Graduation Exam
The hardwood floor was cool on his skin. He was flat on his back, arms crossed over his chest.
"He doesn't say what the missions are about anymore, just goes to his room or out to train."
Naruto pulled, his abdominal muscles tensing as he heaved his way up.
"152-"
"I wonder if he'll come to the graduation ceremony."
"153-"
"Mother said he has a break for a few days this time."
"154-"
"Your form is off." He noted, eyes focusing on the blond boy. Itachi forgotten for the moment.
"What? No it isn't." Naruto relaxed, shoulder blades sinking back to the floor. Sweat slid down his brow. "I know how to do a sit-up, Sasuke."
"You aren't coming forward all the way holding the mirror up between your knees like that."
He frowned, staring at the ceiling.
"It's fine as is."
"What if it breaks?"
The thought shot a cold bolt through his chest. If it broke... He sat up, wiping his brow with his forearm. He clasped the mirror in hand and peered into it.
"Maybe Itachi is on some kind of secret mission? Something he can't talk about." He said. Sasuke was lying belly down on his bed, head propped up on a pale hand.
"Maybe.."
"Will your Dad be at the ceremony?"
"He is the Hokage...it can't be helped. Actually." His brow creased, struck by a thought. "Has your clone jutsu got any better?"
"Wha-yeah. Yeah!" He said. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him through the mirror, undeceived. A blush spread across his cheeks as he thought of his last attempt at the jutsu. No matter how hard he tried, each clone appeared more pitiful than the last. He sighed.
"The graduation exam will test our clone." Sasuke said. Skepticism was replaced with veiled concern. Naruto looked away.
"Oh..."
The two were silent for a moment. He had hoped, quietly, that somehow they would be placed on the same team tomorrow. If he failed the exam..
"Do you know for sure?"
"Yeah...Yuto Sensei came by and told Father last night." Sasuke looked down, clearly ashamed. Their Uchiha teacher was hand picked by the Hokage to lead the Academy. The favoritism for students from within the clan was often scoffed at from behind closed doors.
"Oh..I've got to go." He pulled a shirt on, not looking at the mirror propped in his lap.
"Okay.."
"See you at the exam." He flashed him a wide grin. "Just watch, I won't lose to you."
The Uchiha smiled, taking the bait.
"We'll see."
The mirror went dark and Naruto carefully wrapped it in a soft cloth before storing it in his side table.
"Damnit.." He said to the empty room. Bunshin jutsu. Of course it was his very worst ability that would be tested on. He stood, stretching. There was only one person he could go to for help.
"Hey old man! Old man!" He knocked on the wooden door, calling loudly to its elderly resident.
"Naruto..." A wrinkled face appeared from within the small house. A smoking pipe held tight between two pursed lips.
"I need your help."
Bushy eyebrows raised in skepticism.
"You asking for help? It must be quite the problem."
"It is." He agreed, nodding enthusiastically. "I need help with the clone jutsu."
"Ahhh.." The older man opened the door wide, gesturing for him to come in. "This wouldn't happen to be about the graduation exam tomorrow?"
Naruto looked away, biting the inside of his cheek.
"I just want to learn it."
"Okay then." Amusement danced in his dark eyes. "I do wonder why the urgency to learn this jutsu all of the sudden, but none the less..."
He clasped two hands in front of him, making a sign. With a small pop an identical clone appeared beside him. Naruto imitated him, brow furrowed in concentration. His own attempt at a clone appeared on the floor, fallen to the ground as if its limbs lacked bones within them.
"Damnit-"
"Language." The Third Hokage reprimanded. He frowned, amusement replaced with concern.
"Your chakra control leaves something to be desired."
Naruto looked away, frustration evident in the downward turn of his mouth. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Of all the jutsu.." He muttered.
"Is this jutsu in particular trouble for you?" The old man asked. The beginnings of suspicion were forming in his eyes.
"Yes. And of course Uchiha sensei-" He cut off suddenly, blushing. He'd let too much slip.
"I have a meeting with The Fifth tomorrow morning, Naruto. A question to Fugaku at the motivations behind choosing shadow clone for the graduation requisite shouldn't hurt." He winked. "I won't question how you found out that this would be on the exam. Though I'm sure Sasuke would be glad to see you graduate."
Naruto's eyes widened. The Third chuckled, reaching down to muss his blond hair.
"Keep trying. You will get it eventually."
Dusk fell with some speed, and Naruto found himself walking home with little improvement to show for the day spent training. The night air was warm, and the noisy sounds of the village carried on around him. As he walked through the streets he felt the glares of the shinobi he walked past. In the distance, his father's carved stone face seemed to watch over him.
"Attention. Please gather near the Hokage's Tower. There is an announcement." An Uchiha, dressed in the iconic dark robes signifying his membership in the clan, stood above the crowd. The red and white fan symbol displayed prominently on his cloak.
