Chapter 6: Crow

The day of Naruto’s banishment dawned heavy with tension. The village was eerily silent as its inhabitants gathered near the gate to watch him being thrown out. The air was thick with judgment, their eyes full of disdain for the boy who had once dreamed of becoming Hokage. Now, all he could do was struggle to stay upright as he was led to the gates by a supporting ninja. The crowd pressed close, sneering at him, throwing taunts like stones at his back.

“Look at him,” spat one woman from the front, her voice laced with venom. “Finally getting what he deserves.”

“Can’t even stand on his own two feet,” muttered another man, his arms crossed as he watched Naruto stumble forward.

One man, further back, laughed cruelly. “His ears are busted. He can’t even hear us!”

“Good,” another voice rang out. “Like we care! Let him suffer in silence!”

“The Demon Fox should have been thrown out years ago,” came yet another sneer, louder this time, full of deep-rooted hatred.

The chorus of taunts continued, but Naruto didn’t hear them clearly. His ears buzzed with the faint murmur of distant voices, muffled and distorted as though they were underwater. Even if he could have heard them, he doubted it would have made any difference. His mind was numb to everything but the overwhelming sense of loss that consumed him.

The massive village gates loomed ahead, towering over him like the final barrier between him and the world beyond. As Naruto was guided closer, the gates creaked open, and the village seemed to hold its breath. The moment felt surreal, almost dreamlike, as if it weren’t actually happening. But it was. This was the moment of his banishment—the moment where he would be cast out of the only home he had ever known.

Once he crossed the threshold, the gates slammed shut behind him with a resounding echo that reverberated through his bones. The sound was final, like the closing of a chapter in his life that he could never return to.

As the gates shut, the ninja who had escorted him stepped aside, and standing in his place was Mizuki-sensei, his expression filled with fake kindness. Mizuki smiled at Naruto, his voice deceptively gentle as he spoke. “You’ve come far, Naruto. I’m proud of you for being strong enough to walk this path.”

Naruto didn’t respond. He continued his act, pretending to be weak and blind, just as Mizuki had instructed him. Mizuki had coached him the previous day, suggesting that Naruto ask for someone to accompany him for a while. Mizuki had been the one to whisper in his ear, telling him how it would make his departure easier, how it would seem like he had at least one last ally.

The Third Hokage, ever the compassionate leader, had reluctantly agreed to Naruto’s final request. He had allowed Mizuki to accompany Naruto out of the village and escort him to a neighboring settlement, where Naruto would be left to fend for himself. The other ninja had protested, angered by the idea of showing Naruto any kindness after what had happened, but even they couldn’t deny the pitiful state Naruto was in.

Mizuki, of course, had been the one to suggest it. His manipulation of Naruto had been perfect, and now everything was falling into place. They walked together in silence for a time, the road ahead winding through thick trees and narrowing into a secluded path. Naruto felt the world closing in around him, but he kept moving, his steps slow and deliberate.

Mizuki kept up his pretense of kindness, chatting amiably as they walked further away from the village. His voice was smooth and calm, though there was an undercurrent of excitement bubbling just beneath the surface.

“It’s been hard,” Mizuki said with a sigh, his tone full of false melancholy. “Losing Iruka like that… it’s left a void that I don’t think will ever be filled.”

Naruto remained silent, his heart aching at the mention of Iruka-sensei. The image of his smiling face flashed in Naruto’s mind, followed quickly by the memory of that smile fading into nothingness. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, but he forced himself to keep his emotions in check. He couldn’t give anything away. Not yet.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I’ll miss you too, Naruto,” Mizuki continued, the lies flowing easily from his lips. “It’s a shame things had to turn out this way. If only the village had seen what I see in you.”

Naruto gritted his teeth but stayed quiet. Mizuki’s words felt like acid, burning into his mind, but he had to stay focused. He had to wait for the right moment. Mizuki thought he had won, that Naruto was too broken and weak to fight back. But Naruto wasn’t as blind or helpless as he appeared.

They walked for hours, the village long behind them as they ventured deeper into the woods. The sun had risen high in the sky and begun its slow descent, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Naruto could feel Mizuki growing restless beside him, his voice trailing off into silence as they moved further away from any possible witnesses.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mizuki stopped walking. He glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the area, ensuring they were alone. Satisfied that no one else was around, his entire demeanor shifted. The false kindness melted away, replaced by a cold, predatory look. His hand drifted to the kunai at his waist, his fingers curling around the hilt.

