The Story Officially Begins

The theoretical knowledge exam had ended as early as yesterday.

It had basically just been a formality.

The real highlight was today's practical exam, with the Three Body Techniques being the most important part. Generally speaking, any examinee who could successfully master the Three Body Techniques would definitely be able to graduate, because it meant they already possessed the basic strength required of a Genin.

To put it bluntly, no matter how pathetic someone like that was, based on the experience of past wars, they could still become qualified cannon fodder!

Even on a battlefield against terrifying Kage-level enemies, they could still play some small role in wearing down the opponent's Chakra or stamina!

Wasn't the famed Third Raikage, A, dragged to death by Iwagakure's human-wave tactics!?

Of course, in that war, the Third Raikage had also made the Stone Ninja side pay the terrible price of over a thousand casualties.

So from that perspective, even the lowest-ranking Genin still had some use!

Theory was only one aspect.

Ninjas ultimately had to be judged by their actual combat strength!

As someone who had firmly held first place for six consecutive years, Menma had no problems at all with either yesterday's theoretical knowledge exam or today's practical exam. His performance was unquestionably the best.

Unless something unexpected happened.

Menma would still graduate smoothly as first in the class, perhaps even first in the entire grade. As Menma's teacher—and someone who had already come to see Menma as his own younger brother—Iruka was naturally extremely satisfied!

"Just as expected of Menma-kun, who's been first in the class for six years straight. It looks like you'll be first among this year's graduates too, right, Teacher Iruka?"

A young man standing beside Iruka, wearing a gentle smile, spoke with a chuckle.

This young man was also one of the people in charge of this graduation exam. He was likewise an instructor at the Ninja Academy, and the first minor boss to appear in the Original Work—Mizuki!

Judging from his appearance alone.

Mizuki looked every bit as gentle and mild-mannered a teacher as Iruka!

But Menma, standing there, knew perfectly well about this man's darker side.

Speaking of Mizuki, Menma had regretted it not long after he had instinctively mastered the Clone Technique a few years ago and casually performed it in front of Iruka.

Because when he had learned the Clone Technique, Menma had subconsciously overlooked an important plot point from his graduation.

That was the theft of the Scroll of Seals.

That had been a perfectly legitimate opportunity for him to gain extra benefits from the Scroll of Seals. Unfortunately, he had carelessly mastered the Clone Technique, and afterward it would have been difficult to deliberately pretend that he could not use it. He could only regretfully miss out on that plot point!

Besides, that Scroll of Seals might not even have been authentic. Or rather, even if it had been authentic, he might not necessarily have been allowed to see everything written inside it.

Menma did not believe that "Naruto" from the Original Work could truly have stolen the Scroll of Seals so easily. He could only have taken it away because Sarutobi Hiruzen had tacitly permitted it!

In other words, everything had been under that man's control!

Mizuki included!

There might have been a few minor surprises, but there was no way the overall plan could have gone wrong. Otherwise, it would have been an insult to Sarutobi Hiruzen's intelligence.

So the Scroll of Seals' true value had to be called into question!

As for the bug-like ninjutsu known as the Shadow Clone.

It was still very necessary for Menma!

His Chakra reserves were equally outrageous, and he had the Nine-Tails' Chakra as a foundation. The Shadow Clone Technique was also practically tailor-made for him, making it ideal for exploiting its bug-like mechanics to multiply his training efficiency!

There was no way to get it this time!

But there was still Kakashi, and even Jiraiya in the future, to look forward to.

There was no need for him to rush. Menma refused to believe that he would not be able to get his hands on the Shadow Clone Technique!

"Hehe, that will depend on the results of the other students' exams as well. Here, this is your Headband, Menma. Remember to attend the Graduation Ceremony tomorrow. There are some further arrangements that need to be announced afterward."

Iruka first shook his head with a soft laugh. Then, watching Menma walk over, he picked up a Headband from the table beside him and handed it to Menma.

"Yes, Teacher Iruka. Then please excuse me."

After taking the Headband, Menma gave a slight bow to Iruka and Mizuki, then turned and left the classroom.

He was somewhat curious about what Mizuki, who had resolved to defect to Orochimaru, would do now that he was no longer involved, but he would not spend too much thought or time on it.

Mizuki was ultimately just a minor character.

Naruto in the Original Work had needed to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique he had just learned and drown Mizuki in a human-wave assault.

Menma did not.

His personal strength alone was already enough to deal with Mizuki.

Not to mention that he had the Nine-Tails' power backing him up!

To put it bluntly, if Menma did not care about the consequences, there was a certain chance that he could take Konoha down with him!

Someone like Mizuki naturally did not even register in Menma's eyes.

What Menma failed to notice, however, was the faintly strange look that flashed through Mizuki's eyes at one moment as he watched Menma's departing back.

After Menma left.

The examinees who entered one after another afterward also smoothly passed the graduation exam.

Almost no one made any obvious mistakes, much less failed.

Unlike the standards of earlier times.

In recent years, almost no examinees had failed the graduation exam, and Menma's class was no exception. Apart from a handful of unlucky fools, every other examinee passed successfully!

Although there was still the real main event ahead—the individual examinations conducted by the Jonin and Chunin assigned to lead them—and those who failed would be sent back, the initial segment of the Original Work proved that some team leaders, including Kakashi, had indeed sent graduated students back to the Ninja Academy before.

Kakashi was the most extreme case. For several consecutive years, every student had been sent back, and not a single team had passed his test. Perhaps Kakashi's special status gave him that degree of authority, but it was enough to show that this was not an isolated case, but an accepted rule!

Of course, most of these Little Ones still knew nothing about that. Having received their Headbands, every one of them was still brimming with excitement!

As soon as the exams ended.

Groups began heading out one after another to celebrate with a meal.

As the undisputed star among this year's graduates, Naruto called on his classmates to celebrate together the moment the exam ended. Thanks to Naruto's status, most people accepted the invitation, with only a small number declining.

Menma was one of them.

Naruto and the other students did not think much of it. After all, six years had already passed. Who did not know everyone else's personality by now!?

Uchiha Sasuke also declined the invitation. This young master of the Uchiha clan had no interest in attending such a childish gathering!

His goal had always been singular and unwavering!