Graduation Exam

Early the next morning, Tejima Shinichi packed his ninja tool bag and prepared to head out.

"Shinichi, wait." Mori Chie called out to him, stepping forward to carefully straighten his slightly crooked collar. Her gentle gaze carried a note of reminder. "Stay calm during the exam. Just perform as you normally do."

Teshima Kazuto walked over with a slice of bread still in his mouth and cheered indistinctly, "That's right! My son will definitely be fine! Show those brats what the strength of the Top Student looks like!"

As he spoke, he gave Tejima Shinichi's shoulder a hard pat, but for some reason, nearly choked himself.

Tejima Shinichi looked at his parents, feeling this ordinary concern.

The confidence brought by that emerald green light in his palm last night left him especially relaxed now, even giving him a little more of the youthful high spirits he should have had.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly, and he gave his parents a carefree wave.

"Got it. I'm off."

With that, he turned and pushed open the front door.

The dim morning light instantly poured in, falling over him and outlining his back with a pale golden rim.

Teshima Kazuto watched Tejima Shinichi walk away with a steadiness he had never shown before, even a hint of swagger. He froze for a moment, then swallowed his bread and muttered with a laugh,

"Brat, that cocky attitude... who the hell did he get it from?"

Mori Chie stood beside her husband, watching the direction in which her son disappeared into the morning light. With a gentle smile, she lightly shook her head.

"From himself."

When he arrived at the academy, quite a few people had already gathered in the classroom.

"Shinichi! Good morning!"

Yamanaka Ino waved energetically in greeting. She stood beside Inuzuka Kiba, with Haruno Sakura next to her.

"Over here!" Inuzuka Kiba grinned and waved as well. Akamaru poked his head out from beside Kiba's leg and barked.

Tejima Shinichi nodded at them and walked over. He naturally reached out and rubbed Akamaru's head.

Nara Shikamaru stood to the side with his hands in his pockets, wearing an expression that screamed, "What a drag."

Akimichi Choji focused on eating his chips, while Hyuga Hinata stood quietly a little farther away, unconsciously poking her fingers together.

Aburame Shino leaned against the wall, almost completely lacking any presence.

"Shinichi, you don't look nervous at all." Ino smiled. Her tone was far more polite than when she argued with Haruno Sakura. "As expected of the Top Student."

Haruno Sakura stood beside Ino. When her eyes met Tejima Shinichi's, she subconsciously looked away. Her hands unconsciously pinched the hem of her clothes, and her voice was much more restrained than usual, carrying a hint of nervousness.

"Yeah... Shinichi will definitely be fine."

She might dare to argue red-faced with Ino over who was better suited for Sasuke, but before Tejima Shinichi, whose true strength was unfathomable and whose personality was somewhat aloof, she did not dare act out at all.

Besides, today was the graduation exam that would determine their futures. Even she could not help feeling unsettled, and she seemed rather distracted.

Tejima Shinichi's gaze swept across them, taking in Sakura's nervousness and the concern in Ino's eyes.

"With your usual grades, passing the exam won't be a problem."

Hearing that, Inuzuka Kiba immediately chimed in, though his tone was somewhat uncertain. "That's true, but who knows what they'll test us on today? What if we draw something we're bad at?"

He scratched his head. Akamaru let out a soft whine at his feet, as if echoing Kiba's concerns.

"What a drag..." Nara Shikamaru sighed, frowning. "If they were just testing the Three Basic Techniques, wouldn't that be enough? Why make such a big deal out of it?"

Akimichi Choji chewed on his chips and said indistinctly, "I just hope it doesn't take too long and delay lunch."

Ino put her hands on her hips, trying to encourage herself. "No matter what, I have to pass! I don't want to repeat a year!"

Haruno Sakura took a deep breath as well. Her face still held a trace of unease, and she was just about to say something—

"Hey! Sasuke! Stop right there!"

A loud and familiar voice came from the entrance, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Uzumaki Naruto charged in like a whirlwind, his brilliant blonde hair especially eye-catching beneath the sunlight. He was angrily blocking Sasuke's path and shouting at him.

Close behind him, Uchiha Sasuke walked in expressionlessly, turning a deaf ear to Naruto's yelling. He merely swept a cold gaze over everyone in the room, his eyes pausing for an instant when they landed on Tejima Shinichi.

"Ahhh! Sasuke!"

Haruno Sakura's expression changed almost instantly. Her earlier unease and restraint vanished without a trace. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes turned into hearts, and she abandoned Ino and Tejima Shinichi without hesitation, quickly jogging toward Sasuke.

"Sasuke, good morning! You look like you're in great shape today!"

Watching Sakura's retreating figure race away, Ino curled her lips in displeasure. "That wide forehead..."

Tejima Shinichi took in the entire scene, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.

Interesting.

Just yesterday, right in front of Naruto, he had slammed this Uchiha prodigy into the ground.

Sasuke showed nothing on the surface now, but Tejima Shinichi could sense the lingering stiffness and discomfort in that body from yesterday's fight.

Yet in Haruno Sakura's eyes, Sasuke was somehow "in great shape."

He glanced at Uchiha Sasuke again.

Sasuke had clearly noticed his gaze as well. A flash of hostility crossed those black eyes, but it quickly returned to indifference. Only his jawline unconsciously tightened slightly.

Tejima Shinichi thought to himself that Sasuke really was "in great shape"—at least he could still stand steadily and keep his emotions under control.

Just then, the classroom door was pulled open, and Umino Iruka entered carrying a stack of forms. The classroom immediately fell silent as everyone returned to their seats.

