"Stand up."
Class monitor Ino Yamanaka shouted loudly.
The other students stood up immediately; Naruto was unaccustomed to this and was a beat slow.
Uchiha Sasuke stood up just as lazily.
"Good morning, Iruka-sensei."
"Good morning, students."
Ino Yamanaka felt that Naruto was being disrespectful to her, so she quickly reported to Iruka: "Teacher, Naruto, who skipped class, has come to school."
Iruka's gaze sharpened, his hands clenching into fists.
Naruto, if you could just keep skipping school, I wouldn't have to deal with you. But because you skipped, you've left a stain on my perfect teaching record and made me look like a fool in front of the Third Hokage. I swear I will turn you into a good student.
Iruka made a grand vow.
"Naruto, can you give your teacher a reason for skipping class?" Iruka asked with a forced smile.
Naruto answered truthfully: "My father forgot to ask for leave for me. Iruka-sensei, I have a note as proof."
Naruto had come prepared, striving to be an honor student at school to bring glory to Kushina.
First, he had to prove he hadn't skipped class; his absence was merely an accident.
After reading the note, Iruka said sternly: "Naruto, in the future, please come to the teacher yourself to ask for leave. The Fourth Hokage is busy with work and responsible for the future of the entire village; it is normal for him to forget to ask for leave for you. Next time, this excuse will not work with me."
Naruto saw through the situation: the class monitor was targeting him, and the teacher had already categorized him as a mischievous student who didn't like to study.
However, I will soon prove that I am a genius of Konoha.
Naruto would not speak until he could stun everyone with a single feat.
Iruka had to teach the entire class and could not focus all his energy on Naruto.
Because the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had not sacrificed himself during the Nine-Tails incident, Naruto had not become the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, so the upper echelons of Konoha did not care about Naruto's education at all.
Minato Namikaze was presiding over Yagura's trial, with Kakashi seated below him.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, acted as the peacemaker, coordinating the relationship with the new Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
Danzo had quieted down, but who knew what he was plotting?
Iruka placed his textbook on the desk: "Starting today, I will teach everyone the most basic Three Body Technique of a ninja: the Transformation Technique, the Substitution Technique, and the Clone Technique. In ninja combat, if the Three Body Technique is used properly, it can immediately change the course of a battle. Therefore, it is essential for everyone to learn and master it. Furthermore, the teacher has decided to use the proficiency of the Three Body Technique as your graduation exam. I hope you will all take it seriously."
After hearing this, Sasuke raised his head arrogantly. My brother already taught me the Three Body Technique long ago. If it weren't for my brother telling me to be humble at school, I could graduate today.
Naruto felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar; the problem was even bigger now.
"Watch my hand seal sequence and learn well."
Iruka taught with great care.
Half a month later.
Iruka used the Transformation Technique as the midterm exam to test the teaching results of his class.
"Students, relax," Iruka said with a smile.
He hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to suddenly show up to supervise the exam, which made an ordinary midterm exam become quite serious.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wore black casual clothes with his hands behind his back, his eyes falling on Naruto in the back row from time to time.
Let me see just how high Naruto's ninja talent really is, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought.
Iruka continued: "Students, transform into the teacher's appearance. It is easier to transform into someone you are familiar with."
Class monitor Ino Yamanaka was the first to step forward: "Iruka-sensei, I'll go first."
"Class monitor Ino is worth learning from," Iruka nodded.
Ino was dressed up prettily and walked past Sasuke on purpose, thinking to herself: If I perform well, it will definitely catch Sasuke's attention.
"Transform!"
Ino transformed, but only her arms became like Iruka's; the rest of her body did not change well.
"Very good, everyone give class monitor Ino a round of applause." Iruka encouraged her. After all, they were still seven-year-old children who needed more practice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled gently and also applauded the brave Ino.
One by one, the students began the test, but so far, no child had fully executed the Transformation Technique.
Sasuke stood up.
It caused the little girls to cheer.
"The Uchiha Clan is the focus of attention wherever they go," Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of the blind Shisui.
Shisui had retired from the Anbu and was working as an ordinary ninja of Konoha, teaming up with other ordinary ninjas to busy himself with mundane missions.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt it was a pity; perhaps in this world, there would never be another pair of eyes possessing Kotoamatsukami.
"Sasuke, are you ready?" Iruka was looking forward to Uchiha Sasuke's performance. If another genius from the Uchiha Clan emerged from his class, he would also have something to be proud of!
Sasuke nodded, blinked, and finished his hand seals: "Transform."
It was exactly the same as Iruka.
The girls who liked Sasuke cheered happily: "Sasuke, Sasuke, peak forever!"
Iruka gave Sasuke a perfect score with satisfaction: "Very good, the next student is Naruto."
Deep down, Naruto felt no ripples. He walked in front of Iruka and said bluntly: "I can't."
Iruka was stunned at first. After staring at Naruto for several seconds, he suppressed his anger and said: "Naruto, I taught you the hand seals step by step. Just perform the seals first; even if you can't transform into a perfect copy of me, a partial transformation is acceptable."
Naruto saw that Iruka was not giving up, but he saw no need to explain to everyone why he could not learn the Three Body Technique.
Whoever his spirit locked onto would also lose that ability.
The only effect: an absolute rule.
Naruto successfully performed the hand seals.
There was not a single change.
The students in the class burst into laughter: "Naruto can't learn it, Naruto is the dead last."
Naruto gave an awkward smile. Among children, nicknames were the easiest to come by and the fastest to spread.
The exam ended, and Iruka saw Hiruzen Sarutobi off.
"Third Hokage, I really taught Naruto very earnestly. If Naruto can't learn the Three Body Technique, it must be because Naruto isn't putting in the effort," Iruka explained.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: "Iruka, perhaps Naruto is like Rock Lee, and it would be easier for him to learn taijutsu. Do not put pressure on the children; with Minato around, Naruto does not need to be that outstanding."
Fearing that Hiruzen Sarutobi would blame him for poor teaching, Iruka realized after hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words that he needed to treat Naruto differently.
Inside the classroom.
The noisy students were not discussing Naruto's performance; with Iruka gone, they played however they pleased.
Sasuke believed his strength had grown, so he walked up to Naruto: "Naruto, I want to continue challenging Neji. Can you help me find him?"
"If you don't call me Big Brother, I won't help you." Naruto sat on his stool, his body facing Sasuke directly.
Sasuke fidgeted: "Big..."
Suddenly, Sasuke was bumped by other students running past, and his body tilted forward.
What a coincidence; Sasuke and Naruto kissed.