"Pathetic," I scoffed, my voice devoid of emotion. "I haven't even bothered with my Sharingan. You're weak, and weakness… disgusts me."
Mizuki, enraged, snarled, "Damn you! You Uchihas think you're invincible, looking down on everyone. I'll show you!"
Mizuki- Earth Style Great Mud River!
With a dramatic gesture, the ground below my feet turned into Mud and trapped my legs.
I remained unfazed, my expression as impassive as ever. Mizuki, anticipating a show of fear or panic, was met with unsettling calm. Frustrated, Mizuki launched his next attack.
Mizuki- Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!
A menacing, dragon-shaped construct of mud materialized beside him, its maw opening to unleash a barrage of mud balls aimed at me.
Sasuke- Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire!
A torrent of flames erupted from my mouth, forming a fearsome dragon-shaped inferno aimed towards Dragon-like head made up of mud, swallowing Mud balls in the process. The two elemental attacks collided in a spectacular explosion.
Mizuki jumped to avoid getting caught in the explosion. Seizing the opportunity I also use Body Flicker to get out of mud river.
As the dust settled, I found himself trapped and sinking in a quagmire.
"He really used Genjutsu on me? Hn. RELEASE!" I grunted, activating the countermeasure.
With a focused command, I dispelled the genjutsu, revealing a multitude of Mizuki clones surrounding me.
I launched a barrage of shuriken at the clones, but the projectiles passed harmlessly through them. "As expected," I murmured, recognizing the jutsu. "It's 'Earth Style: Underground Projection Fish Technique.' ...In that case-"
Sasuke- Earth Style: Rupturing Earth Palm!
With a swift motion, I knelt and plunged my lightning-coated katana into the ground. The earth beneath me shattered with additional effect of lightning running through them and real Mizuki, dispersing the clones and sending the real Mizuki flying backward, his body slamming into a nearby tree. The additional effect of lightning impact shattered the rock armor protecting Mizuki's right arm.
I raised an eyebrow at the sight, "Probably would have used Fist Rock Technique." I mused aloud.
Mizuki, battered and bruised, glared at me with a mixture of hatred and despair.
"Ready to give up yet?" I asked, my voice devoid of emotion.
Mizuki, his body trembling with exertion, mustered a final defiance. "Never! Not when I'm so close." With a determined look, he unleashed his next attack.
Mizuki- Earth Style: Stone Pistol Jutsu!
Bullet-sized rocks erupted from his mouth, hurtling towards me with deadly intent.
Seeing this, I just sighed, a hint of disappointment crossing my features, and move my blade forward.
I could probably kill him but then there will be no proof that he used Naruto and then Naruto would end up in jail and from there straight in the hands of root.
As the rocks neared, my katana erupted in a brilliant light. Everyone who was watching even the third Hokage widen their eyes in surprise. I smirked.
Sasuke- Uchiha Reflection!
The attack was absorbed, then redirected towards Mizuki in a forceful gust of wind, inflicting multiple cuts upon the chunin. Mizuki's screams echoed through the forest as he crumpled to the ground, his body bearing the brunt of the reflected attack.
Mizuki lay defeated on the forest floor, his body a patchwork of cuts and burns. I sheathed my katana and turned his attention back to Naruto and Iruka.Enraged, Mizuki snarled, "How dare you mock me?!" He reached for a kunai, a desperate attempt to regain the upper hand.I intercepted his movement with a calm response, "It would be a shame for me if I still have to continue fighting you when you're in this state. ...You know what, Naruto why don't you finish him? After all he fooled you to get what he wanted."
Naruto, taken aback by Sasuke's unexpected suggestion, grinned. "You bet I will. Now see what I can do!"
Naruto- Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!
With a dramatic flourish, he performed the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating 1000 clones that swarmed Mizuki.Overwhelmed by the sheer number of opponents, Mizuki was quickly overwhelmed. His resistance crumbled, and he collapsed to the ground, defeated and unconscious.Naruto, catching his breath, scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Heh, looks like I got carried away," he admitted.I offered a curt nod, "Good job."Naruto returned a hesitant smile, "Thanks, I guess."I retrieved the scroll, my expression remaining impassive. "You two catch up. I'll take this to the Hokage," I stated, my tone leaving no room for argument.Iruka opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by Sasuke's gesture towards the unconscious Mizuki, who was being tended to by an ANBU."No need to worry. I have ANBU with me," I clarified.Relieved, Iruka nodded, "Thanks for your help, Sasuke."I offered a curt acknowledgment, "Hn. And Naruto, congratulations." With that, I vanished into the forest, accompanied by the ANBU.Naruto, puzzled by Sasuke's sudden departure and cryptic congratulations, turned to Iruka. "Huh? Iruka Sensei, why did he congratulate me?"Iruka smiled knowingly, "You really want to know? Then close your eyes," he said.Naruto, eager for an explanation, complied. After a moment, Iruka instructed, "Now you can open your eyes."Naruto opened his eyes, his mind racing. He touched his forehead to confirm his thoughts. A moment later, a look of realization dawned on his face. "I passed?!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief and joy.Iruka chuckled, "Congrats! You graduate. Now to celebrate this, let's go out for ramen."Overwhelmed with happiness, Naruto jumped on Iruka in a celebratory hug.Outside the Hokage's office, a group of shinobi and police force members anxiously awaited news. "Did you guys find Naruto?" one shinobi asked, their voices filled with concern."Not yet!" another replied, their worry evident. "This is awful! What are we going to do? He could be miles away by now!"As tension mounted, the Third Hokage emerged from the building."We have nothing to fear," he assured the gathered crowd. "Someone framed Naruto with a transformation jutsu. Sasuke Uchiha has apprehended the culprit." A wave of relief washed over the assembled individuals, and member of police force were proud that there chief caught the culprit.With a gesture, the Hokage dismissed the crowd.
