2 A battle in the woods. (1/2)
[you can skip to chap 12 to avoid re-reading the parts of summoner of the league, it deviates starting from there.]
Naruto didn't even have the time to be freaked out or find out what the seals did. He heard rustling in the trees. Naruto's time with the scroll was ruined as he looked up and noticed Iruka looking down at him. His face was an odd mixture of humor and anger. Somehow, in the stillness of the night, while Naruto was getting his ear torn off by Iruka's rambling, he heard something else. Something swirling in the trees.
He watched as Mizuki stepped out behind Iruka and started talking ”You really are an idiot Naruto, to think you would go to such lengths as betraying your village, just to bring me a forbidden scroll for me to give to Orochimaru-sama! Truly for the brat with that damned Kyuubi inside him, you would think you wouldn't be so useless!” Naruto did the best to adopt a look of shock and disbelief as Mizuki laughed at his face maniacally. ”That's right Naruto! You are the Kyuubi who attacked Konoha 12 years ago!” Mizuki proclaimed as Naruto glared at him. Iruka widened his eyes as he turned to look at Naruto, and seemingly falling for Naruto's acting as well.
”Now you know why you are hated and why you will forever be the filth of this village. The Sandaime made sure that everyone hated you, that NO one loved you! It makes me wonder who would truly love someone like you! Now, why don't you be a good brat and die!” Mizuki shouted as he flung his Fuma shuriken towards Naruto's face. Naruto could hear the blades hissing through the air and he honestly made no attempt to move. Iruka gasped before he found his strength and desperately charged at Naruto. Iruka pushed Naruto to the ground only for the shuriken to slam into his backside letting out a painful yell from the academy teacher as blood dripped from his backside.
”Why Iruka?! Why would you protect the same demon that killed your parents?!” Mizuki asked. Iruka chuckled as the shuriken seemed to embed itself even harder. With one hand he touched Naruto's forehead. ”It's not fair is it Naruto? To work so hard, but to never be acknowledged, I understand that pain well. He's wrong you know. You're smart. Smarter than anyone in the class. You might think you don't care, but I know you do. I know you aren't what they call you,” Iruka said. Naruto would have snorted now thinking back to that. Iruka must have thought too highly of him. No, he didn't care about proving himself to others. He sent a small glare over to where Mizuki was standing.
”Naruto, you have to take the scroll and get away. You can't let Mizuki have the scroll!” Iruka said urgently.
Oh please, Naruto wasn't an idiot. Of course, he knew he couldn't let the man have the scroll. However, at the same time, Naruto had a rather hard peeve with being insulted. even if it wasn't his body. He loathed it. He…absolutely…loathed…IT! ”Sorry Iruka-sensei, but that's not an option,” Naruto said as he stood to his feet. He quickly dusted himself off from the dirt before he sidestepped Iruka. Iruka watched Naruto in surprise and shock.
”Oh?! The demon is going to fight me?! You who failed the academy test three times think you have a snowball's chance of defeating me, a chunin?!” Mizuki proclaimed boastfully. Naruto could feel his right hand burning as he continued glaring at Mizuki. He tightened his right fist. ”…” Naruto didn't reply as he looked down at his right arm. An interesting development. He didn't know what to think of the seal lighting up like this. But soon it struck him as memories flooded his brain from what he assumed was the seal. ”So that's how it works.
”Sounds like fun! Bring it on demon brat! Show me the power of the Kyuubi!” Mizuki shouted with a mad cackle as Naruto took a firm step in front of Iruka. A power was coursing through his right arm begging him to be unleashed. Naruto looked down and noticed the kanji for the numbers 7 & 8 light up. ”Naruto don't fight him! Just run!” Iruka pleaded, but he only saw Naruto raise his hand into the air.
”Be silent Iruka Umino-sensei. I will teach Mizuki-sensei that NO ONE insults Uzumaki Naruto! Summoning Technique (Kuchiyose no Jutsu.” Naruto shouted as he slammed his hand into the ground. Iruka covered his eyes as did Mizuki as smoke came over the area. Naruto squinted his eyes for a brief moment before the smoke started to dispel. Naruto, Iruka, and Mizuki looked on as…a little girl appeared from the mist. Her pink hair actually reminded Naruto of Sakura, if he remembered correctly though this little girl's hair was probably a shade darker than Sakura's. Her shirt was simply purple in color as well as her semi-pink skirt. Naruto blinked. Had…he summoned what he thought he had? He looked down at his hand and noticed both Kanji 7 & 8 were lit. So…why did he only see this little girl here? Why was a little girl here at all?! However, something was wrong. Growing up as he did and playing games that required strategy and forward thinking, Naruto had a knack for assessing situations. Though…perhaps that needed refining given this situation with Mizuki at the moment. In any case, this little girl who looked like someone who shouldn't even be in this world. She gave him a playful giggle before turning around to Mizuki.
”Hey Mister, have you see my bear, Tibbers?” she asked. Mizuki and Iruka gawked though Iruka was the only one showing fear. While it was impressive that Naruto performed B-ranked ninjutsu. given the blond's record with ninjutsu and genjutsu in general, he had actually summoned an innocent little girl to a full-blown fight. Iruka had to get up before Naruto got this girl killed! ”Ha! Is this the best that your power can do? How you killed the Yondaime is far beyond me! I will become the true hero this village deserves by slaughtering you, Iruka, and this little brat!” Mizuki laughed as he took out a kunai.
”No Mizuki! let her live!” Iruka shouted from his place and started to stand, but a hand from Naruto stopped him. He could feel it in his head. A connection bonding with the girl on the ground and….the shadow in the trees. He knew this girl's name and honestly, he should have known it when he first saw her, seeing as he had played her many times. He also knew the person in the tree's name for the same reason. Mizuki had to be so sure of his victory that he didn't even check his surroundings and sense the woman in the trees. Naruto snorted. It didn't matter though, Naruto would make him regret it!
”Go on, Annie, and kill him,” Naruto ordered. The smile on the girl's face seemed to darken as Iruka and Mizuki watched a fire cover her hands. ”Playtime!” Annie said happily and before Mizuki could even question the situation a huge fireball fired from the little girl's hands. Iruka and Mizuki gasped.