Graduation

Konoha Village, Hokage's Office.

Wu Liang sat sprawled on the sofa in the Hokage's Office, drinking tea without a shred of decorum. He slowly said, "Third Hokage old man, what's so unusual about calling me here today? Are you finally willing to hand over the Second Hokage's Hard Vortex Water Blade?"

The Third Hokage looked at Wu Liang, who sat on the sofa with no regard for appearances, and was fairly satisfied. At such a young age, Wu Liang's Chakra reserves were already close to those of a Jonin—or so he believed. In truth, Wu Liang had deliberately revealed that much to mislead others. His actual strength was already nearing that of an elite Jonin, and his Chakra reserves even surpassed the Third Hokage's. As for Wu Liang's disrespectful behavior, he did not mind it.

"To be honest, I can give you my teacher's Hard Vortex Water Blade. I called you here today to discuss your future. You're about to graduate. We've more or less finished arranging the other children into teams, but you're another matter entirely. What do you think?" The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and slowly said, "How about I just find two people and put them in a team with you?"

"So it's about team assignments. The exams haven't even happened yet, and you've already sorted everyone into teams? What if those kids fail?"

"You're overthinking it. The only ones who fail are those who need to repeat their studies. As for the children from the clans, do you really think they could fail? You should worry about yourself. In your six years at the Ninja Academy, you never took a single exam. Frankly, I've got a headache figuring out how to arrange you. Look at your records—every exam score is a failing grade. Even if you're strong, you can't keep doing this, can you?" The Third Hokage said, holding Wu Liang's file.

Wu Liang did not care in the slightest. He curled his lip and said, "Who has time to deal with those childish games? I'd rather spend that time training."

"You..."

The Third Hokage looked at the now-grown Wu Liang. Why was this boy as troublesome as Kakashi these days? Wait, Kakashi... Heh heh, I finally know how to arrange you. Having figured it out, the Third Hokage's calm smile returned.

When Wu Liang saw the Third Hokage's ill-intentioned smile, he immediately felt that something was wrong. Yet he could not guess what the old man intended to do, so he could only play dumb and continue drinking tea.

The Third Hokage looked at Wu Liang sitting on the sofa, took a scroll from the drawer, and tossed it to him. "All right, I've decided how to arrange you. As for the graduation exam, you must attend. If you dare skip it again, I'll make you a Genin for the rest of your life. I know Maruboshi Kosuke taught you some things. You don't want to spend your whole life as a Genin like Maruboshi Kosuke, do you? Now take your ninjutsu and get out."

Wu Liang grinned as he caught the ninjutsu scroll from the Third Hokage and put it into his ninja tool pouch. "All right, then I'm leaving. Don't worry, I'll take the exam."

Wu Liang felt that the Third Hokage must have had some misunderstanding about Genin. Everyone knew that Konoha's truly badass people were all Genin.

Wu Liang returned home and picked up the training scroll for Hard Vortex Water Blade. If I had known the hand seals for this ninjutsu in my previous life, would I have needed to beg you for it?

Looking at the hand seals and notes for the Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade, Wu Liang first simulated it in his mind and found that this ultimate technique was extraordinarily difficult. The scroll described it as a close-range combat technique: water formed into a vortex to bind the enemy, then a water vortex was created in the user's hand and compressed into the shape of a water spear. It rotated rapidly in layered, irregular directions before being hurled with force. Upon striking the target, it formed a massive waterspout. Its attack power was formidable, its might immense, and it was both flashy and powerful. Its attack range varied according to the user's Chakra reserves.

There was also a line of fine print below: If this ultimate technique is supported by a space-time ninjutsu, it will always hit. Those with insufficient Chakra should not attempt to train in it.

"Damn, do I have to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique too? Forget it, forget it. I won't learn it. I already have quite a few attack methods anyway. As for ultimate techniques, I only have Illusion Blade Flash—Wood Release aside, of course." After memorizing the scroll's contents, Wu Liang destroyed it.

The next day, Ninja Academy, classroom.

After seeing that all the students had arrived, Iruka began the announcement. "Since everyone is here, we'll begin the graduation exam. When your name is called, go next door for the test. This time, the exam topic is the Clone Technique."

"First up, Uchiha Sasuke."

Upon hearing Iruka call his name, Uchiha Sasuke said nothing. He rose coolly to his feet and headed for the classroom next door.

Only about two minutes later, Sasuke returned wearing a forehead protector. He had passed the exam and officially become a Konoha Genin.

Seeing Sasuke's ninja forehead protector, Naruto said enviously, "Not bad. You passed just like that? That was way too easy."

Uchiha Sasuke glanced at Naruto and calmly said, "It was very easy."

As Iruka watched the students finish their exams one by one, he turned a page and said, "Next, Ryo Senju."

Wu Liang woke from his training when he heard Iruka call his name. He got up and followed Iruka into the classroom next door. Since it was being used as an examination room, the classroom had been cleared out. A blue-haired teacher sat at the lectern. This should be Mizuki.

