Chapter 3: The Betrayal

The tension inside the Hokage’s office was suffocating. The Third Hokage stood in front of a gathering of jonin and chunin, his face etched with frustration and disappointment. He paced slowly, his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes flickering with anger as they settled on the sealed doors of the secret archives. The stolen scroll had shaken the village, and the Hokage’s expression was heavy with concern.

“How could this happen?” The Third Hokage's voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. “How could everyone be so careless? The room where the hidden scroll was placed was supposed to be one of the most secure locations in the village. How could there be no guards near it?”

The gathered ninja stood silent, exchanging uncomfortable glances. No one dared to speak until one chunin stepped forward, his expression tight with guilt. “Lord Hokage, it was Mizuki’s turn to guard the archives tonight.”

The Hokage’s expression darkened at the mention of Mizuki’s name. He had placed his trust in the young sensei, and now this… this betrayal. His frustration was palpable, as if the weight of the entire village's security now rested on his shoulders. “Where is Mizuki?” he demanded, his tone sharp with frustration and authority.

A few moments passed before Mizuki appeared in the doorway, stumbling slightly as he entered the room. His face was flushed, his eyes red-rimmed as if he had been drinking. He staggered forward, his movements unsteady as he approached the Third Hokage. “Forgive me, Lord Hokage,” Mizuki slurred, his voice filled with feigned remorse. “I… I made a mistake. I drank too much last night… I fell asleep when I should have been on guard.”

His words were slurred, his face red with embarrassment. But behind that facade, Mizuki’s mind was filled with smug satisfaction. The plan had gone off without a hitch, and everything was falling perfectly into place.

The Third Hokage’s gaze bore into Mizuki, his voice now cold and biting. “You were supposed to be guarding one of the most dangerous and forbidden objects in the village, and you fell asleep? Do you understand what you’ve done?”

Mizuki bowed his head, his face contrite. “I… I’m sorry, Lord Hokage. It won’t happen again. I was careless…”

The Hokage’s fists clenched tightly behind his back. “Your carelessness has endangered the entire village, Mizuki. I will deal with your punishment later. Right now, the priority is retrieving the scroll.”

Another ninja stepped forward hesitantly. “Lord Hokage… I saw Naruto Uzumaki lingering around the building earlier tonight.”

The room fell into a tense silence as the Hokage’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Naruto?” His voice was soft, but there was an edge to it that made everyone stiffen. “Are you sure?”

The ninja nodded solemnly. “Yes, my lord. It may be a coincidence, but…”

The Third Hokage’s face hardened. “Find him. Now.”

The search for Naruto began with a furious intensity. Ninja darted through the streets of the village, scouring every corner for any sign of the boy or the stolen scroll. The village was now on high alert, the tension palpable in the air as everyone raced against time to find the missing artifact.

But amid the chaos, Mizuki moved with a calm, deliberate purpose. He knew exactly where to find Naruto. He had planned this, after all. It didn’t take him long to track the boy down, waiting anxiously at the edge of a secluded clearing in the forest, clutching the stolen scroll tightly in his small hands.

“Naruto,” Mizuki called out, stepping into the clearing with a slow clap. “You did it, Naruto. Excellent… Bravo.”

Naruto turned, his face lighting up with pride as he saw Mizuki approaching. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but his eyes were bright with excitement. “Mizuki-sensei! I did it!” he said, his voice filled with nervous energy. “I got the scroll, just like you said!”

Mizuki smiled, his eyes gleaming with hidden malice. “Good job, Naruto. You’ve done something very important today.”

Naruto’s chest swelled with pride. “And look! I even learned a new technique—the Shadow Clone Jutsu! I finally got it right! Do you think… do you think Iruka-sensei will be proud of me? Will he finally see that I’m not just a failure?”

Mizuki approached him slowly, his smile never fading. “Yes, Naruto. Iruka will definitely be proud of you. So will the entire village.” He knelt down slightly to be at eye level with the boy. “But first, there’s something you need to do for me.”

Naruto tilted his head, confused. “What do you mean, Mizuki-sensei?”

Mizuki’s eyes darkened. “You’ve done well, but this isn’t over yet. There’s one last thing you need to do…”

Before Naruto could react, Mizuki’s hand shot out, faster than the boy could comprehend. With a swift, brutal motion, Mizuki drove his kunai deep into Naruto’s side, twisting the blade to ensure maximum pain.

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Naruto’s eyes widened in shock and agony. “M-Mizuki-sensei… why…?”

Mizuki withdrew the kunai, watching as Naruto collapsed to the ground, clutching his side as blood began to pool around him. “You were useful, Naruto,” Mizuki said coldly, wiping the blood from his kunai. “But you were always just a tool. Nothing more.”

Naruto gasped, tears streaming down his face as the pain overwhelmed him. “But… you said…”

Mizuki sneered. “Foolish boy. You actually thought someone like me would care about you? You’re nothing but a monster to this village. No one will ever accept you.”

…

In the distance, Iruka raced through the trees, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and desperation. He had heard the reports—Naruto had stolen the forbidden scroll—but something didn’t add up. Naruto wasn’t a thief. He wasn’t a criminal. Something was wrong.

As he neared the clearing, Iruka’s breath caught in his throat. There, just beyond the trees, he saw Naruto, lying crumpled on the ground. Blood stained the earth beneath him, and his small body was trembling.

“Narutooo!” Iruka screamed, his voice filled with panic as he leaped into the clearing. His heart raced as he reached Naruto’s side, his hands trembling as he gently turned the boy over.

