A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.

CAD270895: thanks for your review, my friend. I can't guarantee pairings just yet. I don't know who I'm going to match who just yet.

Zoran Dawn-Eclipse: thanks for your review, my friend. I'm glad you enjoyed it. If Naruto wasnt as strong as he is it would have turned out much different.

TigrezzTail: thanks for your review, my friend. I'm glad you enjoyed the dragon. Soul seas can take many forms and most of the time it's not seen until much later in life. Once it is formed through that's when training truly begins. As we will see in the coming chapters.

DarkRavie: thanks for your review, my friend.

Naruto's POV

The roof was hot as each apprentice sat at their desks. It was the first part of the iron apprentice exams. 72 apprentices in total were hoping to get their iron apprentice badge.

Once earned badges were always to be worn on the outermost part of their clothes. They would gain access to the Alchemist Library allowing them to study even further.

Up to this point, they had to rely on word of mouth from their master's. The information could be incorrect or insufficient for exams. It all depended on how well the master themselves knew the information.

Xaiofan was the complete opposite of most masters. If Naruto had questions he had to first search for the answer himself. Then he and Xaiofan would have a discussion on what he found.

This worked in his favor. Rather than immediately seeking out his master he first went to the man's library. It gave him independence that most apprentices didnt have until they were silver rank.

If Xaiofan was to be believed his knowledge alone would allow him to pass the silver apprentice rank test. Sadly his practical skills were still lacking due to the sheer amount of ki he possessed. He needed time which if he passed his first test at Shrek he would have plenty of. That test was only a few weeks off.

Both he and Yu Hao were ready for this test. It was all thanks to his master who listened to his concerns. He showed that like Hayate and Xaiogang he could be trusted at least to listen to him.

If the masters of the Guild knew that he had taken those medications out of the hall a few days before. Xaiofan would lose his credibility as a master. They could even go so far as to ban the man from the Hall. As such Naruto would also lose any chance he had at becoming an apprentice.

That was not something he would risk. With this exam, he would be an iron apprentice. Then he could focus on learning control and making the alchemist pills.

The test in front of him was finished and as expected it was easy. Xaiogang had shown him the value of knowledge. While he might still prefer practical learning he didnt ignore the value of book learning.

He couldn't help wondering how the man was doing. He sent a letter but so far he had not heard back. Realistically he knew it took time for mail to travel but he couldn't help the impatience.

Xaiogang treated him less like a student and more like what he thought a parent would towards a son. While he didnt have any experience with it himself he had seen it in children back at his village. It was something he constantly longed for.

Both Xaiogang and Hayate had taken up father like roles in his life. Without them, he would be lost on what to do.

A ding sounded alerting Naruto to the end of their first trial. An examiner came around to pick up their test sheets then told them to wait in the hall.

Around him, other students stood and made their way to the door. The looks he was given told him exactly what they thought of a nine almost ten-year-old being in their midst. They thought he was much too young to be a first-year student at Shrek. Much less to be taking his iron examination.

Sneers had crossed their faces the moment he presented his letter of recommendation. To them, he was just a snot-nosed brat who was in way above his head. He would show them that he wasnt someone to look down upon.

Nervous energy filled the air as they waited for the results. They were nervous about whether or not they passed. Naruto knew that he would pass this portion of the exam. There was never any doubt in his mind. Xaiofan prepared him well for it and if it was simply tested on his knowledge he would pass easily.

It was not, however. He still had to successfully make a pill. Rank mattered not as long as it formed.

Other things also had to be met when an alchemist apprentice was tested. Tradition dictated that no apprentice could test for any other level until they became iron apprentice. If his master had high enough faith in him. Then in several months, he could take his silver exams bypassing the bronze completely.

It wasn't unheard of but to do so was rare. Knowledge in the Alchemist library was locked based on rank. What most apprentices needed would only be available once they reached the rank of bronze.

Xaiofan being the man he was kept all of his notes and books. That was what made up most of his library. A few other important books were in it but they were vastly outnumbered.

