Genin Exam

Sasuke knew very well about Naruto's experiences as a Jinchūriki. If Naruto performed too outstandingly, something dangerous might happen.

So Sasuke felt there was a very high chance that Naruto had been hiding his strength. Perhaps he definitely had been.

If Naruto had hidden his strength, then he must have started doing so as a child. To possess such scheming at that young age truly shocked Sasuke.

After all, although Sasuke had been exceptionally talented as a child, he had never possessed such deep cunning. If his clan had not been massacred, he would never have become the person he was now.

Yet as he looked at Naruto beside him, at the smile so often on his lips, Sasuke suddenly felt that smile seemed somewhat unreal, yet filled with sorrow.

Thinking of Naruto concealing everything from a very young age to protect himself, silently enduring countless pressures and cold stares, Sasuke shook his head inwardly.

Sasuke had already been deeply disappointed in the Hidden Leaf Village because of his clan's destruction. Now, he was utterly disappointed, even feeling that the village was pitiful.

Taking a deep breath, Sasuke looked at Naruto again and began considering finding an opportunity to witness Naruto's true strength.

[Experience Points +1]

The Experience Points notifications kept flashing before his eyes. Looking at the increasingly smaller Experience Orbs around the other students, Naruto once again pondered where Experience Points came from.

He did not know how these Experience Orbs replenished themselves, nor whether anything would happen after they were fully absorbed. This was a problem he had to solve.

Unfortunately, he could not yet test how Experience Points replenished themselves, so Naruto could only earn more for now.

Thud, thud, thud!

Rapid footsteps rang out as their class teacher, Iruka, rushed into the room in a flurry. An Experience Orb floated around him as well, though it was very small.

"Students, I have just received an order from the Third Hokage. The Genin Exam will be held today," Iruka announced without preamble.

"An exam? Today? Isn't that a little earlier than usual?" Kiba Inuzuka frowned.

"It is earlier. In previous years, we still had to wait a few more days," Shikaku Nara replied.

"Who cares? Isn't earlier better? We can become ninja sooner," Ino said expectantly.

The others nodded in agreement, while Naruto alone frowned silently.

The early Genin Exam had disrupted his plans. He had wanted to earn a few more Experience Points.

"Forget it. Earlier is fine too. It's a good chance to see how strong I've become."

Naruto considered whether he should show a little of his strength during the exam. After all, the Clone Technique test was easy for him, especially since his Clone Technique had been enhanced.

"Quiet, everyone."

Iruka tapped the desk. "The Genin Exam begins now. Those whose names are called will take the exam in the classroom next door. This time, the test is the Clone Technique."

After speaking, Iruka began calling names in order, then led the examinees next door for their tests.

However, when Iruka announced the official Genin Exam, Naruto made a startling discovery.

He discovered that—

When Iruka mentioned the official Genin Exam, the Experience Orbs around every plot character in the class changed. They began replenishing at a slow pace.

Hinata's Experience Orb, originally the size of a ping-pong ball, grew a small amount in just a moment. Naruto was truly surprised.

"Why is this happening? Why are they recovering? Could it be related to the exam?" Naruto muttered inwardly. Then, a flash of insight struck him, and he vaguely guessed the answer.

"Is it the plot? Could it be that plot characters recover Experience Points whenever they go through the plot?" Naruto thought, increasingly convinced that this might be true.

Of course, he still had to test it carefully to see whether it was really true.

"It seems I'll have to hide my strength during this exam first. I need to see what's really going on with Experience Points and the plot. I can't perform too well and disrupt the plot."

Naruto made his decision inwardly. Then he waited in the classroom, occasionally chatting with plot characters to earn more Experience Points, gaining quite a bit in the process.

Several minutes later.

When his name was called, he walked toward the classroom next door.

"Begin, Naruto."

Iruka and Mizuki sat on stools, waiting for Naruto's exam to begin in their roles as proctors.

"Alright."

Naruto nodded, but did not begin immediately. Instead, he studied the two of them.

It was only natural for an Experience Orb to appear around Iruka, but an Experience Orb had appeared around Mizuki, this villain, as well. That surprised Naruto.

Though the Experience Orb was tiny, even smaller than a tomato, it contained at least twenty Experience Points. And upon seeing Mizuki, Naruto thought of a method.

He could use this man to test whether anything would happen to a plot character after their Experience Orb was completely absorbed.

If something did happen, Naruto would not worry if Mizuki died. Mizuki was no good person, and in the upcoming plot, he would even trick Naruto into stealing the Forbidden Scroll.

"Naruto, start using the Clone Technique. I know you're worried, since you aren't good at it, but this is an exam. Sooner or later, you'll have to face it."

Seeing Naruto remain still, Iruka thought he was nervous and afraid. He sympathized with Naruto and even considered whether he should secretly go easy on him.

For example, if others had to create three clones, then Naruto could pass with two. That was Iruka's absolute minimum, since he had to be responsible for Naruto's future.

Therefore—

He looked at Naruto encouragingly, waiting for him to use the Clone Technique and hoping for a miracle.

Yes, a miracle.

He did not actually think highly of Naruto. Without a miracle, Naruto was destined to fail.

"Then I'll begin."

Naruto formed hand seals, preparing to use the Clone Technique. However, to avoid affecting this plot, he could not create too many clones. Ideally, just like in the original story, he would only create one useless clone.

But he had a great deal of chakra, and his Clone Technique had been enhanced. Creating a single useless clone was not easy for Naruto.

To that end, he desperately suppressed the chakra within him, reducing his output as much as possible so he would not perform too well.

Poof!

Smoke billowed out, and two perfectly intact clones stood on either side of him, making Naruto frown slightly.

He had already suppressed himself as much as possible, yet he had still created two perfectly intact clones. And why did they look so lively?

"Huh? Naruto, you actually made two clones. Not bad," Iruka said in surprise.

He had originally held little hope for Naruto, but Naruto had successfully created two clones. This surprised and delighted him, and he prepared to declare Naruto had passed the exam.

However, Naruto saw Iruka's expression and did not want him to announce that he had passed. With a thought, Naruto controlled the two clones to collapse onto the floor, disguising them as defective clones.

Thud! Thud!

Two impacts rang out as the standing clones flopped directly onto the floor, lying motionless as though they had broken down.

"This..."

Iruka and Minato were dumbfounded by the sight, their minds slightly blank.

The clones had clearly succeeded, so why had they crawled onto the ground? They even looked completely broken. Why did this feel so theatrical?

More importantly, this was the first time they had ever seen such a phenomenon. They had no idea what was happening.

"Ahem, Iruka-sensei, Naruto's physical strength and movement skills are not bad. Why not let him pass the Genin Exam?" Mizuki smiled, playing the good guy.

"This..."

Iruka hesitated. He looked at the two "defective" clones beside Naruto and fell silent for two seconds.

"I was originally prepared to let you pass, but if the clones are defective, then I can't. I'm sorry, Naruto."

[Experience Points +1]

[Experience Points +1]

Whew, I didn't pass after all. Naruto secretly let out a sigh of relief, then pretended to be upset.