Konoha: I Have a Gravity Training Room

If the Nine-Tails' seal had loosened, causing Naruto's Chakra to become unstable and uncontrollable, perhaps Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to use the opportunity to manipulate Naruto, deepen the bond between Naruto and Iruka, and make it easier to control the Jinchuriki so he would willingly devote himself to the village. But if Hiruzen Sarutobi had deliberately tampered with things and sent someone to secretly do something to Naruto...

No, no. If he kept thinking like this, it would turn into a conspiracy theory.

Though the conspiracy theory did not seem entirely wrong.

Shino asked quietly, "Xia Mu, what should we do?"

Xia Mu shook his head. "Naruto's identity is special. The Hokage-sama will naturally handle how to arrange things for him; we can't interfere. But if there's any way we can help Naruto, we should do what we can."

Shino nodded. For now, that was all they could do. It depended on how the Third Hokage arranged things.

Xia Mu put those questions aside and walked out of the academy with his forehead protector in hand. A cute girl with twin buns was waiting for him at the school gate.

Tenten the Chatterbox

At Q Meat BBQ, Tenten was treating them today.

"Congratulations on graduating successfully and becoming real ninjas!" Tenten said with a smile as she placed meat onto Xia Mu and Shino's plates.

"Then I won't hold back."

Shino had known this little couple for far too long, so naturally he did not stand on ceremony. He quietly stuffed himself with the grilled meat on his plate, but he was clearly not in a great mood, as though something was still weighing on him.

Tenten noticed and gave her boyfriend a questioning look.

Xia Mu advised, "Shino, don't worry. Naruto's situation isn't something we can deal with. The Third Hokage may have his own plans."

Tenten grew even more curious. "What happened to Naruto? Did he fail the exam?"

Shino nodded. "Yeah. For some reason, Naruto suddenly couldn't control his Chakra properly. Today's test was the Transformation Jutsu. He used to perform it smoothly, but today it was terrible. I don't know what went wrong. Iruka-sensei went to see the Hokage-sama. The Hokage-sama said it had to be resolved as soon as possible, but Naruto will probably have to take the exam again next year."

As he said that, Shino's mood sank further.

Though he was not as close to Naruto as he was to Xia Mu, he was simply the kind of person who kept his friends in his heart.

"Won't Naruto cry himself to death? He's been shouting about becoming Hokage, but now he can't even become a ninja..."

Tenten was surprised too. She had not expected something like this to happen.

Xia Mu did not know what to say either. He could hardly voice his suspicion that this might be some scheme by that old bastard, the Third Hokage, or something else. Besides, he was not sure whether things would continue according to the plot. The plot had long since changed.

Still, it was not good seeing his friend worry like this. He needed to shift Shino's attention.

So Xia Mu gave his future wife a meaningful look.

Tenten decisively changed the subject. "By the way, do you know how you'll be assigned to teams?"

Xia Mu spread his hands. "I hope Shino and I end up in the same team. Shino is strong, and having him around is reassuring."

Shino was pulled back into the conversation as well. "If I could be on the same team as Xia Mu, that would indeed be best. Also, Shikamaru and Choji would be good choices. One is lazy and the other loves eating, but they're both dependable when it matters."

"Shikamaru and Choji are impossible, aren't they?"

Tenten naturally knew a few things too. "Ino-Shika-Cho never separates. Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino will definitely be in the same team."

Hearing that, Xia Mu quietly curled his lip.

Not only did Ino-Shika-Cho never separate, they also had to draw close to the Hokage. The team of Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino would be led by Hiruzen Sarutobi's son, Asuma Sarutobi.

Meanwhile, the team of Shino, Kiba Inuzuka, and Hinata Hyuga would be led by Asuma Sarutobi's girlfriend, Kurenai Yuhi.

That way, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, the Aburame Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Hyuga Clan, and the other major clans in the village would all be drawn toward the Hokage faction. Just look at what a fine calculation Hiruzen Sarutobi had made.

As for the other two rookie teams, Kakashi belonged to the orthodox Hokage faction, while Might Guy was utterly loyal to the village.

Nearly all the promising seedlings had been pulled toward the Hokage. It was as though the future itself was firmly held in Hiruzen Sarutobi's grasp. No wonder Shimura Danzō could not outplay his old comrade. If not for Orochimaru's Konoha Crush, Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably have controlled the village until the day he died of old age.

"I just wonder how they'll arrange me."

That was what troubled Xia Mu as well.

He had chosen to reveal some of his strength during the year before graduation. He had also learned Might Guy's Eight Gates and asked Kakashi for Hatake Kenjutsu. None of that could have been hidden from Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Xia Mu had not deliberately tried to conceal it.

So how would Hiruzen Sarutobi arrange a genius like him?

Could it be that he had deliberately prevented Naruto from passing, then planned to put Xia Mu into Team 7?

