Naruto Fanfic - Prisoner of Nightmare

Chapter Twenty-Four[XXIV]: Red Forest

   Uzukaze Naruto hopped through the thick trees of Aokigahara, the Fūin no Sho secured under his arm. He spread out his chakra thin enough to not be detected to find Uchiha and Haruno's location, finding them a few meters in front of him, near the middle of the forest, as Mizuki requested. He smiled as he felt traps hidden around the place, knowing very well that Mizuki wouldn't be expecting any resistance from the little display he put up.

   Making his presence known, Naruto jumped down from a tree and into the large clearing filled with traps, making sure to avoid triggering them. He let go of the scroll, resting it against his leg casually with his left hand placed on the top. Naruto looked back at Uchiha and Haruno, whispering to them, "He should be here any minute now, stay calm no matter what and hide your chakra. You two are about to witness something. . . not nice."

   He didn't wait for them to respond and turned back around, fingers tapping anxiously on the top of the scroll when he sensed Mizuki's chakra signature near. Naruto made his face carefully blank, mixing in a bit of fear, just enough to be noticed. He tensed his shoulders, legs shaking as Mizuki walked into the clearing, stopping just before the first trap.

   "You actually got the scroll," Mizuki sneered, "at least your good for something, Demon."

   "I-- I'm n-not a demon!" Naruto exclaimed, voice cracking with anger and terror. "I'm human! Just like you!"

   Mizuki gave a clipped laugh, a cruel grin coming to his face. "You are filth. You are nothing but a weakling, a waste of space! Do not fool yourself into thinking anything else, Brat."

   "But-- but--," Naruto pushed tears into the corner of his eyes. "I'm not giving you this scroll!" He shouted, clutching it against his body.

   "Yes, you are!" Mizuki snapped, stepping over the shinobi wire with a smirk. "And this pathetic attempt of a trap just made your remaining minutes all the more painful!"

   Naruto stood his ground, despite the shaking of his body. "N-No! I'm done being a punching bag! I won't let you hurt me again!"

   Mizuki closed the gap between them, a kunai stabbing into Naruto's left shoulder and causing him to cry out in pain, the scroll in his grasp falling out as he stumbled back. He sent a sharp look towards Haruno and Uchiha, sensing that they were either about to shout or jump in to help. "You and what army, Demon?"

   "Now!" Naruto snapped, a grin coming to his face as he heard the sound of wire being cut. Mizuki's eyes widened as two large logs were about to squish him, quickly jumping back to avoid it, thus setting off another trap. Kunai with explosive tags shot out from behind him, Mizuki jumping away but not being fast enough to dodge the explosion, the flames scorching his left side, burning his skin.

   "I'll get you for that, Bart!" Mizuki roared in a rage, sprinting forwards at Naruto.

   Naruto smiled and made a single hand-sign, mumbling a quick, "Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu¹²⁷." Mizuki faltered in his steps as the whole clearing filled with a hundred of Naruto's clones, matching smiles on each of their faces. "Get him!"

   Mizuki jumped away from the barrage, Naruto's clones pushing Mizuki back the way he came until he tripped the wire he previously stepped over. There was a loud curse as steel wires shoot out from the ground, wrapping him up to keep him from escaping again as another explosion rocked the ground, Mizuki yelling in pain.

   His clones dispelled from the force of the explosion, the clouds of smoke quickly dealt with a discrete fūton jutsu. Naruto stood from his previously downed position, the kunai still lodged into his shoulder. He heard rustling from behind him as Uchiha and Haruno exited but paid that no mind, walking over to the still conscious Mizuki with a mocking grin.