NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Strong Defeat
Chapter
26: Strong Defeat
Mizuki's approach was not only to
satisfy his own bad taste but also a calculated move. He was familiar with
Menma's performance over the past six years. In their brief confrontation,
Menma was able to dodge his attack despite it not being a full-on sneak attack.
This was enough to show that Menma's strength couldn't be measured by ordinary
ninja school rookies. To be safe, Mizuki intended to shake Menma mentally
first, so Menma couldn't exert his full strength. Then, Mizuki could easily
take Menma's life.
Although Mizuki wasn't a genius, he
had some cunning. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a Chunin in Konohagakure
Village and a sensei at the Ninja Academy. His stupidity was relative. If he
were truly brainless, he wouldn't have been promoted to Chunin. Now, despite
underestimating Menma because he was only 12, Mizuki was already being
"cautious."
Menma, however, wasn't shaken by
Mizuki's revelation of his identity as a "demon fox." He had
anticipated something like this might happen and was prepared.
"So, go to hell! Demon fox
kid!" Mizuki shouted, seeing Menma seemingly shaken. A trace of disdain
flashed in his eyes.
"Boom!" With a burst of
chakra under his feet, Mizuki rushed towards Menma. Time was running out, and
Menma had to be killed quickly before other Konoha ninjas arrived, complicating
things further.
The distance closed rapidly. The
kunai in Mizuki's hand reflected a cold light under the moonlight.
"Go to hell, kid!" Mizuki
aimed the kunai at Menma's throat, fully expecting to end this quickly and
escape with the Scroll of forbidden jutsu's .
At the critical moment,
"Keng!" Another cold light appeared, blocking Mizuki's attack
powerfully. Mizuki was stunned, as if he hadn't fully reacted.
Menma's extremely angry expression
was reflected in Mizuki's eyes. "Demon Fox!? Traitor to the village!? No!
I don't believe it! I don't believe it!! You are the one who betrayed the
village, Mizuki-sensei!! The one who is going to die is you!!!" Menma
roared, venting his anger, bloodthirsty color appearing in his pupils. His
voice echoed through the forest, a mix of rage and defiance.
"What!?" Mizuki didn't
have time to react.
The next second, a violent vibration
hit his arm. "Boom!" Menma swung his arms vigorously, and the huge
force swept over. Mizuki's face changed drastically, unable to resist the
rebound.
Menma's attack knocked Mizuki back.
"Keng!" A sharp sound fell. "Zizizizi!" Sparks flew as
Mizuki's body shook uncontrollably, his arms flung wide open. His chest was
unprotected.
A sharp and cold light flashed in
Menma's pupils. He stepped forward, twisting his body to increase his momentum.
He aimed straight for Mizuki's vital point.
"Not good!" Mizuki's
shocked and angry face was reflected on the edge of the kunai. Without
thinking, he swung his arms to block Menma's attack.
Mizuki wanted to pull away and
create distance, but Menma saw through it. 'Stupid!' Menma thought. At this
close range, he could see through Mizuki's intentions. This was a clash between
different levels of skill.
Menma quickly reversed his move,
pulling horizontally. "Damn it!" Mizuki had no time to react.
"Swish!" The kunai stabbed directly into Mizuki's arm.
"Puchi!" The dull sound of
metal piercing flesh echoed. The kunai was pulled sharply, and blood splashed
everywhere. Mizuki screamed in pain, his expression twisted in agony. Although
a Chunin, Mizuki had been away from the front lines for years, spending his
time in the comfortable Ninja Academy. His physical and mental states were far
from those of a seasoned warrior.
The pain stimulated Mizuki. More
importantly, Menma's power terrified him. 'Is this just a kid who just
graduated!?'
Mizuki, his will shaken and courage
lost, no longer thought of defeating Menma or taking the Scroll of forbidden
jutsu's . He just wanted to escape immediately! He didn't want to die! He
wanted to live! He still had great ambitions to realize!
A hint of madness appeared in
Mizuki's eyes. He wanted to force Menma back and gain some room to maneuver.
Menma saw through Mizuki's intentions instantly, a confident smirk forming on
his lips.
"Shua!" Menma changed his
moves. He twisted his body and kicked out with all his strength, hitting
Mizuki's chest heavily. "Bang!" Mizuki's chest caved in under the
impact.
"Wow!" Mizuki spat out a
mouthful of scarlet blood. His body was flung back like a cannonball.
"Bang!" He hit the ground with a heavy thud, raising a cloud of dust.
His body twitched violently from the double blow.
Before Mizuki could get up again,
"Swoosh!" Menma was already on top of him. "How can you do
that?" Mizuki's bloodshot eyes widened in fear as he saw Menma's ferocious
expression. Menma bent his arm, pointed his elbow downward, and struck Mizuki's
abdomen heavily.
"Bang!" The dull thump
echoed. "Wow!" Mizuki's abdomen deformed under the impact. When he
spat out blood again, his face twisted in pain. The intense agony spread
through his body, reaching his brain instantly. He trembled uncontrollably.
The next second, Mizuki, unable to
withstand the pain, lost consciousness and fainted.
The victory was easily won. Menma
showed no excitement on his face or in his heart. After all, Mizuki was just a
Chunin who had been away from the front lines for years. In terms of strength,
he could only bully real Genin and wasn't that strong. Defeating such an enemy
brought no sense of accomplishment.
In the original story, Naruto did it
easily. Menma, in this time and space, was much stronger than Naruto. If he
couldn't do it with ease, he might as well hit himself with a piece of tofu!
Menma looked down at Mizuki's
unconscious body, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to be complacent. The
night was still young, and there could be more surprises. He quickly scanned
the area, ensuring no one else was nearby. His senses were on high alert,
feeling the presence of the Anbu in the shadows, always watching.
He crouched down, retrieving the Scroll
of forbidden jutsu's . He knew he had little time. The Scroll of forbidden
jutsu's was a double-edged sword. While
it contained valuable information, it was also a beacon for trouble. Menma
needed to return it and clear his name, maintaining the facade of innocence.
With swift and calculated movements,
Menma secured the scroll and started heading back to the village. His thoughts
were clear. He had gained what he could, and now it was time to play his part
convincingly. As he moved through the trees, the weight of the night's events
settled on him. He was no longer just a boy from the academy. The challenges
ahead were monumental, and he needed to be ready.
Arriving back at the village, Menma
immediately sought out Iruka-sensei. He needed to control the narrative.
Finding Iruka, he handed over the Scroll of forbidden jutsu's , his face
showing a mix of relief and determination.
"Iruka-sensei, I managed to
stop Mizuki. He wanted this for himself," Menma said, his voice steady.
Iruka looked at Menma, a mix of
pride and concern in his eyes. "You did well, Menma. Let's make sure this
book gets back to where it belongs."
As they made their way to the
Hokage's office, Menma felt a sense of accomplishment. He had played his part
perfectly. The stage was set, and he was ready for the challenges ahead.