Mizuki's body began to change.
His skin rippled unnaturally, as if something inside was trying to break free. His veins bulged, and his muscles swelled grotesquely.
"Hahahaha… POWER! I can feel it flowing through me!"
Mizuki threw his head back and laughed, clenching his fists. His knuckles cracked like snapping twigs.
His transformation accelerated.
His already muscular frame expanded further, stretching his clothes to the limit. His height surged past two meters, his upper body ripping free from his shredded vest.
Dark yellow and black fur sprouted across his arms and chest. His biceps bulged unnaturally, thick as tree trunks. His face twisted into something primal, bestial.
He looked like a tiger in human form.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Tch. That's the failed mutation serum Orochimaru left behind… And this idiot actually thought it was a power boost?"
A smirk formed on Naruto's lips. "Well, that just means you're already dead, Mizuki."
Mizuki's wild gaze snapped to Naruto.
"DIE, NARUTO!!"
BOOM!
With a thunderous step, Mizuki vanished into a blur—then reappeared in front of a group of Naruto's clones.
BANG!
A single punch obliterated a clone, sending a shockwave through the trees.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
One by one, clones popped into smoke as Mizuki rampaged through them like a tiger among sheep. His fists tore through the battlefield, unstoppable.
---
High above, hidden in the trees, two ANBU operatives watched.
The tiger-masked ANBU tensed. "What the hell did Mizuki just take? His strength jumped several levels."
The bear-masked ANBU narrowed his eyes. "I don't know… But at this rate, Naruto's in real danger. Should we intervene?"
A pause.
"…Not yet. Keep watching."
---
Mizuki grinned wildly, standing amidst a pile of smoke where Naruto's clones had once been.
"Hahaha! What's wrong, Naruto?! You were acting tough before! Fight me head-on!"
His body pulsed with unnatural energy, making him feel invincible.
Naruto exhaled through his nose. His blue eyes sharpened.
"Originally, I wanted to let you destroy yourself."
He cracked his knuckles.
"But you're getting a little too cocky, Mizuki. And that pisses me off."
A low hum built up around Naruto's body. His muscles tightened. His chakra flared.
Then—
"Eight Gates Release… First Gate: Open!"
A rush of energy surged through Naruto's veins. His body felt lighter. Faster. Stronger.
"Second Gate: Heal! Third Gate: Life!"
A violent gust of wind exploded outward as his power skyrocketed. The air hummed with sheer force. His orange jumpsuit rippled, and his golden hair stood on end.
A dark green aura ignited around him like a raging storm.
Mizuki's grin vanished.
"N-NANI!?"
High above, the two ANBU operatives recoiled.
"Naruto… unlocked the Eight Gates?!"**
The tiger-masked ANBU removed his mask, stunned.
"But that's impossible! The Eight Gates require extreme physical training just to survive them!"
The bear-masked ANBU swallowed hard. "And yet… Naruto just activated the third gate as if it was nothing… He's a monster."
---
On the battlefield, Mizuki charged.
BOOM!
He lunged at Naruto, his clawed hands swinging forward.
But this time—
Naruto vanished.
Mizuki's claws slashed air.
"W-What!?"
Then—
A fist slammed into his gut.
BAM!
Mizuki's eyes bulged. The force lifted him off the ground.
BOOM!
He crashed into a tree, coughing up spit. His body throbbed in agony.
He had never felt a punch that strong.
Naruto grinned, cracking his neck. "What's wrong? Weren't you calling me weak?"
Mizuki staggered to his feet, panting heavily. His body screamed in pain.
"Tch… HOW?! HOW ARE YOU THIS STRONG!?"
Naruto's smirk deepened. "Let me show you true power."
His muscles tensed.
"Eight Gates, Third Gate… FULL RELEASE!"
The ground beneath him shattered. The sheer force shook the trees.
Naruto disappeared.
---
Mizuki blinked—then Naruto reappeared in front of him.
Too fast to react.
BOOM!
A crushing uppercut launched Mizuki skyward.
His massive body flew ten meters into the air—
Only for Naruto to reappear above him.
Naruto's eyes burned.
"This next hit… ends it."
He reached into his pouch, grabbing three kunai.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The kunai whistled through the air, flying straight at Mizuki.
Mizuki twisted in midair, sneering. "Tch! You think I'll fall for—"
SHWIP!
Naruto vanished.
Mizuki's eyes widened.
A flash of yellow light appeared beside him.
"Flying Thunder God."
Naruto materialized right next to Mizuki—midair.
His fist cocked back.
Mizuki's face turned pale.
BOOM!!!
Naruto's punch collided with Mizuki's skull.
A shockwave burst through the forest as Mizuki's body rocketed toward the ground.
CRASH!!
A deep crater formed upon impact.
Dust and debris billowed into the sky.
When the smoke cleared, Mizuki lay unconscious, half-buried in the earth. His mutated form faded, the serum's effects collapsing under the overwhelming damage.
---
Naruto exhaled, standing at the edge of the crater.
"…That's what you get for pissing me off."
His muscles ached, his breath was heavy. His body was pushing its limits.
But the power…
This power… was just the beginning.
---
Above, the ANBU agents exchanged a look.
"…We need to report this to the Hokage immediately."
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