Naruto: The Medical God

Mizuki and Shin stood locked in place, their eyes meeting like the calm before a storm. Shin could feel the weight of Mizuki's presence—this wasn't a sparring match at the academy. His instincts screamed at him to run, but Shin Hamada wasn't one to let fear dictate his actions.

Fear is meant to be faced, not avoided.

With a sharp breath, Shin moved. His kunai left his hand in a blur, hurtling toward Mizuki. In the same motion, his fingers danced into a hand sign.

"Kunai Clone Jutsu!"

The single kunai split into four identical weapons, all arcing through the air toward Mizuki with deadly precision.

Mizuki's smirk widened as he effortlessly dodged the first kunai, parried the second with his own, and sidestepped the third and fourth. The clones vanished into smoke upon contact with the ground or nearby trees, leaving only the real kunai embedded in the earth behind him.

"Predictable," Mizuki scoffed, his tone mocking. "I saw this trick during your spar with Sasuke. You'll have to do better than this."

Shin didn't respond. His fingers twitched, and the real kunai began to move, yanked back toward Mizuki by the chakra threads Shin had discreetly attached to it.

Mizuki's sharp senses picked up on the movement. Without missing a beat, he pivoted toward the returning kunai and snatched it from the air with a quick, decisive motion.

"Nice try," Mizuki said, his smirk deepening as he held the kunai firmly in his grip, severing the chakra threads with a sharp pull. "But I saw even this in your spar with Sasuke."

Shin frowned, but his determination didn't waver. He quickly assessed the situation, his mind racing for the next move.

"You've got guts, Shin," Mizuki continued, his blue eyes glinting with malice. "But guts alone won't save you."

Shin reached for another kunai, his stance steady despite the growing tension. "I'm not done yet," he said firmly, his voice unwavering.

Mizuki chuckled darkly, spinning Shin's kunai in his hand before tossing it aside. "Good. That just means I get to crush that spirit of yours myself."

Shin didn't waste another second. Another kunai flew from his hand, hurtling toward Mizuki with speed and precision. His fingers danced into the familiar sequence of hand signs as he called out, "Kunai Clone Jutsu!"

The single kunai split into four once again, the shimmering weapons gliding through the air.

Mizuki's laughter rang out, dripping with derision. "Again, Shin? Really? Are you stupid or what?" He deftly sidestepped the first clone, swatted the second out of the air, and parried the third and fourth with almost careless ease.

"Is this all you've got?" Mizuki sneered, shaking his head.

Shin's fingers twitched again, signaling his next move. The chakra threads attached to the real kunai began to pull, as if tugging it back toward him.

Mizuki caught the movement instantly. His smirk widened, his body already shifting to face the returning kunai. "What did I tell you about repeating the same trick? You're so predictable—"

But something was wrong. The kunai didn't move. It remained lodged firmly in the ground, its motion nonexistent. Mizuki's confident smirk faltered, confusion flashing across his face.

"What the—?" he muttered, glancing at the kunai. Realization dawned like a thunderclap. His eyes widened in horror. "This kid! He just faked pulling the kunai back so I'd—"

His words were cut short by a sharp, searing pain. A kunai embedded itself in his back, driving deep between his shoulder blades. Mizuki's breath hitched, and he staggered forward, his body trembling with the sudden shock.

Shin stood behind him, his stance firm, his breathing controlled but heavy from the tension of the moment. His emerald eyes were fierce, unyielding as they locked onto Mizuki's faltering form.

"You let your arrogance blind you," Shin said, his tone cold and steady. "Underestimating me was your first mistake."

Mizuki quickly steadied himself. His teeth clenched, and his eyes burned with rage. "You little son of a bitch!" he roared, his voice echoing through the forest.

His hands blurred into motion, forming a rapid sequence of hand signs. "You shouldn't have angered me!"

Shin's muscles tensed as he prepared for whatever was coming.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears!" Mizuki shouted.

The ground beneath Shin's feet trembled violently, cracks forming in the earth as if the forest floor itself had come alive. Without wasting an instant, Shin threw himself to the side in a desperate roll. A massive spear of jagged earth erupted from where he had just stood, piercing the air with deadly force.

Shin's heart raced as he came to a crouch, dirt and debris scattered around him. The sharp edge of the spear glinted ominously in the moonlight, a grim reminder of what could have been.

"Tch!" Mizuki clicked his tongue in frustration, his eyes narrowing at the lone spear standing in the clearing. If his mastery over the jutsu had been better, dozens of spears would have erupted at once, skewering Shin on the spot.

Shin's sharp instincts took over. He didn't give Mizuki time to recover. With swift movements, he launched another kunai toward Mizuki, but this time without any clones or tricks—just a straightforward attack aimed to disrupt the ninja's focus.

But Mizuki was too experienced to be deceived by such a simple technique; he just deflected the kunai with ease, swatting it away with the back of his hand. His lips then curled into a snarl as he began another series of hand signs. "You're quick, but let's see how long you can dance around!"

Shin's mind raced. He couldn't afford to stay on the defensive forever. If Mizuki's Earth Release was this powerful, Shin would need to think of a way to either outmaneuver him or force him to overextend.

Mizuki's enraged shout echoed through the forest as his hands slammed onto the ground. "Earth Release: Earth Wave Jutsu!"

The earth beneath Shin's feet shifted violently, undulating like the surface of a stormy sea. Shin's balance wavered, his legs struggling to keep him upright. His body tilted forward, and for a moment, it seemed he would fall.

Shin gritted his teeth, focusing all his energy on steadying himself. His eyes darted around, analyzing the chaotic terrain as the ground rolled beneath him. Stay calm. Find your footing.

Mizuki's smirk returned as he watched Shin struggle. "What's the matter, Shin? Losing your nerve?" His voice was dripping with mockery, a predator relishing the helplessness of its prey.

Shin managed to plant his foot against a jagged rise in the earth, stopping his fall at the last second. His emerald eyes glared at Mizuki, filled with both determination and defiance. "You're going to have to try harder than that to stop me!"

Mizuki's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing. "Cocky little brat!" He weaved more hand signs, his chakra flaring with intensity.

Shin knew he couldn't afford to stay still any longer. With the ground still rippling under him, he pushed off with all his might, launching himself to a more stable area. As he landed, he quickly scanned the area for an opening to turn the tables.

Think, Shin. He's burning through his chakra fast with these large-scale jutsus because of his anger. If I can outlast him, I have a chance.

But Mizuki wasn't slowing down. His anger fueled his attacks, and Shin could feel the killing intent radiating from him. Mizuki's next move would come any second, and Shin needed to be ready.

To be continued...

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How was this chapter, guys? Liked it? Made Mizuki a little bit stronger than the original.

Be sure to check out my original novel, Hyperborea.