NARUTO: GOD LEVEL FORGING SYSTEM

"No, it's Mizuki! Ah… Naruto, let's go!"

At that moment, Iruka stood resolutely in front of Naruto, shielding him from the incoming barrage of shuriken.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto shouted in anger and concern.

Mizuki sneered. "Iruka, do you really think it's worth it to protect that Nine-Tails monster? He's the one who killed your parents. Deep down, you must hate him as much as I do."

Iruka gritted his teeth, pulling out a shuriken embedded in his body. "No… he's not a monster. Naruto is… my most hardworking and best student!"

Everything unfolded just as it did in the original story.

Though Iruka's parents perished in the Nine-Tails' attack, he never harbored hatred toward Naruto like many others in the village did. Instead, he saw Naruto's determination and treated him as an exceptional student—one he believed could one day become a Hokage-like figure.

Naruto had heard the truth about this incident from Kazuki before, but hearing Iruka say it directly to his face moved him deeply. He hadn't realized that, apart from Big Brother Kazuki, Iruka-sensei had always been watching over him.

Fueled by newfound determination, Naruto didn't just rescue Iruka. He unleashed the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, overwhelming Mizuki and beating him to a pulp.

On the Hokage Rock in the distance, a group of figures observed the scene.

Standing atop the stone faces of past Hokage, Kazuki was flanked by dozens of elite Anbu operatives, each clad in their signature masks and uniforms. They belonged to the Second Konoha Assassination Unit, currently under Kazuki's command.

The squad's former captain, Yamato, had since been promoted to Anbu Commander—largely due to Kakashi's request. The former Anbu leader had personally appealed to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to step down and take on a new role: guiding fresh graduates as an instructor.

Even though Naruto had failed the graduation exam, Hiruzen would undoubtedly arrange for him to become a full-fledged shinobi. And as the son of Minato-sensei, it was only natural for Kakashi to request to be his mentor. Furthermore, their assigned squad would include Sasuke Uchiha—the last remaining survivor of his clan in the village.

With his connection to Obito and his own Sharingan, Kakashi was the only shinobi suited to guide Sasuke. Hiruzen had agreed without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Kazuki and his assassination squad were carrying out their mission that night.

"Captain, everything is going according to plan," one of the Anbu reported. "The Nine-Tails host's emotional state is stable. There's no sign of him losing control."

Another Anbu, impatient, spoke up. "Captain Kazuki, can we leave now? I still have an assassination assignment to complete. I don't have time to watch this sentimental drama."

"Yeah," another chimed in. "We're assassins, not spectators. Watching this for too long is giving me chills."

Kazuki narrowed his eyes, scanning his subordinates before chuckling.

"What's the rush?" he asked. "Do you really think I brought you here just to monitor Naruto in case the Nine-Tails went berserk?"

A startled Anbu hesitated. "Wait… isn't that our mission? That's what Lord Hokage ordered."

Kazuki smirked. "And if the Nine-Tails did go on a rampage, what would you do? Fight it? With your strength, you'd be nothing more than a snack for that beast."

Silence fell over the group.

Underneath their masks, the Anbu operatives felt a cold chill. They remembered the devastation of the Nine-Tails' attack years ago—how even shinobi far stronger than them had been slaughtered in an instant.

Realizing the futility of their so-called 'mission,' their faces burned with embarrassment.

Then… Captain, why are we running around in the middle of the night, just to feel the cold wind?

As the captain of the ANBU squad, Yugao Uzuki—codenamed "Purple"—mustered her courage and questioned Kazuki.

Kazuki raised his chin, signaling toward the ground below.

"Look down. They're already here."

The squad members stiffened.

Their eyes darted toward the forest beneath them.

At that moment, a sensor-nin in charge of surveillance suddenly reported in a sharp voice:

"Captain! Two hundred meters southeast—an unidentified team of four is rapidly approaching the target, Naruto Uzumaki!"

"Captain! Two hundred and fifty meters northeast—another unknown squad of four, closing in on the target!"

"Captain! Three hundred meters southwest—four more unknown operatives, all converging on Naruto Uzumaki!"

Enemy attack?!

The ANBU members instinctively tensed, their muscles coiled like springs.

"Captain Mink! Requesting permission to lead a team to intercept the enemy in the southeast!"

"Captain Mink! I volunteer to engage the enemy in the northeast!"

"Then I'll take a unit to intercept the enemy in the southwest!"

The ANBU team leaders stepped forward, awaiting Kazuki's command.

At that moment, Kazuki simply lifted his right hand.

A silent order.

The chatter ceased.

A faint smile played at his lips as he spoke.

"No rush. Let's see what they're planning first."

The ANBU members exchanged uncertain glances.

The enemy was already closing in on their objective—Naruto Uzumaki.

A full-scale encirclement.

Why wasn't the captain taking immediate action?

Based on standard ANBU protocol, shouldn't they move in, neutralize the threat, and extract any intel from captured operatives?

Strike first. Interrogate later.

That was the ANBU way.

Yet Kazuki remained unmoved.

Because he already knew who the enemy was.

If they didn't take the bait… how could he trap them?

There's a saying, after all—

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

"You… who are you?"

Deep within the forest, a Chūnin-level shinobi stood guard.

Earlier that night, he had received an urgent mission from the Hokage.

Find a boy named Uzumaki Naruto.

Retrieve the stolen Scroll of Seals.

The Chūnin didn't understand why such an important task had been entrusted to a lone shinobi of his rank.

But he knew Naruto.

A kid who hadn't even graduated from the Academy.

This should have been a simple retrieval mission. Right?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, movement in the shadows made him freeze.

Figures in black.

ANBU-style masks.

Something was off.

A spike of unease shot through him.

"Who are you?! You dare to—"

Before he could finish, a sharp impact landed on the back of his head.

Boom.

His world went dark.

A masked operative scoffed. "What a stupid question."

He stepped forward, kunai in hand, aiming to finish the unconscious shinobi.

"Enough. Just knock him out. We can't risk casualties."

"The higher-ups ordered us to keep a low profile. Our objective is the Scroll of Seals."

The kunai wielder hesitated before begrudgingly sheathing his weapon. "Tch. Got it."

Without another word, the masked figures disappeared into the night.

Another Chūnin fell.

Then another.

"Captain Mink! The Chūnin and Genin squads dispatched by the Hokage to track Uzumaki Naruto have all been neutralized! Are we still holding position?!"

One of the ANBU squad leaders could no longer contain his frustration. His voice carried a sense of urgency.

Before Kazuki could respond, a sharp reprimand cut through the tension.

A masked figure—one they had never seen before, wearing a cat-faced ANBU mask—spoke in a scathing tone.

"Are you deaf? Did you not hear the commander's orders?"

"Following orders is the first rule of an ANBU operative. Have you forgotten?"

"Daring to question a superior's command—do you even deserve to be in the Black Ops?"

The masked ninja's voice was cold.

"If you don't like it, step aside. Your presence is nothing but an eyesore."

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