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Naruto's POV

It was the final day of classes before they took the exam. Naruto had broken through five levels in that time. He was currently sitting at level 29.

In class 1-C he was the strongest. In his year he barely made it into the top 5. When the time for the exams came they would be fighting against the other classes. It was already considered that 1-C was the weakest class.

This was mainly because the other students looked down upon him and Yu Hao. They looked down upon him for being from the Elemental Nations. Yu Hao because he is the weakest student to ever be accepted into Shrek.

In his time, however, Yu Hao worked harder than anyone. In less than three months he had achieved level 20. He would have to wait until after the exam to go Spirit Beast hunting. Naruto hoped that he would break through to level 30 by that time.

Zhu said drawing his attention, "Pay attention brats. This is your last day before examinations."

Immediately the entire class grew silent. No one knew what to expect from the exams. Older students refused to talk about them. It was as if they were a right of passage.

She continued her cold gaze going over each of them, "Yesterday you choose between the four spirit master types. Today you will be put into teams based on what you chose. Every team will take part in the exams. The exams are three on three matches. Each team for the first part of the exams will have five matches a day. Rankings based on how many matches your team wins will be given. This is ONLY for your year group. You will not have arena ranks until you begin fighting in there. Only the top 100 teams will pass the exams. The top 64 for will go onto the knock out rounds. There will be rewards from the school for the champions of the exam. So do your best to become the champion."

Naruto was determined to have the champion team. Shrek rewards tended to be anything from the mysterious pills to rare techniques. Rumors had it that occasionally teachers would give out spirit bones. That would be the best reward to receive.

Spirit bones could be infused with a spirit master's body. Only 10 thousand-year-old beasts and older had the chance of giving a bone.

At any one time, a spirit master can have six bones in there body. One to each arm and leg and one to the skull. Once infused with the spirit master's body the only way to remove it was through death.

Zhu said after a moment of them processing the information, "Naruto Uzumaki, Wang Dong, Yu Hao. You will be the first team."

Naruto and Yu Hao exchanged matching grins. Unlike the other kids, they had practice fighting together. Fan Yu had spent the last month teaching Yu Hao about the control aspect of spirit master's.

The Purple Demon Eye Essence was a lot more powerful than originally thought. As long as Naruto could keep the enemy off of him, Yu Hao could see everything and predict movements. Spirit Eye was his first skill. He could choose who was able to see with it. Together they would become champions.

Wang Dong was the only unknown in this. They had seen his spirit essence their first day when he helped Yu Hao. There were times when he caught the other staring at him but that was it. No other interactions.

He must be either a support spirit master or another attack. Two control masters would only hinder each other in small group battles. Whether it was support or attack was hard to say. It could go either way and he didnt knows enough to make a guess.

While he was lost in his thoughts the other groups were called out. When they were all assigned Zhu finished, "You are given the rest of the day off to figure out strategies. I suggest you prepare wisely. I will be most displeased if any of you fail."

"Yes, sensei!"

With that, they left the classroom. If it was a normal day Yu Hao would go train with Fan Yu. Today was not a normal day.

Wang asked as they stepped out into the sunlight, "What are your plans for the exams?"

Around them, several students tried to hide their interest. This was neither the time nor the place for such a talk.

Instead of answering directly Naruto said, "Not here. Follow me."

There was still a few hours before he had to be at the Alchemist Guild. Fan wouldn't care if they used one of the training rooms. So he took them inside to the Spirit Weapons Facility.

They passed by several other students who barely gave them a glance. They had grown used to the presence of two first-year students. As such adding another to the mix didnt change their views.

The first three training rooms were in use. They were lucky to find the fourth empty. All the rooms past the fourth could only be used by Inner Academy students.

That currently consisted of Cai Tao. Fan was picking about who he let into the inner academy. On top of that, he trained the retainers himself. They were considered separate from the main part of the facility.

Once in the room he locked the door and said, "Sorry about that. Eavesdroppers are everywhere in this school. Better to keep our plans to ourselves. I guess the first step to this would be introducing ourselves. I am Naruto Uzumaki, Level 29 Grandmaster Attack Type. My spirit essence is a shadow fox."

Yu Hao continued with a small smile, "I am Hao Yu Hao, Level 20 Spirit Master Control Type. My spirit essence is the Purple Demon Eye."

Wang Dong sighed as he finished, "I am Wang Dong, Level 25 Grandmaster Attack Type. My spirit essence is Goddess of Butterfly."

Naruto blinked. Well, that explained their first day of classes. Goddess of Butterfly spirit essence was extremely rare. Only a single clan was known to have it.

It was odd that Wang would have chosen to come to Shrek. If he remembered correctly the clan was in the far northern mountains. Several schools lay between Shrek and there.

Wang must have chosen the school for a specific reason. Then again they all had their reasons. Naruto chose it because it was Hayate's school. That and Xaiogang said it would be the best place for him. He believed in his master so he came. So far he didnt regret it at all. This school trained monsters and he wasnt afraid to become one.

The plan that they came up with was to avoid using their spirit skills for as long as possible. Naruto had come up with two skills that weren't from his rings.

One was 3000 Lightning Movement. If used correctly he could knock all the opponents out of the ring before they had the chance to react. The only problem was if they were able to read his movements. With the amount of ki, he was using he wouldn't be able to channel any of the ki unless he stopped the technique. If that were to happen he would have to trust that Yu Hao and Wang Dong had his back.

He trusted Yu Hao it was Wang Dong that he was unsure of. If they were to win this tournament however he would have to trust the older boy. Despite it not being in his nature to trust anyone.

