Oh wow! I haven't updated in a long time! I have been super busy with work and traveling! I haven't had any time! So here is the next chapter! I hope you like it!

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Chapter Seven: The Graduation and The Realization

"Alright, for the final part of the graduation exam, you will have to demonstrate one of the three basic jutus. Kawarimi no Jutsu, Bunshin no Jutsu, or Henge no Jutsu," Iruka explained to the class.

"We will be going backwards alphabetically, first up is Yamanaka Ino," Iruka finished.

That means I will be next, Naruto thought to himself.

Ino stood up and followed Iruka to the next room, but not before Sakura told Ino-pig not to fail.

A few moments later, Iruka walked back into the room, "Next is Uzumaki Naruto!"

Naruto stood up with everyone's eyes on him. Naruto was used to being stared at so he didn't react to it, but simply walked down the stairs to follow Iruka to the next room.

"Don't fail, dead-last," Sasuke commentated as Naruto walked by.

"I don't plan on it, teme," Naruto replied casually.

"Don't call Sasuke-kun that!" the pink hair girl called out, which Naruto just ignored.

Iruka held the door open for the blonde as he stepped threw.

"Are you ready, Uzumaki-sama?" Iruka asked as Naruto walked by.

Naruto stopped, "Don't call me that."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Naruto. Lets begin," Iruka said closing the door.

"Uzumaki-sama? Whats that all about?" Sakura asked to no one in particular.

"Who knows?" Kiba snorted.

"Naruto's probably hiding something," Sasuke smirked.

"It probably has something to do with the name Uzumaki," Shino commented, "Why? Because there is no one else in village with that name."

"Hm? What about his parents?" Choji asked.

"Isn't Naruto an orphan?" Sakura replied.

"Naruto-kun doesn't talk about his family much," Hinata whispered.

"Thats probably because he doesn't have any," Kiba said.

"Hmm, I bet Naruto is going to surprise us all," Shikamaru said.

"What do you mean, Shikamaru?" Choji asked munching on a bag of potato chips.

"Just watch," Shikamaru smirked.

Naruto followed his sensei down the hall into a large classroom. It was empty except for a table at the front. Iruka instructed him to the center of the classroom. Naruto didn't glance over at the table, because he knew who would be sitting there. Mizuki. Naruto made his way slowly to the center and kept his gaze down.

"Please preform the Henge no Jutsu," a familiar voice called.

When Naruto heard the voice his headshot up, "Tou-san?"

"Naruto," Minato nodded.

"Why are you giving the final test of the exam?" Naruto asked.

Minato leaned forward and laced his hands together in front of his face, "I pulled Mizuki from the testing and I couldn't find a replacement teacher in time, so I filled in. Now if you could preform the Henge no Jutsu, please."

Naruto nodded and placed his hands together in a ram sign, "Henge no Jutsu!"

With a puff of smoke, Naruto had transformed into the 4th Hokage himself. After a few seconds there was another puff of smoke and Naruto returned to normal.

"Very original, Naruto," Minato chuckled lightly.

"Heh, I didn't have to change much," Naruto scratched the back of his head.

"The henge was perfectly complete, Hokage-sama," Iruka nodded towards his favorite student.

"Indeed it was," Minato agreed.

"Does that mean I graduated, tou-san?" Naruto asked.

"Well we have to add up the rest of your scores to determine that, Naruto," Minato explained, "Please move to the waiting area. Its next classroom down."

Naruto nodded and headed out the door. He didn't mind revealing his identity to Iruka, since he already knew when his father picked him up from the academy, but he didn't appreciate Iruka calling him "Uzumaki-sama" in front of the classroom. Naruto made his way to the next classroom slowly. He slid the door open and noticed Ino was sitting at one of the desks.

"You pass, Naruto?" she asked politely.

"I don't know, Ino," Naruto shrugged.

"Which did you have to preform?" She asked again.

"Henge, you?"

"Clone," Ino replied.

