Naruto: The Medical God

Shin's mouth opened, but words refused to come out. His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the man before him. "Father... how are you here?"

His father's jaw tightened, his expression immediately turning into a mix of frustration and hatred, though his eyes held a glimmer of concern. With a sharp "Tch," he crossed his arms momentarily, his gaze shifting to Shin's trembling form. "That demonic friend of yours... Naruto..." His voice was laced with irritation. "I ran into him while searching for you, and he told me you were in danger, so I ran here as fast as I coul—"

"Hey, old man!" Naruto's voice cut through the tense moment like a kunai, sharp and desperate. He was ducking under Mizuki's claws, the feral man's attacks growing more relentless with every second. "Stop talking and defeat this tiger already! I don't know how much longer I can hold him off!"

Naruto's desperate interruption broke through Shin's father's focus, and his sharp eyes turned fully toward the blonde boy, who was still darting and dodging Mizuki's relentless attacks. His eyes widened in surprise as recognition hit him like a thunderbolt.

"Wasn't he at the village just now?" he muttered under his breath, his mind racing to make sense of the situation. "How come he's here?"

A realization dawned on him, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "That… that was a clone!" The truth struck him hard, and his voice was barely above a whisper. "This demon… is smarter than I thought."

His heart churned with a maelstrom of emotions as he clenched his fists at his sides. Hatred flared within him at the reminder of Naruto's origins, the demonic fox sealed within the boy. The demonic fox that killed his beloved wife. Frustration bubbled to the surface, both at the chaos of the situation and his own misjudgments. But alongside these emotions came something unexpected—regret.

"So, he didn't run away and leave my son here to die…" he thought, his gaze lingering on Naruto as the boy fearlessly faced down Mizuki's monstrous form. Despite himself, he felt a begrudging respect beginning to stir.

Mizuki's roar punctuated Naruto's plea, shaking the trees around them as he tore through the last of Naruto's clones with a vicious swipe. His glowing eyes locked onto Naruto once more, and with a guttural snarl, he lunged forward.

Naruto leapt backward, narrowly dodging the attack, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Seriously! He's like a damn machine! Any time now, Shin's dad!"

Shin's father immediately snapped out of his spiraling thoughts at Naruto's shout. His sharp gaze hardened, and a faint, confident smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Shin, stay here," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. He reached for the hilt of his sword, its polished scabbard gleaming faintly under the moonlight. With a fluid motion, he drew the blade, the metal catching the light as it rang with a low, resonant hum. "I'll finish this in a minute."

Shin stared in awe, his father's unwavering composure and commanding presence filling him with a mix of relief and admiration. "Father…" he murmured, stepping back obediently.

Hamada Hiroshi stepped forward, his sword held in front of his face, its edge gleaming with lethal precision. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable weight. "Oi, tiger man!" he called, his tone mocking yet deliberate.

Mizuki's rampage came to an abrupt halt at the sound of Hiroshi's voice. His glowing eyes snapped toward the source, and his lips curled into a snarl. Enraged, he abandoned his pursuit of Naruto, his claws digging into the dirt as he turned to face the new challenger.

But the moment his eyes landed on Hiroshi, the fury in Mizuki's expression faltered. His pupils shrank, and his body stiffened as recognition dawned.

"You… you are…" Mizuki's voice quivered, his bravado giving way to fear. He took a hesitant step back, his claws twitching at his sides. "Konoha's Ashen Blade… Hamada Hiroshi!"

The name hung heavy in the air, the weight of its reputation palpable even in the midst of the chaos.

Naruto blinked in surprise, glancing between Mizuki and Hiroshi. "Ashen Blade?" he muttered, his head tilting slightly in confusion. "What kind of nickname is that?"

Shin's breath caught as he watched Mizuki's reaction. He'd always known his father was strong, but to see the fear in Mizuki's eyes was something entirely different. For the first time, he fully understood the weight of his father's name.

Mizuki's claws twitched at his sides as his initial fear gave way to a surge of reckless confidence. His lips curled into a sneer, his sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight.

