Shocking! The Mysterious Sky Veil Brings Chaos! | Naruto

[The veil displayed another memory.]

Naruto unraveled the Scroll of Seals, staring at the first technique written inside.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu? What? This is something I can't do at all!"

As Naruto struggled to make sense of the scroll, a voice rang out.

"Finally, I've found you, you idiot!"

It was Iruka, bursting through the forest, his expression filled with frustration.

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Hehe, Iruka-sensei, I just learned a super cool jutsu! If I succeed, will you let me graduate?"

From Naruto's words, Iruka quickly pieced together what had happened. Mizuki had manipulated Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals under the pretense of passing his exam.

Iruka's face grew increasingly serious as the realization dawned.

Suddenly, several shuriken flew toward them from the shadows. Iruka grabbed Naruto and dove out of the way.

Emerging from the trees, Mizuki stood with a twisted smile on his face.

"It's you, Mizuki!"

The ninja world erupted.

"That guy Mizuki was trouble from the start!"

"I knew it! Mizuki's no good!"

Naruto froze in confusion, staring at Mizuki.

"Why? Why is Mizuki-sensei trying to kill us? Isn't this an exam?" he shouted.

Iruka grabbed Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto, don't give him the scroll! It contains dangerous forbidden jutsu. Mizuki tricked you to get his hands on it!"

Naruto turned to glare at Mizuki, his confusion replaced by anger.

Mizuki, unfazed, smirked wickedly. "Naruto, you're holding that scroll. Why not let me tell you the truth?"

"The truth?" Naruto asked, his voice hesitant.

"Twelve years ago, after the Nine-Tails was sealed, the village established an unspoken rule," Mizuki began.

"A rule? What rule? Why can't I know about it?" Naruto demanded.

"That rule is… no one is allowed to talk about you being the Nine-Tails!"

The veil showed Naruto's stunned expression. His face was pale, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Uzumaki Naruto…"

Gaara watched from a distance, his gaze heavy with emotion. The boy he had once dismissed now seemed to share his same tragic past.

But why?

Gaara recalled Naruto's bright smile during the Chūnin Exams, a smile that had touched him deeply.

"Why? Why does someone with a past like mine smile like that?" he whispered to himself.

[Back in the memory, Mizuki continued with venom in his voice.]

"You're the one who killed Iruka's parents! You're the monster who destroyed our village!"

"Everyone hates you! Don't you think that's strange? Even Iruka despises you!"

"You're nothing but a demon fox that no one needs!"

Naruto stood frozen, his mind a whirlwind of chaos and disbelief.

The so-called truth, the unspoken rule—it was all too much to process.

"He's the monster who caused the Fourth Hokage's death. It's all because of him!"

"Mizuki is right! That fox should've been killed years ago. It destroyed so many lives!"

The comments on the veil lit up with furious debates.

"You Leaf villagers are monsters! Just like Rasa in the Sand Village!"

"Are you blaming a child for what the Nine-Tails did? You're insane!"

"Shut up! Because of him, my family died!"

The harsh words from the villagers shocked Naruto's friends, especially those closest to him.

Team 7 and the others who knew Naruto couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"This… this is the village he grew up in?" Sakura muttered, her voice filled with disbelief.

Shikamaru sighed heavily. "So this is what Naruto's been dealing with all his life…"

[The veil continued showing more memories.]

It revealed Naruto's lonely past: the absence of parental love, the hatred from the villagers, and the desperate pranks he played to get attention.

He had always fought to prove his existence, putting on a brave face even as his heart ached.

Iruka, too, was reminded of his own past. He had been left alone after losing his parents and had pretended to be a fool in school, trying to make others notice him.

But, like Naruto, the nights were filled with solitude and pain.

"Naruto… you've suffered so much, haven't you?" Iruka whispered through tears.

Suddenly, Mizuki attacked, throwing a massive shuriken toward Naruto.

"Die!" Mizuki shouted.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto cried out in panic.

"Get down, Naruto!" Iruka yelled, diving in front of the attack.

The shuriken embedded itself in Iruka's back, and he collapsed.

Naruto stared at the scene in shock. Blood dripped from Iruka's mouth onto Naruto's face.

"Why… why would you…" Naruto stammered.

Iruka smiled weakly, his voice trembling. "Because I know how much it hurts… to be alone, to be unwanted."

Tears streamed down Iruka's face as he continued. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I wasn't there for you. I let you suffer all those years… but you're not alone anymore."

Naruto's face twisted with confusion and pain. The words of kindness were too much to believe after the lies Mizuki had just told.

Without another word, Naruto turned and ran deep into the forest.

Mizuki laughed mockingly. "See? That's the look of a demon fox! He's probably going to use that scroll to take revenge on the village!"

"You saw his eyes, didn't you, Iruka? Those were the eyes of the Nine-Tails!"