Naruto: Mizuki The Savior

Chapter 33: A Grand Technique Requires Recovery

"All those months of preparation, and it was all spent in one go."

Mizuki felt a deep pang of regret at the massive chakra expenditure.

"When quality isn't enough, quantity has to make up for it. This method might work as a rare trump card, but it's not sustainable. Just one strike and I've drained months' worth of reserves—it's simply not worth it."

He glanced at his battered clone.

"The pseudo-Jinchūriki still can't sustain itself and constantly needs chakra replenishment. Its ability to operate independently is severely limited. Regular chakra clones just aren't up to the task, and there's still the problem of lifespan and vitality."

The more he thought about it, the more his head ached.

"On top of that, I've caused such a commotion… Who knows how the village will react?"

Outside the Forest of Death, the head proctor, Anko Mitarashi, had been enjoying a relatively peaceful day. Sitting comfortably, eating dango, and letting the genin battle it out in the forest—what could be better? Occasionally, she even got to hear a few distant screams, adding a bit of amusement to her day.

However, the expected level of combat had gradually escalated. The rising intensity of chakra fluctuations, combined with an increasing number of explosions, had long exceeded the expected strength of mere genin.

"This isn't good… Did someone dangerous sneak into the exam?"

Just as Anko was considering whether to investigate, a Chūnin arrived to report an abnormal situation. Setting aside her concerns for now, she followed the report to check on the situation.

Anko's expression darkened as she gazed at the lifeless bodies of the three Grass ninja. Their identification documents confirmed their identities, but their melted, unrecognizable faces revealed the use of the Face-Stealing Technique.

"The Face-Stealing Technique? …Is it really you?"

A sharp pain flared up from the cursed seal on her neck.

"You! Go report this to the Third Hokage—request an immediate dispatch of two ANBU teams!"

Issuing the order, Anko immediately dashed toward the Forest of Death.

"Orochimaru… what are you after this time?"

---

Meanwhile, deep within the Forest of Death, Gaara had just finished mercilessly slaughtering a trio of Rain ninja, yet his bloodlust remained unsatisfied. The massive chakra fluctuations in the distance caught his attention, and he instinctively began moving toward the disturbance.

Kankurō and Temari, sensing danger, desperately tried to convince him otherwise.

On the other hand, Team 7—Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura—were feeling fortunate. They had left just in time, as the intensity of battle behind them had skyrocketed beyond their comprehension.

Then, the moment the crimson array ascended into the sky, radiating an aura of sheer terror, every remaining genin in the forest froze.

Even Karin, who had already fled a good distance away, immediately dove headfirst into the river, submerging herself in panic. As for her unfortunate teammates? They were on their own.

Sasuke's team, despite their relative distance, also felt the overwhelming pressure.

"Find cover, now!" Sasuke shouted.

"This… This is a Chūnin Exam, right? There's no way a participant could be this strong!"

Even Naruto, usually reckless and headstrong, sensed the sheer terror emanating from the battlefield and quickly followed Sasuke and Sakura into hiding.

Anko, still rushing toward the scene, saw the piercing light beam descend.

"Damn it! I'm too late!"

The sheer power of the attack sent tremors through the ground even from miles away. Anko's eyes widened in shock as she beheld the rolling waves of plasma engulfing everything in their path.

A short moment later, the final ball lightning strike clashed with the Summoning: Rashōmon, and the resulting explosion produced a miniature mushroom cloud, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed it.

---

As the dust settled, Sasuke stared toward the distant battlefield in awe.

"So… a ninja can reach this level of power? If I had this strength… I could definitely kill Itachi."

Completely oblivious to the reality of high-level ninja combat, Sasuke was lost in his fantasies.

Sakura and Naruto soon caught up with him.

"Sasuke-kun, are you okay?" Sakura asked, concerned.

"Yeah," Sasuke replied absentmindedly.

"Hey, Sasuke! That fight back there was crazy! Should we check it out? Maybe we can snag a scroll or something!" Naruto suggested excitedly.

"No way!" Sakura immediately objected. "This is just a Chūnin Exam, but that level of power is way beyond any normal participant. Something's not right—someone dangerous must have infiltrated. We should let the village handle it."

"We should focus on finding weaker teams to steal a scroll from," Sasuke decided, regaining his composure.

"Damn it! The outside world is full of powerhouses, and I'm stuck here fighting weaklings who aren't even Chūnin… At this rate, when will I ever get my revenge?"

His hunger for power had long since overshadowed any sense of camaraderie.

---

Elsewhere in the forest, Kabuto Yakushi and his teammates observed the battle from a distance.

"Kabuto, looks like Lord Orochimaru has run into a tough opponent. Should we go help him?" Tsurugi suggested.

"That's a terrible idea," Midori countered. "If even Lord Orochimaru is struggling, do you really think we could make a difference?"

Kabuto remained silent for a moment before turning to his teammates.

"You two go ahead. I have something to take care of—I'll catch up later."

Without another word, he left.

"Arrogant bastard," Tsurugi grumbled. "He thinks he's special just because Orochimaru-sama favors him."

"Let's see who Orochimaru values more after this mission," Midori added.

---

Inside the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage calmly placed the intelligence report and emergency support request aside.

"I don't need a report to tell me that something terrible is happening."

The overwhelming chakra fluctuations had been felt by every skilled ninja in Konoha.

"Deploy the ANBU. Finding Orochimaru is our priority. Determine his goal and stop him."

"Second, investigate the identity of the ninja who fought him. If they cannot be captured—eliminate them. Move out."

"Yes, sir!"

The ANBU operatives immediately leaped into action.

---

Back in the Forest of Death, the more rational genin had already fled from the battlefield. However, not everyone had such restraint.

Gaara arrived at the scene, his bloodlust still raging. But all that remained was a massive, slowly-filling crater, and utter devastation.

His frustration grew, pushing him further toward the brink of insanity.

Kankurō and Temari, watching from the sidelines, trembled in fear.

"Gaara's losing control," Temari whispered. "If this continues, our entire plan is ruined."

"No one expected this level of combat in a Chūnin Exam," Kankurō muttered anxiously. "Right now, the plan doesn't matter. If we can't calm Gaara down, we're the ones who'll die first."

"I just hope nothing else provokes him before he settles down… If we can just get to the central tower, I never want to deal with this stress again."

---

Back in Konoha, the streets were bustling with ninja activity. Even ordinary citizens had felt the tremors and mistook them for an earthquake.

After securing his home, Mizuki prepared to step out and assess the situation—only for the door to suddenly swing open.

"Shizuka? What are you doing here?"

Breathless, she stared at him with an urgent expression.

"It was you, wasn't it, Mizuki? That attack… that heavenly phenomenon… That was your doing."

Unlike others, Shizuka had pieces of the puzzle.

She had long been aware of Mizuki's research into chakra storage and remote strikes, having assisted him in gathering chakra for months.

"You're right," Mizuki admitted. "I only went to the Forest of Death to observe, but I ran into Orochimaru and had no choice but to fight. I barely escaped."

He gestured toward the battered pseudo-Jinchūriki clone, letting her see the aftermath firsthand.

---

Read up to 20 chapter ahead of time on patreon.com/Legendryweeb

{please give this novel 5 Star review and power stone}

*Thank you*