That did not seem very likely. It was just that Konoha did not seem to have any other powerful jonin. Whom would Hiruzen Sarutobi arrange to be Xia Mu's teacher?

Xia Mu quickly shook off those messy thoughts.

There was no need to overthink it now. The results would be out tomorrow, and he would find out when he went to the academy.

After finishing their meal, Xia Mu and Tenten said goodbye to Shino and returned to the Ninja Tool Shop together. When the shop owner saw his bargain son-in-law, he merely nodded, with no intention of congratulating him.

Only after noticing his daughter staring at him did he quietly say, "Congratulations on becoming an official ninja."

Xia Mu grinned. "Thank you, Father-in-law."

Over the years, Xia Mu had gotten used to calling him Father-in-law, and the shop owner had gotten used to hearing it. Tenten had gone from being shy at first to taking it for granted later on. Everyone already regarded Xia Mu as family. They were only waiting for Xia Mu and Tenten to come of age before discussing marriage.

Tenten pulled Xia Mu over to a pile of ninja tools. "I've noticed you don't use ninja tools much, but as a ninja, you should still carry more. Start with fifty Kunai and fifty Shuriken. I'll put them all into your Summoning Scroll. Oh, and since you learned Hatake Kenjutsu, you should carry a short sword too. The Thousand Blades Demon Blade is good, but it's probably too long and unsuitable. How about taking three short swords? If you only carry one and accidentally break it, wouldn't that be terrible..."

Xia Mu let Tenten pack his ninja tools while his eyes remained fixed on her the whole time.

Tenten seemed a little chatty today, but she was clearly enjoying herself. It was as though she wanted to stuff the entire Ninja Tool Shop into the Summoning Scroll for Xia Mu to carry.

The shop owner had been smiling at first, but his face gradually darkened.

His sweet daughter had turned into a spendthrift. Those expensive Chakra short swords, and she was handing Xia Mu three of them outright? Why not just take his life while she was at it?

Seeing this, Xia Mu hurriedly tugged at Tenten. "Ahem! Tenten, that's about enough, or Dad is going to cry."

Tenten turned back to glance at her father and merely said, "Dad, this concerns your daughter's happiness, so stop being stingy. What if something happens to Xia Mu while he's out there? How are you going to hold your grandson in the future?"

"Fine, fine, fine! Just pack the entire Ninja Tool Shop for him!"

The shop owner stamped his feet in anger, though it was only an angry remark. In truth, the entire Ninja Tool Shop would belong to Tenten in the future. She could do whatever she wanted. It was just that seeing the business he had built through hard work being so decisively handed over to another man by his sweet daughter made his chest ache.

Watching this scene of filial daughter and loving father, Xia Mu could not help but laugh.

"Stop laughing and come help choose. Before long, you'll be leaving the village for missions too. You need to prepare everything for camping in the wild beforehand, so you won't be scrambling when the time comes."

"Yes, yes, yes. Whatever my wife says."

"Who's your... Ahem! Fine, then listen to this wife of yours!"

With her hands on her hips and a broad smile on her face, Tenten directed Xia Mu to work. She had long gotten used to Xia Mu occasionally calling her his wife. Not only did she no longer blush, she even teased him about it from time to time.

After all, they had been dating for years. They could consider it practice for being an old married couple.

The only pity was that they were still too young to do certain things.

Naruto and Sasuke's First Kiss, and Team Assignments

Early the next morning, Xia Mu looked at the pile of scrolls in his hands and did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Tenten had truly almost packed the entire Ninja Tool Shop into the scrolls. It was like a mother frantically stuffing things into her son's bag when she learned he was going away.

Tenten had not even brought this much stuff when she became an official ninja herself.

Besides, today was only for team assignments. They would not leave the village for the next month, so why did he need to bring this much gear?

"Tenten, this..."

"Alright, alright, I know it's excessive."

Tenten was a little embarrassed too. She had been too excited yesterday.

She separated some of the scrolls and set them aside for the time being. "These have already been sorted out. Just take them when you need them, so you won't have to look for them later. Uh, you don't have to bring any of them today. Just take them when you train or leave the village."

Xia Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Mm, I understand."

Tenten looked over her boyfriend's handsome appearance in his forehead protector again, then quietly rose onto her tiptoes and gave him a kiss that tasted like meat buns.

They had long gotten used to it. Even the neighbors knew by now, so there was nothing to be shy about.

However, when Tenten felt a certain twelve-year-old little hooligan begin to use his wandering hands, she shot him an annoyed glare but did not stop him.

"I'm heading off to do missions first." Tenten left first.

Xia Mu looked over the pile of scrolls again, picked up one containing special Shuriken, and had his bargain father-in-law put away all the rest.

He did not even know who his jonin instructor would be yet. There might very well be a test.

