Naruto is an Outstanding Student

[Naruto, it is time to get up for morning training.]

"Mmm... five more... minutes..."

[I will count to three. If you are not up by then, your training for today will be doubled.]

"I'm up!"

Naruto snapped his eyes open and scrambled out of bed, clutching his racing heart. "Master, next time you wake me up, could you please not say such terrifying things?"

[If you are afraid, then wake up on time and stop waiting for me to call you.]

"Emmm..."

Naruto pondered for a few seconds before asking, "Then how about I have my mom and dad wake me up?"

[Are you certain?]

"...Maybe I should just let Kurama do it instead."

[This old man has no interest in waking you up!]

"Eh~ don't be like that~"

Land of Fire, Hidden Leaf Village, Ninja Academy.

"Tomorrow is the graduation exam, so today we will review the Three Basic Techniques one last time."

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

"Sure thing, Iruka-sensei."

In the classroom, a blond youth stood up. Everyone around him, regardless of gender, focused their gaze upon him. However, these gazes were complex, ranging from admiration and dislike to fear.

"First, use the Clone Technique, then transform into my appearance, and finally use the Substitution Technique to swap places with a clone."

Iruka said to Naruto, "Any questions?"

Naruto offered his ancestral sunny smile. "None."

He then formed the hand seals and shouted, "Clone Technique!"

Two standard clones appeared beside Naruto.

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

All three Narutos formed the hand seals simultaneously, their mouths moving in unison, yet only one voice rang out: "Transformation Technique!"

The real Naruto transformed into the likeness of Iruka, even mimicking his current expression, while the two clones remained as they were.

"Excellent!"

Iruka nodded again, satisfied, and pulled a small rubber ball from his pocket. "I will throw this ball at you; try to use the Substitution Technique to swap places with a clone and dodge it."

Naruto said in Iruka's voice, "I am ready."

Iruka threw the ball at "himself"—just as it was about to make contact, "Iruka" suddenly turned back into Naruto. The ball passed through where Naruto had been, struck the classroom wall, and bounced back into Iruka's hand.

The real Naruto, still in the guise of Iruka, took advantage of the others' attention being drawn to the clones and moved swiftly behind Iruka.

"Very good!"

Iruka turned around to look at Naruto, patting his shoulder as he praised him. "Return to your seat."

As Naruto walked back, Iruka continued calling names. "Next, Uchiha Sasuke..."

The black-haired youth, Uchiha Sasuke, stood up silently, likewise drawing the attention of the others in the classroom. However, the level of attention was not as high as Naruto's, and the gazes were not as complex.

Uchiha Sasuke was well aware of this.

Although he did not care what others thought of him, he harbored a tiny bit of resentment that Naruto's grades were better than his own—as a ninja and a member of the Uchiha Clan, he should naturally be superior to the others.

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

Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but recall five years ago. That year he was seven, and his grades were first in the class; Naruto was also seven, and his grades were dead last.

However, starting from some unknown day, the situation gradually changed, and Naruto's grades improved bit by bit. Even though he still slept in class and occasionally skipped school, his grades kept climbing.

After about a year, Naruto's grades were already the best in the class.

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

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

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

It wasn't that Sasuke couldn't accept the fact that Naruto had surpassed him; he was simply curious about Naruto's progress and wanted to know the reason, hoping that he could use the same method to improve himself.

Unfortunately, Sasuke and Naruto rarely interacted, especially after Naruto gradually became popular in the class.

Sasuke also completed the Three Basic Techniques well, but during the Transformation Technique segment, Iruka pointed out a minor flaw. With a cold face, he returned to his seat, lost in reflection.

The others in the classroom took turns going up to the podium to perform the Three Basic Techniques.

During the break.

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

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

"I don't even know where the limits of my ninjutsu lie, so how would I know that? Shikamaru should be able to guess something."

"You guys, even if you don't listen in class, at least look at the textbooks. According to our village's long-standing tradition, genin who graduate from the Ninja Academy need to form three-man squads, led by a jonin instructor. Choji, Ino, and I will definitely be grouped together because of our clan connections."

"As expected of you, Shikamaru! Can you deduce who I'll be grouped with then?"

"No idea."

"Why?"

"Your Inuzuka Clan doesn't have fixed team pairings; or rather, you can team up with most other ninja. Given the situation in our class, there are just too many possible combinations."

"I see, you mean that Akamaru and I are just that strong, right! Hahaha!"

"...Whatever makes you happy."

"Anyway, we'll know by tomorrow, or at the latest the day after, so there's no need to rush."

Then, the bell for class rang.

The next day, the graduation exam arrived as scheduled.

"The content for this graduation exam is the Clone Technique. I will be in the classroom next door; you will come in one by one in order."

After Iruka finished speaking, he left the classroom, and the first person followed him out.

Each person performed the Transformation Technique once, and regardless of success or failure, it was over very quickly.

Naruto walked into the empty classroom, where Iruka and another teacher named Mizuki were sitting at the podium.

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

[If you can't even pass such a simple exam, I'll triple your daily training once you get back.]

Suddenly, Naruto felt his entire body filled with courage and drive!

Iruka: "Begin."

Naruto formed the hand seals, pouring out his chakra without reservation: "Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof! The empty classroom was instantly packed with dozens of Naruto.

"It's actually... the Multi Shadow Clone Technique?!"

Iruka's face was full of shock: "And this number... Naruto, when did you learn the Multi Shadow Clone Technique?"

"Hmm... four years ago, I think."

Naruto, whether it was the original or a clone, answered with a smile: "Does this mean I can graduate, Iruka-sensei?"

"Of course you can!"

Iruka smiled and handed over a forehead protector: "If you can't graduate with this, then no one can."

Naruto took the forehead protector with both hands, looking as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders: "Thank you, Iruka-sensei!"

He then dispelled the shadow clones and left the classroom, and the next person went in.

By the time the exam ended, there wasn't a single person who hadn't mastered the Clone Technique.

[These little brats, is there not a single one with poor talent?]

Dark emotions surged in Mizuki's heart: [I was hoping to trick someone into helping me steal the Scroll of Seals, but it looks like I'll have to do it myself.]

That night, Mizuki attempted to break into the home of the Third Hokage, was discovered, and was thrown into prison...