Inside the room.
Yagyu had changed into a fitted combat outfit, a Chakra Blade hanging at his waist.
Fully prepared for action, his height of already 1.6 meters at twelve years old made him stand as straight as a spear.
"Capture Mizuki?"
Holding the mission scroll that had just been delivered by the ANBU, Yagyu smiled.
"This mission is interesting. It's probably meant to test my combat level. If I pass, the arrangement for me will likely be either forming a squad alone or being assigned to a team with a Chunin or even a Jonin."
Yagyu had no objections to that, in fact he thought it was quite good.
Instead of leaving through the front door, he opened the window.
Whoosh.
With a soft sound, Yagyu's figure left the window and vanished into the night.
…
At that moment.
The Hokage's office was brightly lit.
The Third Hokage and several well-known Jonin of Konoha were gathered there.
These Jonin were none other than Kakashi, Might Guy, Sarutobi Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi, who was considered one of Konoha's greatest genjutsu specialists.
They were all Elite Jonin belonging to the top combat tier beneath the Hokage.
"He has departed."
Watching Yagyu through the crystal ball in front of him, the Third Hokage showed a satisfied expression.
"I believe he will soon capture the traitor Mizuki and bring Naruto back. What I'm curious about is what kind of attitude he will have when facing Naruto."
After hearing the Third Hokage's words, the future instructors of the Konoha Twelve all began to think about it.
Kakashi spoke first.
"I think the most likely outcome is that he will bring Naruto back and plead with the Hokage on behalf of Naruto's ignorance."
Kakashi had looked into Yagyu a little, so he made a reasonable guess.
The other three Jonin, however, only knew of Yagyu's existence and had little understanding of him, so they remained silent.
Hearing that.
The Third Hokage nodded.
"Kakashi makes a good point, but what actually happens, we'll just have to keep watching."
The Hokage's office fell quiet.
Everyone waited to see how things would unfold.
…
Under the night sky.
Yagyu moved quickly across the rooftops.
"There's been no large-scale ninja mobilization."
Although his expression remained calm, Yagyu's eyes were serious.
"That means this mission is probably meant for me alone. Interesting."
Raising his hand, Yagyu formed a hand seal.
"Ninja Art: Sensory Technique."
Buzz.
The moment Yagyu closed his eyes, his sensory ability, greatly enhanced by the development of the Sage Body, spread outward.
"Found them."
Soon he sensed a large concentration of chakra and a hint of joy appeared in Yagyu's eyes.
"So they haven't left the village. At least they're somewhat sensible."
Even if Uzumaki Naruto was foolish, he would not carry the Scroll of Seals outside the village.
What he wanted right now was to prove himself, not cause an even bigger incident.
In fact, Naruto probably already sensed something was wrong when he first acted.
But because he wanted to graduate and still trusted Mizuki somewhat.
He chose to try anyway.
Naruto had never truly been stupid.
Whoosh.
With a flash of movement, Yagyu headed toward the chakra he sensed.
…
Meanwhile, at a public training ground.
Uzumaki Naruto held the Scroll of Seals in one arm, gripping a kunai with his other hand, his body covered in wounds.
He stared at Mizuki in disbelief.
"Mizuki-sensei, why? Why do you want to kill me…"
This time Iruka was not there to rescue him. The moment Mizuki found Naruto, he had already injured him.
If Naruto were not the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and a member of the Uzumaki Clan with powerful vitality, he would have already collapsed.
"Why?"
With a cold sneer, Mizuki looked at Naruto as if he were staring at a wild beast.
"Why ask so many questions? But since you helped me steal the Scroll of Seals, I'll tell you the reason. Because you deserve to die. Maybe after I kill you, the people of the village will even thank me."
At that moment Mizuki's smile turned sinister.
"Let me tell you the truth. The Scroll of Seals is extremely important in the village. Why do you think no one came to stop you after you stole it? Because everyone wants you dead. You… Nine-Tailed Fox."
While revealing the truth and breaking Naruto's will, Mizuki prepared to strike Naruto with a killing blow.
In terms of actual strength.
Mizuki was truly weak.
He was so weak that he could not even defeat Naruto after Naruto had just learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
It was no wonder he relied on words to break Naruto's spirit.
In the shinobi world, it was nothing new for the weak to kill the strong.
When the secrets surrounding his identity were revealed one by one, Naruto froze in shock, giving Mizuki the perfect opportunity.
"Now's the chance."
Seeing Naruto lose his fighting spirit and freeze, Mizuki immediately acted.
"Die, you demon fox."
Whoosh.
With a sudden burst of speed, Mizuki appeared before Naruto, thrusting the kunai toward Naruto's forehead.
Yet in the face of this fatal danger, Naruto remained frozen in place, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Idiot."
From the branch of a large tree nearby, Yagyu covered his face helplessly.
"He really had his will completely crushed."
Although he complained inwardly.
Yagyu obviously could not just watch Mizuki kill Naruto here.
At the moment Mizuki believed he had succeeded and a smile appeared on his face.
Whoosh.
A faint sound of air cutting suddenly rang out.
In the next instant, a figure appeared beside Naruto without any warning.
Clack.
In a flash, a hand like an iron clamp grabbed Mizuki's arm.
Preventing him from moving even an inch.
The kunai stopped only a hair's breadth away from Naruto's forehead.
This sudden change stunned both Mizuki and Naruto.
"Who… Yagyu Sosuke?!"
Mizuki turned his head in shock and looked at Yagyu, who was holding his arm.
"How is it you?"
A mocking smile appeared on Yagyu's face.
He glanced at Mizuki.
"Why can't it be me? Mizuki… traitor."
Clang.
The moment Yagyu finished speaking, Mizuki used his other hand to slash a kunai toward Yagyu's neck.
"Too slow."
After calmly making that comment, Yagyu raised his leg like lightning.
There were no flashy movements.
Just a simple kick driven straight into Mizuki's body.
Bang.
With no ability to resist, Mizuki was sent flying by the powerful kick.
He crashed onto the ground and could not get up for quite a while.
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