In the midst of the fierce entanglement, Mizuki suddenly leaped out of the battle. Iruka, temporarily suppressed and at a disadvantage, hesitated to pursue, instead standing several feet away, vigilantly guarding against Mizuki's next move.
Mizuki eyed Iruka with a sneer and said, "Iruka, what are you so nervous about? Are you afraid I'll snatch the sealed book? Or perhaps deal with Naruto?"
Iruka, his eyes narrowed, didn't dare to relax his stance. "What is your purpose, Mizuki?" he demanded, his voice tense.
Mizuki ignored Iruka's question and instead turned to Naruto, his voice smooth, coaxing, "Naruto, don't you trust me? Didn't I tell you that you've learned a powerful ninjutsu? Look at your progress!"
Naruto hesitated, looking conflicted. "I know Mizuki-sensei isn't lying, but why is he fighting Iruka-sensei? Aren't they both Konoha ninjas?"
"Heh, Naruto, do you really want to know the truth?" Mizuki asked, his voice dripping with malice.
Naruto nodded hastily, eager for answers.
"Naruto," Mizuki said, voice low, "Do you know why Iruka refused to let you become a ninja? It's because Iruka resents you. You think he's trustworthy?" Mizuki's words were like a blade. "The truth is, Iruka's parents were killed by you."
The words struck like a thunderclap, leaving Naruto standing motionless. "I… I killed Iruka-sensei's parents? How could that be?" Naruto stammered, disbelief written all over his face.
"Enough!" Iruka shouted, rushing forward, but his voice was drowned out by Mizuki's cold delivery.
Mizuki continued, his tone dripping with venom, "More than ten years ago, the Nine-Tails attacked Konoha, and as you know, the village suffered heavy losses, right?"
Naruto nodded, still processing the shocking revelation. "Yes… the Fourth Hokage protected everyone…"
"Correct. And Iruka's parents were among those killed by the Nine-Tails. The Nine-Tails that attacked Konoha… is inside you, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Don't say it!" Iruka growled, holding his head, clearly in pain from the truth being revealed.
The Third Hokage, watching from his office with a telescope, muttered to himself, "Mizuki had to bring that up… now it's going to get complicated."
Naruto, now trembling with shock, murmured to himself, "So I'm a murderer? I'm the Nine-Tails? I… no wonder the villagers hate me and call me a monster… it's always been me…"
Mizuki smirked as he observed the growing confusion in Naruto's eyes. "Good. This is the perfect time for my plan to work," he thought to himself, eyes narrowing in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Iruka, realizing what was happening, cried out, "Mizuki, what did you do to him?"
"I just showed him the truth. I'm curious what he'll do next," Mizuki replied, his voice calm but filled with malice.
Naruto's body shook violently, then suddenly, his eyes glowed with an eerie red light. The rage and confusion in his eyes were palpable.
Iruka rushed forward, attempting to reach out to Naruto, but Naruto's hand shot up to block him. In the next instant, Naruto lunged forward, headbutting Iruka in the chest with tremendous force. Iruka was sent flying more than ten meters, crashing into a tree.
"Iruka-sensei…" Naruto muttered, his voice hollow with confusion. "What… what are you trying to do?"
Iruka, lying on the ground, still in disbelief, tried to get up. "Naruto, please listen to me. Don't trust Mizuki. You're not a monster."
But Naruto couldn't hear him. The pain and confusion swirling in his mind made him act without thinking. He quickly formed the seals and summoned over twenty shadow clones, their chakra flaring as they materialized.
Mizuki stepped back, evading the clones with practiced ease, watching with a cold smirk. "Only twenty clones, huh? In the original story, Naruto overwhelmed Mizuki with hundreds. I guess this must be because of Iruka's interference. But even now, the sheer emotional turmoil in Naruto is enough to make him unleash a wild and uncoordinated barrage. Still, you have to admire the boy. Such persistence. The reincarnation of Asura's chakra, a heart full of love and justice," Mizuki mused darkly.
Several minutes passed. Mizuki's gaze shifted as he observed the unfolding battle between Naruto and Iruka. "This is becoming problematic. Naruto, in his current emotional state, isn't even capable of basic tactical thinking. All he's doing is wasting Iruka's energy with his reckless assaults. But at least Iruka doesn't have the chance to strike back."
Mizuki's thoughts turned to the task at hand. He could feel Naruto's chakra waning, and the medicine's effects would soon wear off. He couldn't afford to let this drag on too long. And soon enough, Iruka collapsed after taking a hit that sent him crashing into a tree, completely unable to rise. Mizuki, seeing that it was time, swiftly cast an illusion over Naruto.
"Naruto," he said softly, "time to sleep."
Naruto collapsed, his body going limp, and he fell into a deep sleep without resistance.
Mizuki smiled and walked toward Iruka. "How does it feel, Iruka? Defeated by a student you thought couldn't be a ninja?"
"What are you planning to do, Mizuki? Is it too late for you to turn back?" Iruka's voice trembled with desperation.
Mizuki knelt down beside Naruto, his eyes glinting with malice. "I told you before, Iruka, you're too naïve. It's too late for you to stop me." He placed his hand on Naruto's forehead and whispered a quick incantation. "Release."
Naruto stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Mizuki-sensei?" he asked weakly. "What… what happened? I… I was just fighting in a dream. Why is Iruka-sensei hurt? What did I do?"
Mizuki smiled down at him, his voice smooth and reassuring. "You did well, Naruto. You really did." He then turned to Iruka, his tone mocking. "I'll leave the rest to you, Iruka-sensei. I'll be going now. If all goes well, I'll see you tomorrow."
Looking up at the sky, Mizuki mused, "The plan is almost over. Almost dawn. I should get moving."
Mizuki picked up the sealed book, a look of contemplation passing over his face. "So the Third Hokage really sent a powerful ninja to keep an eye on things, huh? I wonder if this sealed book is genuine after all… Tempting… but no, it's not worth the risk. We can't make any unnecessary moves now."
As Mizuki walked through the forest path, preparing to leave the area, a shadow appeared in front of him.
"Stop right there, Mizuki. You know why I'm here. You're not getting away with this."
Mizuki's heart skipped a beat as he took in the figure blocking his path. He recognized the presence immediately. "Kakashi Hatake," he muttered, unable to hide his surprise. "How did a ninja of his caliber get involved in this? The Third Hokage is certainly thorough."
Realizing he had no chance of escape, Mizuki reluctantly conceded. "I see. You're here to arrest me?"
Kakashi's expression was unreadable. "Don't ask questions that aren't relevant. Just hand over the sealed book."
Mizuki sighed in defeat. He placed the scroll down and stepped back, his hands raised in surrender. Kakashi stepped forward, examined the sealed book, and nodded before securing it.
"Well done, Mizuki. You know when to surrender," Kakashi remarked. "The Third Hokage will handle the rest. Let's go."
With that, Mizuki was escorted away, his fate sealed.