Graduation Exam

Six years later.

On this day in Konoha's Year 60, the morning was bright, warm, and filled with the fragrance of spring flowers.

Morning dew soaked the dense forest. Cool air drifted through the trees, carrying the calls of early birds and the scent of wildflowers to a small river.

Two twelve-year-old boys stood on the surface of the river, staring each other down.

Sasuke Uchiha wore a black, high-collared outfit, with the Uchiha fan crest on his back.

Naruto Uzumaki wore orange and yellow, with the Uzumaki clan crest on his back.

Suddenly, a small fish leaped from the water, splashing up droplets.

Almost at the same time, three shuriken flew toward Naruto in a triangular formation.

Whoosh! Naruto hooked out a kunai with his finger, spun it twice, and with three sharp clangs, knocked aside the shuriken with a wave of his hand. Then, bang! His right arm collided with Sasuke's as Sasuke rushed in.

Their gazes clashed at close range.

Hmph. They smiled at the same time.

Sasuke's eyes instantly turned red, three black tomoe appearing within his pupils.

Today was graduation exam day at the Ninja Academy.

Inside the classroom.

"All right... the graduation exam will test the Clone Technique. Those called will go to the next classroom in order. First... Kin Utsukushizō, come to the next classroom." Iruka announced while holding the roster.

"Coming!" An ordinary-looking student raised his hand and followed Iruka out.

Naruto and Sasuke sat in the back row. Sasuke rested with his eyes closed, looking completely uninterested in anything around him. Naruto, meanwhile, sat with his hands behind his head, looking bored, though he occasionally glanced at Hinata, who sat in the front-left.

The students were called in one by one. Some emerged excited, while others hung their heads in disappointment.

"Next, Sasuke Uchiha."

Naruto smiled. "Confident?" Sasuke rose to his feet and snorted. "Idiot." He had copied Naruto's Shadow Clone Technique with his Three Tomoe Sharingan. How could a Clone Technique exam at the Ninja Academy level possibly stop him?

Before long, Sasuke came out of the next classroom with an indifferent expression, already wearing a Konoha forehead protector.

An exam like this was child's play.

"Hurry up. I'll be waiting for you in the woods behind the mountain." The graduation exam was the school's only arrangement for the day. Once Sasuke finished, he had nothing else to do, so he urged Naruto before leaving the Ninja Academy to train behind the mountain.

"Next, Naruto Uzumaki."

"Ah..." Naruto stood, scratched his head, and walked into the next classroom.

There was only one desk in the classroom. Iruka and Mizuki sat behind it, with several neat rows of leaf forehead protectors laid out on top.

"Begin." Iruka nodded from his seat.

Naruto nodded, took a deep breath, and formed hand seals. Chakra immediately surged around him, flying wildly throughout the classroom—

Poof.

A pale, half-crippled clone lay sprawled on the floor to Naruto's right. It even stuck out its tongue, looking as though it was truly beyond saving.

"..." The three people present all fell into a brief silence.

Iruka said decisively, "Failed!"

Naruto looked as if he had been struck by lightning.

"Iruka-sensei!" Mizuki spoke up beside Iruka, pleading on Naruto's behalf. "Although Naruto's usual grades aren't very good, we've all seen how hard he works. And this Clone Technique can still be considered a success, so let him pass..."

Naruto looked up in surprise.

Iruka disagreed. "Mizuki-sensei, no matter what you say, I can't allow it. Everyone else created three clones, but Naruto only made one... and that clone is completely useless! So I can't let him pass!"

Naruto lowered his head, then turned and jumped out through the classroom window.

After the exam ended, a large group of parents gathered outside the Ninja Academy to pick up their children. Those who saw their children wearing Konoha forehead protectors beamed with joy, while those who did not looked utterly disappointed.

"Well done! Just as expected of my son!"

"Hehe, Dad, I'm already a ninja who can stand on his own!"

"Congratulations on graduating! Mom will make you a feast tonight!"

"Really!?"