Naruto’s eyes… Iruka’s breath hitched as he saw the two kunai embedded in the boy’s eyes, blood streaming down his face like tears. His fingers had been slashed, his throat bruised, and his tongue was bloodied and cut. Blood dripped from his ears, and his entire body was covered in cuts and bruises.

“Naruto… what happened?” Iruka’s voice cracked as he knelt beside the boy, his hands shaking as he reached out to touch him. “Who did this to you?”

Naruto shuddered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He tried to speak, but his voice was weak, barely audible. “I… I’m…s-sorry…”

Iruka’s heart shattered at the sight of the boy, so broken and fragile. Tears welled in his eyes as he took Naruto’s hand, squeezing it gently. “Don’t talk,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “I’m going to get you help. You’re going to be okay.”

But before Iruka could lift Naruto from the ground, a sudden presence loomed behind him. He turned just in time to see Mizuki stepping into the clearing, his kunai still glistening with blood.

“Mizuki…” Iruka growled, his body tensing as he moved to shield Naruto. “What have you done?”

Mizuki smirked, twirling his kunai casually in his hand. “What does it look like, Iruka? I’m cleaning up this village’s mess.”

Iruka’s eyes narrowed, fury burning in his chest. “You used Naruto… You tricked him into stealing the scroll!”

Mizuki shrugged. “It wasn’t hard. The boy was desperate for someone to care about him. All it took was a few kind words, and he was eating out of my hand.”

Iruka’s grip tightened on his own kunai as he stood between Mizuki and Naruto. “I won’t let you hurt him any more than you already have.”

Mizuki laughed, his eyes gleaming with malice. “You can try, Iruka, but you’re no match for me.”

Iruka and Mizuki lunged at each other with fierce resolve, their kunai clashing in a bright burst of sparks.

Clang!

The sound of metal meeting metal echoed through the clearing. Iruka gritted his teeth, the weight of his mission pressing heavily on his heart. Each strike carried his desperation to protect Naruto, to stop Mizuki at all costs.

But Mizuki moved with deadly precision, his every attack fluid and lethal. He dodged and weaved around Iruka’s strikes, his movements almost snake-like, slipping through the gaps in Iruka’s defenses.

Cling!

His kunai slashed through the air, narrowly missing Iruka’s side as the two danced around each other in a deadly duel.

Clang! Cling!

Iruka’s breath came in sharp, shallow bursts as he parried another blow, the force of the impact sending vibrations up his arm. Mizuki was relentless. With a wicked grin, he pressed forward, his attacks growing faster, more ruthless. Iruka barely had time to recover from one strike before the next came crashing down. Steel met steel again and again, the ringing of metal filling the clearing.

Cling!

Mizuki spun suddenly, his kunai flashing in a wide arc. Iruka twisted his body just in time to avoid the slash, but the edge grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.

Clang!

Iruka stumbled back, his breathing growing heavier. He could feel his arms weakening, each block becoming slower, less precise. Sweat dripped down his brow, his muscles burning from the relentless assault.

Mizuki, sensing Iruka’s fatigue, advanced with renewed vigor. His strikes became sharper, more vicious.

Clang!

Iruka raised his kunai to defend, but Mizuki’s speed was overwhelming. He swept low, aiming for Iruka’s legs.

Cling!

The blade barely missed as Iruka jumped back, regaining his footing, only to be met with another swift strike.

With a swift, calculated motion, Mizuki feinted left and then struck right.

Clang!

Iruka moved to block, but Mizuki’s blade slipped past his guard, piercing Iruka’s chest with brutal force. Iruka gasped, his eyes wide with shock as the pain seared through him.

Iruka staggered back, blood pouring from the wound as he collapsed to the ground beside Naruto. His breaths were shallow, each one a struggle as he fought to stay conscious.

“Naruto…” Iruka whispered, his voice barely audible as he reached out with a trembling hand, trying to touch the boy one last time. His fingers brushed against Naruto’s bloodied skin, and a weak smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I’m… sorry…”

Naruto, despite the excruciating pain and terror, managed to reach out weakly, his own hand trembling. His voice was a broken, garbled whisper, but the words were clear. “I’m… sorry…”

Iruka’s eyes fluttered shut, and his body went limp. The last of his strength ebbed away, leaving him motionless on the ground.

Mizuki stood over the two of them, his eyes cold and calculating. He wiped the blood from his kunai and sheathed it with a satisfied smirk. The deed was done. The village would believe what he told them. No one would suspect the truth.

As the sun rose over Konoha, casting its first light over the village, a group of ninja arrived at the clearing, drawn by the reports of the stolen scroll and the frantic search for Naruto. They found Mizuki standing at the edge of the clearing, his expression solemn, his eyes downcast.

“The scroll has been retrieved,” Mizuki said, holding up the forbidden scroll for the others to see. “But… we were too late.”

The assembled ninja gasped as they saw the scene before them. Naruto lay on the ground, bloodied and broken, with Iruka lying lifeless beside him. The horror of what had transpired settled over them like a thick fog, leaving them speechless.

“What happened here?” one of the jonin asked, his voice shaky with disbelief.

Mizuki shook his head slowly, his voice filled with false sorrow. “Naruto… Naruto has killed Iruka.”

The other ninja stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide with shock as they processed Mizuki’s words. The weight of the accusation hung heavy in the air, and the whispers began to spread like wildfire throughout the village.

Naruto Uzumaki… had killed his sensei.