After some time, Sasuke and Anbu arrived in the Hokage's office with the scroll.
Sasuke handed the scroll to Third Hokage.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, "Where is Mizuki?"I replied, "Right, you didn't know yet. Since I have graduated now, I have become vice captain of the police force. I put him in the jail on my way here."The Hokage nodded. "Well done, Sasuke. Thank you for your help."I responded with a curt, "No need to thank me. But if you really want to express your gratitude, perhaps a note in my ninja records acknowledging my role in stopping an S-rank threat would suffice. After all, I am a ninja now. There shouldn't be any problem, right?"Hiruzen started at Sasuke with a serious gaze.
Hiruzen considered the request for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Of course, Sasuke. There's no problem with that."I offered a brief nod in acknowledgment. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave.""Certainly," the Hokage replied. "Cat, your mission is complete. Stay here and submit your report. As for you, Sasuke, you are dismissed.""Hn."With that, I turned and left the Hokage's office.Hiruzen, examining the recovered scroll. "Your previous report doesn't include that Katana." he remarked, turning to Cat.
The ANBU responded, "He acquired it today as a graduation gift. It's a chakra blade capable of repelling ninjutsu by converting them into wind-style attacks."Intrigued, Hiruzen pressed for more information. "Any weaknesses?"Cat replied thoughtfully, "Nothing extraordinary. A skilled kenjutsu user could potentially counter it without resorting to ninjutsu."Hiruzen nodded, "Hmm, what about..."
A series of questions followed, culminating in a crucial inquiry. "Do you believe he is loyal to the village?"
The whole time anbu's thought were all over the place. The way Hokage is taking the report is the same way an anbu reports about an enemy who may get eliminated given the circumstances. And now this. She had known the attack which happened 5 years ago was lead by roots. She had seen their seal, even reported to hokage about it. After that event root didn't attack but they followed Sasuke everywhere. She reported that also but nothing happened. Even before the massacre, anbus were made to watch uchihas, but nothing out of ordinary came out in report. Why all this look like pre planned?
She maintained her composure, replying, "Yes, Lord Hokage. I believe he is loyal."
Hiruzen's next question caused a flicker of surprise in Cat's eyes hidden behind the mask. "Have you seen him use a Sharingan with a different pattern?"
She was sure Lord Hokage was talking about Mangekyo.
Cat carefully considered her response. "I only saw what previous uchiha possesses. Nothing unique except that." she answered truthfully.
Maybe she will give the clear answer tomorrow if asked, when her mission was over. But not now.
Hiruzen nodded, his mind racing. "Your mission is complete. Your permit to enter the uchiha district also became invalid from tomorrow. Collect your belongings from the Uchiha district and report back for duty in two days. Dismissed!"
As Cat departed, Danzo entered the Hokage's office.
"Does the report align with yours?" Hiruzen inquired.
Danzo replied tersely, "Yes."Hiruzen, sensing the underlying tension, issued a stern warning. "I hope that clears your doubt. And from now on, your ANBU are forbidden from following Sasuke Uchiha. I hope your hokage's words seriously. Unless of course, you has someone who can kill Itachi."Danzo's jaw clenched, but he nodded in agreement. "I will keep that in mind." he replied, his tone filled with suppressed anger.In uchiha mansion, Sasuke was in his room with ninneko Denka.
"Denka, please provide the report," I instructed.The feline companion responded, "Certainly, Lord Sasuke, Nya. Your private force has been fully trained in basics from Uchiha standards. And the uchiha who were being trained to awake the sharingan has awakened the bloodline and out of them 4 are showing potential for higher level but on your orders we have stopped going any further and let them develop naturally. Additionally We have also identify some root members who were living as civilians. And we have successfully spread the rumor that the man who attacked the leaf 12 years ago was rouge and had stolen the sharingan. Other rumor about Konoha elder Danzo stopping uchiha clan during nine tails attack which led to the cause of death of Fourth has been successfully circulated. Some other rumors like these has also been circulated and one of them is that no one attended uchiha clan funeral. Now people are filled with regret that they falsely accused uchiha when they were innocent. And the people are starting to hate elder Danzo to the extent of making their own rumor of elder Danzo hating on uchiha. And from tomorrow four ninneko will always follow you outside the district while hiding themselves for your safety."I was pleased with hearing all this. I was going to rest but Denka stopped me.
Denka suggested, "Lord Sasuke, why don't you visit the Uchiha cemetery right now? You have graduated today and it's been months since you visited, Nya!"
"Hn."
"Oh and you might witness something out of ordinary there. By the way, none of us have cleaned the uchiha cemetery for months. Nya!" Denka added, a hint of intrigue in her voice.
A frown crept across my face.
Arriving at the Uchiha cemetery, I was met with a sight which made me surprised and a little emotional. Denka said that this placed has not been cleaned. But it's very cleaned. Not just that, every tomb have some fresh flowers on them. Some even have offerings. People really started visiting here after the rumors.
Kneeling before each tombstone, I offered silent prayers for the departed.
Finally done with prayers, I spend the night besides my mother's final resting place.
(Done! Have a great Day/Night.)