The crowd shifted around him to move towards the center of the village. He followed, head down to the ground and careful to avoid the Uchiha's red gaze.
"Eight years ago today this village was united in tragedy." Fugaku's voice boomed across the courtyard. His family stood around him, eyes to the ground. Naruto felt his heart speed up as he caught sight of Sasuke's spiked hair. He watched him, hoping to catch his eye.
"I'm sure you have not forgotten what transpired that day."
The entirety of the Uchiha clan stood shoulder to shoulder on the steps in front of the Hokage tower. Each dressed in dark robes, the clan symbol emblazoned in deep crimson.
"The former Hokage fought valiantly, and gave his life defending the village from the nine tailed beast."
Unbidden, he felt heat sting the corner of his eyes. Memories flit across his mind. Moments that he'd sought to repress. His Mother's red hair, fanned out around him on the bloody ground.
"But it was the unique ability of the Uchiha which subdued the fox that day. Without the power of the Sharingan, the village can never be safe from such an attack."
Itachi raised his eyes from the ground, turning to look at his Father. His raised face broke the uniformity of the rows of still Uchiha. Naruto watched him, keeping Sasuke in the corner of his eye. The boy had yet to move.
"I would ask for a moment of silence to remember that day, and the destruction that came with it."
Itachi turned away, and just for a moment Naruto thought he cast a glance in his direction. The villagers bowed their heads around him, and he followed suit. A circle had formed around him as people stood away to give him space. Not unusual, it was rare for someone to stand near him for too long. The moment stretched onward, and again dark memories of that fateful day rose to torment him. The smell of the blood. Heat from the fire.
"Thank you." Fugaku said, and Naruto rose his head. Sasuke's eyes met his from across the crowd and he grinned at him instinctively. The Uchiha heir returned with his own fleeting smile, darting a concerned glance in his Father's direction. Fugaku's gaze shifted to land on Naruto. He'd seen the quick exchange. He felt his heart freeze and began backing away. Tripping, he turned to avoid the hard glare of the Hokage. He felt the blood pounding in his ears and he pushed through the crowd, ignoring the curled lips of those he pushed past.
His apartment offered some refuge and he slid to the floor before his door.
Why?
He wondered again. Repeating the daily mantra.
Why do they hate me?
He pictured Sasuke's face, softened in a smile meant just for him. Tears pooled in his eyes and he rested his forehead to his knees. Shoulders shaking.
Why me?
The morning came too soon. He slammed off the alarm clock, downing sour milk as he rushed out of the small apartment down to the academy. Today was the day. He entered the classroom with trepidation, palms clammy. His assigned seat was as far across the classroom from Sasuke's as possible. He avoided his friend's gaze, weary of the ever-watchful eyes of their sensei.
The written portion of the exam came to him easily. Months of studying paid off as he flew through the questions with ease.
"For the final portion of the exam, we'll be testing your ability to perform the shadow clone jutsu."
His heart sank to his stomach. Desperately he'd hoped that Sasuke's information had been wrong. He steeled himself as he walked to the front of the class.
"Naruto." The adult Uchiha sneered down at him with dislike evident in his eyes.
He closed his eyes, forming the hand signs.
Come on come on
"Bunshin no Jutsu"
Laughter erupted behind him as his clone sank to the floor in a heap. He felt blood rush to his face in embarrassment.
"What is that?" The disdain in his teacher's voice was tangible.
"Wait, I can do it just let me try again."
"You shouldn't need more than one try. Every one of your classmates can perform this jutsu with ease."
"I can do it."
"No, you can't Naruto. You fail the exam."
Anger licked at his insides as the laughter continued behind him. He turned away, not wanting to face his peers, and ran toward the door.
It opened just as he reached it, smacking him in the face. He stumbled backward and again heard the howling laughter of the class. A jounin stood in the doorway, face grave. He stepped over Naruto and turned to address the classroom.
"The exam is canceled. All students must return to their homes."
"What! We've almost finished here, what is this about?"
"The Third Hokage has been found murdered in his home. Again I repeat, all students must leave at once. Academy is on hiatus until further info is divulged."
Bile rose to his throat. He stared at the messenger with wide eyes. His face felt numb. The man turned to leave without a glance at him. He scrambled to his feet.
"You heard him. Return to your parents. Class dismissed."
He ran for the door, dashing into the warm summer air. His lungs felt frozen in his chest.
"Naruto!" He heard Sasuke call out for him but ignored him, continuing at a breakneck speed away from the Academy.
Old man...
He came upon the river at the outskirts of the village. The small pier where he often sat undisturbed beckoned him. He hunched over, staring at his distorted reflection. Eyes red with tears greeted him from the green depths.
"No..." He whispered, and buried his face in his palms. Salty tears bit into his cheeks. "No no no..."
His heart lurched as he felt a dark cloth pulled over his head. He struggled, then a cloth was pressed against his nose and his vision faded. Naruto's mind went blank.