First Place, Uzumaki Naruto

When Naruto walked out of the exam room, people had gathered all around the classroom to watch.

"Hey, the dead last is out."

"I wonder if he can amaze everyone like the God of Wealth."

"What are you smoking? You're actually comparing this perennial dead last to the famous God of Wealth? Are you crazy?"

"Wasn't Uchiha Kei the dead last back in the day, too?"

"He was just keeping a low profile, got it?"

Naruto ignored the chatter from the kids his age and strode through the crowd.

Over the past few years, he and Uchiha Kei had traveled all over the place. Learning ninjutsu had been secondary.

What he had really learned was to develop a thick skin.

The things people said about him barely hurt more than a fart.

"Naruto, Naruto, why are you walking so fast?"

A chubby boy and a skinny boy hurried up in front of him.

"Don't listen to them. You'll definitely pass the exam."

The chubby boy produced a bag of chips as if by magic and offered it to him with a pained look.

"Here, have some chips."

The skinny boy beside him folded his arms and watched lazily.

"Choji, what's gotten into you today? You're actually giving your chips away!"

Choji Akimichi looked pained. "I don't want to... but I'm worried Naruto will be sad..."

Shikamaru Nara rubbed his nose.

"What a drag... Naruto, just take them already. He's practically drooling."

Naruto looked at the two of them, warmth blooming in his heart.

He'd made friends over these past three years, hadn't he?

There was Kei, of course.

And the two standing in front of him were his friends, too!

Naruto pushed the chips back toward Choji Akimichi and smiled.

"It's okay. I'm sure I'll graduate. Don't worry."

Shikamaru Nara hesitated, but Choji Akimichi's eyes lit up.

"Really? You mean it?"

"Of course!"

Naruto proudly lifted his chin, about to say something.

But what happened next stopped the words in his throat.

"Then I won't hold back!"

"Rip!"

The bag opened neatly, and the enticing aroma of chips poured into Choji Akimichi's mouth.

Naruto: ...

Shikaku Nara wasn't surprised. He just sighed helplessly.

"Hahahahaha!"

Naruto's hearty laughter rang through the hallway.

That afternoon.

Instead of dispersing after the exams, the crowd on campus grew larger and larger.

The reason was simple: the results would be announced that afternoon.

Every little kid in Naruto's classroom stared eagerly at the door.

Naruto still propped his chin on his hand, looking bored as he gazed out the window.

Not far from Naruto, little Hinata Hyuga gazed at him in a daze.

"Naruto-kun... you're so cool..."

A heart gradually formed in Hinata's Byakugan.

"Ahem."

Iruka walked into the classroom with a sheet of paper in his hand.

The noisy classroom fell silent at once.

Everyone watched Iruka expectantly.

And the sheet of paper in his hand.

Was this their ticket onto the path of a ninja?

They could hardly wait!

"Class, I'm sure you've already guessed."

Iruka waved the paper in his hand, smiling warmly.

"We have!"

Excited shouts rang out from below.

"Then I won't keep you waiting. I'm about to announce who passed the exam."

Iruka looked around the room. Everywhere his gaze fell, he saw flushed, excited faces.

"First place..."

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

The room fell deathly silent.

Everyone froze.

Quite a few gaped so wide their jaws nearly hit the floor.

What had they just heard?

Had they heard wrong?

Yeah!

That had to be it!

How could the perennial dead last possibly come in first?

Iruka-sensei was such a...

joker.

"Iruka-sensei, hurry up and announce the real results. Stop teasing us."

Sakura, the pink-haired girl, gave an awkward laugh.

"How could Naruto possibly be in first place? It has to be Sasuke, right?"

Sasuke, sitting quietly below, immediately darkened.

Was this a case of sitting in class minding your own business,

only to have a blame-shifting pot fall on your head?

He considered himself a genius.

But he knew Naruto's real strength.

It was far beyond anything he could match right now!

At the very least, he couldn't handle that wind-style ball...

"Exactly! How could it be that guy?"

"It has to be our Sasuke. Iruka-sensei sure knows how to crack a joke."

Iruka rubbed his forehead helplessly.

Never mind the kids—even he had nearly been scared to death by Naruto's performance during the exam.

He'd scored full marks on the Three Body Technique.

And in the additional test, he'd even shown off an A-rank ninjutsu—the Rasengan!

One with nature transformation, no less!

Just think...

Even Iruka himself hadn't mastered an A-rank ninjutsu yet...

"Quiet, quiet!"

Iruka tapped the desk.

"I'm not joking. First place really is Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Whoa!"

The room erupted.

Disbelieving gazes all turned toward Naruto, who sat by the window.

What could be more shocking than the perennial dead last overtaking everyone on the final stretch?

Naruto glanced irritably at the people around him, then turned his gaze back out the window.

He hated those looks.

He hated being stared at as if he were a monster.

Even if they were looking at him in disbelief now.

"That's not fair!"

Sakura shot to her feet and glared indignantly at Iruka.

"Iruka-sensei, you must've taken a bribe from the God of Wealth!"

"How could he possibly come in first? Even a dog wouldn't believe that!"

Iruka frowned at Sakura, displeased.

Naruto turned around again, his expression darkening.

He'd always felt a strange fondness for Sakura.

Maybe it was because of her pretty face.

Maybe it was that head of pink hair.

Or maybe it was the instant noodles from when they were five...

He liked seeing her smile, and he liked seeing her get all fierce.

He could ignore other people's taunts.

But hearing Sakura say that about him made his heart ache.

It felt as if someone had ripped his heart open.

"Why shouldn't Naruto-kun come in first..."

Hinata's face reddened as she stood up boldly in front of the whole class for the first time.

Her face was crimson, whether from anger or embarrassment.

Naruto stared at her in astonishment.

Hinata...

Why was she always defending him?

"Because he's the perennial dead last!"

"Because he's—"

"Enough!"

Sakura's words cut off. She stared in disbelief at Naruto, who had his head bowed.

He...

He had actually yelled at her!

A monster had dared to shout at her!

Sakura's chest heaved as she clenched her fists and leaped in front of Naruto.

"You actually dare to shout at me!"

Her clenched fist shot toward Naruto's face.

"Naruto-kun!"

Hinata cried out and instinctively rushed toward him.

"Smack!"

Sakura froze.

Her fist...

Was trapped in a firm grip, unable to move even an inch!

"I said..."

Naruto slowly lifted his head, his eyes utterly devoid of emotion.

"Enough!"

Fear appeared on Sakura's face.

Those eyes...

They were filled with utter disregard for life!

Filled with...

A chilling coldness that made her tremble!

Was...

Was this really Uzumaki Naruto, who always did whatever she said?