Graduation

Back home.

Hinata had gotten used to the place, and as the two of them grew closer, she came by often.

"Naruto, let me cook today."

"All right."

Naruto didn't refuse. In fact, he had practically started treating her as his girlfriend.

Besides, it was his birthday today. He could take it easy for a while.

He sat straight down on the sofa, opened a scroll, and began reading.

Hinata took the groceries to the kitchen to cook.

Naruto hadn't told anyone it was his birthday, and turning twelve didn't mean anything special in this world.

But in the world he had come from, twelve meant a lot of things.

In some places, it marked adulthood, and where he came from, it held a special meaning too.

Thinking about it too much, he drifted into a daze.

After some time, Hinata came over.

"Naruto, are you spacing out?"

Hinata asked curiously.

"I'm just surrounded by happiness."

Naruto teased her as he looked at the girl, who was just like a devoted wife and loving mother.

Naruto truly felt happy.

Having someone by your side was all you needed.

"All right, let's eat."

Hinata's face turned red at once. She lowered her head and murmured softly.

Naruto smiled.

At the same time, Naruto's mood affected the flow of chakra within him.

His constitution, which had already been close to fully merging, suddenly fused much faster.

Name: Uzumaki Naruto

Bloodline: Asura's Bloodline

Cultivation Technique: Triple Inversion

Skills: Fire Style, Twin Palms, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Flying Thunder God, Sealing Jutsu.

Chakra: 1 Nine-Tails' Power

Restriction: Cinnabar Mark

Draws: 10

Naruto paused mid-bite.

His bloodline had reverted to its original form.

Asura's bloodline could be considered his ancestor's, and if he also gained the Sharingan, he could become the next Sage of Six Paths.

"Naruto, what's with you today? You keep spacing out."

Hinata blinked her big eyes in confusion.

"Give me your hand."

Naruto felt like he had to try a draw today.

Though Hinata was confused and embarrassed, among other things,

she still held out her little hand.

Her hand was fair and slender, her fingers as delicate as jade-green onion shoots.

Naruto took hold of it.

System, draw.

A flash of dazzling effects appeared, and nine cards materialized in midair.

Naruto hesitated, then tapped the two cards at the top.

Another burst of effects.

Both cards flipped over at once.

Skill: Reverse Eight Directions.

Skill: Dan Devour

Seeing these two abilities, Naruto let out a breath of relief, but he also felt a little disappointed.

Both abilities were astonishingly powerful in this world.

But Naruto had never lacked ways to kill.

"Should I try again?"

He felt a faint reluctance in his heart.

All the abilities he'd drawn so far were killing techniques, and they were all abilities from The Outcast. They were undeniably powerful, but Naruto felt that it was better to master a few techniques than to have many.

After thinking it over, he decided against it. He stopped dwelling on it, finished eating, and walked Hinata home.

Naruto went home himself as well.

"Your Highness, Naruto."

A shadow appeared.

"What's the intel?"

"Daohuo Uchiha is dead. The Mangekyō is on its way back."

"Itachi Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan. Danzo must have been behind it."

Naruto quickly figured out what had happened.

Daohuo Uchiha had lost his Sharingan because of him, then later received Itachi Uchiha's eyes.

He hadn't expected Daohuo to fall victim to Danzo's treachery after all.

"I understand. Bring it here."

Naruto said indifferently.

"Understood."

The visitor vanished at once.

Naruto washed up and went to bed.

Three days later.

Naruto's class began its graduation exams.

Everyone was brimming with confidence about graduating.

Naruto, meanwhile, looked lazy and relaxed.

Not far away, Sasuke glared at Naruto.

Unlike the Sasuke in the original story, the Uchiha Clan hadn't been wiped out, and Sasuke lived with Uchiha Mikoto.

For some reason, ever since Sasuke had returned, he had paid particular attention to Naruto.

Whatever he did, he wanted to compete with Naruto.

Naruto, however, couldn't be bothered with him.

It was a pointless rivalry. The two of them were no longer on the same level.

In class, Iruka announced the exam's contents.

"I'll call you up one at a time to take the test."

After Iruka finished speaking, he called someone's name.

Naruto yawned, bored.

"Uzumaki Naruto, your exam is the Transformation Technique."

Naruto froze for a moment.

Has the story changed?

Though he had expected it, seeing this happen for real still left Naruto somewhat speechless.

Who knows what the world will be like from now on? I'm kind of looking forward to it.

Thinking about the future, Naruto stood up and headed for the exam room.

Naruto, do your best, Hinata cheered him on silently.

"Even this dead-last kid shouldn't fail, right?"

"Don't underestimate Naruto. He's really strong."

The classroom immediately grew noisy. Naruto had always kept a low profile at school, acting like the dead-last student.

Only the higher-ups knew how strong Naruto was.

Two people sat inside the room: Iruka and Mizuki.

"Naruto, the exam is the Transformation Technique. Transform into either him or me."

"Okay."

With a thought,

"Transformation Technique!"

His body instantly transformed into Iruka.

"Amazing. He's so good at it."

"Was he too fast? I didn't even see him form hand seals."

Both teachers looked surprised.

Moreover, the Iruka Naruto had transformed into was exactly like the real one, in both appearance and aura.

"Good. Full marks. You pass."

They were both satisfied.

"Starting today, you're a Konoha Genin."

Iruka handed him his Forehead Protector.

"Thank you, teacher. Goodbye."

Naruto turned and left.

He returned to his seat, and soon everyone had finished their exams.

School let out. They would announce the team assignments tomorrow.

Many parents had gathered outside the school. Becoming a Genin in the Hidden Village meant you were considered an adult, making it a day worth celebrating.

Naruto and Hinata nodded to each other, then vanished in an instant.

Hinata parted her lips.

I'm sorry, Naruto.

She felt a little guilty. She had really wanted to go with him, but her family had sent someone to pick her up today.

Girls tended to overthink things, and seeing Naruto like that only made it easier for her to read too much into it.

Naruto, however, didn't feel anything in particular.

The weak flock together; the strong walk alone.

He used the Flying Thunder God to return to his laboratory.

The laboratory had expanded considerably again, and every corner of the room was filled with experimental equipment.

The most eye-catching things were several pairs of Sharingan, including two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan.

"I can't believe I got Itachi Uchiha's eyes so easily."

Naruto rubbed his chin as he looked at the two pairs of eyes in the cultivation tanks.

He felt a little tempted. Should he try to make a pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?

He decided to give it a try.

Naruto began his experiment.

He activated Twin Palms.

He fused the ocular power and cells within a pair of eyes.

"The experiment is going smoothly. As long as I keep supplying chakra, it might work."

The experiment went so smoothly that Naruto could hardly believe it. Twin Palms really was the perfect counter to bloodline abilities.