The Final Test

(最終試験)

The final trial has come.

"It's something that can weigh on you so much that it can break you. You must protect the village. However, can you make a hard decision?"

Remembering Hayate Gekkou's words, Naruto Uzumaki got out of his bed with a refreshed resolve. While growing, living year by year, he was used to seeing the backs of others. It meant that he wasn't noticed – at all. Whether it was voluntary and just passing by in a daily stroll, they didn't notice the boy named Naruto.

After his final trial, he wanted that to change.

"I'm going to be a shinobi, I'm going to get my headband, and then I'll become Hokage." He heard about the title of "genin" from not only his sensei, but from other adults and even his closest assistant. The term meant "lower ninja", but it was a title to reminded all that even in youths, they were willing to risk their lives. When ordered, these children would kill, become desensitized, and encroach on other nations, viewing people as [tactical pawns]. It was a kind of route to a hard-boiled cause. The destiny of Heaven, Earth, and Man would be tested.

Back at the Academy, at the Gaki-shiro, the Trial was set in the main courtyard. The morning was cool and windy. Each student was sent out alone to face Iruka Umino and Mizuki. No child could evade the chunin's scrutinizing eyes. It almost felt like a duel.

"Sasuke Uchiha, before we begin, before we hopefully send you into the road of the ninja, I want you to tell us something. What is nindo to you?" Iruka asked.

Sasuke hung down his head, and he glowered at the two chunin without nervousness. Nindo was a term to refer to this past, present, and future. Nindo – The way of the Shinobi (忍道). Not just stealth or skill, but mental level. He had a true goal in mind, but his mind sought for something discreet, and felt that he might fail his test for something out of line. He had all his martial skills perfected, so what more was there?

"To become the best," Sasuke answered, "and defeat a threat."

"There'll be many challenges ahead of you, but for this final day, you must prove that you're ready."

"As a shinobi, it is a given to avenge those who has died cruelly," Sasuke replied dryly.

"Sasuke, it is not necessary to carry a personal anger," Mizuki said with a smile. "Sadly, it is known that we die on missions."

"That is not what I'm talking about."

Many answers came their way.

"Since I care for flowers plenty, I want to find love. No, I mean, for me. No! I mean, we all must learn to care for one another. Therefore, therefore, with my wits, I will become the mediator. Is that okay?"

"To be real, I didn't think much about it. Of course I'll become a great ninja, but I want to be a great chef too!"

"It's…um…I'll do my best. I'll protect my family and friends."

"Tch. To get by I guess. I'd like it if it wasn't troublesome though."

"I'll show everyone that I can't be stopped!"

"To become a leader in this village and remove every enemy. Every one."

"I want to become a strong ninja, like my brother."

Iruka and Mizuki were met with various answers. Then, it was Naruto's turn. Everyone, including the chunin, already knew of his goal. He would announce it again with a wide smile, which shined under the dusk sky.

"To become this village's number one ninja and Hokage one day! That is my dream!" The boy said, to which Iruka responded with a grim look on his face. The chunin leveled his finger at the so-called future Hokage.

"Then Naruto Uzumaki, you must find the Heaven Scroll that I dropped in the northeastern forest area. That is your test."

"Huh?! How in the hell?!"

For the chunin to make ascertain that their teachings were rooted into their children, and that said children were potentially prepared, each genin was sent to do a particular trial that would test them in some particular way. For Naruto, it was patience and diligence, and he rushed to the northern groves to find anything that looked like a rolled up piece of parchment. All the while, he was kicking pebbles and blades of grass in a fit.

"This is bullshit! How am I supposed to find a scroll?" For a trial, it felt like a trivializing request. Any child would ask someone to find their pet, or even their most revered treasure stolen by a thief. Such ideas underestimated the technique of a shinobi, at least the image Naruto had on "real shinobi". According to the adults, including his close consultant at home, they were tasks that had to be done. Must be done and wanted done. Still, Naruto couldn't think of a smart way to dig out the scroll. Everywhere he looked were tall tree trunks and nothing more, and the morning sun baked the sky, indicating that time was passing.

"Does he just want me to look around the place?! That'll take fore-Oh!" As Naruto looked, he rushed over a broken shack area. He lunged and laughed to himself, pouncing right onto a large cylindrical item.

"Oh come on! What was I sweating about?!" Naruto had to giggle. He should've figured that it would be set in a place where someone would stay or gather with others. The area he was in had a burnt out campfire. He saw a small iron cauldron and a bucket tipped over.

"Man, these guys are pigs. Anyways, what's inside?" Naruto sat on a flat-topped rock and slowly unfurled the scroll. He was expecting to find something that would identify the scroll before he could take it back. As he opened it, he could see the parchment overflowing with ink writing. His eyes widened as he was hit with surprise. In his mind, he questioned if it was the right scroll. Did he unlock some kind of ancient Epic? If the middle of the wall of scribble, he read a large print of red katakana.

"Kuoan (コーアン)?"