Graduating from the Ninja Academy was no easy feat.
Take it from Naruto Uzumaki.
Although always trying to find the humor in his failure, Naruto always tried his hardest when it came to his school work, not that nearly anyone would believe him. He trained countless days and nights to just try to keep up with his classmates, but he always flubbed the easiest of jutsu, like Transformation and Clone, both needed to graduate.
It was quite strange, really. Naruto couldn't perform the jutsus himself, but could instruct how to do each step perfectly to his best friend, Hinata Hyūga.
At first, their classmates were so surprised when they were constantly around one another inside and outside of the Academy. Hinata came from the noblest clan in the village and certainly the most strict about rules and upbringing. They were all very cautious about how they spoke and who they spoke to.
And yet, nearly every day, the troublemaker could be seen walking the young heiress to her clan's compound. Sometimes, Naruto would be allowed inside, breaking sacred rules and traditions.
Hinata Hyūga . . . no words can adequately describe her unmatched kindness.
Months before she started attending the Ninja Academy, Hinata would be bullied because of her hereditary eyes. The kids, who constantly called her a monster and pushed her around, were from her cousin's year, but they were too afraid of him. At first, Hinata gave into their torment, thinking it would make it end quicker. Eventually, after some encouragement from her closest friend. Hinata stood her ground with them.
But not in the way you would think.
On the last confrontation, the bullies began to surround Hinata when she asked what was wrong and how she could help them. When she smiled so sweetly at them, they ran away because they were ashamed of what they did to her.
Naruto firmly believed Hinata's smile could melt the coldest of hearts. When they spoke about it before, he used Sasuke Uchiha as an example. He typically brooded in class and usually didn't speak unless called on by a teacher, even then giving very short and quick answers. When it came to the Hyūga girl, Sasuke always spoke to her kindly and occasionally ate lunch with her, when she would pack one for him and Naruto when she had extra time in the mornings.
Hinata claimed Sasuke didn't count. Before the 'incident' with the Uchiha Clan, Hinata and Sasuke always played with one another while their parents talked about clan business. Sometimes it would be a few minutes to hours, but they never became bored. Years later, after the . . . circumstance that isn't to be spoken about, the two stopped playing together by Sasuke's choice. Even so, Sasuke always tried to be civil with Hinata when seeing her in public, dropping his 'tough guy' act just for her.
Now, when it came to learning together at the Ninja Academy, nearly all of Sasuke's not-so-secret admirers voiced their disapproval every time they sat with each other. To avoid confrontations, Hinata would simply move to a different row, practically dragging a shouting Naruto behind her so he wouldn't say anything too mean to the girls and Sasuke. One day, Sasuke voluntarily sat next to Hinata with Naruto on the other side of her. As soon as a fan tried to berate the Hyūga girl, Sasuke glared at him, stating that they all needed to get over it.
Needless to say, none of them pestered Hinata any more after that day.
In fact, everyone watched what they said to her because she was near the top of their class. Hinata had Naruto to thank for that, since he always helped her with her training and encouraged her to try again when she messed up. If it weren't for Naruto, Hinata would have failed the graduation exam.
The final part of the test was the Clone Jutsu. Each student had to produce at least two clones at the minimum. If they were convincing enough or could fool some of the proctors, the student officially passed.
When it came to Hinata's turn, the silence of her walking down the steps and to the testing classroom was overpowered by Naruto's obnoxious cheering, encouraging her to do her best. After a moment of concentrating, Hinata managed to create a single clone, who looked identical. To test which was the original, one proctor slowly threw a shuriken, so the original could dodge it while the clone would be hit.
They were all surprised when both Hinata and her clone took the risk of catching the shuriken. After successfully doing so, Hinata dispelled the jutsu, standing opposite of where she originally stood. Every proctor applauded her, proclaiming it to be the best that they have ever seen from a student.
Then, it was Naruto's turn.
Admittedly, Naruto was nervous about performing the Clone Jutsu. No matter how many times he practiced or trained, there was always something wrong with it.
This time was no exception.
Once the jutsu was performed, Naruto's clone emerged next to him, though he laid on the ground and looked as though he was dead. That became the third time he failed the exam.
A while later, Naruto watched glumly from his favorite swing as his classmates' families celebrated their graduation. Some parents whispered to each other when they noticed him watching, saying that he didn't deserve to graduate.
Hinata found him soon after, sitting on the ground next to him as she tried to comfort him. Her words did not help like she thought it would. Yes, he was sad he didn't graduate again, but Naruto was more upset with himself that he lost the change of being on the same team as Hinata.
Eventually, as the crowd slowly died down, a man with long brown hair approached them, eyes the same as Hinata.
Barely glancing at him, Naruto mumbled, "Hello, Lord Hiashi."
"Father, you're early," Hinata noted softly. "I wasn't expecting you for a few more minutes."
Glancing between his daughter and the depressed boy, Hiashi assumed, "You didn't pass?"
Barely nodding, Naruto grumbled, "I tried so hard this time. I wanted to pass so I could prove to you, Iruka-sensei, and everyone else that I have what it takes to be a ninja, ya know?"
Studying the boy's heartbroken behavior and his daughter's sympathetic gaze, the head of the Hyūga clan promised, "I will talk to your sensei and Lord Hokage about you retaking the exam."
Naruto perked up, his behavior returning back to his usual excited self. "Really!" He exclaimed. "You think they will?"
"It doesn't hurt to ask," Hiashi insisted. "I will speak to you again momentarily."
Before more could be said, Hiashi walked to where the two ninjas stood. Naruto and Hinata watched with hopeful gazed as the three spoke to one another. When Hiashi made a comment, Iruka jerked his gaze toward the two friends, surprise clear in his wide eyes. After a few more quick words and a simple bow, Hiashi went back to the eagerly awaiting children—
A ghost of a smile on his lips in anticipation.
Taking a single moment to recollect the conversation, Hiashi announced, "This is your final chance. Tomorrow morning before all the genin are distributed to their three man teams, you will be allowed to take the graduation exam once more."
Smile growing larger than it ever has, Naruto stated, "Thank you, Lord Hiashi."
"There's no need." Staring at the completely surprised kunoichi, Hiashi reminded, "My daughter is here and alive, because of you."