Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Author's note at the end of the chapter
2 weeks have passed since the fateful day Naruto began to understand his power
It was a sunny yet slightly windy day outside in the village hidden in the leaves as shop owners were attending to their customers under the clear blue sky, birds were chirping, people were civilizing ninjas were training in the training grounds, and one boy was on his way to the academy knowing that this day would change his life for better or for worse.
'Today is it; the day has finally come' Naruto thought with a smile
"After all of that training, I still can't do the clone Jutsu; hopefully my mastery over the substitution jutsu can make up for it," Naruto stated offhandedly
As the boy slowly walked through the academy, he realized something minor
Man, it sure is getting hot out; I might need to switch outfits," Naruto said with the realization he walked in
"Alright class, as most of you already know, today is the day of your lives." Iruka paused. "Today is the day of your graduation exam. I can't do much to help you now, so all I will say is... Good luck, class."
"Alright, class, I'm going to hand out the written exam." Mizuki stated as he started passing out papers, "Keep in mind you must pass with a 70% or higher. Good luck. You
have 1 hour to pass."
One hour came and went yet Iruka's class passed with an 87% success rate, with our protagonist Naruto being one of the passing
"Alright, one down, one more to go," Naruto says with a broad grin as he stretches.
"One more test till I have to sell all of my free time doesn't sound exciting to me," Shikamaru commented
"Awww, brighten up, man. This could change your life, man." Kiba said with a tone of enthusiasm
"Yeah, yeah, I hear y'all, but quiet down. I'm trying to sleep here," Shikamaru stated as he started to nod off
"Aaand I think we lost him to his world of sleep."
"Lazy ass," Kiba mutters under his breath
"Couldn't be closer to the truth," Naruto said with a chuckle
"Let him be, guys; it's not like he won't try as a shinobi."
"I hope he tries," Naruto said with a deadpan expression
"I think you missed the point, Choji states with a chuckle
"Choji Akamichi"
"Oh well, I've gotta go Good luck, you guys."
"Good luck!" Kiba and Naruto yell as Choji walks away
Well, now that it's the waiting game, I might join Shika in his nap," Kiba states with a yawn
"Hypocrite," Naruto mutters as he waits for his name to be called
As Mizuki listed all of the names, he eventually landed on one name.
"Sasuke Uchiha," Mizuki called out.
Naruto instantly perked up at this
'If he called Sasuke, I must be next' Naruto thought
Almost everyone in his class had already left the room, and Sasuke was joining that list as he left the room with Mizuki.
"Better get ready," Naruto mumbled as he started to mentally prepare himself
After a few minutes passed, Mizuki walked back in and called a name
"Naruto Uzumaki," He called
Naruto stood up and followed Mizuki to the test room
"Alright, Naruto, today you will perform the 3 jutsu you were assigned to learn at this academy the substitution jutsu, the Transformation Jutsu, and finally the Clone jutsu," Mizuki explained. "Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes," Naruto nodded
Mizuki reached into his drawer before quickly drawing 2 blunt kunai and throwing them at Naruto. As said boy saw them inching closer, he prepared a sealess substitution jutsu with a log in the back of the classroom
Good, it seems you have a good reaction time and can perform said jutsu without hand signs."
"Thanks, sensei"
"Now's not the time we must move on to the Transformation jutsu," Mizuki explains. "You can transform either into me or Iruka."
"Alright," Naruto states as a puff of smoke envelopes him
Standing there was almost an exact copy of Iruka; the only thing wrong was the color of his outfit being lighter
"Alright," Mizuki mutters as he jots something down on paper. "Okay, now we're moving on to the clone jutsu."
Naruto begins to sweat along with Iruka
'Come on, Naruto, you can do it,' Iruka pleads in his head
Naruto puts his hands into the ram seal as he starts concentrating his chakra until a puff of smoke envelops the area right next to him
"Naruto…"
"Yes," he responds nervously
"Would you like another try?"
"Yes," Naruto swiftly nods but as he tries again, it fails with the same result a dead, pale clone on the ground
"Naruto… I'm sorry to break the news, but... You fail," Mizuki said with fake sadness as he managed to hide his grin.
"Wha-" is all Naruto could mutter out as tears began to swell in his eyes
Naruto swiftly put on his signature goggles as he ran out of the classroom.
