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  Hokage's Room

  Hiruzen watched in anger as Mizuki broke the rule and revealed the secret about the ails to Naruto and unknowingly his cssmates as well. 'Now that Naruto knows the truth, what will he do?'

  The old kage turned his attention to Shikamaru and the rest. 'Shikaku said his son already knew. Yet he hasn't shown any hostility to Naruto. So I don't have to worry about him. But what about the rest? Will their hearts and minds be strong and clever enough to separate Naruto and the beast ahem as two entities?'

  Hiruze the group and even after the revetion he saw that the rookies jumped in to save Iruka and Naruto. It brought relief and a small smile to his fabsp;'They all make a great team. Still, they'll have questions when this is all over. I'll o expihing carefully. Still, if Mizuki bees desperate and tries something there is the possibility of someoing injured or worse. It's best if I send someone over there now.'

  Having made a decision Hiruzen was about to call forth his personal guards but at that moment something else happened.

  BOOM!

  A sudden explosion from the vilge caught Hiruzen's attention. The windows of the Hokage tower slightly rattled from the winds and every ninja was o. The kage stood from his chair ao look outside. He saeople rushing towards the explosion. The smoke and fire were ing from the market district.

  "Bull." As Hiruzen said the name, an Anbu appeared behind him on one knee. "Find out what's happening and the ones responsible."

  "Sir." The Anbu vanished and Hiruzen's eyes roamed the vilge looking for anything else happening.

  Several seds ter just when things didn't seem like it could get worse three more explosio off in three different locations. The three guards in the room and two remaining Anbu appeared beside the Hokage.

  Hiruzen turo his two Anbu members. One of them had a mask resembling a wolf while the other a lizard.

  "Wolf! I'm putting the vilge on a level 1 emergency alert. Coordih the Jonins ahe situation under trol. Evacuate the civilians if needed. Make sure of their safety."

  "Yes sir."

  "Lizard. Go to the locations that were just hit. Assess the damage and casualties a bae as soon as possible."

  "Sir."

  The two ninjas vanished and the old kage turned his attention to the vilge.

  "Who would do something like this?" Raido saw the fire and smoke and could help but ask.

  "Someone who thinks it's worth it to make an enemy out of aire vilge." Genma said with narrowed eyes.

  "It 't be a ce that these attacks happened just on the night Mizuki po take the scroll. He must be behind this." Iwase theory made seo everyone.

  At that moment the guards and the Hokage sehe presence of two ninjas rushing towards the tower. They quickly reized the two ninjas as part of the patrol unit.

  "Lord Hokage. I have terrible news! The prisoners have escaped."

  "What?" The kage was surprised as he khe possibility of a prison break was very very slim.

  "It's true. The Leaf Correal facility has been promised. The prisoners are on the loose. Our team came across a few of them. tured them and found out about it just a short while ago."

  Hiruzen groaned hearing that. "They must be the ones behind the explosion. But for them to escape, gain access to paper bombs and go unnoticed through the vilge… They must have had outside help."

  He went to his crystal ball and altered the chakra flow of his Telescope jutsu. The images immediately ged from Naruto and his group to the outskirts of the vilge. He saw several escapees in their prison uniform making their way out of the forest. 'If they get outside the border this could beore problematic.'

  Hiruzen turo one of his personal guards. "Iwase. Take these two and spread the word to everyone. I have new orders. Capture every escaped prisoner. Use lethal force if need be. I'll send someone else to get Naruto and the children. Right now taining the prisoners are priority."

  "Yes sir." The guard and the two in patrol ninjas nodded and quickly exited the building.

  Ohe three left, Genma stepped he kage. "Sir, right now I'm sure the academy students and Iruka hold back Mizuki. But if no one is looking for Naruto and if the prisoners happen upon their locatiohey all could be in serious trouble."

  Hiruzen nodded. "Yes, I'm aware of that. And things would beore dangerous with that scroll in py."

  "Lord Hokage, this prison break, the explosions, the theft of the scroll, for all of it to take pce like this on the same night. I believe Mizuki must be behind this. He must have a guard at the prison helping him. And if Mizuki told any of those prisoo get to East yons then Iruka, Naruto and the others would be in danger."

