Another person in the school, however, wasn't very happy with Naruto's growth. Who was this person? Who else if not Mizuki-sensei, the first villain in the Naruto story? He wasn't a threat; the fact that Naruto himself beat him up without much effort meant he had no reason to see him as anything but a stepping stone.
When class ended, he walked out and stood outside as he thought about what to do.
'I'm pretty strong now, but I lack experience. I kind of did it on purpose since I didn't want to make it boring for me. The only one who's a threat is Zabuza, but I'm not dumb, so I won't be injured like in the manga, but I still have to be careful,' he thought.
Naruto felt someone looking at him. He didn't bother looking back at them; he knew it was Mizuki. So, he sighed and began walking back to his apartment. When he arrived, he sat in his room and began talking to Kurama just to let time pass.
The week passed quickly. Naruto was sitting in class, ready for his name to be called. After a few minutes, they called his name. He got up and went to the room where they'd test him.
He arrived in front of Iruka-sensei and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, who were sitting behind a desk.
'This will be easy,' he thought.
Iruka smiled at him. "Naruto, you've come a long way. Are you ready for your evaluation?"
"Always," Naruto replied confidently, standing tall with his arms crossed.
Hiruzen eyed Naruto for a moment, before speaking up. "Let's see if you're ready to become a Genin. Show us your abilities."
Naruto nodded and stepped forward. He briefly focused, then summoned a Shadow Clone. The clone appeared in an instant, perfectly mimicking Naruto's stance.
"Impressive," Iruka said, his voice a little surprised, though he quickly masked it. "You've mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu. That's a significant feat."
"Well that was the last test. Good job, Naruto, you are now an official Genin. I'm really proud of you," Hiruzen said as he picked up the headband, his voice warm and filled with approval.
"Um, could I have it in black?" Naruto asked, his voice a bit hesitant but hopeful.
"Oh sure. You'll have to wait a few days for that, though. Just take this for now," Hiruzen said, handing over a standard headband. There was a small, knowing smile on his face, as if he knew exactly why Naruto wanted the black one.
"Alright, thanks. I won't let you guys down," Naruto said with a confident smirk, grabbing the headband and tying it onto his forehead. He felt a surge of pride; this symbol was the first step in his new life.
Naruto walked out of the test room, his heart pounding with excitement. As he entered the hall, he was greeted by the cheers and congratulations of his friends, the sound of their voices blending together in a loud chorus of support. Even Sasuke, who usually kept his emotions under tight control, gave him a nod of acknowledgment.
"Good job, dobe," Sasuke said, his words blunt but sincere.
Naruto grinned, feeling a new sense of rivalry stir between them. They were no longer just teammates—they were competitors, both striving to get stronger, to be the best. It felt like the beginning of something more than just friendly camaraderie.
After a moment of mutual respect, they headed out of the academy together, making their way to their favorite ramen shop. As expected, Sasuke paid for the meal, a habit of his as the heir to the Uchiha clan with an impressive inheritance. Naruto didn't mind though; he was just happy to enjoy a meal with his rival-turned-friend.
'Man, they treated him much better than I, but fuck it, I don't care anymore,' Naruto thought, a bitter edge creeping into his mind as he twirled his ramen. The thought of how Sasuke had always been treated with more respect than him stung, but Naruto had long since stopped letting it bother him. He had his own goals now.
They spent the rest of the day together, talking, joking, and eating more ramen than either of them probably should have. It was a moment of peace, of normalcy, before the weight of the challenges ahead would come crashing down on them.
As night fell, they said their goodbyes, and Naruto walked back to his small apartment. The streetlights cast a soft glow on the empty streets, the quiet of the night settling in around him. He could feel someone following him, though, a presence in the shadows that was impossible to ignore. Mizuki was tailing him, but Naruto had no intention of confronting him just yet.
Instead, he made his way to a secluded area near the training grounds. He knew the place well, having trained there countless times before. It was his sanctuary, a place where he could think and hone his skills in peace.
