Chapter 5: The Schemer
Five days had passed, yet Naruto's agony felt never-ending. He hadn't spoken more than a few whispered words—"I'm sorry"—and even that had come out in a broken, raspy voice. His throat, damaged so badly, made every attempt to speak a painful struggle. Talking was nearly impossible, and the few words he did manage felt like they tore through him.
His memories were foggy, like pieces of a broken mirror, scattered and disjointed. He couldn't recall everything clearly, as if his mind was forcing him to forget what had happened. His fingers, once capable of creating quick hand signs, had been chopped off. His hands throbbed constantly, a dull, persistent ache that never left him.
His eyes, once filled with dreams of becoming Hokage, were now lifeless. They shed tears constantly, without him realizing, as though crying was the only thing left his body could do. He no longer saw the world—his eyes had healed, but they were just empty orbs now, useless and unresponsive. His hearing had improved slightly, but sounds were still distant, muffled. He could barely make out the conversations happening around him.
Another five days crawled by. Each moment dragged painfully. Time had lost all meaning, a blur of discomfort and confusion. He lay in the infirmary, aware of people moving around him, but their words rarely reached him. It was as though he were locked away in his own world of darkness and pain.
On the tenth day, a presence entered his room that felt different. It was commanding but not harsh. Naruto could barely make out the figure standing by his bedside, surrounded by others. The Third Hokage had come, his expression heavy with the burden of what was to come.
"Naruto Uzumaki," the Hokage spoke with quiet regret, his voice reaching Naruto's ears through the haze. "After much thought, it has been decided… you will be banished from the Hidden Leaf Village."
Naruto didn't respond. He remained motionless, numb. The words drifted over him, not sinking in at first. He didn't fully grasp their meaning. Banishment. He was being cast out. He was no longer welcome in the only home he had ever known.
The Third Hokage lingered for a moment, watching Naruto with sorrow. He wished things had been different, but the pressure from the village had become too great. He turned and left, along with the others, their footsteps fading into the distance. Naruto remained alone, his body still and his heart heavy.
Later that day, Mizuki entered Naruto's room, his voice cutting through the stillness. "Naruto…"
Naruto felt something stir inside him, like a jolt of electricity. A strange, tingling sensation spread through his body. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't comfortable either. His strength returned slightly, though his limbs refused to obey him. He couldn't move, but his awareness heightened.
Mizuki's voice carried a false warmth as he spoke again. "Naruto, why did you do it? Why did you kill Iruka-sensei?"
Naruto's heart clenched at Mizuki's words. The question confused him, sent him spiraling. He couldn't remember clearly what had happened, why everything had gone so wrong. His throat tightened, and he tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. It felt like the answers were buried too deep for him to reach.
Mizuki leaned closer, his voice dripping with a sinister undertone. "You must have had your reasons… You just can't remember, right?"
Naruto's mind was a whirl of fragmented memories and confusion. He couldn't make sense of it. He struggled to think, to remember what had happened. He didn't understand Mizuki's words, couldn't figure out what was real and what wasn't. After what felt like an eternity, he forced out a single sentence, though it was barely more than a hoarse whisper. "What are you… talking about? Wasn't it you… who told me to get the scroll?"
Mizuki's eyes narrowed for a brief moment, but he quickly recovered, his voice carrying a note of mock surprise. "What are you saying, Naruto? This is the first time I've spoken to you since the dog incident. Could it be… someone used the Transformation Jutsu?"
Naruto's mind reeled. Someone else? Could it have been a disguise? His heart pounded, confusion clouding his thoughts. No… no way…
The realization hit him like a wave crashing over him, making it hard to breathe. His voice shook as he tried to make sense of it all. "I did it for… someone else… and that person… killed Iruka-sensei…"
Tears began to stream down his face, his body trembling as he was flooded with memories—dark, twisted memories that had been locked away in his mind. He had been deceived, used by someone he trusted. His cries grew louder, his voice becoming clearer as his strength and hearing slowly returned. The pain, both physical and emotional, felt unbearable, as if he were being ripped apart from the inside.
His blurry vision slowly started to clear, revealing Mizuki standing over him. The figure seemed to shift, solidifying into something much darker. As Naruto's eyes adjusted, Mizuki's face came into focus—twisted into a wide, malicious smirk. Shadows cast across his features, making him look more like a monster than a man.
The smirk was all the confirmation Naruto needed. The truth hit him like a punch to the gut—Mizuki had done it. He had been the one behind everything. Mizuki's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, his silent confession speaking louder than words ever could. He thought that Naruto was blind, but that didn't seem to be the case, not anymore.
Naruto's body trembled, not from fear, but from the overwhelming realization that the man who had torn his world apart was standing right in front of him, mocking him. His breath caught in his throat.
It was at this moment that he decided, to act it out.
"I killed sensei… I… I deserve to be punished. I will leave the village tomorrow."
Mizuki leaned in closer, his voice dripping with mock sympathy as he gently tapped Naruto's back. "I'm sorry, Naruto," Mizuki said, his tone sickeningly sweet. "I couldn't protect you…"
Naruto shuddered at Mizuki's touch. His mind swirled with disgust and anger, a storm of emotions he couldn't fully comprehend. Those words—those false words—only deepened the bitter taste in his mouth. How could Mizuki, the one who had orchestrated this entire nightmare, claim to be sorry?
'No, I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei, for falling for such a cheap trick.'
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