  "You are right Raido. I was thinking the very same. Alright. I want you to go to the facility and iigate. If the guards have been turhen subdue them and bring them to Ibiki for interrogation."

  "On it." Raido vanished and Hiruzen turo the st guard in the room. "Genma. Get to Naruto's location. If the prisoners show up Iruka won't be able to protect the children on his own. With everything that's happening there is a great risk of something going wrong or beyond Iruka's trol. Defend the people and take down that traitor Mizuki and anyone else with him."

  "Yes sir."

  Hiruze an eye ohing happening in the vilge through his Telescope jutsu. A few mier one of the Anbu he seurned.

  "Lizard, Report."

  "I went to the four locations. They weren't part of our critical infrastructure. The locations that were hit were low priority and easy to access. Two explosions happened in the market but at this time the shops were all closed. So no casualties. Only property damage. The third attack took pear the veterinary i by the Inuzuka . Again no casualties. The fourth was iskirts of the civilian residential area. Two houses were damaged and there have been a few injuries but no fatalities. The injured have already been taken to the hospital and we're already fortifying the key areas. The Hyuga and Aburame are coordinating and leading search teams to see if there are more explosives hidden."

  Hiruzen nodded a out a small breath of relief. 'No one killed in four explosions. I suppose I call that a miracle. But still, why cause damage to these locations…These damages wouldn't hurt us even in the short term…' The kage stroked his and pondered on the reason for this attack.

  Hiruzen's eyes widened as an idea suddenly sprung up in his head. 'Distra. What if this is all a distra to take off our focus… But they won't be able to escape the way they are now… Unless…'

  He quickly looked at his Anbu. "The patrol squad has informed me that there has been a massive prison break. I believe this destruight be the work of a prisohese explosions might be a diversion."

  "But Lord Hokage, how you be sure it was them? And evehe prisoners would be in their uniform, they'd quickly be identified and captured."

  "I'm not 100% sure it's them but it's what my gut is telling me. And it would be possible for them to escape in this chaos… If they have our ninja gear."

  The Anbu's eyes behind the mask slightly widened. "If that's the case…"

  "Inform the Anbu teams and the trusted Jonins to be on the lookout for anyone suspicious. They wouldn't have access to Anbu attire but if those prisoners have outside help then they could be wearing our fk jackets."

  "Yes. I uand." The Anbu nodded and immediately left the room.

  Hiruzen turned his attention back to the crystal ball, ged the chakra flow and the images soon ged to Naruto battling his traitorous teacher. 'Mizuki. I have a feeling you're behind all this mess. If that is the case then I'll make sure you never see daylight again.'

  —-

  East yons. Shortly after Future Rookies saved Iruka.

  Mizuki looked at the newers and was pletely shocked. 'Where did they e from? How long have they been here? Did they get here following Iruka or Naruto?'

  The rogue in was angry that his pn to kill Naruto was thwarted. "You brats made a big mistake ing here."

  "We'll see about that soon." Sasuke said as he looked at Mizuki with narrowed eyes.

  Sounds of several footsteps came and Naruto turned his head. He realized that he, Iruka and Mizuki weren't the only ohat were there. But at the moment he didn't care about them. He turned his attention back to his teacher.

  "Why?"

  Naruto's weak voice brought Iruka's attention ba. The in saw the sad, fused expression on the boy's fad it pained his heart.

  "You could have died. Why did you save my life?"

  Iruka looked at the boy and tried to smile. Slowly tears started falling down his face as he recalled the memories of his childhood. "You know… you and I are a lot alike. We're the same in so many ways… After my parents died I was all alone. No one cared about me. My grades dropped. I was soon at the bottom. A css . I did so many stupid things. I just wahem to remember my name. Even if it was just for a few seds… But soon I had to pay for my mistakes."

  Naruto's eyes widened as he looked at his sensei. Even through the tears Iruka tried to smile. "I know how you feel. Feeling lonely and hurting inside. I should have been there for you more… I'm sorry."

  "Sensei…"

  "But you know… there is one differeween us. You found friends you depend on early on. Friends who'll have your baatter what. I'm really happy…" Iruka smiled as he looked at his favorite student.