He stopped, sensing the presence behind him. Without turning around, he smirked and addressed the figure, his voice light but tinged with amusement. "Mizuki-sensei, what's up?" His tone was playful, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Mizuki stepped out from the shadows, a slight look of surprise crossing his face. He hadn't expected Naruto to sense him so quickly, but he masked his surprise with a calm expression. "Naruto, what a coincidence. I never thought I'd see you here this late. Even after becoming a Genin, you still train? I'm really impressed," Mizuki said, his words laced with feigned admiration.
Naruto's smirk faded as he stared at Mizuki, the weight of the situation finally settling in. "Drop the act. I know you don't like me," he said, his voice sharp and no longer holding the usual carefree edge. The playful atmosphere was gone, replaced by an underlying tension that both of them could feel.
Mizuki was taken aback for a moment, his eyes widening slightly in surprise, but then he started to chuckle, the sound dark and mocking.
"Hahaha, you're smarter as well. Not just stronger, I'm impressed. But that doesn't change anything," Mizuki said, his voice dripping with disdain as he reached over his shoulder and pulled out his massive shuriken, the weapon gleaming under the dim moonlight.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his body tensing as the atmosphere shifted from lighthearted banter to something far more dangerous. Mizuki's smile grew wider, venomous. "You damned demon fox spawn. Did you know about that, Naruto? Have you ever wondered why people hated you? That's because you—"
"Shut the fuck up!" Naruto snapped, his voice sharp and filled with a fiery determination. "You have a weapon in your hand, right? Then use it."
Mizuki's smile faltered, the playful tone in his voice disappearing as he let the weapon slip from his hand. His expression hardened, and in an instant, his demeanor shifted. His grip on the shuriken tightened, his fingers itching to unleash it. With a flick of his wrist, he launched a barrage of kunai at Naruto, a flash of steel glinting in the moonlight as they soared through the air.
*Wip* *wip*
The kunai flew at incredible speeds, slicing through the air with deadly intent. But Naruto barely flinched. With a casual side step, he watched as the kunai embedded themselves in the thick bark of a nearby tree, the sound of metal hitting wood echoing in the silence.
*Da** Da*
"Is that all, Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto asked, his voice laced with amusement as he turned to face the direction where Mizuki had been. But Mizuki was no longer there.
Naruto's gaze sharpened. His senses were always on high alert, and he had already identified Mizuki's location before he even made his move. Mizuki had hidden himself in some nearby bushes, trying to use the element of surprise to his advantage. But it was no use.
Another wave of kunai was launched, but this time, Naruto was ready. He reached into his pouch, pulled out a kunai of his own, and expertly deflected each one with ease.
*Ting* *King*
Naruto grinned, watching the kunai bounce off his own with a slight sense of boredom.
'Wow, I thought this would be at least a bit exciting,' he thought, his mind drifting for a moment as he felt his excitement waning.
Mizuki, seeing that his attacks were futile, felt a rush of frustration flood his veins. His eyes burned with rage, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his massive shuriken once more. Without a second thought, he spit it into two, each half flying in opposite directions as he launched them toward Naruto with a savage growl.
The two weapons were coming at Naruto from different angles, one aimed for his chest, the other for his legs, hoping to trap him. But Naruto wasn't worried. With a slight smirk on his face, he ducked below one, effortlessly avoiding the first, and then leapt into the air, easily clearing the second.
The two shuriken sailed harmlessly by as Naruto landed softly on his feet, his expression unchanged.
"Well, that was boring. Time to end this," he said, his voice filled with a calm confidence that sent a chill down Mizuki's spine.
In the blink of an eye, Naruto vanished, his figure a blur in the night. Mizuki's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't even seen him move, but he could feel the shift in the air—the sudden pressure building around him.
Before Mizuki could react, he felt a firm hand grip his shoulder. His heart skipped a beat as he turned in surprise, but he barely had time to react before a powerful kick landed square in his back. The impact sent Mizuki flying through the air, crashing violently into a tree.
*Crash!*
The force of the blow knocked the wind out of Mizuki, and his body crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he even hit the dirt. His form lay limp, the faintest sound of his breath the only sign he was still alive.
Naruto stood over him, his expression cold but not without a touch of disdain. He exhaled slowly, glancing down at the defeated man.
"I should bring him to the old man," Naruto thought as he bent down, picking up the limp form of Mizuki with little effort.
TO BE CONTINUED