Iruka could not be rescued.
Facing Mizuki, who was pressing fast in front of him, an extremely vicious and cruel smile hung on the corner of the man's mouth, while a cold and awe-inspiring killing intent flashed in his pupils.
Naruto, lying on the ground, felt a chill deep in his heart.
Ignoring the stabbing pain in his abdomen, he rolled quickly to the side, pulling some distance away. With his backhand, he drew several shuriken in one motion and hurled them toward Mizuki without even looking.
"Keng! Keng!"
The sound of blades cutting through the air echoed. The shuriken merely served to stall Mizuki's charge, but he easily deflected them.
The next second, Mizuki's figure appeared right beside Naruto.
That terrifying killing intent in his eyes was so clear that Naruto could almost feel it pressing against his skin.
With no time to think, Naruto relied purely on instinct. As Mizuki's sharp blade came slashing in, Naruto twisted sharply to the side, narrowly dodging the strike. Mizuki, anticipating the evasion, spun mid-air, adjusting his posture instantly.
As he turned, his left hand flicked out—another kunai appeared in his grip, slicing straight across Naruto's neck without hesitation.
The cold glint of the blade cut the air, chilling and sharp.
Pain flashed.
Naruto's pupils contracted suddenly. The moment the shining edge reached his sight, he jerked his head back, barely avoiding the lethal strike.
At the same instant, his right arm twisted, thrusting his kunai toward Mizuki's arm.
Mizuki sneered.
A rapid swing of his leg followed, the heel smashing into Naruto's wrist with brutal precision.
Pain exploded through Naruto's arm; the kunai flew from his grip, clattering against the ground.
And then—
A gleam of steel once again.
Naruto, unable to react in time, managed only to twist his body enough to protect his vitals.
"Pff!"
A sharp cry escaped him. The sound of metal piercing flesh echoed harshly.
Mizuki's kunai tore a deep wound across Naruto's right chest.
"Ughh!!" Naruto screamed in pain.
Blood splattered. His breath caught; he bit down on his lip hard enough to draw more blood. Gritting his teeth, he kicked the ground, forcing himself backward, widening the distance. The blow wasn't fatal—but the wound was gruesome.
Sweat dripped down his forehead, his arm trembled uncontrollably. His entire body shook—not only from the pain but from the sheer pressure Mizuki exuded.
This was not just a difference in strength. It was a difference in combat experience—one that far exceeded Naruto's expectations.
The worst part was Mizuki's relentless rhythm. The fight, which seemed long, had lasted mere seconds—leaving Naruto no time to form hand seals. Even the fastest Kage Bunshin no Jutsu required at least a heartbeat to channel chakra properly. Naruto knew that the seemingly casual hand seal he used in the original encounter was deceptive; in reality, it demanded focus and chakra control.
A true ninja battle—could be decided in one second.
And Mizuki now was far stronger than he had been in the original events, surpassing his former limits. That single fact threw everything off course.
If Mizuki had been even slightly slower, Naruto could have finished a hand seal and summoned clones to overwhelm him.
But he hadn't.
Naruto's early mistake—his decision to go for a close-range sneak attack—had left him without the chance to use his trump card. He hadn't expected Iruka to get caught in the middle, nor for Mizuki's speed to jump so dramatically after injecting that strange green liquid.
That failed surprise attack… that hesitation… had created this crisis.
This situation, Naruto realized bitterly, was entirely his own fault.
"Damn it! I should've used the Shadow Clone from the start!" he muttered, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
But now—it was too late.
Naruto understood perfectly. Mizuki, though pretending to toy with him, would strike the moment he sensed any hint of hand seals or chakra buildup.
At this range, Mizuki could close the gap in less than a second.
Just like before.
"It seems there's only one choice left…" Naruto thought grimly.
In a heartbeat, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. His gaze flicked toward Iruka, still lying wounded nearby. Naruto's pupils hardened with determination.
There was only one chance—and he would seize it.
If he couldn't use ninjutsu safely, then there was only one path left: close-quarters combat.
He lacked experience, true—but close combat was his only option.
With his sharp instincts, he could at least narrow the gap in speed and power.
The rest… depended on courage.
Could he strike first? Could he be ruthless enough to end it?
Retreat was not an option.
In the span of two seconds, Naruto made his choice.
As Mizuki advanced with that cruel grin, Naruto's expression hardened. His right hand flipped slightly, a fresh kunai glinting in his grip.
He gathered every ounce of strength left in his body, muscles tightening, breath steadying. His eyes locked onto Mizuki.
Seeing Naruto's stance, Mizuki sneered and licked his lips—a grotesque imitation of Orochimaru's mannerisms.
"Go to hell, brat!"
The instant the words left his mouth, Mizuki lunged.
A burst of wind.
A flash of power that tore through the air—