The Story Begins

Time flew by, and six years passed in the blink of an eye. Naruto had grown from a little brat into an outstanding young man.

"Haah... I'm so sleepy."

With heavy dark circles under his eyes, Naruto walked to school with Hinata, yawning nonstop. His steps were so unsteady that it looked as though he had spent the entire night fighting someone.

"Naruto-kun, today is the graduation exam. Didn't you sleep well last night?"

At twelve, Hinata had grown into a graceful young girl, and she was nearly as tall as Naruto. Gently, she straightened his messy, upturned collar and wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes from yawning.

"No, I practiced all night."

After six years of training, Naruto's Rasengan had finally begun to take shape. Other than being a little slow at forming it, there were basically no flaws. So last night, Minato had told Naruto to set Flying Thunder God markers in several corners of Konoha for a "test flight." The result was obvious. If the Flying Thunder God were that easy to learn, Konoha would have dominated the ninja world long ago.

"Then be careful during the exam. Don't mess up your Hand Seals."

"Don't worry, don't worry. I learned all those basic ninja techniques the Academy teaches ages ago. They're no challenge at all. Hinata, just wait until I become a genin and change my name."

"Y-you're still two ranks away from that, idiot."

Hinata knew exactly what Naruto meant by "changing his name." She made a face at him and ran into the school ahead of him.

"You two are awfully lovey-dovey this early in the morning."

A lazy voice came from behind them. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio had arrived at the school gate together, led by a listless Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru, you're up early."

"Yeah, I didn't want to get up this early either. The woman at home is such a pain. Oh, and today's exam is the Clone Technique. You'll be fine, right?"

"The Clone Technique? Uh... probably, maybe, I'll be fine."

Naruto's gaze drifted away. The moment he heard "Clone Technique," he got a little nervous. It would have been nice if it were the Transformation Jutsu. The Clone Technique had always been one of the ninja techniques he wasn't very good at.

"Well, good luck anyway."

Shikamaru patted Naruto's shoulder, said something about how becoming a genin meant he could no longer just loaf around, then walked into the school.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

The sounds of Clone Techniques vanishing kept echoing through the classroom. Naruto's classmates had all completed the examination and received Konoha ninja forehead protectors.

"Naruto, you're up."

Iruka knew that Naruto's Clone Technique was his weak point, so he had deliberately placed him last.

"Clone Technique!"

Hinata was watching. He absolutely could not embarrass himself. He absolutely could not fail. Naruto formed Hand Seals and put every ounce of effort into creating a clone. But the more nervous he became, the more likely he was to forget something important. He even messed up the seals he was supposed to pair together, and a clone with broken arms and legs appeared on the floor.

"...Failed!"

Iruka stared blankly at the limp clone on the ground for a second, then roared and marked Naruto as failed on the score sheet.

"Iruka-sensei, please give me another chance."

"That's right. Naruto-kun only made a mistake with his Hand Seals. If he tries again, he'll definitely do it properly."

The other examiner, Mizuki-sensei, seemed quite sympathetic toward Naruto and pleaded on his behalf as well.

"No. In actual combat, an enemy won't kindly give you another chance. This concerns Naruto's life and safety. I can't treat your life like a joke."

Iruka refused firmly. This was not a game, but ninja techniques that could determine life or death. If a ninja could not properly use the Clone Technique, their chances of dying would rise drastically.

"Naruto-kun..."

"..."

Facing Hinata, who wanted to comfort him, Naruto did not know what expression to make. He gritted his teeth, turned around, opened the window, and jumped out, disappearing from her sight.

Meanwhile, Mizuki revealed a triumphant smile.

Naruto lay on the roof of his house and stared at the blue sky, lost in thought. Then a shadow blocked the sunlight, and Mizuki appeared in his field of vision with a gentle smile on his face.

"Naruto, you must be upset about failing the exam. It's okay. Keep working hard."

"No, no, being upset is secondary. I just feel so embarrassed! I bragged so much in front of Hinata. I'm too ashamed to face anyone!"

The moment Naruto remembered what he had said to Hinata that morning, his face burned with embarrassment. It was humiliating. After raising so many flags, he had actually failed!

"I-is that so?"

Mizuki's smile stiffened. This was a little different from what he had expected.

"And I promised Hinata's parents I'd become a jonin so I could marry into their family. But I failed at the very first step. What if Hinata gets stolen away by someone else...? My life is nothing but darkness now..."

"You really are hopeless. Have you heard of the Scroll of Seals?"

"Mm..."

The Scroll of Seals. It was a very familiar name. Naruto had heard Orochimaru mention it many times, always saying it was useless. That made Naruto believe it really was useless, which was why he fell for Mizuki's lies and went to steal the Scroll of Seals.

Night fell, and the people of Konoha were all immersed in dreams. A small figure slipped into the Third Hokage's home beneath the cover of darkness.

"The Scroll of Seals, the Scroll of Seals..."

