Naruto: The Medical God

The world slowed as the shuriken neared, its sharp edges gleaming menacingly in the moonlight. Naruto's wide eyes followed its deadly path, his heart pounding against his ribcage.

"Is this how I die?" his mind screamed, a whirlwind of fear and regret crashing over him. "Is this the pathetic way it ends? I wanted to become the strongest ninja to ever live…"

The shuriken's whistling grew louder, like the cruel laughter of fate mocking his dreams. "I wanted to become the Hok—"

Before he could finish the thought, a loud, sickening sound cut through the night—the unmistakable clash of metal tearing into flesh.

Naruto felt a sudden jolt as strong arms wrapped tightly around him, shielding him from the blade's deadly path. A warm, wet sensation seeped onto his shoulder, followed by the faint scent of iron.

"Iruka-sensei?" Naruto's voice wavered in disbelief as he stared into the pained face of his teacher. Iruka's body trembled slightly, but his grip on Naruto remained firm.

"I couldn't let you… die like this," Iruka managed, his voice strained but resolute.

Naruto's gaze dropped, horror flooding him as he noticed the shuriken embedded in Iruka's back, its vicious edges still trembling from the force of the throw.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto cried, his voice cracking as panic set in.

Iruka's breath came in shallow gasps, but his smile was soft, reassuring. "Naruto… I promised to protect you, didn't I?"

Mizuki's voice cut through the tense moment, his calm, mocking tone sending chills down Naruto's spine. "How touching. But a self-sacrificing gesture won't change anything."

Naruto's fists clenched, anger bubbling up to replace the fear that had paralyzed him moments ago. His chest burned with a mixture of rage and guilt as he glared at Mizuki, who stood casually in the clearing, his smirk unbothered by the scene before him.

"You… you did this!" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with fury.

Mizuki tilted his head, his blue eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. "I gave you a choice, Naruto. And this… was the result."

Iruka's grip on Naruto tightened. "Naruto… run. Get out of here, now!"

"But—" Naruto began, his voice breaking.

"No buts!" Iruka snapped, his usual gentle tone replaced by an authoritative command. "You have to go! I'll hold him off!"

Naruto shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "I can't just leave you here in your conditions, Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka coughed, wincing from the pain but managing to smile faintly. "You can… and you will. That's what being a ninja is sometimes. Trust me, Naruto."

Mizuki sighed, stepping closer. "How noble. But you're only delaying the inevitable. Hand over the scroll, and maybe I'll-"

His words were cut off ad four kunai zipped through the air, slicing toward him with precision. Mizuki's sharp reflexes saved him; he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the projectiles as they embedded themselves in the tree behind him.

"Who–?" Mizuki growled, his blue eyes snapping toward the source of the attack.

From the shadows, a figure emerged, stepping into the clearing with deliberate confidence. The glint of a newly earned Konoha headband reflected to the moonlight, and the young ninja's determined gaze burned like fire.

"Shin!" Naruto gasped, a mix of relief and bisbelief flooding his voice.

Shin Hamada stood tall, his stance firm and resolute. His emerald eyes darted briefly to Iruka, taking in the blood staining his back, before locking onto Mizuki with an icy glare. "Enough of this," Shin said coldly. "You're not laying another hand on him."

Mizuki's smirk returned, though his stance shifted slightly, his muscle tensening. "Well, isn't this a surprise? The Ashen Blade's son, one of the academy prodigies, out to play the hero. How quaint."

Shin's expression didn't waver. "You sure talk a lot for someone who just dodged death."

Mizuki chuckled, his amusement tinged with genuine curiosity . "Brave words for a rookie. Do you even know what you're up against?"

Shin reached into his pouch, pulling out a kunai, the moonlight glinting off its sharp edges. "Why don't you find out?"

Naruto, still clutching the Scroll of Seals and trembling with emotion, stared at Shin in awe. "Shin... what are you doing here?"

Shin's voice softened slightly as he glanced at his friend. "Looking for you, idiot. You think I'd let you handle this mess alone?"

Mizuki's grin widened, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of annoyance. "Touching. But two children won't change the outcome. Hand over the scroll, or I'll make sure none of you leave this forest alive."

Shin's hand tensed around the kunai. "Try me—"

"Shin, stop!" Iruka's voice rang out, hoarse but commanding, cutting through the tense standoff. His body trembled as he pushed himself upright with all the strength he could muster, the massive shuriken still embedded in his back. Blood soaked through his vest, dripping onto the forest floor.

Shin's emerald eyes darted to Iruka, his resolve faltering slightly at the desperation in his teacher's voice.

"You're not a match for Mizuki!" Iruka gasped, his breath ragged as fresh pain radiated through his body. "You'll only die!"

"I can't let you!" Iruka continued, his voice straining with emotion. "I couldn't forgive myself if I let you die too!"

For a moment, the clearing was silent except for the rustling of leaves in the night breeze. Shin's grip on the kunai tightened, the weight of Iruka's plea settling heavily on his shoulders.

Mizuki chuckled, though his tone carried an edge of irritation. "Always so stubborn, Iruka. Always preaching about the will of fire, about protecting others. But look at you now—bleeding out, clinging to ideals that won't save anyone. And this brat?" He gestured dismissively at Shin. "What does he think he can do against me? You're all just clinging to a fool's hope."

Shin turned back to Mizuki, his eyes burning with determination despite the turmoil in his heart. "I'm not clinging to hope," he said firmly, his voice steady. "But I'm not standing by while someone like you betrays everything Konoha stands for."

Iruka tried to protest, but his strength failed him, and he slumped against the tree. "Shin..." he whispered weakly, his voice trailing off.

Mizuki's smirk widened, his muscles tensing in anticipation. "Still trying to play the hero, huh? You're just a kid. You don't understand what it takes to survive in this world."

Shin's emerald eyes glinted with resolve as he turned toward Naruto. "Naruto, take Iruka-sensei and run!" he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Naruto hesitated, clutching the Scroll of Seals tightly. "But Shin, you can't—"

"Go!" Shin barked, his voice cutting through Naruto's protests. "I can hold him off! Don't waste time!"

Naruto looked at Iruka's weakened form, then back at Shin, his heart torn. "You better not die, Shin!" he shouted, tears brimming in his eyes as he moved to help Iruka.

The moonlight glinted off Shin's kunai as he turned to face Mizuki once more, the tension in the clearing thick enough to cut with a blade. "It's just you and me now."

Mizuki's smirk deepened, his blue eyes gleaming with a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Fine, Shin. Let's see if you're as brave as you pretend to be."

To be continued...

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