Mizuki was visibly irritated that his best ninjutsu was being questioned. But when he thought about Sasuke Uchiha—always prideful and cold—it wasn't surprising. Someone like Sasuke, born into the prestigious Uchiha clan, would never see a disgraced former teacher like Mizuki as anything more than a failed civilian ninja.
"Sasuke-kun," Mizuki said coolly, glancing at the black markings faintly visible on the boy's neck, "that curse mark and the sealing technique restraining it—neither are unique. Some things are beyond my authority. If you want details, ask your teacher, Hatake Kakashi."
The cursed seal truly was troublesome. Too many implications. Too many factions involved. This wasn't something Mizuki could handle on his own, not now—not with Sasuke being so closely tied to the Uchiha name and the village's interests.
Seeing Mizuki unwilling to elaborate, Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly in disappointment. But he said nothing. They had never been close. There was no trust to lean on.
"…I didn't expect someone like Gaara to lose," Sasuke muttered, his gaze drifting toward the unconscious form nearby. "Did you help Naruto win?"
"No," Mizuki replied, shaking his head. "I can't fight at that level. Naruto defeated Gaara on his own... and paid for it. He was seriously injured afterward."
Even if this truth deepened Sasuke's sense of rivalry, Mizuki refused to lie to him. This was Kakashi's burden anyway. He had his own lines he wouldn't cross.
"…I see," Sasuke said quietly, his eyes lingering on Naruto, who lay unconscious, bruised but alive.
After a moment, Sasuke broke the silence. "Mizuki-sensei… that jutsu they used—those giant creatures. What were they? Some kind of illusion?"
Mizuki crossed his arms, then relented. "It's a bit early to explain everything, but I can tell you some of it."
That caught Sasuke's full attention.
"Gaara's power is unique. He's a jinchūriki—a human vessel containing a tailed beast. In his case, it's the One-Tail, Shukaku. There are only a handful of people like him in the entire world."
Sasuke's brow furrowed. "And Naruto?"
"His case is different," Mizuki continued. "Naruto can summon toads—giant ones. It's called Kuchiyose no Jutsu—Summoning Technique. You've seen Kakashi's ninken, right? His ninja dogs? Same principle."
"If that's the case… can I learn it?" Sasuke asked immediately. Gaara's form had looked monstrous, unstable. But Naruto's power—if it was more controllable—might be something worth pursuing.
Mizuki gave a tired sigh. "Learning the technique itself isn't hard, but the results won't be what you expect. Real summoning contracts—powerful ones—are usually held by major clans or passed down secretly. Even with a contract, you need a lot of chakra to summon anything worthwhile."
He looked directly at Sasuke. "Spirit summoning follows the law of equivalent exchange. Without enough chakra, your summon won't respond—or worse, it'll crush you."
Mizuki thought back to the differences among the genin. Naruto had absurd chakra reserves, even before knowing the truth about the Nine-Tails. Someone like Sakura, despite her low chakra levels, could summon Katsuyu only later through Tsunade's Yin Seal technique. The Uchiha clan had the potential for greatness through their Sharingan, but chakra output wasn't their strongest suit at Sasuke's age.
Sasuke visibly tensed. "Then… is there any other way to gain that kind of power?"
"Hm?" Mizuki raised an eyebrow, hearing the desperation behind the question. "There is. But..."
He gave Sasuke a dry, almost mocking look. "You thinking of using a curse mark?"
Sasuke didn't respond right away. He glanced to the side, expression tight. Mizuki didn't need an answer—his silence said everything.
Mizuki's eyes flicked briefly to Haruno Sakura, still tending Gaara's wounds a few feet away, her back to them.
"So," he said quietly, "it's already begun for you too."
"Every power," Mizuki added, tone suddenly serious, "comes with a price. If you're prepared to pay it, no one can stop you. But if you misuse a curse mark… it will kill you."
"Kill me?" Sasuke repeated under his breath.
He didn't press further. Mizuki said nothing more. The conversation drifted into silence, the air around them heavy.
Then Mizuki suddenly stiffened. His hands stopped moving. His senses sharpened.
"…A trap was triggered. Fast movement. This isn't a wild animal… someone's escaping the village," he muttered.
"What is it, Mizuki-sensei?" Sakura looked up, startled. Sasuke instinctively reached for a weapon.
"If anything happens," Mizuki said sharply, "you two take Gaara and Naruto back to the village immediately. Report to Hatake Kakashi. Do not engage."
The chakra signature was moving quickly—not toward them, but nearby. Close enough to matter.
Elsewhere in Konoha...
Kimimaro was fighting fiercely against an increasing number of Leaf ninja. Even with his formidable kekkei genkai—the Shikotsumyaku, the Dead Bone Pulse—his movements were starting to slow. Konoha, with its vast history of warfare, had seen many strange abilities. The elite Anbu had adapted quickly after suffering early losses.
Kimimaro switched tactics. Rather than aiming to kill, he focused on delaying them, using his mastery of both ranged and close-quarter combat to stall their pursuit.
But then, a new presence arrived—a blur of green and chakra-laced fury.
"Konoha's Blue Beast" had entered the field.
"It's rare to meet a taijutsu user of this level," said a voice behind the crowd. "I'll take him. You pursue the others."
It was Might Guy.
His speed made him the ideal pursuer, but the strange nature of Kimimaro's abilities made it wiser for him to stay and fight, letting trackers chase the retreating enemies.
Kimimaro barely glanced at the newcomer. "Another loudmouth?"
Guy didn't flinch. "I'd love to trade blows with a strong opponent like you… but time is short. Open the Gate of Opening. Gate of Healing—open!"
Without hesitation, Guy activated the Eight Gates technique.
The air cracked. Guy vanished in a flash, reappeared behind Kimimaro, and struck with Konoha Whirlwind. The sheer force launched Kimimaro into the air, leaving him vulnerable.
Kimimaro's instincts kicked in. He grew bone spurs from his back—but Guy had already moved, sensing danger. He evaded mid-air, though one sharp spike caught his arm.
Landing a few meters away, Guy winced and shook the injury off. He narrowed his eyes.
"This won't be easy."
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