Н‘¾Ð‘¯Ð‘¬Ð‘Μ Ð‘»Ð‘¯Ð‘¬ Н‘¾Ð‘°Ð‘Μ𝑫 Н‘©Ð‘³Ð‘¶Ð‘¾Ð‘º €¢Ð’Ƒ𝒙Н’Ƒ• Truth uncovered

Time passed, night feel, but there was no trace of Naruto and Akashi was growing restless. Where is he? Just as Akashi was about to leave for home, he saw Iruka quickly jumping from tree to tree, with a worried expression. Huh? Deciding to follow him, he quietly trails after him, easily keeping up. After a while of following Iruka, they reached the woods.

Quickly hiding behind a tree, Akashi observed Iruka. Is that…Naruto? Naruto was on the ground with a huge scroll on his back. Iruka started lecturing Naruto, but Akashi couldn’t quite hear because he was far away. Out of nowhere, a feeling washed over Akashi. Someone is here. A moment later, a flurry of kunai was sent towards Naruto and Iruka.

Iruka, sensing it, albeit a little too late, pushed Naruto away and was hit with a few of them. Looking at the direction from which the kunai came, Akashi saw Mizuki. What? “Naruto, hand over he scroll”. Mizuki called out from atop the tree. Iruka grabbed the kunai in his leg and ripped it out. “Naruto, don’t let Mizuki get a hold of the scroll, there are forbidden techniques inside, he used you to get them!”

Mizuki laughed. “Naruto, Iruka is afraid of you possessing that”. Naruto’s eyes widen and he lets out a confused ‘huh’? Akashi was still crouching behind the tree, trying to connect the dots. “What are you saying, Mizuki!?” An outraged Iruka yelled out. “Don’t believe him Naruto!” He pleaded, turning towards Naruto. Mizuki let out another laugh. “I will tell you the truth!” Akashi’s brows furrow. Truth? What truth?

Iruka’s whole expression shifts. “Don’t!” Mizuki continued. “A rule was created after the incident that occurred 12 years ago”. Akashi’s eyes widen. 12 years ago? When we were born? “A rule that only you, Naruto, and Akashi cannot find about”. Naruto takes a step back. “Akashi and me? What rule?” Iruka tried to move. “Stop it, Mizuki!” But nothing he said seemed to stop Mizuki.

“It’s the rule not to say that Naruto and Akashi are monster foxes”. Akashi stood up and took a step back in confusion. His breathing accelerated and his heartbeat erratic. “In other words, you and Akashi are the demon foxes that killed Iruka’s parents 12 years ago and destroyed our village!” Once Mizuki uttered those words, Akashi’s world stopped and his anger grew. So that’s why the villagers always shunned us, why they hated us? Getting fed up with Mizuki, Akashi walked out of his hiding spot.

Iruka was the first to notice him. “Akashi!” He yelled out in surprise. Naruto, hearing his brothers name, turned around to face him. “Ah, how perfect! Both of them are here!” Mizuki exclaimed in glee. “That’s why everyone hates you!” Mizuki picked up a huge shuriken and threw it at Naruto. “Naruto! Duck!” Both Akashi and Iruka yelled at the same time and dashed towards Naruto, but Akashi was too far away.

Just as the shuriken was about to hit Naruto, Iruka jumped in front of him and shielded him from it, in return he got hit with it. “Naruto, I don’t hate you or Akashi, don’t worry, after all you went through, you were lonely right?” Iruka said from above Naruto. Before Naruto could answer, Mizuki interrupted them.

“Don’t make me laugh, Iruka, we both know you hate them!”. Hearing this, Naruto quickly ran away and Mizuki ran after him. Akashi was left with a wounded Iruka. “We need to go after them!” Iruka exclaimed. Akashi stayed quiet and walked over to Iruka. “Iruka-sensei”. Hearing his name called, Iruka turned towards Akashi and what he saw sent a chill down his spine. Akashi was staring at Iruka, his eyes glazed over and no expression on his face.

“Is it true?” Akashi asked, his tone flat. Iruka couldn’t do anything except nod in sorrow. That was all it took for Akashi. He let out a humorless chuckle and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Iruka quickly went after Mizuki.

_

After a while of tracking down Naruto, Akashi finally found him. He was leaning on a tree with Iruka in front of him. Before he could talk with Naruto, Naruto turned into Iruka and Iruka turned into Mizuki. Then…where is Naruto? “There’s no way Naruto, the monster fox, won’t use the scroll for his own purpose”. Mizuki declared. Iruka nodded. “That’s right, if he was the demon fox, but Naruto is different, he is my student, he is hardworking and clumsy and he knows the pain of others”. He stopped. “He is not the monster fox, he is Uzumaki Naruto of Konoha”.

Mizuki looked annoyed and charged at Iruka with the giant shuriken. Just as he was about to hit him, Naruto appeared and kicked Mizuki away. Seeing as this was his chance to group up with Naruto, Akashi jumped out of his hiding spot and appeared next to Naruto. “Akashi!” Naruto exclaimed in surprise. Akashi clasped Naruto on the shoulder. “Sorry I’m late”.

“You stupid kids!” Mizuki yelled a few meters away from us. “I will finish you in a flash!” He got into position. Naruto did a hand sign. “We’ll do a thousand more damage back to you!” Naruto yelled out and a hundred Naruto’s appeared all around us. Akashi’s eyes widened in awe and he looked at his brother. Guess you won’t need my protection anymore, huh? You’re strong now Naruto. “I leave this to you, little brother”. Akashi patted Naruto on the shoulder and went to Iruka.

Naruto’s clones attacked Mizuki and Akashi crouched down next to Iruka. “What..?” Iruka trailed off when Akashi reached his arms to Iruka’s wound. “I should be able to at least stop the bleeding, stay still”. Akashi commanded. He knows how to heal? He’s really advanced. Akashi concentrated on his chakra and after a moment, a soft green glow emitted from his hands. Soon after that, the bleeding stopped. “I’m not yet great at this, so bear with it until you get to the hospital, sensei”. Akashi stood up.

“Thank you, Akashi”. Iruka thanked him sincerely. Naruto defeated Mizuki and went to Iruka and Akashi. “I think I went overboard”. He sheepishly smiled and scratched his head. Iruka smiled and stood up, walking over to Naruto. He quickly untied his own forehead protector and tied it around Naruto’s forehead.

“I will treat you guys to ramen, okay?” Naruto jumped at Iruka knocking him down. Akashi’s eyes widened. “Naruto! I just closed up his wounds! Be careful!” Akashi scolded, but after noticing that Naruto was crying, his expression softened and he joined them in the hug.