"Naruto, wait up," Iruka called after Naruto, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Naruto had made his way home and was now sitting on his balcony, looking at the sunset
"I failed, huh? It almost feels fake, like a mere dream that never ends." Naruto commented to himself, "I failed because I didn't perform one jutsu correctly."
"There you are, Naruto," Mizuki yelled out to the blonde
"Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto said with confusion
"I've been looking all over for you," Mizuki said with concern. "Once you bolted out of the room, I felt worried but I had to finish the rest of the test."
"I see." Naruto said with a grim tone, "Why did you want to see me?"
Well, I was worried, but that isn't all I have a proposition for."
"A proposition?"
"Yes, you see, there is a special test you can take for extra credit."
"Extra credit?"
"Exactly all you have to do is complete a stealth mission and you will get enough points to pass your test," Mizuki said with a bright smile. "Hell, if you do good enough, you might get promoted to Chunin."
"Wait really," Naruto said as he perked up
'This could be it. I can become a shinobi. I CAN BE HOKAGE' Naruto started cheering internally
"THE SCROLL OF SEALS HAS BEEN STOLEN."
"It's that kid, isn't it?"
"I knew we shouldn't have trusted him."
'Naruto, what have you done?'
"That scroll was easier to steal than I thought; all it took was one sexy jutsu," Naruto said out loud Well, I did arrive early so I might as well try to learn something from here.
An hour goes by as Naruto learns the technique that would save his life, which is unknown to him
"NARUTO"
"Huh?" Naruto questioned, "Oh, Iruka-sensei how's it going?"
"How's it going?" Naruto, YOU STOLE THE SCROLL OF seals," Iruka said with an angry expression.
"The scroll of seals? But mizuki-sensei told m-"
A giant shuriken went flying towards Naruto, but Iruka managed to push him away from said projectile, and a man appeared on the tree right in front of them.
"I see you managed to steal the scroll I asked for. Now hand it over to me."
"NARUTO NO"
'It was all a trick? A hoax? A mere setup? How could I be so stupid?'
"WATCH OUT!" Iruka yelled as another shuriken flew right at Naruto
Not having enough time to push the boy away, he used his body as a shield for Naruto.
"Iruka-sen..sei"
"Well, well, isn't this interesting, Iruka, you know, protecting the same monster that killed your parents?"
"Mizuki, you wouldn't," Iruka said, panicked
"I would," he retorted. Naruto, do you ever wonder why the villagers all despise you and you alone?"
"MIZUKI NO"
"It's because of you, Naruto. YOU ARE THE CONTAINER OF THE 9-TAILED FOX THAT ATTACKED THE VILLAGE 12 YEARS AGO." Mizuki spat. "IT WAS YOU WHO TOOK COUNTLESS LIVES."
"I- I- did that?"
"You think that's it? Not only did you take countless lives but you killed the greatest hero known to the leaf." Mizuki responded and followed with, "You killed the 4th Hokage."
Iruka grabs Naruto by the shoulders
"Naruto I know this all has to be a lot, but I need you to run and run as far as you can. Can you hear me?"
As Naruto snaps out of his daze, all he can mutter is a soft "okay" as he takes off
"How kind, Iruka, to sacrifice your life for your student... But I won't take long to kill you and the brat, so why don't you just give up? You have no hope, Mizuki states sadistically as he throws 10 shurikens into Iruka, completely immobilizing him
"I told you I would be quick," he stated as he pulled out a kunai, ready for the kill
'Iruka-sensei stood up for me even though I killed his parents?' Naruto thought, sadly, 'And here I am about to let him die, letting another death fall into my hands. No, I can't let that happen'
Naruto quickly rushed back as he saw Iruka get sliced up with multiple shuriken and almost killed by Mizuki until he landed a kick to his stomach
"Sorry, Mizuki-sensei but I'm not going down without a fight, and by extension, YOU ARE NOT LAYING A HAND ON THIS SCROLL OR IRUKA-SENSEI," Naruto yelled
"This is the end of the line, Mizuki," Naruto said as he put his hand into a modified ram seal and black lightning flew off him. "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Author's note: The fact I still got support after not updating for a month is crazy. Thank y'all so much.
Pls review
Thanks, zegion94kaiser, for the review. I hope I delivered.