Naruto:Dark Return

Mizuki's body lay motionless on the ground, his breath ragged.

"I didn't lose… I'm still alive…" he muttered with his last ounce of strength.

But as the words left his lips, his eyes glazed over, and he drew his final breath.

His lifeless eyes, fixed on the horizon, still held a flicker of desperate hope.

[Blackening Value +100]

[Current Blackening Value: 3300]

Ichiro had exacted revenge on Mizuki and gained an additional 290 blackening points, but the victory came at a cost.

In the depths of Naruto's consciousness, the boy began to stir, his emotions flooding back as he regained awareness of what had transpired.

Naruto felt an unsettling mix of relief and unease at Mizuki's death. Relief because his tormentor was gone; unease because of how it had happened.

"You killed someone!" Naruto's voice trembled as he confronted Ichiro. "You killed Mizuki-sensei!"

"You promised me, Ichiro! You said you wouldn't use my body to kill people!"

Naruto's fear and anger were evident. While he marveled at the strength Ichiro had displayed—power that even a Chūnin couldn't match—he couldn't reconcile it with the cold, ruthless act of taking a life.

[Host Personality Trust/Dependence: 20%]

Ichiro had expected the trust and dependence metrics to drop but was mildly surprised they hadn't plummeted further.

It seemed Naruto's growing reliance on him had created a stronger bond than anticipated.

"I didn't kill indiscriminately," Ichiro explained calmly. "Mizuki was a traitor. Even if I hadn't acted, the village would have dealt with him eventually."

He reached down and pulled the Scroll of Seals from Mizuki's lifeless hands.

Naruto hesitated but eventually nodded, his expression still conflicted. "Fine... for now. You saved us, so I'll forgive you this time."

Ichiro's smile faltered. Forgive me? He found Naruto's words grating but chose not to respond. His goals didn't hinge on Naruto's approval.

Naruto, oblivious to Ichiro's inner thoughts, suddenly remembered the scroll.

"Give me back control!" Naruto demanded, reaching for the consciousness link.

Before Ichiro could argue, Naruto's will surged forward, pulling Ichiro back into the subconscious.

Back in the Real World

Naruto blinked as he regained control of his body, clutching the scroll tightly.

"Wow, that actually worked!" Naruto exclaimed, his face lighting up. It was the first time he had intentionally switched personalities, and he was thrilled by the experience.

But his excitement quickly turned to guilt. "Sorry, Ichiro! I'll let you out to get some fresh air when we get home, okay? Right now, I need to finish learning that jutsu!"

[Host Personality Trust/Dependence: 30%]

---

Ichiro, back in the void of the subconscious, smirked. "Heh. Fine. But don't forget your promise, Naruto."

As much as Ichiro resented being relegated to the background, he saw opportunities. Frequent outings meant more chances to influence events in the real world.

---

Naruto unrolled the scroll and focused on learning the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Within minutes, the system announced:

[Successfully Learned: Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu]

Overjoyed, Naruto formed the necessary seals. With a burst of chakra, dozens of clones appeared, covering the forest floor.

"Whoa! This is amazing!" Naruto cheered, grinning from ear to ear. "I feel like I could beat two Mizuki-senseis now!"

He gazed proudly at his clones, marveling at the sheer number of them.

---

Iruka Arrives

"Na... Naruto?"

The surprised voice came from above. Naruto and his clones turned to see Iruka standing on a tree branch, his eyes wide with shock.

"There are so many of you! Is this... the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu?"

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto shouted, his clones pointing upward in unison.

Naruto quickly explained, "Grandpa Third Hokage sent you, huh? Well, I've already learned an awesome jutsu!"

He threw the scroll to Iruka. "Here, take this back to Grandpa Third! And by the way, Mizuki-sensei turned traitor and tried to kill me to steal the scroll."

Naruto's face lit up with a cheeky grin. "But I'm stronger than him now! I killed him back! Make sure to tell Grandpa Third!"

Before Iruka could process what he'd just heard, Naruto turned and bolted, leaving a cluster of clones behind to block the way.

---

Iruka's Shock

Iruka stared at the clones, stunned by the gravity of Naruto's words.

"Mizuki... a traitor?" he muttered, disbelief evident in his voice.

He rushed past the clones, who parted to reveal Mizuki's lifeless body sprawled on the ground.

Iruka froze. Mizuki's injuries were grotesque—his arms broken, his legs mangled, and his chest pierced by a kunai. The sight sent a chill down Iruka's spine.

"How... how could Naruto do this?" Iruka whispered, his voice trembling.

The realization hit him like a blow. The mischievous, kind-hearted boy he had known had done this. The boy he had once pitied for his lonely, parentless life had killed someone.

For a moment, Iruka's gaze darkened, filled with unease and fear. The image of the Nine-Tails from twelve years ago flashed in his mind, replacing the Naruto he thought he knew.

---

Naruto's clones watched Iruka closely. One of them noticed the fear in his eyes, and their expressions fell.

Sure enough, Mizuki's words were true—Iruka hated and feared him deep down.

The clones dispelled themselves one by one, leaving Iruka alone with the body.

"No... that's not how I feel!" Iruka shouted, realizing too late the message he had conveyed through his hesitation.

But the damage was done. Naruto was gone, and Iruka's chance to reassure him had slipped through his fingers.

---

Anbu Intervenes

Before Iruka could pursue Naruto, an Anbu operative emerged from the shadows, their mask cold and impassive.

"Stand down, Iruka," the Anbu commanded. "Your mission to watch over Naruto is over."

"What?" Iruka stammered, his voice rising. "But I—"

"The Hokage will decide if you continue your duties," the Anbu interrupted. "For now, return the scroll."

The Anbu picked up Mizuki's body without another word and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Iruka alone.

Iruka clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the path Naruto had taken.

"...Naruto."

But the image of Mizuki's mangled body flashed in his mind again, freezing him in place.

In the end, Iruka turned and walked in the opposite direction, burdened by fear and guilt.

He knew he could never see Naruto the same way again.

End of Chapter.

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