Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Chasing the Moonlight
Night had fully fallen over the village, its streets bathed in a dim, silvery glow from the moon above. Shin Hamada moved with purpose through the quiet alleys, his keen eyes scanning every shadow and corner. Frustration gnawed at him; he'd been searching for Naruto all day, yet the hyperactive blonde was nowhere to be found.
Shin's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. Turning his head, he saw Iruka Umino sprinting across the main road, his face tense and focused.
"Iruka-sensei!" Shin called out, his voice urgent.
Iruka skidded to a stop, his eyes darting toward the voice. When he spotted Shin, a flicker of recognition softened his features, but his expression quickly returned to one of urgency.
Shin ran up to him, slightly out of breath. "Iruka-sensei, do you know where Naruto is? I've been searching for him the entire day."
Iruka's lips parted, but he hesitated. His gaze flickered away from Shin, his hands clenching into fists. "Shin… it's… complicated," he finally said, his tone evasive.
"Complicated?" Shin repeated, his frown deepening. "What does that mean? Did something happen to Naruto?"
Iruka hesitated again, his brow furrowed as if wrestling with himself. "It's not safe for you to be out here this late," he said instead, sidestepping the question. "You should head home."
Shin's frustration bubbled over. "Iruka-sensei, please! If you know something, tell me!"
Iruka looked at him, his expression softening briefly before hardening again. He seemed to be debating with himself, his eyes darting to the forest in the distance and back to Shin. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Shin… Naruto's in trouble," he said carefully, his voice low.
Shin's heart skipped a beat. "Trouble? What kind of trouble?"
Iruka hesitated yet again, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced around as if ensuring they were alone before finally meeting Shin's eyes. "He's… he's taken something he shouldn't have," Iruka admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Shin blinked in confusion. "Taken something? Like what?"
Iruka took a deep breath, his shoulders tensing. "The Scroll of Seals," he said quietly.
Shin's eyes widened in shock. "What? Naruto? That doesn't make any sense! Why would he do that?"
"I don't know," Iruka admitted, his voice tinged with frustration and worry. "Mitsuki came to the Hokage earlier tonight. He said he saw Naruto running off with the scroll."
Shin's frown deepened. "Mitsuki-sensei said that? But… why would Naruto steal the Scroll of Seals? That's not like him at all!"
Iruka sighed, his expression conflicted. "I didn't want to believe it either, Shin. But the evidence points to him. If Mitsuki's right, Naruto could be in serious danger—not just from the scroll, but from the people who might try to use him."
Shin's fists clenched at his sides. "If Mitsuki saw Naruto, why didn't he stop him? Why go to the Hokage instead?"
Iruka hesitated, the question catching him off guard. "I… don't know," he admitted. "But that doesn't matter right now. The important thing is finding Naruto before anyone else does."
"Do you know where he is?" Shin asked, his voice tight with urgency.
Iruka nodded toward the eastern forest. "Someone reported seeing him heading that way. That's where I'm going now."
"Then I'm coming with you," Shin said firmly.
Iruka blinked, surprised by the conviction in Shin's voice. "Shin, this could be dangerous. If you come—"
"I don't care," Shin interrupted, his eyes blazing with determination. "Naruto's my friend. I'm not just going to sit back while he's out there, alone and in trouble."
Iruka blinked, startled by the intensity of Shin's words. A small smile tugged at his lips despite the gravity of the situation. So Naruto does have friends then… For all the pranks and trouble Naruto caused, it warmed Iruka's heart to see someone care for him so deeply.
"All right. Let's go."
The two took off at a sprint toward the forest, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night. Shin's mind whirled as they ran, his frustration mixing with worry.
Naruto, what are you doing out there?
...
Naruto sprinted through the dense forest, the weight of the Scroll of Seals on his back slowing him down. The moonlight barely pierced through the canopy, casting long, shifting shadows that made the trees feel alive. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and his heart pounded like a drumbeat in his ears.
Behind him, the forest was eerily silent—no sounds of pursuit, no crunch of leaves or snapping twigs. Yet Naruto could feel Mitsuki's presence, a cold pressure at the back of his neck that spurred him to run faster.
"I can't let him catch me," Naruto muttered under his breath, gripping the scroll tightly.
He glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see Mitsuki emerging from the shadows. But the forest remained empty.
Or so it seemed.
A sudden gust of wind slammed into Naruto's side, knocking him off his feet. He tumbled to the ground, rolling over dry leaves and dirt until he slammed into a tree. Groaning, he tried to push himself up, but the weight of the scroll made it difficult.
"You're quick, Naruto," Mitsuki's voice called out from the darkness, calm and measured. "But you can't outrun me."
Naruto's eyes darted around, searching for Mitsuki. The man seemed to melt into the shadows, his silver hair occasionally catching the moonlight as he circled like a predator.
"I don't get it!" Naruto shouted, his voice cracking with frustration. "Why are you doing this? You said I could use the scroll!"
Mitsuki's footsteps were soft, almost ghostly, as he stepped into the clearing. His amber eyes glinted with something cold and calculating. "I did say that. But you've served your purpose, Naruto. Now, hand over the scroll, and no one has to get hurt."
Naruto's fists clenched, anger bubbling in his chest. "No! This is my chance to get stronger! To prove everyone wrong!"
Mitsuki sighed, shaking his head. "You're stubborn. I admire that about you. But this isn't a game, Naruto." His hands moved in a blur, forming seals faster than Naruto could follow. "Wind Style: Gale Palm!"
A powerful gust of wind roared toward Naruto, uprooting leaves and sending a wave of debris crashing into him. He barely had time to react, throwing himself to the ground to avoid the brunt of the attack. The force of the wind still sent him skidding across the forest floor, dirt and rocks scraping his skin.
Naruto struggled to his feet, clutching the Scroll of Seals tightly against his chest. His eyes darted around the clearing, searching for any way to escape. Mitsuki stood a short distance away, his calm demeanor masking the growing menace in his gaze.
"Naruto," Mitsuki said, his voice low and cold, "give me the scroll... This is your last warning."
"No!" Naruto shouted back, his voice cracking with defiance. Despite the ache in his limbs and the fear gnawing at his resolve, he refused to back down. "I won't ever give the scroll to you!"
Mitsuki's amber eyes narrowed, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Stubborn as always. Fine, Naruto... you wanted this."
He raised his hands, his fingers forming a rapid sequence of seals. In a flash of light, a massive shuriken materialized in his grip, its razor-sharp edges gleaming menacingly under the pale moonlight.
Naruto's eyes widened as Mitsuki hefted the weapon, his movements precise and deliberate. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, and for the first time, genuine fear flashed across his face.
Mitsuki's smirk deepened as he brought the shuriken up, aiming directly at Naruto. "You should've listened. I was trying to be reasonable."
With a powerful motion, Mitsuki hurled the giant shuriken straight at Naruto. The weapon spun through the air, whistling as it closed the distance in an instant.
Naruto's mind screamed at him to move, but his body refused to respond. He stood frozen in place, his muscles locked with fear as the spinning blade bore down on him.
The moonlight caught the edges of the shuriken, its metallic sheen flashing like a deadly promise.
And then, everything seemed to slow as the shuriken came closer and closer…
To be continued...
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How was this chapter, guys? Yeah, I've changed the Naruto and Mitsuki arc a little bit, wanted to keep a bit of originality, hope you liked it!
And happy New Year to all of you!