Their abilities meshed better than he would have thought. Naruto and Wang would keep the opponents off of Yu Hao. The Spirit Resonance skill would allow them to predict the other's movements.

By the time their talks were done it was time for Naruto to go to the Alchemist Guild. They went their separate way from there. Naruto to the Guild and Yu Hao to find Fan.

Xaiogang's POV

The trip to Shrek had taken less time than he thought it would. It had been years since he came to visit the old academy. While he was friends with Flander the Headmaster of the Inner Academy he didnt needs to visit. Most of their correspondence had been through the mail.

It surprised him when he received a letter inviting him to the first exam. He had sent students here before but he had never been invited. Naruto must have made quite an impression upon the school.

So he chose to bring Sasuke Uchiha and Kiba Inuzuka with him. The Uchiha boy was more open to seeing what the exam was like. The sneer on Inuzuka's face said it all. He still didnt think very highly of the blond. It was a rivalry that would last a lifetime.

He wasnt surprised at all to see the Hyuuga, Inuzuka, Nara, Yamaka, and Aburame clan heads. If he was called that meant they would be as well. It seemed even the old man Hokage had shown up. Only one jounin accompanied each of them.

If they were expecting the other two children to be in the exam they would be surprised. Inuzuka would be lucky to make it as an outer academy student at Shrek. Uchiha wouldn't be able to enter Shrek much less, graduate.

Xaiogang still remembers the look on Naruto's face; when he realized the predicament both his mentor and Sasuke were in. The look of sheer determination crossed the ocean blue eyes. Naruto swore that he would find a way to fix Xaiogang's soul essence. That he would be able to reach rank 30 one day.

Teacher Zhu and Flander came to greet him. Flander was a grey-haired man with green eyes. His face was lined with tired but happy to see Xaiogang.

Xaiogang greeted, "Flander it's been a long time. How are you?"

"Xaiogang," the older man returned, "It certainly has been a long time. I hear that it is one of your students that will be taking the first year exams tomorrow. He has certainly made wakes since he joined the Academy three months ago."

The Hyuuga elder said, "Thank you for inviting us to the exams. It's the first time one of our students to be accepted into Shrek."

Flander replied with a grin, "Its the first time we've had a student under the age of ten when they entered. Young Uzumaki is a top contender for a spot as a core student. As is young Wang Dong. They will make a good team if they can work together."

Xaiogang rubbed at the stubble on his face thoughtfully. Wang Dong was said to hold the Goddess of Butterfly spirit essence. If that was true the two would balance each other out.

He didnt miss the look of distaste across most of the ninjas' faces. They did not think any higher of Naruto than Inuzuka's heir did.

The full balance of the team depended on who the third person was. Teams were made up of three students for their first exam. Then one on one against magical beasts when they came back for their second year.

Xaiogang inquired curiously, "Who is the third student?"

A look of distaste crossed the Headmaster's face. Then he replied, "He is Hao Yu Hao last I heard he was a level 15 spirit master. The only reason why he was accepted into Shrek was because he became friends with the Tang Sect. If he does not make level 21 before his second year he will be expelled."

A stab of pity and knowing went through Xaiogang. No intermediate academy would accept him because he was awakened at half a level. For this child, he had been lucky that he was accepted at all.

Flander wasnt normally a bigoted idiot but he did have his moments. It seemed that this boy Yu Hao was one of them.

Hayate asked drawing their attention, "Where is Naruto?"

Zhu answered this time with a smirk, "He should be coming out of the Alchemist Guild anytime now."

The Alchemist Guild. That was an extraordinary accomplishment. He expected Naruto to join them but not this soon.

The look in Zhu's face said that there was something he was missing. He would have to talk to the boy to find out what it was.

The Clan Heads excused themselves a moment later. The old Hokage clapped Hayate on his shoulder and whispered something in his ear. A calculating look entered the man's eyes.

It hit Xaiogang like a ton of bricks as he realized what day it was. They had arrived on Naruto's birthday. Knowing the boy he didnt even realize what the day was.

Flander and Zhu stayed for a few moments to talk with Hayate. Though both himself and Hayate and Xaiogang were both distracted when a flash of blond came out of a building. Flander gave him a shooing motion. They had known each other too long for him not to know that he wanted to see his student.

Xaiogang went through the courtyard making his way through the students. They let him pass without much of a second guess. Naruto was completely oblivious to the eyes on him. Instead, he was shrugging on his academy jacket.

On the bottom right side of the jacket was an iron alchemist badge. That gave him pause. Not only was his disciple an apprenticed alchemist but he was a ranked apprentice.

Suddenly the boy turned and froze his ocean blue eyes wide with surprise. Naruto whispered a smile forming on his face, "Xaiogang sensei. What are you doing here?"

He replied with a gentle look, "Naruto you look well. I'm glad you are doing well in school. As for your question I'm here because the academy invited me. They also invited the heads of your village."

Naruto nervously tugged at his jacket a blush rising up his cheeks. Well, somethings never seemed to change. His young student still couldn't take a compliment very well.

Xaiogang said after a moment, "Happy Birthday, Naruto."

"It's my birthday? I completely forgot."

That was only a half-truth and they both knew it. He didnt keep track of what day it was as his birthday drew near. It was a defense mechanism from his time in the village.

The people of his village hated him for something he couldn't control. Hated him for having the Nine-Tailed Fox in his body. It wasnt his fault but they treated him like it was. Like he was a criminal and a murderer.

Hayate said coming up beside them, "Let's go grab some food Naruto. You can catch us up on your adventures since you joined the academy. Any other trainings you have going on today can wait."

"Yes, sensei!"