Naruto tensed, sensing the change in Mizuki’s intentions.

Mizuki’s voice was no longer soft or sympathetic. It had turned hard and sharp, full of malicious glee. “I’m afraid this is where we say goodbye, Naruto.”

Naruto didn’t move, keeping up the pretense of weakness. Mizuki took a step forward, pulling the kunai from its sheath. The blade gleamed in the fading light, sharp and deadly. “You really thought I’d let you go, didn’t you?” Mizuki sneered, raising the blade. “But there’s no place for you in this world anymore.”

With a swift motion, Mizuki lunged forward, aiming the kunai directly at Naruto’s heart. The blade sliced through the air with deadly precision… only to meet nothing but empty space.

The Naruto in front of him vanished in a puff of smoke—a shadow clone.

Mizuki froze, confusion flashing across his face. “What the—?” he muttered, looking around frantically. He hadn’t expected this. The jutsu Naruto used was far beyond what he should have been capable of.

Before Mizuki could process what had happened, several more Narutos appeared around him, emerging from the shadows of the trees. Each one looked identical, their expressions a mix of fear and determination.

“What kind of trick is this?” Mizuki growled, gripping his kunai tighter. He had never seen a jutsu like this from a mere genin, especially not from Naruto. “You think you can scare me with illusions?”

Naruto didn’t respond, his heart pounding as he tried to maintain his focus. He knew he was at a disadvantage—Mizuki was faster, stronger, and far more experienced. But he had to keep fighting, no matter how hopeless it seemed.

Mizuki lunged at one of the Narutos, slashing through it with ease. But instead of hitting flesh, the clone burst into smoke, leaving Mizuki momentarily stunned. Another clone rushed at him from behind, but Mizuki quickly spun around, slicing through it just as effortlessly. Again, the clone vanished into a cloud of smoke.

“Damn it!” Mizuki hissed, realizing that these weren’t mere illusions. “What kind of jutsu is this?”

Naruto formed the hand signs for another round of clones, his chakra draining rapidly. More shadow clones materialized around Mizuki, surrounding him on all sides. Naruto knew he couldn’t overpower Mizuki, but he could at least buy himself some time.

Mizuki’s frustration grew as he slashed through clone after clone, each one disappearing in a puff of smoke. Despite his anger, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease. This jutsu was far more advanced than anything Naruto should have known. How had he learned it?

Naruto’s breaths came in ragged gasps as he watched Mizuki destroy his clones. His body was weakening, and he knew he couldn’t keep this up much longer. Mizuki was relentless, cutting down the clones with ruthless efficiency. The gap in their abilities was painfully obvious.

“You’re just delaying the inevitable, Naruto!” Mizuki shouted, his voice filled with a mix of anger and disbelief. “You can’t hide behind these tricks forever!”

Naruto stumbled backward, the world spinning as his chakra reserves dwindled. He was running out of options, and Mizuki knew it. The older ninja smirked as he closed in on the last remaining clone, his kunai poised for the final strike.

But just as he prepared to strike, something strange happened. The sky above them darkened, and the air grew heavy with an eerie, unnatural presence. A low rustling sound echoed through the trees, and both Naruto and Mizuki froze, their eyes darting around in confusion.

From the shadows, a large throne materialized out of thin air, dark and imposing. It seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, casting long, twisted shadows across the ground. A crow flew down from the sky, its black feathers glinting in the dim light as it landed on the armrest of the throne. The bird cawed softly, its beady eyes scanning the scene below.

Mizuki’s heart raced as he stared at the throne, dread creeping into his chest. Then, from the shadows behind the throne, a figure appeared—tall, calm, and composed. His dark hair framed his pale face, and his eyes… his eyes were like dark pools, deep and terrifying.

Naruto’s breath caught in his throat.

Mizuki’s face drained of color, his voice shaking as he took a step back. “Identify yourself! Who are you?!

“I’m afraid… you’re not worthy enough to know.”

But even if he didn’t identify himself, Mizuki didn’t find it hard to guess - from those red-gleamy unique eyes.

“U-Uchiha!?”

For 3 more chapters, check out patreon: Lenton5