[Kushina: I can't believe how Naruto will find his friends after being treated like this by the village. Will Naruto be sad when he's all alone...?]
[Kushina: Minato!]
Kushina was extremely worried; she had never been so concerned about Naruto as she was today.
[Iruka: Don't worry, Kushina. Now that I've become Naruto's homeroom teacher, I will definitely teach him with all my heart.]
Iruka stated firmly that now that he had become a homeroom teacher, he was determined to educate all his students well.
[Indeed, it was true. A long time passed after the scene changed, but the only thing that remained unchanged was Naruto's mischievous nature.]
"I won't let you go back until it's cleaned up," Iruka said to Naruto from the Hokage Rock.
"It doesn't matter, there's no one home anyway!" At this moment, Naruto seemed to have reached a very good relationship with Iruka.
Naruto was graffitiing on the Hokage Rock, was caught again, and Iruka became Naruto's guardian in a sense.
Seeing Naruto's reluctant expression, Iruka knew that if he didn't do something, Naruto wouldn't be able to clean it properly even by dark.
"Well, how should I put it? After you've cleaned all of this up, I'll treat you to ramen." Iruka pretended to be deep in thought.
Upon hearing that there was ramen, Naruto below became incredibly energetic, quickly wiping everything off the Hokage Rock.
[Ebisu: I didn't expect Iruka to be so good at teaching kids.]
[Obito: No, I think Naruto's because Naruto and Iruka have a good relationship. Naruto is happy as long as someone is willing to be with him.]
At this point, Obito realized that Naruto simply didn't want to go home; that home was just a place to sleep.
Having Iruka-sensei accompany him while eating ramen is already a very happy thing.
"Naruto, why are you drawing on the Hokage Rock?" Iruka asked while eating ramen.
He really didn't understand why Naruto did that; he should know what kind of person the Hokage was.
"Of course, the person who inherits the title of Hokage is the strongest in the village."
At this moment, Naruto also remembered that he had drawn on the Fourth Hokage Rock earlier that day, which belonged to the great figure who had suppressed the demon fox.
"By the way, Iruka-sensei, may I make a request?" Naruto asked, staring intently at Iruka.
"Another bowl, please? No problem." Iruka thought one bowl wasn't enough for Naruto.
Unexpectedly, Naruto shook his head and said, "Can I have your Forehead Protector?"
At this moment, Naruto's path to becoming Hokage requires him to first become a Shinobi, but he might not even pass tomorrow's graduation exam.
"That won't do. This is proof that I've become a capable Shinobi. You'll have to wait until tomorrow." How could Iruka possibly agree to Naruto's request?
Naruto must earn his Genin Forehead Protector through his own abilities.
[Kakashi: Uh, it seems Naruto really doesn't know that Minato-sensei is his father.]
[Obito: Yeah, who would call their father that?]
Obito watched Naruto's yearning for the Hokage, a yearning that mirrored his own childhood aspirations, only Naruto's was even stronger...
If Minato-sensei and Kushina were still alive, Naruto would probably be very happy.
"Moreover, I'm going to be the man who surpasses all the previous Hokage and makes everyone acknowledge me." Naruto then revealed his ideal.
This even sounds absurd; it's a huge joke that someone hated by most people wants to become Hokage.
[Hashirama Senju: At such a young age, you already dream of being recognized by everyone? Monkey, he's already surpassed you.]
On the second day, during the graduation exam, Iruka, who was the proctor, was also very nervous.
He knew Naruto all too well; Naruto was completely clueless about the Clone Technique and the Substitution Technique among Naruto's Three Basic Techniques.
"Next up, Naruto Uzumaki,... oops, wrong show."
"Next up, Naruto Uzumaki, Clone Technique!"
Upon hearing his own name, Naruto looked utterly desperate. The Clone Technique —it was precisely the technique he was least skilled at.
[Obito: No way, Naruto doesn't even know the Clone Technique?]
[Kakashi: The person I'm talking about might be one.]
[Hozuki Mangetsu: I'm already laughing. Obito Uchiha, you're commenting on others?]
At this moment, Obito regretted his words, realizing he had almost forgotten he was also a bottom-of-the-class student.
It was obvious that Naruto had shown off his unique clone after going on stage, and Iruka, who was standing next to him, was so angry that his face turned pale.
"Iruka-sensei, I think Naruto's movement skills and stamina are quite excellent," Mizuki suddenly said from the side.
Iruka was starting to question his own existence, wondering where he got the idea that this Clone Technique was any good.
Even if Iruka were to show favoritism towards Naruto at this point, he still wouldn't be able to get Naruto to pass.
"Unacceptable!"
Iruka said helplessly, "Actually, if Naruto could just create two clones, I could make Naruto pass. But looking at his pathetic clones, how can I possibly give him a passing grade?"
Naruto sat alone on the swing after the exam, feeling the joy of others who had passed.
Having to endure the ridicule of these people, Naruto was momentarily at a loss about where his future lay.
[Nagato: This Mizuki doesn't seem like a good person.]
[Hozuki Mangetsu: Really? I saw him pleading with Iruka.]
[Kushina: Nagato is right. Naruto failed the Genin exams; blindly forcing him to pass will only harm him.]
At that moment Kushina could see through Mizuki's thoughts at a glance. Although he was speaking up for Naruto, Kushina could tell that he also hated Naruto.
All of this was just an act.
[As expected, Mizuki then pulled Naruto aside and tempted him to steal the Scroll of Seals in order to gain Iruka's approval.]
He was told that he could become Shinobi if he could obtain the Scroll of Seals.
[Obito: Stealing the Scroll of Seals? Has this guy gone mad? Why doesn't he just go to heaven?!]
Even someone as dim-witted as me knows that thing is guarded by hordes of Shinobi. You're Naruto, who isn't even Shinobi, to steal the Scroll of Seals? You're insane!
[Hashirama Senju: The Scroll of Seals, huh? So that's how valuable it is?]
I only glanced at it a few times before sealing it away. But even a little kid couldn't open that thing, so what difference would it make if he stole it?
That has Sealing Jutsu technique on it, can Naruto open it?
Of course, Hashirama didn't believe Naruto could steal it either; it sounded like a complete fantasy.