CHAPTER 292: CHAPTER 382 : MIZUKI EVOLUTION!!

"No good. Iruka is really unconscious. Move in now."

The Anbu ninja finally noticed something was wrong—Iruka was truly on the brink of death.

They had to act immediately!

"Go! We absolutely can’t let Mizuki kill Iruka for real!" another one shouted, then dashed forward without hesitation.

He had to rescue Iruka before Mizuki could land his final blow.

A few of the Anbu watching from behind couldn’t help but feel conflicted seeing Iruka in this state.

"Iruka is really something. Even after taking so much damage, he still tried to hold on."

But not everyone agreed.

"Maybe Mizuki’s last attack caught Iruka completely off guard," one of them said. "That could be why he’s this badly hurt."

As they debated, the situation on the battlefield suddenly shifted!

"Iruka, you deserve to die!"

As Mizuki roared those words, the massive shuriken in his hand swung down, aiming to finish Iruka off with a fatal strike.

"No! Don’t hurt Iruka-sensei! Don’t hurt Iruka-sensei!"

Uzumaki Naruto was still struggling to move. Whether it was because of his own injuries or complete exhaustion, he simply couldn’t get up.

All he could do was watch helplessly as Mizuki tried to kill Iruka.

That look of pure despair on his face struck a chord in everyone present.

Clang—!

Just when Naruto was on the verge of losing all hope, a kunai came flying through the air, striking the massive shuriken and knocking Mizuki’s attack off course!

Moments later—

Several figures emerged, quickly surrounding Mizuki and placing themselves between him and the others.

"Mizuki. Stop this madness. You’re completely surrounded. Surrender now."

The Anbu formed a tight formation around Mizuki, their eyes locked on him. Every muscle was tense, every breath ready.

If Mizuki made even the slightest move to attack again, they wouldn’t hesitate to strike.

"Heh... You were watching from the shadows all along, weren’t you?" Mizuki looked around at the people surrounding him and suddenly laughed, his eyes flashing with a trace of self-mockery.

As expected,

He had underestimated them.

Naruto was a Jinchūriki—how could they possibly let him run wild like that?

They must have been hiding somewhere nearby from the moment Iruka showed up, silently watching and waiting without making a move.

And only now, at the critical moment when Iruka’s life was truly in danger, did they decide to intervene.

How ridiculous!

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," said one of the ANBU, shaking his head with a face full of righteous indignation.

"I was on patrol when I discovered someone had stolen the Scroll of Seals. When I arrived, I saw you attacking your fellow villagers. That’s why I stepped in to stop you!"

His words were sharp, but his eyes were even sharper—cold and merciless.

"Mizuki, I advise you not to be stubborn. Come back with us and report to Lord Hokage."

As he spoke, one of the ANBU deliberately glanced at Naruto.

"The Scroll of Seals in Naruto’s hands... that must’ve been stolen by you too, right?"

Just like that, they pinned the entire crime of stealing the Scroll of Seals on Mizuki.

Uzumaki Naruto: "..."

He hadn’t even said anything yet, and these people had already come up with a full excuse on their own?

Typical ANBU—hiding in the shadows, watching the drama unfold for who knows how long.

Absolutely laughable.

But Naruto didn’t have time to argue about the false accusations now.

Worried sick, he stumbled forward toward Iruka, who lay injured on the ground.

He quickly wrapped his arms around Iruka, holding him tightly.

"Iruka-sensei, are you okay? It’s all because of Mizuki... Mizuki’s the one who hurt you!"

In an instant, Naruto redirected all the blame toward Mizuki.

The ANBU were reminded by Naruto’s outburst, and immediately, every eye turned to Mizuki with seething hatred.

They had seen it clearly—Iruka’s wounds were all Mizuki’s doing.

All of it—

Mizuki couldn’t avoid the blame.

He looked at their faces and suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Surrender?" he sneered. "Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes to make me."

A ruthless glint appeared in his eyes.

"I wasn’t planning to use that power... but since things have come to this, I’ve got no choice but to go all in!"

As he spoke, no one noticed exactly when Mizuki pulled out a small bottle from his cloak.

The liquid inside was dark red, swirling with faint traces of chakra.

Black markings seemed to slither through it like living things.

"What is that?" someone muttered.

Everyone tensed, frowning as they watched Mizuki’s every move.

He was just a chunin-level ninja—nothing special.

But the strange fluid he held gave off an ominous, chilling feeling.

"Ever heard of Orochimaru?" Mizuki asked, grinning wildly. "This is a serum he gave me. Once I drink it, I’ll gain terrifying power!"

"You forced me into this!"

With that, Mizuki’s eyes turned bloodshot as he popped open the bottle cap.

In an instant, a pungent, bloody stench filled the air.

Everyone instinctively recoiled.

Even Naruto and the nearby ANBU members flinched, a chill crawling down their spines.

"Orochimaru’s experimental serum?" one of the ANBU muttered, his eyes narrowing.

Orochimaru was known as a mad scientist among shinobi—anything he created could be unimaginably dangerous.

Tension thickened in the air.

Several of the ninjas moved to shield Naruto and Iruka behind them.

"Heh... a little too late to get cautious now!" Mizuki laughed, tipping the bottle to his lips.

Gulp... gulp...

The dark red liquid disappeared down his throat.

One breath.

Two...

Three...

Suddenly, a strange black mark on Mizuki’s arm—something no one had noticed before—began to glow red, like burning embers.

It looked like a fiery seal, branded into his flesh.

Then, the flame-like markings began to spread.

His veins darkened.

His breathing quickened.

And his chakra flared—wild, unstable, monstrous.

Ahhh~~

As the flame-like seal spread across Mizuki’s body, an unbearable pain consumed him, forcing out a tortured scream.

But with that scream, his body also began to change.

Countless black markings crawled across his skin.

His muscles swelled rapidly, twisting and bulging until he grew nearly half a meter taller.

He now looked like a hulking brute.

At the same time, sharp bone-like spikes began to sprout from his body.

They were razor-sharp.

Especially the bone blade that grew from the outside of his arm—it gleamed with a chilling light that made people instinctively shrink back.

"So good~~"

Mizuki opened his eyes then and let out a cry of joy, his voice filled with wild excitement.

He could feel an overwhelming power flowing through him.

Even a casual strike now might be as strong as his full power in the past.

If he chased after Naruto Uzumaki now, he could capture him without much effort.

Orochimaru hadn’t lied to him.

But... what exactly was the "price" Orochimaru spoke of?

"Not good. Mizuki is strong now. Be careful!"

The ANBU ninja stared at Mizuki warily, all of them drawing their kunai, ready to face the incoming threat.

Even just a brief exchange of glances was enough for them to feel the crushing pressure coming from Mizuki’s body.

Damn it. How did Mizuki get involved with Orochimaru?

And Orochimaru actually gave him such a terrifying drug?

Still, no matter what happened today... he had to make sure Naruto escaped!

Naruto was the future of Konoha.

With that thought, the ANBU finally turned his eyes to Naruto, who was still holding the injured Iruka.

His voice was urgent.

"Naruto, we’ll hold off Mizuki. You take Iruka and run! Go back to Konoha and get help!"