In the forest outside Konoha.
Naruto was shivering, terrified by the sudden Kunai attack.
He couldn’t understand why Mizuki, who had told him about the scroll, now wanted to kill him.
If Iruka hadn’t pushed him away moments ago, he might already be dead.
Faced with this scene, Naruto’s mind was in complete chaos.
Meanwhile, Mizuki, carrying two giant shuriken on his back, stood high in a tree and shouted, “Naruto, hand over the scroll!” Naruto looked around frantically and asked the injured Iruka, “Wh-what is going on?” Gritting his teeth against the intense pain, Iruka pulled the dagger from his body.
He then urged, “Naruto, do not hand over that scroll, even if it costs you your life.
This scroll records forbidden Ninjutsu, it’s an extremely dangerous thing.
Mizuki is only using you to get it.” Rock Lee, hiding in the shadows, happened to overhear this conversation.
He thought to himself, ‘So Naruto really was deceived.’ He never expected that Mizuki, a teacher, would use Naruto to do something like this.
Then, the barrage of comments appearing before him contained content that utterly shocked him.
[Hah, found it indeed.
This is where Naruto first uses the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.] [Naruto is such a tragic character.
His parents sacrificed themselves for the village, yet the Third Hokage let others call him the Demon Fox.
My god, doesn’t he know how much the villagers whose life was destroyed by Nine-Tails hate it?] [You’re too naive, person above.
Of course the Third Hokage knows.
Why else would he go comfort Naruto in the dead of night?
All the adults and children in the village shun Naruto.
At that moment, his appearance is like a lifeline.
Poor Naruto doesn’t even know that this very message was ordered by the Third Hokage.
How pitiful.] [I agree with the poster above.
You have to remember, Naruto’s father were the Fourth Hokage.
The son of a hero actually ended up in such a state.
Sigh.] The barrage of comments scrolled rapidly, but Rock Lee was in no mood to watch.
He was still in a state of shock.
So Naruto is the Fourth Hokage’s child?!”l He truly is the descendant of a hero.
But then, why did things turn out like this?
Looking at the discussion in the comments completely overturned his previous worldview.
He couldn’t believe that the benevolent Third Hokage would do such things.
There must be some misunderstanding.
Rock Lee forced himself to ignore the barrage and looked back at the three people on the scene.
At this moment, Mizuki, as if victory was assured, continued speaking, “Naruto, Iruka is only saying that because he’s afraid you’ll get the scroll.
Let me tell you the truth.” Iruka immediately tried to stop him, yelling, “Bastard, shut up!” Mizuki laughed and said, “After the Demon Fox incident 12 years ago, the village established a certain rule.” Naruto asked in confusion, “What rule?” Mizuki mocked, “It’s a secret rule that you, Uzumaki Naruto, must never be allowed to know.” Upon hearing this, Naruto became agitated.
He had always wanted everyone’s recognition.
Now, hearing there was a rule about him, he urgently asked, “Why am I the only one who can’t know about this rule?” Mizuki replied, “It’s the rule that absolutely forbids anyone from revealing that Naruto’s true identity is the Demon Fox.
In other words, 12 years ago, it was you who killed Iruka’s parents and destroyed the village.” Boom!
Not only did Naruto feel the world spin, but even Lee stood there dumbfounded.
Is this true?
The Third Hokage really issued that order?
If it were anyone else, one might think it was out of concern.
But Rock Lee had already learned some things about that year from the barrage.
Based on the scattered information, the gist of the story was this: Twelve years ago, the Demon Fox broke its seal and wreaked havoc in Konoha.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato, who was in power at the time, single-handedly drove the Demon Fox out of the village and sacrificed himself to seal it inside a newborn child.
And that child was Uzumaki Naruto, the Fourth Hokage’s own son.
In the end, the Fourth Hokage and his wife both died, leaving behind Naruto, whom they entrusted to the care of the Third Hokage.
But why didn’t the Third Hokage tell everyone the truth?
Why didn’t he tell everyone that Uzumaki Naruto was not only the child of a hero but also bore the heavy burden of sealing the Demon Fox?
Instead, he was now misunderstood as the Demon Fox himself, shunned and hated by everyone.
He even struggled to get enough to eat.
Why?
With his straightforward nature, Rock Lee couldn’t comprehend such a thing at all.
His head buzzed, his thoughts a complete mess.
Meanwhile, Mizuki continued revealing the truth, goading Naruto.
“Don’t you find it strange at all?
Why does everyone in the village hate you?
Even Iruka hates you.” “You will never gain recognition.” After saying this, Mizuki drew a giant Kunai and sneered, “You should just die quietly, Naruto.” Whoosh!
The giant Kunai spun rapidly as it flew towards Naruto.
With his skills, there was absolutely no way he could dodge it.
He could only flee in panic.
But just as the shuriken was about to hit Naruto, an angry roar erupted from the shadows.
“You will not harm him!” With a sharp clang, the giant shuriken was knocked away by a weighted leg strap.
Rock Lee pointed at Mizuki, shouting furiously, “You have no right to hurt him!” Seeing his attack blocked, Mizuki was initially worried that the Anbu had caught up.
But after recognizing the newcomer, he relaxed and laughed.
“So it’s just Rock Lee.
You, a Genin who can’t even use Ninjutsu, think you can stop me?” Dragging his exhausted body, Rock Lee stepped forward.
“That’s right.
I will stop you.
And I’ll also tell you, Naruto is not the Demon Fox.
You’re talking nonsense.” Naruto never expected that at a time like this, someone would still speak up for him.
He was deeply moved.
Mizuki, however, thought Lee was just spouting empty words and jeered, “Someone who can’t even use Ninjutsu?
I can finish you off in one move.” He drew the other giant shuriken from his back and hurled it at his target.
Rock Lee showed no panic, remaining calmly in place.
But the moment the attack was upon him, he suddenly thrust out his hand, gripping the central ring of the giant shuriken.
At the same time, he stared intently at Mizuki and said, “An attack like yours cannot defeat me.
On the contrary, it will only take one move for me to finish you off.” Swish!
He dashed forward in a burst of speed, then swung a powerful kick towards Mizuki’s chest.
Leaf Whirlwind!
Before Mizuki could react, he was sent flying by Rock Lee’s kick, crashing into a tree and sliding down, powerless.
Clearly, that flying kick had severely injured him.
This display of strength not only shocked Naruto but also made Iruka exclaim in admiration, “So strong!”