Umino Iruka stepped onto the podium, swept his gaze across the class, and announced in a booming voice,

"Everyone, quiet down and sit in your own seats! The graduation exam begins now! I will call out names one by one. When your name is called, go to the classroom next door for your assessment!"

He paused, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Uzumaki Naruto, who sat in the back with a tense expression, before adding,

"And... the subject of this exam is... the Clone Technique!"

At those words, cries of surprise immediately rose throughout the classroom. Some were delighted, while others were worried.

"The Clone Technique?!"

"So that's what it is!"

Uzumaki Naruto, sitting in the back, instantly fell pale. Cold sweat even seeped onto his forehead.

"Damn it..." He clutched his head, nearly collapsing onto his desk. His voice was filled with despair. "Of all things... it had to be what I'm worst at... What do I do... what do I do..."

Teacher Iruka did not give the students much time to fret. He picked up the roster and began calling names.

"First, Nara Shikamaru."

Shikamaru lazily stood up, scratched his head, and headed into the neighboring classroom.

Not long afterward, he returned with a Konoha forehead protector already tied around his arm.

Everyone gasped at the sight!

"Second, Akimichi Choji."

Choji stuffed the last chip into his mouth as he walked out. He passed just as smoothly and returned wearing a forehead protector.

Then Iruka's voice rang out again, clearly spreading through the classroom.

"Third, Tejima Shinichi."

Tejima Shinichi calmly rose to his feet and walked toward the neighboring classroom beneath everyone's gaze.

Throughout it all, Uchiha Sasuke's eyes remained fixed on his back until the door closed.

Inside the neighboring classroom, Umino Iruka and Mizuki sat at the examiners' table.

"Shinichi, begin whenever you're ready." Iruka smiled, anticipation in his eyes.

Tejima Shinichi nodded and formed hand seals in front of his chest.

Ram—Snake—Tiger.

"Clone Technique."

With a sharp shout, three clones identical to Tejima Shinichi instantly appeared at his side. Each

Iruka's face was filled with shock and admiration.

"This is... Shadow Clone! And three at once!" he exclaimed. "Shinichi, you're truly the finest student I've ever taught!!"

Mizuki stood as well, clapping with a warm smile. "What incredible talent, Shinichi."

However, deep within his lowered eyes, an imperceptible gloom flashed past.

Damn it... another one of these geniuses... effortlessly doing what others can't accomplish even with hard work... this disgusting talent...

But...

As though he had thought of something, the gloom on Mizuki's face disappeared.

Tejima Shinichi gave the two of them a slight nod. "Thank you, Teacher."

After dismissing his clones, he accepted his own Konoha forehead protector from Iruka.

"Congratulations, Shinichi."

Iruka spoke sincerely as he personally handed him the forehead protector.

Tejima Shinichi accepted it, casually holding the forehead protector in his hand as he turned and left the examination room.

When he returned to the original classroom, the brand-new forehead protector in his hand immediately drew everyone's attention.

The assessments continued as one name after another was called.

"Yamanaka Ino."

"Haruno Sakura."

"Uchiha Sasuke"...

They all passed successfully and returned wearing forehead protectors.

At last, Iruka called that name.

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

The atmosphere in the classroom instantly became subtle.

Everyone knew that the Clone Technique was Naruto's weakest skill.

Naruto stood up with a deathly pale face and trudged toward the neighboring classroom.

In a corner of the classroom, Hyuga Hinata tightly clenched the hem of her clothes, her pale eyes filled with worry.

Her gaze followed the direction Naruto had left in, and her lips trembled slightly. She seemed to want to say something, but in the end, no sound came out.

A moment later, Iruka's stern rebuke and the sound of something falling over came from next door.

When Naruto returned to the classroom dejectedly, his forehead was bare, and his face was filled with disappointment and unwillingness. He sat alone in the corner, standing in stark contrast to the classmates happily wearing their forehead protectors.

Time passed, and the graduation exam finally came to an end.

Some were happy, while others were sad.

The classroom door opened again, and Umino Iruka walked in. He looked around the room, his gaze briefly lingering on Naruto in the corner with a trace of complexity. Then he cleared his throat and announced loudly,

"Today's graduation exam has concluded. Those who passed, return here promptly at eight tomorrow morning. The class assignments will be announced then, and the designated Jonin teachers will lead you on missions."

He paused, then continued,

"Go home and get some proper rest today. Be prepared. Starting tomorrow, you will be true Konoha Genin. Dismissed!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the classroom erupted into noise.

The students who had passed excitedly discussed tomorrow's class assignments, guessing who they would be grouped with and who their Jonin instructor would be.

Those who had failed, such as Naruto, silently lowered their heads, appearing especially lonely amid all the laughter and celebration.

Tejima Shinichi did not join any discussion.

The instant Iruka announced the dismissal, he picked up the forehead protector from his desk, casually stuffed it into his ninja tool bag, and became the first to leave the classroom without the slightest hesitation.

He knew what would happen tonight, but he chose to be an observer.

None of it had anything to do with him.

In truth, the Scroll of Seals, which recorded countless forbidden techniques, held immense appeal for him.

Especially any ninjutsu related to Wood Release that it might contain. That was exactly what he wanted most right now.

However, he knew perfectly well that the shrewd Sarutobi Hiruzen would never hand the complete Scroll of Seals to Naruto.

It was more like a test, a test aimed at Uzumaki Naruto.

At most, Naruto would get one or two insignificant scrolls, or perhaps nothing more than a carefully forged copy.

For something so trivial, perhaps even nonexistent, rashly getting involved... it simply was not worth it.