Naruto sat silently on a swing across from the entrance, his head lowered as he listened to the lively voices nearby. Tree shade fell across him. The forehead protector did not belong to him, and neither did the celebration.

Some parents noticed Naruto across the way and could not help whispering. "Oh, right, that child..." Someone beside them continued, "It seems he's the only one who failed. It would be terrible if someone like him became a ninja!" "Huh? I heard that his usual grades..." "Hmph, serves him right, because he's..." "Shh, stop talking! Be careful he hears you! Besides, Lord Hokage has forbidden anyone from discussing it..."

Beneath the tree-shaded swing, Naruto tugged at his goggles and vanished in a leap.

Among the crowd, Iruka watched Naruto leave.

At Iruka's home, Mizuki suddenly knocked on the door. Iruka opened it in surprise. "What is it?"

Mizuki answered urgently, "Please hurry and gather at Lord Hokage's place! Naruto seems to have... stolen the Scroll of Sealing!"

"What?!" Iruka's expression changed drastically.

Over at the Third Hokage's place.

"That is a dangerous scroll sealed by the First Hokage. If it is misused, it will be disastrous... Find Naruto quickly!"

The Third Hokage spoke in a low voice, then waved his hand. "Disperse!"

Whoosh! The ninjas scattered in all directions.

The Third Hokage remained where he was, smoke curling from his pipe. Kakashi stepped out from behind him, glanced at the dark sky and forest in the distance, and asked, "Which jutsu do you think Naruto will look through, Third Hokage?"

The Third Hokage smiled, took several puffs from his pipe, and slowly said, "It should be that jutsu... However, learning that jutsu is impossible without that person's notes."

"Ah..." Kakashi pulled down his forehead protector, covering his crimson left eye.

In the darkness of night, Mizuki leaped through the forest.

Once everyone in the village knew about this, he would get rid of Naruto... Then he would disguise himself as Naruto, steal the Scroll of Sealing, and bring it to Lord Orochimaru...

As Mizuki considered his plan, he soon arrived near the forest cabin where he and Naruto had agreed to meet.

"Hm? Iruka? Why is that guy here..." Mizuki concealed himself atop a tree and saw Naruto and Iruka standing in the clearing before the treehouse.

But Iruka alone could not stop me...

Mizuki took out eight kunai, aimed them at Naruto, who carried the Scroll of Sealing on his back, and flung them with both hands.

Iruka suddenly noticed them below. He did his best to shove Naruto away, taking three kunai himself. Blood streamed from his wounds.

"You actually found this place, Iruka..." Minato stood atop the tree and said sinisterly, "Naruto, hand the scroll over to me."

Iruka roared, "Naruto, don't give him the scroll even if you die! This sealed scroll records many dangerous jutsu!"

Naruto carried the scroll on his back, his head lowered in silence.

Standing atop the tree, Mizuki extended a hand and smiled. "Naruto, there's no point in keeping it. Let me tell you the truth..."

"You can't!" Iruka realized what Mizuki was about to say.

Mizuki ignored Iruka and continued. "Twelve years ago... you know about the sealing of the Demon Fox, don't you? After that incident, the village established a rule that no one could violate! A rule that only you, Naruto, were not allowed to know!"

Mizuki paused and looked at Naruto. Naruto kept his head lowered, offering none of the expected reaction, so Mizuki continued his speech. "The rule was that no one could ever mention... that you are the Nine-Tails Fox!"

"Stop talking!" Iruka shouted.

"You are the one who killed Iruka's parents! You are also the Nine-Tails Fox that destroyed our village! After you were sealed by the Hokage you admired most, the people of the village have been keeping you in the dark! You—" Mizuki laughed loudly and removed the giant shuriken from his back.

"Are you done?" Naruto raised his head, cutting Mizuki off.

Mizuki froze, and so did Iruka.

"The Nine-Tails Fox you mentioned..." Naruto actually smiled. Golden flames gradually began to rise from his face and the clothes on his shoulders... Boom! Naruto's entire body was bathed in gold!

"Are you talking about this, Kurama?"

Roar...

A massive golden fox head lunged at Mizuki atop the tree.