The Third Uzukage by Dark-Nate18

Chapter 2: Shield and Sword

The forest was quiet, the birds were scattered due to earlier commotion, the sound of twigs snapping filled the night air, two people stumbled through the forest, one was a tall tan male, his brown hair pulled into a ponytail, he wore the standard chunin uniform, and headband, a familiar dark scar across his nose, next to him a small boy leant against him, his feet being dragged behind him, his steps moving slowly. He wore nothing but a pair of tattered underwear, his hair which was once blonde, had slowly changed to a vivid red, a few strands of blonde still remained, but even they were powerless against the change, also the spikiness of the hair had seemed to disappear, causing it to become messy and fall down his face, causing him to constantly blow it out of his eyes. Iruka took a look at the sighing Naruto, he smirked as Naruto kept trying to blow his hair out of his eyes, reaching over; he tentatively swept Naruto's hair to the left, causing it all to part one side, meaning Naruto could see, Naruto gave a smile

"Thanks sensei" said Naruto softly, Iruka smiled and chuckled as the hair fell back when Naruto tripped slightly.

"Naruto...what did you mean you fail" asked Iruka, it was something that had been bothering him for a while, Naruto sighed and looked away.

"Well Mizuki-sensei said that if I could take the scroll and learn one jutsu from it, then I would be able to be a genin, I didn't learn a technique, so I fail" said Naruto sadly, he stumbled and tripped forward, only to feel Iruka slide an arm around his waist.

"M...Mizuki said that" whispered Iruka, Naruto frowned slightly.

"Was Mizuki-sensei wrong then" asked Naruto, Iruka was about to answer when the sound of kunai ripping through the air met his ears, he forced Naruto to the floor, and braced himself for impact. Naruto looked up startled, which turned into fear as kunai were imbedded into Iruka, Naruto turned his head and watched as Mizuki landed on the branch closest

"My my Iruka you actually beat me to the little demon" said Mizuki with surprise, Iruka coughed slightly, his hand flying to his neck as a nick in the side began to bleed, Naruto looked between the two in confusion.

"Wh...What's going on" asked Naruto, Mizuki looked at him, the sneer slid off of his face

"Naruto, give me the scroll, Iruka is leading you to your death, the Hokage has called for your execution for taking the Scroll of Seals" said Mizuki, Naruto felt a bomb drop in his stomach, he looked to Iruka who was growling lowly

"Don't listen to him Naruto, Hokage-sama sent me to bring you back to ask why you stole the scroll, though now I know" growled Iruka, Mizuki let out a vicious laugh

"So pathetic Iruka, Naruto do you want to know why everyone hates you" chuckled Mizuki evilly, Naruto felt his eyes widen, a nod from him before he had even thought about it.

"No Mizuki its forbidden" yelled Iruka, Naruto looked to Iruka, Iruka felt his heart drop as Naruto's lost eyes found his, the silver seemed to be dull and metallic.

"What's the point of hiding it Iruka, look at his hair, it's becoming more and more like the beasts" laughed Mizuki; Iruka pulled out a kunai and shakily threw it at Mizuki who merely stepped out of the way.

"Mizuki, stop it's forbidden" growled Iruka, part of him realised he just didn't want Naruto to be hurt, and being told a secret as horrid as his, it would destroy him.

"Why Iruka, you hate him as much as I do, as much as the whole village" asked Mizuki curiously, Naruto scowled into the dirt

"What is forbidden, what about me" asked Naruto, Mizuki pointed a kunai towards Naruto.

"See Iruka, the brat is curious, well Naruto, let me regale you with a tale, twelve years ago the nine tailed fox attacked the village, the idiot of a fourth hokage tried to fight it..." Mizuki frowned slightly as Naruto levelled him with an ice cold glare, his silver eyes glowed blue slightly.