute," Naruto looks back and forth between Mizuki and Iruka. "What's going on here?"

"Naruto! Don't let Mizuki get the scroll! It contains forbidden jutsu that can put this village in grave danger. Mizuki used you to get the scroll for himself for his own power!" Iruka explains.

Naruto gasps in disbelief. "Naruto! Iruka is just trying to scare you because he doesn't want you to have the scroll."

'Who am I suppose to trust?'

"Stop lying Mizuki! Don't let him trick you Naruto!"

"Hahahahaha! Oh I'll tell you who's really lying." Mizuki smirks maniacally.

"No Mizuki!" Iruka shouts.

"They've been lying to you your whole life Naruto. Ever since the decree twelve years ago. Everyone knows except you. Iruka's trying to hide it from you even now. He'd do anything to shut me up!"

"What is this decree? Why does everyone else know about it?" Naruto asks.

"Don't tell him, it's forbidden!"

"The decree is no one can tell you the Nine-Tailed Fox is sealed inside of you!!" Naruto's eyes widened at Mizuki's words. His body shook and thousands of thoughts erupted in his mind.

"The fox spirit that killed Iruka's parents and destroyed our village has taken over your body! You are the nine-tails fox!"

"STOOOP IT!!!" Iruka screamed.

"They've all been sneaking around hiding things from you your whole life. Didn't you think it was strange how they treated you? Like dirt! Like they hated you for just being alive!" Mizuki continues despite Iruka's pleas.

"No! No, No, No, No!!" Naruto bends over and blue chakra bursts out surrounding his body wildly reflecting his emotions.

"No...Naruto," Iruka falls to his knees.

"That's why you will never be accepted into this village. Even your beloved Sensei hates your guts!" Mizuki looks at Naruto with disgust.

"Die, Naruto!" Mizuki twirls a giant shuriken around his index finger and throws it with perfect aim. The giant shuriken traveled at maximum speed towards Naruto. Naruto scrambles to get away but was too slow. Out of instinct he brought his arms up to cover his face, bracing himself for the impact that never came. He looks up and sees Iruka above him.

Naruto gasps when he doesn't see the giant shuriken piercing his Sensei. He looks behind Iruka and spots something unexpected.

"(N-Name)...N-No!" Naruto shouts. Iruka immediately turns around only to see his students trembling bloodied body.

"T-That's enough... I've h-heard e-enough. Naruto isn't a m-monster! S-so stop t-treating him like one!" Your body falls to the ground, going completely limp.

"That's What you get for trying to play hero. She'll be dead before all this is over, and so will you two!" Mizuki throws his second giant shuriken and this time Iruka jumps in front of it taking the hit.

"Iruka-Sensei!"

"Give me the scroll and I'll spare both your lives." Mizuki offers. Naruto looks at them both torn between who to trust. He looks down at your unmoving body before getting up and running away.

"Naruto!" Iruka calls, hand reaching after the boy.

"You know, once he makes up his mind, nothing can change it. He's going to use the scroll to take revenge on the village." Mizuki chuckles. "You saw that look in his eyes, didn't you? Those are the eyes of a beast."

Iruka rips the giant shuriken out before standing up. "No. Naruto isn't like that." Iruka throws the shuriken back at Mizuki.

Mizuki dodges with no effort. "Hm. You're a joke. As soon as I eliminate Naruto and get the scroll, I'll be back for you." Mizuki jumps away using the trees to gain more momentum.

"I won't let you." Iruka groans in pain.

***

'This isn't good. (Name)'s been injured really badly, if she doesn't get medical attention soon she will die. The Fourth Hokage entrusted me with the responsibility of protecting her.'

Hiruzen turns to another ninja present in the room, "Prepare a medical team." He orders.

***

"Naruto, everything Mizuki said was a lie! Give me the scroll! Hurry!" Iruka demands.

Naruto kicks Iruka sending him skidding across the ground. Naruto lands on his feet. "It can't be. How did you know? Naruto, how did you know? How did you know I'm not Iruka!" Mizuki transforms back into hisself.

"Because I'm Iruka!"

"You're a fool. Why are you protecting that freak? He's the one who wiped out your family!"

"I don't care what you say. You're not getting your hands on that scroll." Iruka glares.

"As if you could stop me. Don't you get it? Naruto is just like me. He wants the scroll for his own power and his own vengeance. That's how beasts are! He'll pour all his rage into the scroll and destroy everything." Mizuki laughs.

The sound of heavy footsteps could be heard. Iruka and Mizuki both turn their heads towards the sound as well as Naruto who hid behind a tree.

You, who could barely stand using trees as support to hold yourself upright. Your blood leaving a long trail behind you. "You're right," You croaked.

Naruto gasps, even you, his own best friend thought that about him. He couldn't believe his ears. He didn't want to believe them. Someone he had confided in all these years only saw him as a monster. "So it's true. Iruka-Sensei and (Name) never believed in me. They think I'm some beast." Naruto whispers.

"That is how beasts are," You continue, "But that's not how Naruto is. He's nothing like that. Naruto is one of a kind, he works hard, puts his whole heart into it. Sure, he messes up sometimes, and everyone jumps on him. But his sufferings only make him stronger."

"That's what separates him from being a beast." Iruka smiles.

"He's nothing like the Nine-Tailed Fox. He's Naruto Uzumaki of the Village Hidden in the Leaves." You stumble. The massive amount of blood lost finally getting to you. Naruto wipes the tears that had fallen from his eyes.

"You both really believe that drivel? Iruka, I was going to save you for later, and (Name) I honestly thought you had already died. But now, I'll finish you both up quickly and then I'll go find Naruto."

"I won't let you!" You glare.

"You're finished!" Mizuki gets ready to throw another giant shuriken. Naruto suddenly jumps from behind the tree and kicks Mizuki away sending him and the giant shuriken into a tree.

"Naruto!" You and Iruka shout in unison.

"If you ever lay a hand on (Name) and my Sensei again, I'll kill you." Naruto says venomously.

"Such big words. I can completely destroy you with a single move."

"Take your best shot, fool. I'll give back to you a thousand fold!"

"I'd like to see you try. Show me what you can do, Nine-Tailed Fox!" Mizuki shouts.

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Thousands of Naruto clones surrounded Mizuki from every inch of the forest. You and Iruka watched in awe. Mizuki however trembled taking slow steps backwards before turning and running away.

"If you're not coming, then we're gonna come after you!" The clones shouted.

"AHHHHHHHH!" Mizuki screams.

***

Mizuki lied battered and bruised on the ground with Naruto standing above him chuckling nervously. "Sorry, I kinda got carried away. You guys okay?" He asks worried.

"Yeah."

You however didn't respond as you lied on the ground presumably unconscious.

We should hurry up and get her to the hospital. But first, close your eyes Naruto."

"Huh? But why?" Naruto asks confused.

"Just do it." Naruto closes his eyes. He sighs as a cool fabric now rested against his forehead. "You can open them now." Naruto's eyes fluttered open exposing his cerulean blue hues.

"Congratulations. You graduate. And to celebrate we're going out for ramen tonight." Iruka smiles.

"Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto tackles said male.

"Hey, that hurts!"

Naruto laughs giddy with accomplishment, while Iruka groaned in pain. "I-I'm glad you p-passed, N-Naruto." Your eyes shut again for a final time.