  Shikamaru and the rest smiled as they looked at their teacher. The young Nara g Iruka from the er of his eyes and recalled the first day the man came to his css. 'When he first saw Naruto he couldn't even look at him but now… I guess Naruto has grown on him.'

  Mizuki gritted his teeth as he looked at the se. 'This isn't how things were supposed to go. Wait! Maybe I still use this to my advantage. If I turn them all against him then I have a ce.'

  The grey haired in suddenly chuckled, drawing everyone's attention. "Hihihihi… Oh please Iruka. You don't have to lie. I know you hate him from your very core. The ailed fox killed your parents and it's inside you now Naruto. Iruka would say anything to get that scroll from you."

  Mizuki turned his attention to the new Genins. "Naruto's the living embodiment of the catastrophe that struck the vilge. You all should fear him. He'll soon release the seal and the ails will emerge aroy the vilge. He's just a beast hell bent oru."

  "Yeah like we'd believe that. Someone o shut you up." Kiba said and the rest of the rookies were getting ready to attack.

  Naruto looked at Mizuki and he suddenly felt ashamed to meet everyone's gaze. He just wao escape. He tried to take off running but Iruka suddenly grabbed his arm stopping him. Before Naruto could struggle and escape, Iruka suddenly brought him in for a hug. Naruto stilled as he was embraced in the warm gesture.

  "I did hate you, Naruto." The boy's eyes widened as he heard his sensei. "And Mizuki is right. A beast would only know just to rampage and cause destru when it's hurt… But you're not a beast. I've seen you struggle, endure everyone's hate and still have a smile on your face. I've seen your willio work hard and your determination. You try your best despite the odds against you. I came to admire that."

  Iruka looked Naruto in the eyes and he had a genuine smile. "You are not the ails. You are Naruto Uzumaki of the Leaf. And… You're my precious student."

  "Sensei." Naruto realized that the man was telling the truth and the instant that realization hit him, he buried his fa his sensei's chest and cried. Iruka gently stroked the back of the boy's head and stayed silent.

  Naruto's friends smiled and stayed quiet to give them their moment.

  Mizuki ched his fists as his pns to turn them against Naruto failed. But unwilling to give up he tried one more time. He looked at the children and spoke. "You all don't uand. He's-"

  "You should stop wasting your breath. That scroll is going back to the Hokage and we aren't going to turn on Naruto. You're done Mizuki. It's over." Shikamaru said with a serious tone.

  "You have nothing up your sleeve left. Surrender." Shino spoke with crossed arms.

  "Just give up Mizuki. You're finished."

  Sasuke's arrogant tone made Mizuki furious. "You fug brats! You really think just because I'm outnumbered you defeat me? I'll kill all of you for your arrogance."

  The Rookies took battle stances and we're preparing to attack. But…

  "No you won't!" Iruka's strong voice stopped everyone. He stood, looked at Naruto and gave the boy a small reassuring nod. Theuro face the rest of his students. "You all. Thank you for saving my life. But this is my responsibility. Mizuki is my responsibility. I'll deal with that traitor.."

  "But we fight. We help." Sasuke looked at Iruka with determination.

  "He's right. Sensei, we…" Kiba waue but Iruka shook his head. He turo look at Mizuki but was addressing his students.

  "I have a mission for all of you. Protect the scroll of seals a back to the Hokage tower safely." Iruka was gring at Mizuki and walked forward. He stood in front of the new Genins and became focused on his foe.

  "You really think you all escape from me? I'll take the scroll from your corpses if I have to." Mizuki gred at Iruka and the kids.

  "I won't give you that ce. Yht is with me." Iruka took a kunai and readied himself.

  Seeing their teachers about to engage, Shikamaru got near Naruto. "Hey. We o go. Now. While Iruka sensei is buying us some time." Naruto relutly nodded but stopped when he heard Mizuki's words.

  "Fine. Have it your way. I'll kill you first, Iruka."

  Naruto ched his fist and jumped from his spot and nded near his teacher. He gred at Mizuki. "If you touch my sensei I'll kill you."

  "Naruto, I told you to leave. The safety of that scroll is more important than my life." Iruka was shocked that Naruto stayed. He wahe kid to leave while he bought them time.

