My Name Is Naruto Namikaze

CHAPTER WORDS:- 1006

Chapter 22: A Cheap Betrayal

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Swish! Swish!

Leaping between dense forest trees, two figures arrived early at the agreed meeting place between Naruto and Mizuki.

At this moment, Naruto was hiding quietly within the shadows of the trees. Using the cover of night, he concealed his presence. The two individuals before him weren't particularly strong, nor were they sensory-type ninjas. Even with Naruto's half-baked abilities, he could remain undetected.

However, what surprised Naruto slightly was the appearance of one of the two figures earlier than expected.

The night was deep.

In the sky, the round moon emerged from behind the clouds. Its silvery light spilled across the land, partially dispelling the darkness. Under the moonlight, the two figures before Naruto came into view.

They were two of the instructors from the Ninja Academy—Mizuki and Iruka!

What caught Naruto off guard was Iruka's presence. Mizuki arriving a little early was expected—he clearly intended to eliminate Naruto, then use the Scroll of Seals as a bargaining chip to join Orochimaru. But Iruka's early arrival was a surprise.

Naruto had initially planned to take care of Mizuki before Iruka showed up, then use a pre-prepared explanation to let Iruka handle the aftermath. Yet, both Mizuki and Iruka had arrived ahead of schedule, catching Naruto unprepared.

But observing the current situation—especially the expressions on their faces—Naruto decided to stay hidden in the shadows of the trees for now. Mizuki's strength, while unimpressive in Canon, still made him a Chūnin of the Hidden Leaf. With Iruka present to attract Mizuki's attention, there was no need for Naruto to reveal himself prematurely.

Instead, he would try to approach quietly, find the perfect opportunity, and deliver a decisive blow.

That was the essence of being a ninja. All those flashy, large-scale battles? To be frank, they went against the very principles of ninjutsu. True ninjas fought from the shadows, striking with precision and decisiveness.

Naruto steadied his breath and moved cautiously. He crept closer, step by step, to the confrontation in the clearing.

As expected, neither Mizuki nor Iruka noticed Naruto's presence. The two figures faced off, their expressions starkly contrasting.

Mizuki, standing atop a tree branch, looked down at Iruka with an air of arrogance. A cold, disdainful smile tugged at his lips. Gone was the warm, friendly demeanor Iruka once knew. Mizuki's gaze now reflected the look of a predator sizing up its prey.

Iruka, on the other hand, was filled with rage and disappointment. His eyes carried a tinge of sorrow, emotions swirling together in a storm.

It wasn't just Mizuki's betrayal.

It was also the cruel realization that this former comrade, once a trusted friend, was now an enemy. Iruka had always considered Mizuki a friend. But now, that friend had chosen treachery, going so far as to plot his murder.

The drastic shift in circumstances left Iruka deeply hurt, an emotion difficult for others to comprehend.

"Why?! Why would you do this, Mizuki?! Why would you betray the village?!"

Despite knowing it was futile, and that his question might sound naive, Iruka couldn't hold back his outburst. His voice, heavy with disbelief, anger, and sorrow, echoed through the silent forest.

"Why?" Mizuki sneered. "Iruka, you're as naive and foolish as ever. No wonder you're stuck teaching at the Academy. A Chūnin? Ha! Iruka, you've always been nothing but a pathetic loser."

Mizuki's scornful tone cut through the night, his words filled with mockery. Friendship? The village? Peace? What a joke!

To Mizuki, the world of ninja revolved solely around power. It was the one and only truth. Everything else was worthless. Friendship, in Mizuki's eyes, was laughably naive.

To pursue ultimate strength, Mizuki was willing to discard all those ties. He had never truly considered Iruka a friend. And as for the Hidden Leaf Village? It meant nothing to him.

Iruka's heartfelt words did not shake Mizuki in the slightest. Power! Only power mattered!

To Mizuki, killing Iruka and seizing Naruto, along with the Scroll of Seals, was the only path forward. He would deliver the scroll to Orochimaru and claim the power he so desperately craved.

"Naive and foolish, huh? So that's how you see it. I see now..."

Iruka stood frozen, staring up at Mizuki. The face of his former friend was utterly devoid of warmth or kindness. Instead, it was twisted with cruelty and malice. The person standing before him was unrecognizable, consumed by darkness.

At that moment, Iruka finally understood Mizuki's true nature.

The kindness, the friendship—everything Mizuki had shown before—was nothing but a mask.

The man Iruka had considered a comrade never truly existed.

"This is how it is, then? In that case... I'll take you down here and now, Mizuki!"

In life, there are moments when one must make a choice. Especially in a cruel and blood-soaked world like this. Sunshine? Peace?

No.

This was a world steeped in darkness. A world where killing was an endless cycle. Even if one did not want to make such choices, there would come a time when there was no other option.

This was one of those moments.

As a ninja of the Hidden Leaf, Iruka had a duty: to eliminate the traitor Mizuki here and now.

With a sharp glare, Iruka gripped a kunai in his hand, his body lowering into a combat stance. His expression became resolute, the aura around him fierce and focused.

Despite his gentle nature, Iruka was still a Chūnin of the Hidden Leaf.

"Hahaha! Take me down? That's rich, Iruka. Fine, I'll humor you for a bit. After I kill you, I'll find that idiot Naruto and take the Scroll of Seals. Can't let my favorite student miss out on his graduation exam, can I?"

Mizuki sneered viciously, his cold laughter echoing in the night. Naruto raises his eyebrows, amused by the clitche dialogues going on. though, one question remains in his mind, how did Iruka find out Mizuki was a traitor, and how did he even come here in the first place?

(End of Chapter)

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