Naruto crept through the Third Hokage's home. According to Mizuki, the item should be hidden in a secret compartment in the Third Hokage's study. Just as Naruto was still trying to figure out the layout of the house, he suddenly bumped into a little brat head-on. Wearing pajamas, the boy wandered down the hall sleepily. After staring at Naruto for three seconds, he opened his mouth...

"Mm?!"

"Shh, I'm not a bad guy."

Naruto swiftly covered Konohamaru's mouth and dragged him into a shadowed corner.

"Let go of me! I'm the Third Hokage's grandson. You snuck into my house—do you have a death wish?"

As a second-generation village kid, Konohamaru had the air of someone who introduced himself by announcing his grandfather's name to everyone he met. But Naruto only had his mission on his mind right now. Who had time to care who this kid was?

"Who cares who you are? Don't interfere with my mission."

"A mission? So, big brother, you're a ninja."

"Not yet, but I will be after I complete this mission."

"Ah, I get it. It must be a test from Grandfather."

"Kid, you're pretty smart. That's right. Once I get the Third Hokage's Scroll of Seals, I'll succeed."

"No, no, Grandfather is really strong. It's impossible to take something from him."

"How will you know if you don't try? Watch me!"

"Hmph. If you can get the Scroll of Seals from Grandfather, I'll acknowledge you as my big brother."

"Forget it, forget it. I don't want that."

The two of them sneaked to the study together. With Konohamaru's help, Naruto did not even need to pick the lock, making him rather pleased with the brat he had encountered along the way.

"Oh, I found it."

Following Mizuki's instructions, Naruto pulled out a book from the bookshelf. The floor then split open, revealing a secret compartment with a scroll nearly as tall as Naruto lying inside.

"Naruto, what are you doing in my home?"

Naruto had not even had time to celebrate before a mild question startled him. The Third Hokage had appeared behind him like a ghost.

"...Sexy Jutsu!"

Naruto suddenly turned around and used the completed version of the Sexy Jutsu. A nude blonde beauty with a voluptuous body appeared in the air, and the Third Hokage's blood rushed to his head. He passed out instantly with a nosebleed.

"Hahahaha! That was way too easy."

Laughing madly, Naruto hoisted the Scroll of Seals onto his back, left the Third Hokage's house, and headed for the agreed meeting place.

"...Big brother!"

Looking at his collapsed grandfather, Konohamaru felt genuine awe for someone for the first time. Perhaps he was still too young to understand that Naruto had not defeated the Third Hokage through strength, but through hormones.

"Let's see... Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu? Why does this useless ninja technique come first? No wonder Uncle Snake always said this stupid book was useless. Let's see... Impure World Reincarnation... I already learned that. Flying Thunder God... Can I even understand this thing?"

Naruto squatted on the ground and opened the Scroll of Seals with great anticipation, only to discover that with his current knowledge, he could understand only three ninja techniques. Two of them were ones he could understand only because someone had taught him already. Half the excitement in his heart was immediately extinguished.

"Hmm, this Shadow Clone Jutsu looks pretty simple. It only has one seal."

Still unwilling to give up, Naruto picked up the Scroll of Seals and read it again. To his surprise, he discovered that the Shadow Clone Jutsu was incredibly easy to learn. He immediately began practicing it, completely ignoring the warning written afterward.

One hour later

"Naruto, can you tell me what exactly you're doing?"

The veins at Iruka's temple bulged. After finally finding Naruto, he discovered that this brat was lying on the ground doing something unknown.

"I'm taking the exam, Iruka-sensei. You can give me my forehead protector now, right?"

"Exam? What are you talking about?"

"The make-up test Mizuki-sensei gave me. As long as I bring out the Scroll of Seals, I pass."

"Mizuki? Watch out!"

Iruka suddenly had a bad feeling. An astonishing Killing Intent came from behind them. He quickly shoved Naruto away, but several kunai struck his own body.

"I never expected you to find this place, Iruka."

"Cough, cough... Mizuki, what are you trying to do?"

Iruka spat out a mouthful of warm blood and glared at Mizuki as he stepped out from the shadows.

"What am I trying to do? Naturally, I'm going to kill this brat, then use the ninja techniques in the Scroll of Seals to become the strongest ninja in the world."

"Iruka-sensei!"

Even Naruto was not dumb enough to miss that he had been used. He wanted to help Iruka, but Iruka stopped him with a shout.

"Don't come over! Run! Go find the Third Hokage!"

"Ridiculous. Do you think a little brat can escape my grasp?"

Mizuki looked at Iruka unhurriedly. He was only a chunin and had nothing especially remarkable about him, but dealing with a brat who was not even a genin would be far too easy.

"Now that I think about it, Naruto, you don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

"Shut up! Don't say it!"

"Twelve years ago, the Nine-Tails Fox attacked Konoha. That was the very year you were born. Have you never wondered why the people in the village hate you so much?"

