"Class, rise."
The class monitor, Ino Yamanaka, called out loudly.
The other students immediately stood up. Naruto wasn't used to it and was a little slow.
Sasuke also stood up lazily.
"Good morning, Iruka-sensei."
"Good morning, class."
Ino Yamanaka thought Naruto was disrespecting her, so she hurriedly reported him to Iruka. "Sensei, Naruto, who's been skipping school, has come to class."
Iruka's gaze sharpened, and he clenched his fists.
Naruto, if you could just stay away from school forever, there'd be nothing I could do about it. But because you skipped school, you've tarnished my perfect teaching record and made me look bad in front of Lord Third Hokage. I swear I'll turn you into a good kid.
Iruka made his solemn vow.
"Would you care to give your teacher a reason for skipping school, Naruto?" Iruka asked with a humorless smile.
Naruto answered honestly. "My dad forgot to ask for leave for me, Iruka-sensei. I have a note to prove it."
Naruto had come prepared. He was determined to be a top student and make Kushina proud.
First, he had to prove he hadn't skipped school—that his absence had just been an accident.
After reading the note, Iruka said sternly, "Naruto, next time, come and ask me for leave yourself. Lord Fourth Hokage is busy with work. He has to take responsibility for the future of the whole village, so it's understandable that he forgot to ask for leave for you. But that excuse won't work with me next time."
Naruto saw through the situation. The class monitor was picking on him, and the teacher had already decided he was the sort of student who was naughty and didn't like studying.
But I'll soon prove that I'm a genius of Konoha.
Naruto was the sort who stayed quiet until the moment he made a name for himself.
Iruka had to teach the entire class and couldn't devote all his attention to Naruto.
Since Minato Namikaze hadn't died in the Nine-Tails' attack, and Naruto hadn't become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the Konoha High Command didn't care about Naruto's education at all.
Minato Namikaze was presiding over Yagura's trial, with Kakashi also in attendance.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was playing the peacemaker, working to smooth things over with the newly appointed Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
Danzo had quieted down, though no one knew what he was plotting.
Iruka set the textbook on his desk. "Starting today, I'll teach you the three most basic ninja techniques: the Transformation Technique, the Substitution Technique, and the Clone Technique. Used properly in battle, the Three Body Technique can turn the tide in an instant. That's why it's essential for you to learn and master it. I've also decided that your graduation exam will test how well you can use the Three Body Technique, so I hope you'll all take this seriously."
After hearing that, Sasuke lifted his chin proudly. My brother already taught me the Three Body Technique. If he hadn't told me to be modest at school, I could graduate today.
Naruto felt as if he'd fallen into an ice cellar. This was a much bigger problem.
"Watch the order of my hand seals and pay close attention."
Iruka taught them carefully.
Half a month later.
Iruka used the Transformation Technique for the midterm exam to see how well his class had learned.
"Everyone, relax," Iruka said with a smile.
To his surprise, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly showed up to help proctor. The ordinary midterm exam immediately became a serious affair.
Hiruzen wore a black, casual outfit and stood with his hands behind his back. Every so often, his gaze fell on Naruto in the back row.
Let's see just how much talent Naruto has as a ninja, Hiruzen thought.
Iruka continued, "Transform into the teacher. It's easier if you choose someone you know well."
The class monitor, Ino Yamanaka, volunteered first. "Iruka-sensei, let me go first."
"Class monitor Ino is someone you can all learn from," Iruka said, nodding.
Ino had dressed up prettily. She deliberately walked past Sasuke, thinking, If I do well, I'm sure to catch Sasuke's attention.
"Transform!"
Ino transformed, but only her arms looked like Iruka's. The rest of her didn't change properly.
"Very good. Let's give class monitor Ino a round of applause," Iruka encouraged her. They were only about seven years old, after all, and still had plenty to learn.
Hiruzen smiled kindly and applauded the brave Ino, too.
One by one, the students took their turns, but none of them had managed a complete Transformation Technique yet.
Sasuke stood up.
The girls immediately cheered.
Uchiha were always the center of attention, wherever they went, Hiruzen thought, remembering Shisui, who had lost his sight.
Shisui had left the Anbu and joined a team of ordinary Konoha shinobi. He was busy taking on regular missions with them.
Hiruzen felt it was a shame. Perhaps there would never be another pair of eyes in this world that possessed Kotoamatsukami.
"Sasuke, are you ready?" Iruka was looking forward to seeing what Uchiha Sasuke could do. If another Uchiha genius emerged from his class, it would reflect well on him, too.
Sasuke nodded and finished his hand seals in the blink of an eye. "Transform."
He looked exactly like Iruka-sensei.
The girls who liked Sasuke cheered, "Sasuke, Sasuke, may you always be at your peak!"
Iruka gave Sasuke full marks with satisfaction. "All right, next is Naruto."
Naruto walked up in front of Iruka, utterly unfazed, and said bluntly, "I can't."
Iruka froze. After staring at Naruto for several seconds, he suppressed his anger and said, "Naruto, I taught you the hand seals myself. Start by forming them. Even if you can't transform into an exact copy of me, you can still transform just part of yourself."
Naruto could tell Iruka wasn't going to give up. He had no reason to explain to everyone why he couldn't learn the Three Body Technique.
Whoever he focused his mind on would lose the ability, too.
The effect was absolute—a rule that couldn't be broken.
Naruto successfully formed the hand seals.
Nothing changed at all.
His classmates burst out laughing. "Naruto can't learn it! Naruto's a dead-last loser!"
Naruto gave an awkward smile. Among children, nicknames were easy to come up with and spread even faster.
After the exam, Iruka saw Hiruzen Sarutobi off.
"Lord Third Hokage, I really did teach Naruto seriously. He can't learn the Three Body Technique because he isn't applying himself," Iruka explained.
"Iruka, Naruto may be like Rock Lee and find it easier to learn Taijutsu. Don't put pressure on the children. With Minato around, Naruto doesn't need to be that exceptional," Hiruzen said.
Iruka had been afraid Hiruzen would blame him for poor teaching. After hearing Hiruzen's words, he understood that he'd have to treat Naruto differently.
In the classroom.
The noisy students weren't talking about Naruto's performance. Iruka-sensei was gone, so they played as they pleased.
Sasuke felt that he'd gotten stronger, so he walked up to Naruto. "Naruto, I want to challenge Neji again. Can you help me find him?"
"If you don't call me big brother, I won't help you." Naruto sat on his stool, facing Sasuke.
Sasuke hesitated. "B-big..."
Suddenly, another student running past bumped into Sasuke, pitching him forward.
What a coincidence—Sasuke and Naruto kissed.
Before you continue