Graduation Exam

"Investigate! Get to the bottom of this! I want to know what's going on!"

The Third Hokage's roar rang throughout Konoha.

The Anbu Ninja sprang into action. Every ninja and villager in Konoha turned their attention toward the scene. No one knew who had caused two explosions in a row.

Was it a spy ninja from another country?

Was another war about to begin?

That morning, everyone was on edge.

The Ninja Academy's graduation exam had been scheduled for today, but it was postponed.

In the Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage drew on his pipe, his eyes dark as he considered the findings and theories surrounding the two explosions.

The Anbu Ninja watching Kakashi and the Fourth Hokage's other former subordinates had noticed nothing unusual. It probably wasn't them.

Then who had done it? And what was their goal?

Whatever the answer, the Third Hokage knew he could not let it happen again. Nor could he let whoever was behind it influence Naruto.

After all, Naruto was the village's Jinchūriki, a weapon of war. He had to remain under the Third Hokage's control!

"But how can I place Naruto in the Anbu with a reasonable excuse that leaves them no room to object?"

The Third Hokage blew out a ring of smoke and finally decided, "If Naruto fails to graduate, I can use that as an excuse to recruit him into the Anbu for training!"

Ten minutes later, Iruka was summoned to the Hokage's Office.

"Iruka, let's make the Clone Technique the subject of this graduation exam." The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and smiled at him.

Iruka was a teacher the Third Hokage valued highly. At the academy, he had done an excellent job of instilling the Will of Fire in generation after generation of students.

Iruka's heart tightened. Worried that Naruto might not graduate, he said with a conflicted expression:

"Third Hokage, could we choose a different subject? Naruto's Clone Technique is terrible, but his Transformation Technique is very good."

"Heh." The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes and exhaled a cloud of smoke that hid his expression. Even his voice seemed to grow distant:

"Don't worry, Iruka. If Naruto fails, I'll recruit him into the Anbu and see that he gets proper training. I care about him too, after all!"

Hearing that, Iruka remembered that the Anbu was a gathering place for elite ninja and finally relaxed.

Then he realized he had just objected to the Third Hokage's decision. Uneasy, he scratched his head and said, "I'm sorry, Third Hokage. I didn't mean to offend you!"

"It's fine. That's settled. You may go."

At that moment, Naruto was still lying in a hospital bed.

Apart from his two hands, which he could barely move, he was wrapped in bandages from head to toe. There was no telling how many bones he had broken.

Ding! Congratulations to the host on killing someone for the first time. Special reward: one Bloodline Upgrade Scroll.

Naruto claimed the reward. Holding the golden scroll in his right hand, he struggled to unfurl it. At once, it turned into a cloud of golden light that enveloped him. Warmth flowed through his body, nourishing every limb and bone.

Somehow, he could feel his proficiency in Adamantine Sealing Chains, Physical Healing, Mind's Eye of the Kagura, and Fuinjutsu Talent rise again. The amount of Chakra within him increased too!

Most importantly, his body's ability to heal improved dramatically, and his injuries began recovering fast.

By the next day, the fractures throughout Naruto's body had almost completely healed. He could get out of bed and move around, so he prepared to return to the Ninja Academy for the graduation exam.

After putting on his new clothes, he looked at the fresh milk and grilled meat on the table and gave a scornful smile.

A newly assigned Anbu Ninja had brought him the clothes and food. Naruto ate without worry.

His sensory range now covered all of Konoha. The new Anbu Ninja had remained within it the entire time and had done nothing disgusting to his food.

The milk and grilled meat were fresh, with no strange smell.

Some things never changed: show weakness, and people would take advantage of you!

The Ninja Academy's graduation exam was simple. Almost every student could pass, collect a Konoha Forehead Protector, and become an official Konoha Genin.

Except Naruto.

There were only two examiners: Iruka and that idiot Mizuki.

Drawing on his memories, Naruto tried his hardest to use the Clone Technique. In the end, all he could produce was a lifeless clone lying on the floor.

He felt discouraged. He hadn't expected that, even after arriving in this world, he would still face the problem of failing to graduate.

Did he have to steal the Scroll of Seals and learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique from it?

But he wasn't sure he could master it on his first try like the Naruto in the original story. What if he couldn't learn it?

"Iruka-sensei, I think that should count as a pass for Naruto," Mizuki said to Iruka, giving Naruto a friendly smile.

"No!" Iruka shook his head and said firmly, "What use is a lifeless clone like that? Letting him graduate would only hurt him!"

Naruto sighed. He knew Iruka wasn't singling him out on purpose; he was simply strict and principled. All Naruto could do was plead:

"Iruka-sensei, I'm really good at the Transformation Technique. Could you test me on that instead? If I can't graduate, I won't even be able to become a ninja!"

Iruka hesitated. He wanted to agree, but the Third Hokage had specifically instructed him to test the Clone Technique, and he didn't dare change it on his own. Besides, the Third Hokage had already arranged a better place for Naruto.

With that in mind, Iruka looked at Naruto and reassured him:

"It's all right, Naruto. The Third Hokage has agreed to let you train with the Anbu for a while. They're all elite ninja there. I'm sure you'll become one soon after joining them!"

"What?" Naruto cried out. A sudden sense of danger rose within him.

Anbu training? Are they going to force-feed me the Will of Fire every day until I'm brainwashed?

Damn it! The Third Hokage wants to turn me into an emotionless weapon of war so he can control me completely!

After surviving two crises and killing someone, Naruto had grown much more alert to danger and better at reading people. Both explosions had been connected to him. The Third Hokage's true goal suddenly became clear!

That damned old schemer! I can't let them send me to Root and turn me into a puppet stripped of all feeling. How would that be any different from being dead?

Naruto looked up at the clock in the classroom. It was already six in the evening. By tomorrow morning, he would probably be hauled off to Root.

That meant he had only tonight to solve his graduation problem!

Ding! Mission issued: Solve the graduation problem.

One: Saintly choice. Wait quietly to be assigned to the Anbu tomorrow.

Reward: One round of Will of Fire brainwashing. Become an Anbu Ninja, protect Konoha from the shadows, and devote your life to it selflessly.

Two: Demon Choice. Steal the Scroll of Seals, pretend to have learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique within it, and graduate successfully.

Reward: The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and one Skill Upgrade Scroll.