Mizuki removed the Fuma Shuriken from his back, intending to finish Naruto off while he was distracted and eliminate any future trouble. That was why he had attacked Naruto with words first.

"Mizuki!"

Iruka pulled the kunai from his body and charged at Mizuki in fury, only to be kicked back.

"That's right. You're the Nine-Tails Fox. That damned monster took your form—the cursed fox monster, that hateful demon fox that nearly destroyed Konoha...?"

The more Mizuki spoke, the more agitated he became. He had been young back then and had nearly been caught up in the Nine-Tails' attack, so he deeply hated the Nine-Tails. He had gotten too absorbed in his own words. At that moment, Naruto, who should have been beside Iruka, suddenly vanished. Then a fist rapidly filled Mizuki's vision, followed by searing pain in his cheek as he was sent flying.

"Who the hell are you to call someone else's friend a monster over and over again?!"

Naruto pulled back his fist and roared at Mizuki in uncontrollable rage.

"Huh? Huh?! Naruto, you know the Nine-Tails is inside you?"

Iruka was completely thrown off. He was not a Jinchuriki and did not know that Naruto could communicate with the Nine-Tails. From the sound of it, Naruto even had a good relationship with it. This isn't right. This isn't how this is supposed to go! Iruka screamed internally.

"Of course I know. He's my best friend. He's the one person no one is allowed to insult."

Naruto was just like that. Someone could call him a monster or trash right in front of him, and he could laugh it off. But they absolutely could not insult his friends.

"Ha... hahaha. I was worried for nothing. Hinata has been by your side since you were little. How could you possibly be a demon fox? You are Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha."

"Damn it! You damned monster!"

Mizuki returned from where he had been knocked away with intense Killing Intent. Naruto's furious punch had even knocked out one of his teeth.

"You used me, and you insulted my friend. Are you ready to get beaten into a pulp?"

"What can a little brat like you possibly do?!"

"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Naruto formed Hand Seals, and Chakra surged out from his body. In an instant, Naruto's clones packed the entire grove.

"Multiple Shadow Clones... He actually created a thousand clones. Isn't that way too absurd? Is this really that Dead Last Naruto?"

Iruka stared blankly at the Naruto clones filling the woods. A careful count showed there were more than a thousand. These were Shadow Clones—just how much Chakra did it take to create so many?

"Th-this is impossible!"

"Everyone, don't hold back!"

Naruto did not care how large Mizuki's psychological trauma was. He called out to his Shadow Clones, and they swallowed Mizuki like a pack of wolves.

"Naruto, congratulations. You passed. Starting today, you are a ninja."

Iruka's eyes were damp. The troublesome child had finally become capable of standing on his own. His efforts over the years, acting as both teacher and older brother, had not been in vain. As he spoke, he untied the forehead protector from his head and handed it to Naruto.

"Great! I'm one step closer to marrying into the family."

"It's not good to always be thinking about marrying into someone else's family. Cough, cough... If possible, could you take me to the hospital before celebrating?"

"Iruka-sensei!"

"Nine-Tails, was what Mizuki-sensei said true?"

Naruto's serious voice echoed through the Sealing Space.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you really attack the village? Did you really want to destroy Konoha?"

"If my nature truly was savage and cruel, if I loved slaughter, what would you do?"

The Nine-Tails stared at Naruto, trying to find even a trace of dissatisfaction or disgust in his eyes. But there was none. Naruto's gaze remained as clear as ever.

"Then I can only bear the hatred for you. The people in the village already think I'm you anyway, so it's fine."

"...Tch. I was controlled back then. I never wanted to attack Konoha."

"So that's how it was. I knew it. Nine-Tails, you don't seem like a bad person at all."

"You little brat, I'm tired. I don't want to see you."

The Nine-Tails kicked Naruto out of the Sealing Space. If this continued, he would sooner or later be infected by this brat.

"Hehe, Nine-Tails, are you embarrassed? What Naruto said was really touching."

Minato suddenly appeared. He had happened to see Naruto get angry and beat someone up for the Nine-Tails. Since he was connected to the Nine-Tails' Chakra, he could somewhat sense the Nine-Tails' feelings. Even his expression turned into a punchable °ω°.

"Go die!"

The Nine-Tails flew into a rage, wrapped Minato up with his tail, and viciously slammed him into the ground.

1 hit

2 hit

3 hit

No one knew how many times he was thrown around. Only after Minato surrendered did the Nine-Tails let him go.

"That child... he finally became an outstanding ninja too. Sob... sob sob... Kushina, our child has become an outstanding ninja."

"All right, stop crying."

Perhaps because he no longer had a physical body, Minato's emotions were always wildly unstable. Seeing Naruto's excellent performance now, he started crying again, driving the Nine-Tails nearly insane.

"Kushina, I miss you."

The Nine-Tails began to miss the days when it had lived inside Kushina. At least it had not had to deal with these two idiot father and son driving it crazy.