  "Not to me sensei. MULTI SHADOW E JUTSU!" The blonde Jinchuriki made the cross seal and the sed the entire surrounding was covered in smoke. In moments the smoke disappeared and several hundred shadow es were present all around them.

  Everyone was astounded by the number of es Naruto created.

  "Oh man, I 't even keep t the number of es here." Kiba said with his jaws dropped.

  Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he looked at the boy standing near Iruka. 'Is this the potential Daichi was talking about? Or is this the power of the ails? Did he already know?'

  Hinata looked at the Naruto's and blushed. ' .Narutos.'

  Shikamaru looked at the es and then at Mizuki. 'Even he would have some trouble fighting this many es. But still, I don't know the strength and weakness of this jutsu. Or what it does to the caster. Naruto should be careful. This jutsu was from the scroll dubbed 'Forbidden'. Hmm… Naruto doesn't look winded or anything. Guess we'll have to wait to see what the effects of the jutsu are.'

  "All of them are solid es right?" Sakura asked and Ino nodded. "Yeah. This jutsu is different from the normal e jutsu."

  Sakura pondered on the implications and then looked at Naruto. 'Then this jutsu must take more chakra than the e jutsu to execute. So to create this many solid es… Naruto must have a lot more chakra than I thought. I thought Mizuki was lying at first but now… Iruka sensei doesn't seem surprised at Mizuki's accusations. So does that mean Naruto is the ails? No… Iruka serusts him. So that 't be it. But Naruto must have some e to the ails…'

  Naruto's shadow es began attag Mizuki from all sides. But the in immediately began tering. He had beely training and increasing his strength and preparing his body for the ritual.

  Mizuki dodged a kick from the bad jumped to avoid a leg swipe. He punched a e in the chest redug it to smoke while he grabbed the leg of ahat came flying at him. Mizuki tossed that e around aroyed another dozen es.

  'To use Lord Orochimaru's power I o increase my power a my body strong enough to withstand the transformation. But I never imagined my training would e to aid me in such a manner.'

  Mizuki punched, kicked and used his ons to kill the shadow es that attacked him. But as time went by he was getting more tired. 'I o finish this fast.'

  "Rhaaa… You fug brat. You think you defeat me with es?" Mizuki's rage increased his battle momentum and ihan a minute he destroyed all the es that were present. But he had bruises on his body and was taking several deep breaths due to his exertion.

  Iruka looked at the worn out enemy and spoke. "You may have defeated the es but you're in no shape to fight anyone Mizuki and win."

  Suddenly Shino's head sowards his left. "Multiple Shinobi approag." His scouting is informed him of the approag people.

  Hinata quickly used her Byakugan. "Three people. All wearing Leaf headbands."

  Iruka and Naruto rexed but the rest of the students were o.

  Shikamaru heard Shino's words and his eyes never left Mizuki once. He saw that Mizuki was tense when he heard that people were ing but then saw his body slightly rex when Hinata firmed the number.

  'Damn it. Could they be his aplices? Are they here for him?'

  He didn't have to wait long to find out. Three ninjas wearing the standard in gear appeared. Iruka looked at the three ninjas but he didn't reise any of them. But he thought they were here for the scroll under Lord Hokage's orders and was about to move when he heard one of them chuckle.

  The leader of the group looked at the se and couldn't help but let out a ridig ugh looking at Mizuki.

  "You really are pathetic. You 't even handle a few brats and a in? It seems you're the one who needs our help more." Zefrek spoke with a desding tone.

  "You…" Mizuki hated it when someone looked down on him.

  Zefrek didn't care about the tired in and turned his attention back to Iruka and the rest. Everyone saw the dark glint and maliciousness in his eyes.

  "Now what do we have here?"

  Author's Note.

  Another 3.3k word chp.. I hope you all ehe chapter.

  The Naruto and Iruka se in is an iic event for Naruto. I didn't want to take that away from him. But I also wao add my own twist to the events.

  How do you guys feel about this chapter?

  It was a bit difficult when I wrote feters. I o create a battle sequence for all the rookies based on their current strength and fighting style. I also had to take teamwork into at, enemy strength, jutsus… the pressure was on to make it a good battle and a good chapter…. I hope I don't disappoint you all…