Chapter 385: Chapter 384 : Performance About to Fail??
Thud!
Naruto, carrying Iruka on his back, flew out and slammed heavily onto the ground!
But, just as they were about to land, Naruto suddenly twisted mid-air for some unknown reason, pressing Iruka firmly beneath him!
A muffled grunt escaped.
Iruka, still unconscious, suddenly woke up and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood!
"Where... is this?"
Iruka opened his eyes weakly, confused, and murmured softly.
In his memory, he had been escaping while Naruto carried him, with Mizuki chasing after them.
Could it be... they still hadn’t escaped Mizuki’s pursuit?
Why was his fate so cruel?
As he was confused, he suddenly saw a tall figure covered in cursed seals appear in his field of vision.
That figure looked somewhat like Mizuki, but also different.
In Iruka’s memory, Mizuki was not this tall or imposing!
"Could my eyes be playing tricks on me? Or is this some genjutsu?"
These thoughts flashed through Iruka’s mind, but none made much sense.
Would the Anbu really just let him be hunted like this?
Why hadn’t they appeared yet?
"Teacher Iruka, are you alright?" Naruto asked, looking at him with pain and worry in his eyes.
At the same time, he glanced at Mizuki and demanded angrily, "Mizuki, what do you want? Teacher Iruka is already badly hurt. Why do you keep attacking him?"
His tone was full of anger and accusation.
Mizuki was speechless.
He actually wanted to fight Naruto Uzumaki, but that would be impossible after chasing for so long!
However, Naruto was using Iruka’s body as a shield, so every attack Mizuki made only hit Iruka!
But now, it didn’t matter anymore.
These two were both already in my hands — along with the Scroll of Seals.
A massive figure stepped forward, radiating terrifying pressure.
"Stop spouting nonsense. Hand over the Scroll of Seals, and I’ll make it quick for you!"
"Mizuki... cough, cough, don’t be so stubborn. The Anbu will arrive soon!" Hearing Mizuki’s words, Iruka suddenly found strength from somewhere. "If you keep being stubborn, then prepare to be punished!"
As he spoke, Iruka, somehow fueled by unknown energy, raised his hand and made a signal!
This gesture was a secret code he and the Anbu had agreed on. Once he made the sign, the hidden Anbu ninja would move in.
But as Iruka made the gesture, he couldn’t help but complain silently to himself — he was already injured and nearly lost his life, yet the Anbu still hadn’t acted?
That was way too cold!
Click-click-click-click.
Iruka waved the signal several times, but still, no response!
Several dark lines appeared on Iruka’s forehead, as if black crows were fluttering across it.
At the same time, faint, awkward cawing sounds echoed nearby.
Huh?
What was going on? Why weren’t the Anbu moving?
He had already signaled them!
This was a critical moment.
"Hehe. Iruka, are you calling for help?" Mizuki looked at Iruka’s motions and laughed mockingly. "You don’t know? While you were unconscious, a few foolish Anbu tried to attack me, but I defeated them!"
Step, step, step.
Confidently, Mizuki took several steps forward and stood close to Iruka.
He looked down on him.
His face was covered in cursed seals, a playful smirk spreading across it.
The power Orochimaru lent him was indeed strong.
Otherwise... he wouldn’t be feeling so dominant right now.
"That’s impossible! They were Jonin!" Iruka’s expression showed disbelief. Those people were Jonin—how could they lose to Mizuki? Maybe he had heard wrong?
Right. Mizuki’s current state seemed off. Maybe he really was imagining things!
"Teacher Iruka, just now, a few masked people stopped Mizuki. I’ll take you to escape!" Uzumaki Naruto spoke up at the right moment, his tone heavy and serious.
"Mizuki is catching up now. Those people don’t stand a chance!"
"How is that possible? Mizuki can’t defeat ANBU ninjas. He’s just a Chunin!" Iruka shook his head, disbelief in his voice.
He...
Knew Mizuki’s strength better than anyone. If Mizuki were strong, he wouldn’t have tricked Naruto into stealing the Seal Book.
"Heh. Iruka, why can’t I beat those Jonin?" Mizuki seemed to feel mockery in Iruka’s words and grew annoyed.
He bent down.
The evolved giant hand slammed directly on Iruka’s forehead and lifted him up!
Iruka’s eyes met Mizuki’s.
Iruka’s whole body went limp, but he clearly felt his head pounding, while his toes barely touched the ground!
He also noticed Mizuki’s changes—Mizuki had truly grown taller and stronger!
But how was this possible?
He had only been unconscious for a while, not ten years!
Mizuki’s change was beyond his expectations—not that he hadn’t imagined this at all!
Before Iruka could fully understand, Mizuki’s voice rang out: "Iruka, just because you don’t strive to improve your strength, doesn’t mean I want to stay the same!"
At this moment, Iruka barely opened his eyes. "I want to get stronger too, but with my own power—not relying on external forces or the jutsu from the Scroll of Seals"
Iruka argued his point firmly.
"Heh. You’re arrogant. Then today I’ll show you that without strength, even if you want to protect someone, you can’t!" Hearing Iruka’s stubborn words, Mizuki suddenly felt like playing a game.
Maybe because of confidence in his strength, he now wanted to play cat and mouse, and also prove to Iruka he was right.
Without power, you can’t do anything!
He wanted to protect Uzumaki Naruto now, right? So let’s see how Iruka looks after Naruto is seriously injured or dead!
As he spoke, Mizuki showed a cruel smile and locked onto Naruto, who stood not far away.
"No good." Iruka thought desperately, his eyes darting to Naruto. "Naruto, run! Run quickly!"
He knew Mizuki wanted to kill Naruto!
"Kid, you can still escape now. I’ll lend you some chakra. Maybe you can get away!" The Nine-Tails inside his mind reminded him playfully.
If its true form appears, even the evolved Mizuki would be just a small fry in front of it!
But,
Now it is Naruto who must face Mizuki, and it’s hard to say if he can handle it.
Even if he lends Naruto his power, who knows if Uzumaki Naruto can withstand it!
"I can’t run away!"
But Uzumaki Naruto shook his head.
He obediently performed with deep emotion in front of so many people, showing respect to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Now those Anbu might have already been taken down by Mizuki.
If Iruka is killed again, wouldn’t his act have been for nothing?
This big play, no matter what, someone has to inform Sarutobi Hiruzen!
He can’t run away.
****
Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early Chapters.