Fan Yu, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. His library was had scrolls of techniques from all over the continent. There were even a handful of ninja techniques.

He too allowed Naruto to use his library. One scroll, in particular, he was trying to learn the technique off of but was having difficulty. Its name was the 3000 Lightning Movement technique.

From what he could tell it was broken up into three parts. Lightning flash which increased the speed of the user exponentially. It was based off of one's strength ki and how much of their ki was purified. Naruto had the ki needed but still had difficulty purifying large amounts.

A boy snapped drawing his attention away from his thoughts, "You shouldn't be here. You're just a child. How you were even picked up by a master is beyond me."

Naruto shrugged as he replied, "I have to tradition the same as you. Otherwise, I would be testing for silver ranked apprentice. My knowledge is already on par with that."

"Bullshit!" Snarled the boy.

If Naruto had to guess he was four years older than Naruto. This made him at least a second year at Shrek. As much as they down upon him, he would surprise them by placing first in the written.

The boy stomped back over to what Naruto could only assume was his group of friends. They waited almost an hour before the proctors returned.

An older man with grey-brown hair said, "We will now announce the results of the first exam," every apprentice straightened, "For the first time in ten years we have someone who answered every question correct. Naruto Uzumaki congratulations. Your hard work has paid off and you made your master very proud."

Only three others were accepted into the second stage. The bully was not one of them. Outrage made his face go an ugly purple color as Naruto walked past him.

He didnt dare attack the blond in fear of who his master was. Attacking an apprentice without actual provocation was seen as a declaration of war. Though he could wait until Naruto passed his first exam at Shrek.

When he did that he could be challenged at Shrek's Arena. In the arena, students honed the combat skills against one another for ranking. The best of the best were declared the 7 Shrek Devils. It was a high honor only done once one group was about to graduate.

Next year would be the next battle for it. Naruto planned on being one of the chosen. Shrek made monsters and he would be acknowledged as one of the best. Being one of the Seven Devils would improve his standing when he became a retainer.

First, he had to pass his iron examination. The second examination was in one large room. Alchemy pots sat on the tables. They were basic iron pots used by entrance level apprentices.

Ingredients lay on the table next to the pots. They were low-level ingredients but easy to work with. The pills formed could be used for accelerating training potentials. The better one's control the more likely it would be a higher grade.

Most pills were broken into three grades for each level. Low, mid, and high grade. Black colored was low grade. Dark blue was mid-grade. Silver was a high grade. There was a final grade rarely seen outside of the Alchemist Tower. It was gold.

The higher the grade pill the more effective it was. To know what kind of pill it was you had to check the line through pill. Each element had a colored line specific to them.

Naruto went to the first desk and waited for the others. The three other apprentices came in just a moment later.

The proctor was the last to come in. Looking at each of them, in turn, he said, "Today you will use the ingredients on your desk to take a pill. There are enough for three chances. If you run out of ingredients or time runs out you will be disqualified. You have two hours to complete one pill."

They immediately began working on their pills. Naruto lit his cauldron and began putting ingredients in counting each carefully. If the count was even slightly off it would fail.

Once they were all in the pot he focused on his ki. His ice ki began to leak into the pot and he struggled to keep control over it. It wanted to lash out with the force of his strength. Only his will to succeed kept it in control.

Ice began to form on the table before him and the pot began to shake. Minutes passed and the ingredients were finally drawn into their essences. Carefully he began to compress the essences into the pill that was needed to form.

Behind him, he heard three explosions in rapid succession. It seemed they had failed in their first attempt.

Naruto returned his focus completely to the task in front of him. The compression was the most difficult part of making a pill.

His pot rattled loudly as he compressed his ki and the essence of the ingredients. Minutes passed until the rattling stopped.

Slowly he released his ki and the air around him returned to normal temperature. Carefully he opened the pot and looked inside.

The pill lay perfectly in the center. It was dark blue in color and a light blue almost white stripe through it. It was a cultivation strengthening pill specific to ice spirit masters.