So bringing some special Shuriken as a greeting gift for his teacher should not be too much, right?

When Xia Mu arrived in the classroom, he saw Naruto wearing a ninja forehead protector with a smug look on his face. Remembering that he had heard some commotion last night, it seemed that certain events had still happened.

Still, he asked, "Naruto, how did you get a forehead protector?"

Naruto gave a smug hum. "Of course Iruka-sensei gave it to me. You don't know how dangerous it was last night. I never expected Mizuki-sensei to betray Konoha and trick me into steal— Ahem, trick me into doing something bad. Luckily, Iruka-sensei showed up, and I showed him what I could do. Iruka-sensei recognized my strength and gave me the forehead protector."

Good. It was more or less the same as the original plot.

Was it the power of fate, or that old Hiruzen's calculation?

It was not important. Xia Mu only cared about his team assignment and jonin instructor. He could just listen to the protagonist's experiences, respect the protagonist's fate, and watch the drama with snacks and drinks in hand.

At that moment, Sasuke walked into the classroom with his hands in his pockets, immediately drawing screams from the girls.

Although Sasuke had lost to Xia Mu before graduation, he was still handsome and cool. Girls looked at faces; everything else seemed unimportant.

As soon as Sasuke sat down, Sakura the devoted fangirl immediately crowded around him. The other girls also formed a circle around Sasuke, all saying they wanted to be assigned to the same team as him. Sasuke kept a cold face and ignored everyone, but to the boys, it looked like he was flaunting his good fortune.

Naruto could not stand seeing Sasuke be so popular. He jumped straight onto the desk and locked eyes with Sasuke.

Their faces drew closer and closer.

Xia Mu froze for a moment, then immediately took out a scroll and summoned a Polaroid camera. Just as he finished focusing it, someone bumped Naruto in the butt, and the iconic first kiss between Naruto and Sasuke played out.

Click! Click! Click!

That was the sound of Xia Mu snapping photos in rapid succession.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

That was the sound of the girls' hearts breaking.

Crunch, crunch! That was the sound of Choji eating chips, especially conspicuous in the quiet classroom.

"Wah!!! So disgusting, blegh!" Naruto clutched his throat and vomited.

"Idiot Naruto! What are you doing, blegh!" Sasuke vomited too.

Then Naruto felt a pack of monsters staring at him. A moment later, he was being violently beaten by the girls led by Sakura. After all, which female fan could accept her idol's first kiss being stolen?

Ino sat beside Shikamaru and Choji, enjoying the show immensely.

Ever since Ino realized she only liked Sasuke's looks and was not truly obsessed with him, she had become much more open-minded. She had also reconciled with Sakura long ago. Seeing all those girls flock around Sasuke now reminded her of how she used to act, and she could not help mocking herself. But seeing Naruto steal Sasuke's first kiss made her laugh until her stomach hurt.

Shikamaru, however, looked at Xia Mu, who was taking pictures. "Are you a demon? And you came so prepared—you even have a camera."

Xia Mu pulled out the photos and waved them in the air. Fresh pictures of Naruto and Sasuke's first kiss appeared, and there was more than one. He even had film left.

These were precious memories of Team 7. They would be perfect for blackmailing Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in the future.

Shino suddenly said, "Xia Mu, give me one."

Ino immediately raised her hand. "Me too, me too! I want one as a keepsake!"

Even Choji held out his hand. Though Shikamaru found it troublesome, he followed suit. Naruto was their troublesome friend, after all, and keeping some embarrassing dirt on him would be interesting.

As Naruto was chased around by the girls, he accidentally spotted this filthy transaction and immediately screamed, "Wah, wah, wah! Xia Mu, what are you doing?! Why did you take pictures?! Destroy them right now! Hurry up and destroy them, believe it!"

Sasuke's expression changed too. He wanted nothing more than to tear Xia Mu and the others to pieces.

His first kiss had been stolen by a boy, and now that embarrassing history had become photographs in these people's hands... Not good! His Mangekyō Sharingan was about to awaken!

Xia Mu looked at the photos and said with a smile, "Naruto, don't be so worked up. This is your first kiss with Sasuke. It's definitely a wonderful memory. When you get married and have children someday, we friends can show these photos to your kids and tell them about your deep friendship. Don't you think that's romantic?"

Shikamaru and the others burst out laughing.

Was that romantic?

What deep friendship? It was clearly overflowing with bromance!

Naruto was about to explode. "Xia Mu, how can you do this?! Don't you know how important a first kiss is?! How can you joke about something like that?!"

Xia Mu wore a completely serious expression. "Of course I know a first kiss is important. I remember mine clearly. My first kiss tasted like grilled meat, and this morning's kiss tasted like meat buns."

Hey, hey, hey! Were you trying to slaughter all the single dogs here?!

Everyone was single, yet you had been dating Tenten for years. What were you showing off for?!