"Ashen Blade!" he bellowed, his voice dripping with bravado as he tried to shake off his hesitation. "I'll tear you apart right in front of your child!"

With a deafening roar, Mizuki launched himself forward, his monstrous speed kicking up a trail of dirt and leaves behind him. His claws slashed through the air with deadly intent, the sheer force of his charge causing the trees around them to tremble.

Hiroshi's expression remained calm, his body steady as he shifted his stance, sword raised to intercept the attack. His eyes narrowed, focusing entirely on Mizuki's trajectory.

The clash came in an instant.

Clang!

Hiroshi's blade met Mizuki's claws with a resounding impact that echoed through the clearing. Sparks flew as steel ground against hardened nails, the sheer force of the collision forcing Hiroshi to slide back a few steps.

Shin gasped, his eyes wide as he watched his father struggle to hold his ground.

Hiroshi gritted his teeth, his mind racing as his muscles strained against Mizuki's overwhelming strength. When did he get this strong? he thought, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.

Mizuki snarled, his glowing eyes wild with fury. "What's wrong, Ashen Blade? Is that all you've got?"

Hiroshi deflected Mizuki's claws with a calculated motion, spinning to create distance between them. He steadied his breathing, but unease crept into his thoughts. I remember Iruka telling me Mizuki was just a Chunin… but now, I can barely block his attacks with my sword!

His sharp gaze flicked to Mizuki's grotesque form, taking in the bulging muscles, elongated claws, and the chaotic chakra swirling around him. This… this transformation. Is it the source of his strength? What kind of technique could amplify him to this level?

Mizuki didn't let up, lunging forward again with relentless aggression. Each swipe of his claws was faster and stronger than the last, forcing Hiroshi to focus entirely on parrying and dodging. How did Shin and Naruto even manage to last this long against him?

Naruto watched from a nearby branch, his heart pounding as he took in the intense battle. "Damn… even Shin's dad is having trouble with this guy," he muttered, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Hiroshi sidestepped another claw swipe, countering with a precise slash aimed at Mizuki's arm. The blade grazed his opponent's skin, but Mizuki barely flinched, his unnatural resilience making the wound seem insignificant.

Hiroshi's blade slid off Mizuki's thick skin once more, his sword edge barely leaving a mark on the transformed beast. His brow furrowed in concentration, and as he ducked under another brutal swipe, he couldn't help but admit it.

"You're strong," Hiroshi said, his voice calm despite the situation. He sidestepped another savage strike, feeling the wind of Mizuki's claws whip past him. "I have to say this... You're stronger than I expected."

Mizuki growled, his eyes narrowing further with each word, but Hiroshi's calm tone only served to anger him more.

"Shut up, Ashen Blade!" Mizuki snarled, trying to press his advantage. "I'll rip you apart!"

Hiroshi's lips curled into a small smile, his eyes gleaming with a quiet fire. "So, you want more?"

Mizuki's eyes flickered in confusion, sensing something was different in Hiroshi's demeanor. The calm, calculated nature of his opponent was starting to feel… more threatening than before.

A low chuckle rumbled from Hiroshi's chest, and he twirled his sword once, like a dancer preparing for the final act. "Well then…" he said, voice dropping to a deadly quiet tone. "I guess it's time for me to start being serious."

Shin, who had been watching the battle unfold, held his breath, sensing the shift in the air. He'd never seen his father act this way—so calm, yet so focused, like a predator about to strike.

Naruto glanced down from his perch in the trees, sweat still beading on his forehead, and a nervous smile creeping onto his face. "Whoa, now that sounds bad for Mizuki," he muttered under his breath.

Mizuki's eyes widened as the atmosphere around them seemed to change. Hiroshi's stance shifted, no longer simply defending but readying himself for the decisive blow. The gleam in his eyes turned sharper, colder, and Mizuki felt a creeping unease deep in his chest.

"You think this transformation makes you invincible?" Hiroshi asked, his voice steady and unyielding. He narrowed his gaze as he adjusted his grip on the sword, preparing for the next clash. "I've fought against much worse."

To be continued...

***

***

How was this chapter? Liked it?

Be sure to check out my original novel Hyperborea!