Iruka walked over and sat at the lectern. After Mizuki and Iruka checked the information, Mizuki sneered, "Ha, what kind of bizarre student is this? He failed every exam. Can a student like that really graduate?"

Iruka looked at Wu Liang below the lectern and awkwardly smiled. "It's not that he failed every time. It's just that he never showed up for any of them, so they could only count as failures."

Mizuki nodded, then looked at Wu Liang below. "All right, let's begin. You only need to create one clone, and as long as it isn't malformed, you pass. What do you think? Easy, right?"

Wu Liang showed no reaction to Mizuki's mockery. In the original story, Naruto had been manipulated by him into stealing the Sealing Scroll. Of course, the Third Hokage had definitely allowed it to happen. Otherwise, no matter how strong Naruto was, he could never have stolen it.

"Clone Technique."

An identical clone appeared beside Wu Liang. Its aura and appearance were utterly flawless.

The mocking look on Mizuki's face vanished the instant he saw Wu Liang create a clone, turning into shock. Wu Liang's Clone Technique had been too fast, without the slightest buildup. Moreover, the clone's expression and aura were perfect. If he had not watched Wu Liang use the Clone Technique, even he would not have been able to tell which one was the original.

Wu Liang looked at Mizuki on the lectern and impatiently asked, "Does this count as passing?"

Only then did Mizuki and Iruka snap back to their senses. "You passed."

Iruka then picked up a ninja forehead protector from the lectern and handed it to Wu Liang. "Here, this is your forehead protector. There's still ninja registration afterward, so go back and wait for now."

Wu Liang nodded, took the forehead protector, and left the exam room. He then returned next door to continue training, while Iruka continued giving the remaining students their exams.

The difference from the original story was Naruto. Originally, Naruto had not been good at the Clone Technique, but to prevent that problem, Wu Liang had given Naruto extra training long ago. Only after Naruto had fully mastered the Clone Technique did Wu Liang let him off. Wu Liang really wanted to see whether, without Naruto failing the exam as in the original story, Mizuki could still manipulate Naruto into stealing the Sealing Scroll.

Not long afterward, Naruto appeared in the classroom wearing a Genin forehead protector. Naruto passing the exam signaled the end of the tests. Then everyone lined up to have their photos taken and fill out their ninja registration forms. By the time they finished, it was already afternoon.

Wu Liang joined Hinata, Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno—who shamelessly insisted on coming along—at a barbecue restaurant to celebrate passing the exam. Naturally, Sasuke was paying.

The atmosphere in the barbecue restaurant was fairly pleasant. Hinata happily grilled meat for Naruto and Wu Liang, while Sakura grilled meat for Sasuke and occasionally tried to curry favor with him. Sasuke gave her no face at all and even grilled his own meat.

As Wu Liang ate the meat Hinata had grilled for him, he watched Sakura Haruno acting so humbly and said, "Sasuke, why not just accept her? Think about your future. It's not easy to find someone who clings to you this stubbornly. Give her a chance to have a kid with you, so you can start your family early. Right?"

The moment Wu Liang finished speaking, Sasuke's expression abruptly changed. "What kind of joke is that? Before I defeat him, how could I possibly think about such things?"

Sakura Haruno had been happy that Wu Liang was speaking up for her, but after hearing Sasuke's words, her expression changed drastically as well. Looking at Sasuke's twisted face, she asked, "Sasuke-kun, what's wrong?"

Naruto lost his smile as well and seriously said, "Sasuke, you keep saying that you want to defeat that man, but you've never told us who that man is."

Wu Liang had only wanted to tease Sasuke, but he had not expected him to be so sensitive. Seeing Sasuke's grim expression, he said, "Sasuke, I understand what you're thinking, but I can say this: one day, you'll regret what you want to do now."

Hearing Wu Liang's words, Sasuke retorted, "Why would I regret it? Wouldn't killing him for revenge be incredibly satisfying?"

Wu Liang shook his head and slowly said, "You'll find out in the future. But I want to remind you: don't let hatred blind you. Sometimes, ignorance is also a kind of happiness. Perhaps the day the truth is revealed will be the most painful day of your life. Cherish the days you have now."

"You said all that for nothing." Sasuke turned his head aside and stopped speaking.

Naruto looked at Sasuke and said, "Sasuke, no matter what you want to do or who you want to kill, if you need my help, come find me. I'll help you."

Over the past few years of spending time together, Naruto and Sasuke had gradually formed a bond. For Naruto, who treasured his friends, helping a friend in trouble was something he had always done.

After hearing Naruto's words, Sasuke's expression was no longer so cold. "Hmph. Worry about yourself. My problems can only be solved by me."

I should never have opened my mouth. In such an atmosphere, aside from Naruto, the others barely ate anything more. Instead, each of them became lost in their own thoughts.