Naruto Didn't Pass

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"Idiot. By saying that, aren't you basically telling everyone that you can't even beat me, someone who's never beaten Sasuke?" Yashui raised his voice by an octave too.

"Tch, so you're determined to fight me." Kiba Inuzuka smiled confidently. "I'll teach you how to speak to your senior!"

"Sure, go ahead and make your move!" Yashui glanced at the dejected Naruto. "I accept your challenge as Uzumaki Naruto's little brother."

"You little brat. Quit acting so tough! Akamaru, let's go!" Kiba didn't even wait for Yashui to get ready before throwing a punch.

"Thud!" Kiba's fist passed right through Yashui, who was sitting at his desk.

Kiba panicked. He sniffed the air and looked behind him. Somehow, Yashui had already appeared behind him.

"Clone Technique won't work on me. I can smell you!" Kiba said, then kicked at Yashui again.

Yashui sidestepped, guiding Kiba's leg past him. Then he raised his knee to catch Kiba's lower leg and struck Kiba's knee joint with an elbow.

Joints were fragile. Yashui's blow sent Kiba tumbling to the ground in pain. It took him several seconds to get back up.

"You should get to the infirmary and have that checked out, just in case your joint suffers lasting damage." Yashui gave Kiba a scare.

Kiba really was unsteady on his feet when he stood up, because of the pain. Yashui's words made him anxious. He was descended from the Inuzuka clan and intended to be a ninja for the rest of his life. He didn't want to be left with a disability just as his ninja career was beginning.

There was no choice. Kiba looked at Yashui, then at his leg. After thinking it over, he decided his leg mattered more than his pride and limped off to the infirmary.

Yashui had exaggerated when he mentioned lasting damage. With a ninja's physical constitution, an injury like this wouldn't cause any serious problems. All of them would have plenty of chances to fight while injured in the future.

Besides, Yashui didn't actually want to make a big deal out of it. If he fought Kiba, one of them would definitely get hurt. Now that Yashui was in Konoha, he'd have plenty of chances to deal with Kiba. Why ruin their relationship beyond repair?

Though Kiba liked to mock others, his confidence wasn't baseless. His ability to charge and lock onto targets was excellent.

His nose could track a target, and the ninjutsu passed down through the Inuzuka clan let him launch powerful charges. Without either one, he'd be like Kakashi the first time he used Lightning Cutter, swinging around without hitting anyone.

Without using the Sharingan or the technique taught to him by the Three-Legged Golden Crow, Yashui would have a hard time beating Kiba once he got serious.

After sorting through the exam papers for a while, Iruka returned to the classroom.

"Congratulations to most of the class, and to Sarutobi Yashui, who graduated early. You've all passed the exam. Those who didn't pass can choose to repeat a year or drop out." Iruka-sensei glanced at Naruto, who was sitting dazed in the corner of the classroom, then continued addressing the class.

"Those who passed, line up and follow me to have your photos taken together. Then we'll register your ninja records..."

"I'll be right back." Yashui patted Naruto's shoulder. "Don't be too upset. You'll definitely pass."

Naruto seemed not to hear Yashui. He stayed behind in the classroom by himself.

Everyone else had left. Naruto still hadn't moved.

When school let out, everyone had a parent there with them. Naruto alone sat on the swing, watching them enviously.

On the day Yashui became a ninja, Konohamaru and the Third Hokage came to the Ninja Academy to pick him up. Sarutobi Asuma came along too.

"What's wrong, Yashui? You don't seem very happy." The Third Hokage noticed that something was off.

"That's right, Yashui. You're a Genin now. You should be celebrating. Once missions start raining down on you, you might not feel like celebrating anymore." Asuma finished with a loud laugh.

"Naruto... didn't pass the exam." Yashui looked at Konohamaru, then at the Third Hokage. "Grandpa, could you arrange a makeup exam for Naruto? His fighting ability is fine..."

"Yeah, Grandpa..." Konohamaru tugged at the Third Hokage's clothes too.

"Well... the Hokage leads a fair village. We can't give him special treatment just because he's your friend." The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe, his expression grave. "I want Naruto to pass too... He is..."

Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Yashui suddenly realized how childish his own actions had been.

Only the Third Hokage knew that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son. He had watched Naruto grow up all these years, and his feelings for Naruto were no less profound than those he had for Yashui and Konohamaru. Apart from Naruto himself, the Third Hokage was probably the most upset that Naruto hadn't graduated.

Yashui took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Let's go home!"

Once he was smiling, Yashui couldn't help but mock himself. What was he worrying for? Mizuki was still going to take the fall and give Naruto a chance to pass, wasn't he?

That night, after dinner, Yashui stayed in his room doing nothing. He listened for sounds outside, ready to head out and join the group of ninjas searching for Naruto. With a name as impressive as the Scroll of Sealing, it was bound to contain plenty of high-level ninjutsu. Learning a little while he had the chance would help him in his future ninja career.

He could also check on Naruto while he was at it. After seeing Naruto like that when he failed the exam, it was hard not to worry about him.

Come to think of it, there was something fishy about Naruto stealing the Scroll of Sealing in the original story. The Third Hokage had figured out Naruto's location from the start, so why hadn't he sent a bunch of ninjas to stop Naruto from opening the Scroll of Sealing? Clearly, the Third Hokage was using this opportunity to give Naruto a makeup exam.

No! The more he thought about it, the fishier it seemed. Yashui didn't remember seeing Mizuki around much when he was at the Ninja Academy. Could even Mizuki be an Anbu agent in disguise? Had the Third Hokage arranged this whole elaborate play?

Perhaps the Third Hokage also wanted to use this incident to tell Naruto about his origins, and help the boy, who was always playing pranks, grow up a little. It would also let Naruto learn a practical ninjutsu technique and pass the graduation exam.

Not long after dinner, Yashui heard that Naruto had stolen the Scroll of Sealing.

The ninjas shouted as they ran around, so everyone heard them. Many of the ninjas searching for Naruto saw him as the Demon Fox. They hated Naruto for destroying their homes. By shouting loudly, they wanted everyone in Konoha to know what Naruto was doing, so they could ruin his reputation.

Yashui immediately headed out to the Hokage Building to find out what was going on.

When he reached the Third Hokage's office, the Third Hokage looked at Yashui in surprise. "It's so late. What are you doing here?"