Graduation at Last

In the woods on the mountain behind the village, the smile froze on Naruto's face. The color drained from it before their eyes.

His blue eyes widened, filled with shock and the pain of betrayal by someone he had trusted.

"A... a tool? A monster?" Naruto murmured. It felt as if a hammer had struck his head, leaving his mind blank.

Mizuki sneered and kept approaching, ready to take the scroll and dispose of the two obstacles in his way.

But at that moment, Naruto, who had kept his head lowered and his body trembling, suddenly looked up!

The confusion and pain in his eyes were gone. In their place burned a fierce rage!

"Don't you dare... don't you dare call me a monster again! My father was the Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze!" Naruto roared. "And don't you dare hurt Iruka-sensei!"

Even as he shouted, his hands flew through the signs.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

This time, it was no practice exercise. Naruto poured all his anger into the technique!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Several times more Shadow Clones than before appeared, stretching almost beyond sight. Like a golden tsunami, they swallowed the entire clearing in an instant!

Thousands upon thousands of furious Narutos roared as they engulfed Mizuki, who stood gaping, with no time to react!

"This... this can't..." Mizuki's cry vanished beneath a storm of fists and feet.

Countless Shadow Clone fists rained down. Poor Mizuki could barely put up a fight; he was like a leaf tossed into a raging sea.

Within moments, he was helpless. Bruised and battered, with stars swimming before his eyes, he collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness.

The smoke slowly cleared, leaving only the real Naruto standing there, breathing hard. His small fists were clenched, but his eyes held a resolve stronger than ever before.

Clutching the wound in his shoulder, Iruka stared at the scene in astonishment.

Naruto might really become Hokage someday!

Still holding his injured shoulder, Iruka walked over to Naruto.

His wound still hurt, but his gaze was unusually gentle, as though he had made up his mind.

"Naruto." Iruka's voice was a little hoarse, but firm.

Naruto looked up, hardly daring to meet Iruka's eyes. "I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei. I... I stole the Scroll of Seals. Did I mess everything up again? Does this mean I still can't graduate?"

His voice grew quieter with every word, heavy with disappointment and regret over his reckless actions.

All his earlier pride and excitement had vanished.

But Iruka shook his head. A warm smile spread across his face, one filled with unmistakable pride. It chased the gloom from Naruto's heart and left him stunned.

"No, Naruto." Iruka raised his voice, his certainty beyond question. "You did well."

"Huh?" Naruto jerked his head up, disbelief filling his eyes.

"Through your own effort and determination, you learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, an A-rank ninjutsu that even many Jonin can't master. There's no doubt that you've proven your strength."

Iruka continued, approval shining in his eyes. "More importantly, when you thought you'd finally earned someone's approval, only to discover that someone you trusted had deceived you..."

"You didn't let grief and anger consume you. You chose to use that power to protect someone you cared about and stand against real evil!"

Iruka glanced at Mizuki on the ground, then looked back at Naruto. His gaze grew gentler, yet more solemn.

"You gained power, and you used it the right way. You have the heart to protect your comrades and the village." Emotion entered Iruka's voice. "That is what a true ninja needs most!"

Iruka took a deep breath. Enduring the pain in his shoulder, he raised his other hand and slowly, solemnly removed the forehead protector that marked him as a Konoha Ninja.

Naruto's eyes widened as he watched. His heart began to pound, and a thought so incredible he hardly dared believe it took shape in his mind. He nearly forgot to breathe.

Iruka held the forehead protector, still warm from his skin, in both hands. His expression was more serious and formal than Naruto had ever seen.

"Naruto Uzumaki!"

"Here!" Naruto straightened instinctively, his voice cracking with nerves.

"As your teacher, I hereby declare," Iruka said, his clear voice ringing through the quiet woods, "that your outstanding performance and unwavering determination have earned you a pass on the graduation exam!"

"From this day on, you are a Konoha Ninja, ready to stand on your own!"

Iruka stepped forward and solemnly tied the forehead protector around Naruto's head. It still bore a trace of his blood and stood for protection and responsibility.

Naruto stood frozen, feeling its weight against his forehead. For a moment, the whole world seemed to fall silent. All he could hear was his heart pounding.

His hand trembled as he raised it and carefully touched the smooth metal and the clear Konoha symbol engraved on it.

This isn't a dream.

Iruka-sensei really acknowledges me?

I really graduated?

The years of loneliness, hurt, hard work, and longing Naruto had carried finally met with an answer.

They turned to hot tears that poured from his wide blue eyes.

"Wah... waaah... Iruka... sensei..." Naruto could no longer hold back. He burst into sobs.

"Thank you... thank you! I... I'm going to become Hokage! I'm going to be an amazing ninja!" he shouted through his tears with all his strength.

This time, his words carried a confidence and conviction they never had before.

Iruka watched Naruto cry, his own eyes growing damp.

He reached out and gave Naruto's hair another vigorous ruffle, then nodded firmly. "Yeah! I believe in you, Naruto! That day will come!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The next moment, three figures appeared nearby, silent as ghosts, cutting off every route of escape.

All three wore masks with strange patterns and the standard uniform of Root ninja. The one leading them was Shimura Danzō.

His single eye swept coldly over the scene: the unconscious Mizuki, the open Scroll of Seals, and the injured Iruka.

Finally, his icy gaze settled on Naruto Uzumaki, its pressure almost tangible.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Danzo said in a low voice that brooked no argument, "you stole the Scroll of Seals, one of the village's highest secrets. That is a grave crime."

"Surrender at once. Root will take custody of you."