Uzumaki Naruto Is an Honor Student

[Naruto, it's time to get up and train.]

"Mm... Let me sleep... five more minutes..."

[If you're not up by the time I count to three, you'll have to do double training today.]

"I'm up!"

Naruto's eyes flew open. He scrambled out of bed and pressed a hand to his pounding heart. "Sensei, next time you wake me up, could you not say something so terrifying?"

[If you're scared, get up on time instead of waiting for me to call you.]

"Emmm..."

Naruto thought for a few seconds, then asked, "Then could my mom and dad wake me up?"

[Are you sure?]

"...Maybe I'd better have Kurama do it."

[This old man can't be bothered to wake you up!]

"Aw, don't be like that~"

Land of Fire, Hidden Leaf Village, Ninja Academy.

"Tomorrow is the graduation exam, so today we'll review the three basic techniques one last time."

Umino Iruka stood at the lectern and addressed the students in the classroom. "Naruto, come up and give everyone a demonstration."

"Sure, Iruka-sensei."

A blond boy stood up. Everyone around him, boys and girls alike, turned their eyes toward him. But their gazes were complicated: some looked fondly at him, some disliked him, and some were afraid of him.

"First, use the Clone Technique, then transform into my likeness, and finally use the Substitution Technique to switch places with your clone."

Iruka asked Naruto, "Any questions?"

Naruto gave him a sunny smile passed down through the generations. "None."

Then he formed the Hand Seals and called out loudly, "Clone Technique!"

Two ordinary clones appeared beside Naruto.

Iruka nodded in satisfaction. "Next, the Transformation Technique."

All three Narutos formed Hand Seals at the same time, their mouths moving in unison, but only one voice rang out. "Transformation Technique!"

Naruto's original body transformed into Iruka, right down to his expression. The two clones beside him remained unchanged.

"Very good!"

Iruka nodded in satisfaction once more and took a small ball out of his pocket. "I'm going to throw this ball at you. Try to dodge it by using the Substitution Technique to switch places with one of your clones."

Naruto spoke in Iruka's voice. "I'm ready."

Iruka aimed at "himself" and threw the ball. Just before it hit, "Iruka" suddenly turned back into Naruto. The ball passed right through him, struck the classroom wall, then bounced back into Iruka's hands.

While everyone's attention was drawn to the clone, Naruto's original body, still looking like Iruka, moved quickly behind him.

"Excellent!"

Iruka turned to look at Naruto, praising him as he patted his shoulder. "You can go back to your seat."

Naruto headed back, and Iruka continued calling names. "Next, Uchiha Sasuke..."

The black-haired boy, Uchiha Sasuke, stood up quietly, drawing the attention of the other students in the classroom. But fewer people watched him than had watched Naruto, and their gazes were nowhere near as complicated.

Sasuke knew it.

He didn't care what other people thought of him, but he was a little displeased that Naruto was doing better than he was. As a ninja and a member of the Uchiha Clan, he was supposed to be better than everyone else.

"He used to be such a dead last..."

Sasuke couldn't help recalling five years earlier. He had been seven that year, ranked first in the class. Naruto had also been seven, but ranked last.

But at some point, things had started to change. Naruto's grades had gradually improved, little by little. He still slept in class and occasionally skipped lessons, but his grades kept getting better.

After about a year, Naruto had become the top student in the class.

Sasuke could still remember the look of shock on everyone's faces when Iruka announced Naruto's exam results that day.

For the next four years, Naruto's grades had remained consistently at the top of the class.

The dead last of the past had become an unquestionable honor student.

Sasuke could accept that Naruto had surpassed him. He was simply curious about Naruto's progress and wanted to know how he'd done it. Ideally, he could use the same method to improve himself.

Unfortunately, Sasuke and Naruto rarely spoke to each other—and even less so after Naruto gradually became popular in class.

Sasuke also demonstrated all three basic techniques without a hitch, but Iruka pointed out an imperfection in his Transformation Technique. He returned to his seat with a cold expression, reflecting on the mistake as he went.

The other students took turns going up to the lectern and demonstrating the three basic techniques.

During the break.

Several "problem children" who gave their teachers headaches gathered together.

"Naruto, do you think we'll be put on the same team after we graduate?"

"I don't even know the limits of ninjutsu. How would I know? Shikamaru might be able to figure something out."

"You guys should at least look at the textbook, even if you don't pay attention in class. According to the village's long-standing customs, Genin who graduate from the Ninja Academy are put into teams of three, with a teacher assigned to lead them. Choji, Ino, and I will definitely be on the same team because of our families."

"I knew you'd know, Shikamaru! Can you figure out who I'll be teamed up with?"

"I don't know."

"Why not?"

"The Inuzuka Clan doesn't have any set team combinations. You can team up with most ninja, really. Given our class, there are too many possible combinations."

"I get it! You mean Akamaru and I are really strong, right? Hahaha!"

"...Sure, whatever makes you happy."

"We'll find out tomorrow, or the day after at the latest. No need to rush."

Then the bell rang.

The next day, the graduation exam began as scheduled.

"The graduation exam will be on the Clone Technique. I'll be in the classroom next door. Come over one at a time, in order."

After saying that, Iruka left the classroom, followed by the first student.

Each student only had to use the Transformation Technique once. Whether they passed or failed, the test was over quickly.

Naruto entered the empty classroom. Iruka and another teacher named Mizuki were seated at the lectern.

"This is bad, Sensei. I'm super nervous right now!"

[If you can't pass an exam this simple, I'll triple your daily training when we get back.]

Naruto instantly felt filled with courage and determination!

Iruka said, "Begin."

Naruto formed Hand Seals, pouring out every last bit of his chakra. "Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof! In an instant, the empty classroom was packed with dozens of Narutos.

"Is that... the Multi Shadow Clone Technique?!"

Iruka looked astonished. "And that many clones... Naruto, when did you learn the Multi Shadow Clone Technique?"

"Um... four years ago."

One of the Narutos—though it was impossible to tell whether he was the original or a Shadow Clone—answered with a smile. "Does this mean I can graduate, Iruka-sensei?"

"Of course!"

Iruka smiled and handed him a Forehead Protector. "If you can't graduate after that, then no one can."

Naruto took the Forehead Protector with both hands and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei!"

Then he dispelled the Shadow Clones and left the classroom. The next student went in.

By the time the exam ended, not a single student had been unable to use the Clone Technique properly.

[Those little brats! Is there not a single one without talent?]

Dark feelings stirred in Mizuki's heart. [I was hoping to trick someone into helping me steal the Scroll of Seals. Looks like I'll have to do it myself.]

That night, Mizuki tried to break into the Third Hokage's home. He was discovered and thrown in prison...