Naruto: The Medical God

Naruto sprinted through the dense forest, his breaths ragged but determined. He held Iruka up with one arm, the older man leaning heavily on him, his face pale and pained, the massive shuriken still embedded into his back, each jolt of movement eliciting a faint groan of pain from him. In Naruto's other hand, the Scroll of Seals bounced slightly with each hurried step, its weight both physical and symbolic.

"Iruka-sensei, hang in there!" Naruto urged, his voice filled with desperation.

Iruka groaned softly, his body slumping more against Naruto. Despite the pain etched across his face, he mustered the strength to speak, his voice faint but firm. "Naruto... let me here—"

"No, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto cut him off, his voice trembling with emotion. "Don't even say it! There's no chance I'm letting you stay here!"

"But Naruto—" Iruka tried again, his tone pleading.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto interrupted once more, his pace quickening as his grip on Iruka tightened. "I'm not gonna let you die—"

Before Naruto could finish his sentence, the ground beneath them began to tremble violently. A low, ominous rumble echoed through the forest, shaking the trees and causing leaves to rain down around them.

Naruto stumbled, his footing briefly faltering as the earth quaked under their feet. His eyes widened in alarm, and he instinctively pulled Iruka closer to steady him.

"What the hell?!" Naruto exclaimed, his voice a mix of confusion and panic.

His heart pounded in his chest, the eerie silence amplifying the weight of the situation.

Iruka, his voice weak but steady, broke the tension. "This is an Earth Release Jutsu... this is Mizuki..."

Naruto's breath hitched, and his hands began to tremble as they clenched the Scroll of Seals tighter. A single name escaped his lips, barely above a whisper. "Shin..."

His thoughts spiraled, the realization crashing over him like a tidal wave. I've let him alone... I've let him fight someone so strong alone... His hands clenched the scroll even tighter, his knuckles turning white.

"What kind of friend am I?" Naruto muttered bitterly, his voice shaking with guilt and frustration. "What kind of person lets his friends die?!"

Iruka, still leaning against him, caught the growing desperation in Naruto's voice. He turned his head, his own pain momentarily forgotten as he fixed Naruto with a sharp, determined gaze. "Naruto..." he said, his voice hoarse but resolute. "Let me here and go ask for help—"

But Naruto shook his head violently, cutting him off. "Iruka-sensei, I—"

This time, it was Iruka who interrupted, using every ounce of strength left in his broken body to grab Naruto's arm. "Naruto!" he shouted, his voice louder than Naruto had heard it since the fight began. "If you don't let me here, you won't be able to ask for help in time, and Shin will die!"

Iruka's words struck Naruto like a hammer, each syllable driving deeper into his chest. His knees nearly buckled under the weight of it.

Shin will die?

Why? Why do I have always to be protected from him? Why can't I ever do anything on my own? Why?

In that moment, Naruto's thoughts sharpened with a clarity that was as painful as it was undeniable. The answer loomed over him, undeniable and cold.

Right... it's because I'm weak...

His fists trembled, his gaze dropping to the ground as Iruka's words echoed in his mind. The realization burned into him like a searing brand, and for the first time, he truly understood.

In this world... only the strong survives!

...

Mizuki stood towering above Shin, his monstrous tiger-like form casting a long shadow over the boy. His claws gleamed in the moonlight, raised high in the air as his feral eyes bore into Shin with twisted amusement. "Shin..." Mizuki's voice rumbled, dripping with malice. "Any last words?"

Shin's body trembled, his legs rooted to the ground by an overwhelming fear that seemed to pulse from the very air around Mizuki. But his mind was sharp, defiant even in the face of death.

"Y-Yeah..." Shin stammered, his voice shaky but his gaze unwavering. His trembling lips twisted into a weak smirk as he forced the words out. "Y-You l-look like s-shit like this—"

The insult hit Mizuki like a thunderbolt. His face contorted with fury, and he roared, "You little bastard!" His massive claw swung downward with terrifying speed, the air around it whistling from the sheer force. "Die!!!"

The claws descended, each moment stretching into eternity. Shin's heart pounded in his chest as the deadly strike closed the distance. Time seemed to slow to a crawl.

Father... Shin thought, his mind flashing to cold face of his father. Sorry for dying like this... I wanted to make you proud... I wanted to make you and mother proud of me...

As Mizuki's claws loomed closer, the world around Shin seemed to fade, his mind filling with unspoken dreams.

I... I wanted to see what's at the peak... I wanted to see what's at the peak of this world...

Shin closed his eyes, the last vestiges of resistance slipping from him as he braced for the end.

But then... a sudden shout echoed through the forest, cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife.

"Naruto Cannon!!!"

The forceful voice startled Mizuki, halting his claws mere centimeters from Shin's face. He turned his head toward the source of the sound, his feral eyes narrowing. But before he could fully register what was happening, an unexpected force slammed into his stomach with a thunderous impact.

"Gah!" Mizuki let out a guttural sound as the blow sent him flying several meters back, his massive form skidding to a halt against the forest floor.

Shin, still frozen in place, opened his eyes, his breath catching in his throat as he took in the sight before him. His eyes widened in shock.

Standing in front of him, rubbing his head and grimacing, was none other than Naruto.

"Ahia!" Naruto exclaimed, bringing a hand to his head. "Man, headbutting a giant tiger-man wasn't my best idea!"

"Naruto..." Shin muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Relief, confusion, and anger warred within him. "What are you doing here? I told you to run—"

Naruto spun around to face him, cutting him off with a determined glare. "There was no way I could have let you die here!"

"But—" Shin started, trying to reason with him, but Naruto interrupted again, his voice firm and confident.

"Don't worry, Shin! I am strong as fuck now!"

Shin blinked, utterly baffled. "Eh? What do you mean strong—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Mizuki's enraged roar echoed through the clearing, cutting off their exchange.

"You little bastard!" Mizuki bellowed, his monstrous voice dripping with fury. He pushed himself off the ground, his predatory eyes locked onto Naruto with murderous intent.

"So you've decided to come back, monstrous Nine-Tails kid?!" he snarled, his voice dripping with venom.

Mizuki's lips curled into a malicious smile, his sharp fangs glinting in the moonlight.

"I was worrying that you would have asked for help," Mizuki sneered, his tone mocking. "But you are so stupid that you instead rushed to your death!"

He straightened up, towering over the clearing with his feral presence. His glowing feline eyes shifted to the Scroll of Seals in Naruto's hand.

"Now, give me the Scroll of—"

Mizuki's demand was abruptly cut short as Naruto raised a hand, his expression one of genuine confusion.

"Ehm, Shin?" Naruto asked, turning his head slightly toward his friend. "Who is this tiger? And where's Mizuki?"

To be continued...

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Also, am I stretching this little arc too much?

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