Chapter 7

Naruto exclaimed, a mix of surprise and anger flashing across his face. He turned around quickly, spotting Mizuki standing on a nearby branch, sneering at him.

"Mr. Mizuki! What are you doing here?" Naruto questioned, puzzled by his presence.

"Wasn't I the one who told you you to steal it?" Mizuki retorted, his sneer deepening.

Naruto's reminder had irked him to the point of fury, evident from the anger that distorted his eyes and nose.

Mizuki, a Chunin, had been deceived by a mere child who was still attending the academy.

The revelation was nothing short of an enduring source of amusement for all who witnessed it.

"You little bastard! Do you really think others can't see through your little trick?" Mizuki seethed, his face contorted with resentment as he jumped down from the tree, his anger palpable.

"Hand over the sealed book, and perhaps I'll show you some mercy," he declared, although the murderous intent in his eyes betrayed his true intentions.

It was clear that Mizuki intended to play a game of cat and mouse, relishing the opportunity to vent his anger before being discovered.

However, Naruto swiftly dismissed his initial shock and anger.

Having been warned by Kaze beforehand, Naruto knew Mizuki was not to be trusted.

His emotions subsided rapidly, replaced by a resolve that had been nurtured by Kaze's guidance.

With a defiant expression on his face, Naruto dashed away, clutching the sealed book tightly.

Mizuki's laughter rang out angrily, his visage displaying an icy determination. "You're nothing but a useless brat that nobody wants! Today, I will show you what true ninja skills are!" he exclaimed.

With those words, Mizuki hurled the large, four-horned shuriken from his back, sending it whistling and cutting through the air toward Naruto.

In Naruto's conscious world, Kaze observed Mizuki with a fierce expression.

Sensing the impending danger, he offered, "Naruto, let me take control. You're no match for him."

Kaze, aware of the unfolding events, recognized that Naruto might lose control of his emotions and go on a rampage.

However, Naruto, wary of the potential consequences, refused to relinquish control to Kaze.

"No, I'm used to being chased by people. He can't catch up with me," Naruto asserted, although his trust and dependence on Kaze stood at a mere 33%, this level of trust was not absolute and could easily waver in times of trouble.

Moreover, Naruto feared that Kaze might exploit his body to commit acts of violence.

As a result, he was determined to avoid surrendering his body to Kaze whenever possible.

"Besides, we're in the same boat. If I can't defeat him, neither can you," Naruto added confidently.

As he spoke, Mizuki closed in from behind, gradually narrowing the distance between them.

Being a Chunin, it was no challenge for Mizuki to catch up with Naruto, no matter how he attempted to evade him.

"You damn fox demon, I'll take your left hand with this strike!" Mizuki snarled, his face contorted with ferocity as he lunged towards Naruto, brandishing a kunai aimed at Naruto's left hand.

Witnessing the incoming attack, Naruto momentarily hesitated, reaching out to grab hold of the tree trunk and steadying himself.

This sudden halt caught Mizuki off guard, his momentum carrying him forward before he leapt away, creating a significant distance between them.

Naruto had anticipated the danger throughout the operation and had mentally prepared himself.

Consequently, he did not succumb to overwhelming fear and panic, as depicted in the original plot.

He displayed a resilience born from his ability to navigate through various confrontations with Iruka and others.

"Heh heh, what a fool you are!" Naruto jeered, taunting Mizuki for his failed attempt to capture him.

A group of Chunin would usually pursue him and try to intercept him when he went around pranking the villagers.

But now, with just Mizuki in pursuit, it would be nothing but wishful thinking to believe he could catch up.

Surprisingly, Naruto's mockery didn't incite further rage in him.

Instead, he wore a sly smile, observing Naruto as he distanced himself. "Hee hee hee... Naruto, I suddenly realized... you're clueless about why everyone hates you, am I right?" Mizuki said, relishing the moment.

"Do you know why I call you a repulsive fox demon? Why the villagers despise you?" Mizuki's words halted Naruto in his tracks, filling him with a sense of unease and fear.

It seemed as though the following revelation would shatter his understanding of life.

[Blackening value +2]

[Blackening value +2...]

"Oh? Finally..." Kaze, present in Naruto's consciousness, wore a satisfied smile.

With a malevolent smile on his face, Mizuki slithered forward like a venomous snake. "That's because... you are the fox demon from twelve years ago," he declared with cruel satisfaction.

"What... what did you say?" Naruto froze, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Overwhelmed by confusion and apprehension, he stared ahead, his eyes vacant.

[Blackening value +20]

[Blackening value +30...]

"I... I'm the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox?" Naruto's voice faltered as he collapsed backward, landing on the ground with a dazed expression.

The realization dawned upon him.

He had heard tales of the Nine-Tails Rebellion, where a malevolent fox demon had ravaged the village, claiming numerous lives. Finally, the villagers' scornful gazes and treatment began to make sense.

"No... it can't be true... I'm not a fox demon... I'm Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto's desperate denial filled the air, his voice quivering with anguish.

Mizuki, who had resumed his pursuit, wore a triumphant grin. He refused to let Naruto off the hook.

"If you're not the demon fox who destroyed the village, why do people hate and despise you?" he sneered. "If you're not the demon fox who destroyed the village, why has no one ever told you about your parents? Go ahead, touch your cheeks. Can you feel the whiskers, the markings of the fox?"

[Blackening value +40...]

With a swift motion, Mizuki closed the gap between them. He seized Naruto by the neck, lifting him effortlessly, while his other hand snatched the sealed book from Naruto's grasp.

"You repugnant demon fox! The village raised you, the Third Hokage raised you, only to use you as a weapon!" Mizuki's voice dripped with venom. "Even Iruka, who treated you kindly, lost his parents tragically because of you! Just think, while he acted friendly, deep down, he must have thought, 'Disgusting fox demon, if it weren't for Hokage-sama's orders, I would tear you apart,' or perhaps, 'This damned fox demon, why won't you just die?'"

[Blackening value +50...]

"No... that's not true... I'm not a fox demon..." Naruto's voice trembled as he desperately denied the truth, clinging to his own identity amidst the overwhelming revelation.

Meanwhile, Mizuki, who had retrieved the scroll from Naruto, wore an expression of triumphant vengeance.

"Awake to reality, Naruto. Everyone wishes for your demise," Mizuki sneered sadistically.

With the scroll securely strapped to his back, Mizuki held a kunai in his right hand.

"Everyone's desires will be fulfilled today. Now, go to hell!" Mizuki's kunai descended with lethal intent, aimed directly at Naruto's forehead.

Kaze watched the spectacle silently before whispering to himself-

"System, switch personalities."

[The main personality has completely lost control and collapsed. Personality switch successful.]

[Current blackening value 3920]

With an iron grip, a small hand clasped Mizuki's arm tightly.

"Oh? Are... you going to send me to hell?"

********

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