"Save~ ~"
The voice was extrely hoarse and faint.
While saying this, Iruka barely lifted his hand, trying to signal over there, but Naruto held his arm tightly, making it impossible.
He could only keep whispering, "Save~ ~"
But the voice grew weaker and fainter.
Iruka felt like he was about to collapse. His body twitched occasionally from the cold, and his consciousness grew increasingly dim.
Yet inside, his mind raced wildly.
Naruto had been so kind, trying to help him, wanting to lead him away from Mizuki’s pursuit, but he had put Iruka in danger!
The most frustrating thing was that the Anbu shinobi watching from behind were just standing there.
Didn’t they see that he was on the brink of death? Why hadn’t they moved?
They were waiting for him to call for help!
If they didn’t act soon, Iruka feared he would really die.
"Ah? Teacher Iruka, what did you just say? I didn’t hear clearly!" Naruto, still running, seed to catch Iruka’s faint plea. He stopped carefully and turned back to ask.
He looked like a caring student worried about his teacher.
"Escape to the right... there’s..." Iruka no longer cared about formalities.
Survival was the priority. He wanted to guide Naruto to where the Anbu ninjas were hiding.
Swish—
But before he could finish, a shuriken struck his back again.
The sharp pain made Iruka frown. The breath he had been holding escaped, and his words beca broken.
"Damn... Mizuki’s caught up again. Teacher, don’t speak anymore. I’ll definitely get you out of here!" Naruto cursed, ignoring what Iruka wanted to say, carrying him on his back and continuing to flee.
Iruka felt moved to tears. Well, at least from Naruto’s point of view, he was moved to tears.
Keep running for your life!
The Anbu ninja watching Iruka’s actions couldn’t help but applaud.
"As expected from soone chosen by the Hokage himself. Even in such a critical mont, he still takes ti to bond with the Jinchuriki. I’m ashad in comparison, truly ashad!"
"Should we intervene now?" soone nearby asked.
"Wait a bit longer. I don’t think Iruka has called for help or signaled yet. He can still hold on. We mustn’t let Iruka’s plan go to waste!" the Anbu ninja answered again.
The others also respected Iruka deeply. He had co this far and still hadn’t called for help.
Impressive, impressive...
If Iruka could hear their conversation, he’d probably spit blood three tis over. Did he not call for help? He did call—did they just not hear him?
"Then let’s wait a bit more."
The Anbu ninja agreed on this plan: wait for Iruka to call for help.
If Naruto got far enough away, they would chase after him a little.
"Hey, look at Naruto. Is he lost? He’s just spinning around and not heading back to Konoha." One Anbu ninja noticed Naruto’s route and spoke up.
He realized Naruto was moving away from Konoha, almost going the wrong way.
"Well, I guess he really is."
After this reminder, the others noticed too.
But soone defended Naruto, saying, "Naruto’s been in Konoha his whole life. It’s normal for him to get lost now!"
So it went.
Naruto led Iruka around in circles through the trees.
At first, it didn’t matter much. But as ti passed, Mizuki grew more and more anxious. His attacks on Iruka beca more frequent.
Shuriken, kunai, even so strange-shaped blades—he threw them all angrily at Iruka’s back, and Iruka caught every single one perfectly!
Not a single one missed.
Yet the distance between him and Naruto stayed the sa, like Naruto was playing a ga with him.
Until Mizuki pulled out a huge shuriken...
"Hey, Iruka-sensei, why are you getting heavier and heavier?" Naruto kept carrying Iruka on his back as they moved forward. He kept complaining, sounding a little confused.
Iruka felt very uneasy inside. Of course... how could he not feel heavy? His back was covered with who knows how many blades and weapons!
But now, Iruka was too weak to complain. His eyes were blank, and he had almost accepted his fate.
Puff!
Suddenly, his eyes snapped wide open, and his back felt a heavy weight pressing down.
A sharp pain ca rushing through!
He felt that this ti his back had taken a serious hit... He thought, this is it!
"Hey, why is it so much heavier this ti!" Naruto suddenly sensed the change in weight and stopped walking.
He muttered to himself, ’Mizuki’s blades must be all used up by now.’
After that, Naruto pretended to be curious and stopped to check on Iruka.
Then, he saw Iruka’s back, covered like a porcupine with blades. Especially at the center, a huge shuriken was stuck in.
Shock spread across his face.
"Sensei, why have you turned into a porcupine? Who did this to you? Hang in there!"
Naruto’s angry expression was so fierce it could break anyone’s heart.
As he spoke, he ’heavily’ dropped Iruka onto the ground.
Puff!
Iruka spat out a mouthful of blood from the recoil, but inside, he made excuses for Naruto. Naruto was just too worried about him.
Gritting his teeth, Iruka forced out, "I’m fine. I’m already badly injured. You should leave now!"
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto was moved.
Though touched, Naruto was also thinking to himself, those Anbu ninja sure have endurance. Iruka is hurt this badly, and they still haven’t shown themselves?
They really go all out to build a connection between and Iruka.
Feeling all that, but now that he knew the truth, Naruto wouldn’t reveal his power to help Iruka.
Anyway, with those Anbu ninjas around, they absolutely wouldn’t let Iruka die!
So Naruto made up his mind—not to strike.
On the side of the ANBU ninja.
"This master-disciple bond, it almost made cry!" One ANBU wiped the slightly wet corner of his eye through his mask and admired Iruka’s dedication even more.
"Naruto is really amazing. Even if he dies, he won’t give up on his teacher. If I had a student like him, I’d be ’happily dead’ in the future!" another said with emotion.
"Should we intervene?" After speaking, the ANBU saw Mizuki had already caught up to Naruto.
"Wait a little longer."
"This isn’t good. Naruto seems ready to fight Mizuki to the death for his teacher!"
"I’m going... The jinchuriki is so weak, he got blasted away with one palm!"
"Not good. He stepped on the wounded Iruka and pulled a giant shuriken from behind him."
"Naruto wants to fight Mizuki desperately. Maybe he used too much energy escaping and can’t get up."
The ANBU reported everything. The others followed closely, afraid that any mistake might ruin Iruka’s plan.
The more they watched, the more they admired Iruka.
In the end, Mizuki pressed the shuriken against Naruto’s throat, but Naruto didn’t say a word.
"Wait... is Iruka unconscious?"
****
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