He grinned at the sight of it. It was just a rank one mid-grade pill but it was his. The fact that he had been able to do it without Ren acting as a stabilizer was a feat in itself.

Picking up his pill he went to the desk where the Proctor sat and handed it to him. He was swiftly dismissed back to his desk. The man would not announce the results until it was over.

Two hours passed swiftly. While waiting for the others to finish Naruto sat on the floor with his legs crossed. He focused on cultivating his ki trying to break through the 25 levels.

With the Black Heaven and Earth technique he finally broke through five minutes before the end of the test. His center had expanded ever so slightly with the new level.

It was unnoticed by most but everyone's center size was different. Depending on the cultivation technique and how well it was used one could grow its center. His was larger than most because of the sheer amount of ki he was born with. It would only continue to grow as he trained.

Opening his eyes he heard two explosions behind him. It seemed that two of the examinees had failed. There was no way to make a pill with less than five minutes to the test.

Carefully he stood and brushed the dirt from his clothes. There was only one apprentice left trying. From the way her pot was rumbling it was either almost over. Or it was going to explode.

To his surprise, she was able to hold through it. The pot slowly settled onto her table. When she lifted the lid it was obvious she had succeeded.

She pulled out a black pill with a red line of fire ki going through it. Rank one grade low but it was still a pill.

She brought it straight to the proctor and then they waited. When the time was up and no other pills were brought forward the proctor began examining them.

First was the girl's pill. Naruto could feel the man's ki activate as he examined it.

When he spoke it was in a low tone that was almost a whisper, "Rank 1 Grade low. Flame ki regenerating pill. You pass Miss Lune."

The man passed the pill back to the girl. Then he turned to Naruto's and a brief flash of surprise went through his eyes. It was soon followed by intrigue as the man picked it up.

Ki once again activated as he examined the pill. Naruto was not worried about what the man would find. He had done an excellent job. Not only had a pill been formed but he only used one set of ingredients. The others had used at least two if not all of the sets.

"Rank 1 Grade mid. Uzumaki you pass as well. Well done on your pill," said the man as Naruto stepped forward to take it.

The two that failed were led from the room. Two men entered with Master Alchemist robes over their normal clothes. The badges declared them gold masters.

One master stood in front of Naruto and the other stood in front of Lune.

The one in front of Naruto said as he placed the badge on the out part of his jacket just above his heart, "Naruto Uzumaki today on you are an Alchemist apprentice rank iron. Should you wish in three months' time you may take the bronze examination. Good luck to you and your master."

Similar was said to the girl. Her green eyes glared at him as if he somehow slighted her. For his part the blond ignored her. It was people like that, that annoyed him.

At least he had his pill and his iron badge. That was a win that he would not let go.

Hayate's POV

He stood in the Lord Hokage's office surrounded by several clan heads. Only the Uchiha clan wasnt present as they had been killed shortly after the youngest son went to Spirit Academy.

It was two months since the start of Shrek's first semester. Naruto would be taking his first exam in less than a month.

Normally family and mentors were invited to the exam. It was a great way to earn fame for young Spirit Masters.

This time almost the entire upper echelon of the village. It seemed that there was going to be a show during this year's first-year exam. Only Hayate knew that Naruto would be in the test. Seeing these old men surprise would be the highlight of his year.

Sarutobi said drawing his attention, "Thank you for coming. I have received word that one of our three Spirit Master students has entered Shrek early. They have invited us to see the first exam of the year."

Several of them began to mutter amongst themselves. They all seemed to think Sasuke would be the one in Shrek. It seemed they forgot that the young Uchiha would never be able to reach level 30.

If it wasnt Naruto then it would be the Inuzuka kid. There was no way that Uchiha kid would make it to Shrek a year early. He would be lucky to even make it into the intermediate academies at all.

Sarutobi continued putting a stop to the murmurs, "I will be going. Clans should choose at least one member to accompany me. Hayate Gekko will be going as well. Make your decision in three days."