Naruto nodded and took a seat a little ways from her. The next to enter the classroom was Sasuke, who surprisingly sat next to Naruto. The blonde shot him a look, which was replied with a glare. Naruto understood, the Uchiha didn't want to sit next to Ino. Next was Shikamaru who murmured something about troublesome, followed by Kiba who ranted about it being easy. A few others followed in suit. Slowly everyone had arrived in the classroom and had taken various seats.

Once all the students had arrived in the classroom, Iruka followed.

"Alright, take a seat and be quiet!" Iruka ordered.

Everyone did as they were told and took their seats. Ino woke Shikamaru up whiles other adjusted them. Once everyone was quietly seated, Iruka spoke up.

"Alright, we tallied all you scores from the three exams," Iruka started.

There was a short silence and Naruto took a chance to say something.

"What? The Hokage's not going to tell us who passed and who didn't?" Naruto asked.

Iruka chuckled lightly, "No, sorry, Naruto. The Hokage said he had some business to take care of."

Naruto nodded as he understood and Iruka continued.

"Alright so, I am going to announce who all passed and who didn't. Those who passed will be ordered from highest score to lowest. If you don't hear your name, you didn't pass," Iruka explained.

The students sat there waiting for Iruka to continue.

"Afterwards, those who didn't pass need to leave, the others remain here for further instruction and your Hitai, understood?"

"Hai," was replied in unison.

"Aright then, lets begin," Iruka nodded, "The highest score and the first person to graduate is…"

You could almost feel the tension in the room rise as the class waited for the first person's name to be called. Most figured that Sasuke or Shikamaru would have the highest score, but no expected this.

"Uzumaki Naruto," Iruka finished at little surprised himself.

A few gasps were heard through out the room and Naruto could fell everyone staring at him. Naruto looked up at his sensei and smiled. Iruka only nodded in response.

"Dead-last, finished first?" Sasuke smirked.

"I guess so," Naruto murmured.

"Uchiha Sasuke, Aburame Shino," Iruka continued to call names for the next ten minutes or so. Once he was finished, several students got up and left, leaving the rookie nine and a few others in the classroom.

"Congratulations on graduating," Iruka smiled, "Now the real fun begins!"

"Real fun?" Kiba repeated.

"Tomorrow all of you will report here for you first assignment," Iruka continued to smile, "Please come forward to retrieve you Hitais."

Everyone did as they were told and grab a Hitai, then made their way out of the academy. A group of parents were standing in the courtyard waiting for their children. Naruto was the last to exit the building. He looked around and didn't see the yellow spiky hair he knew all so well. He sighed and looked down at his Hitai. Congratulations and special dinners were heard through out the group. Naruto glanced around once more, and then heard some familiar whispers.

"They let him become a ninja?"

"You know what could happen if that kid starts learning jutsus."

"That's him? That's the…"

"Shh! Its taboo!"

Naruto shook it off but it still hurt no matter how much he was used to it. He stuffed his Hitai in his pocket and made his way out of the group to head home. He would see his father tonight, but right now he must be busy. Naruto lowered his head.

"Naruto," a soft voice came from the other side of the yard.

Naruto looked up, surprised at the voice and saw his father standing there with one hand on his hip. Minato gave him a huge smiled and beckoned him forward. Naruto returned to the smile and trotted up to his father. Naruto stopped short of his father and pulled the hitai out of his pocket.

Minato crouched down and pulled Naruto into a hug, "Congratulations, my son."

Naruto returned the hug, "Thanks, tou-san."

By now, Naruto knew that the whole village would soon find out that Naruto was the Hokage's son. He would have to some explaining to do to his father. And hopefully he wouldn't be too hurt or too mad. Naruto pulled back and Minato stood up. Minato looked over to the group of parents and found it strange that they were staring at him like he was a ghost. Minato saw Shikaku and Tsume, two of the clan leaders and nodded. He did the same to the other shinobi.

"Didn't know the Hokage had a son," Shikaku commented watching Minato with the little blonde haired boy.

"Especially his son being the demon child," Tsume agreed.

"I knew Naruto was Hokage-sama's son," Shikamaru shrugged, "But what do you mean demon child?"

"Never mind that. How did you know?" Shikaku raised an eyebrow.

"Well, its kind of obvious," Shikamaru said, "I mean they look and act a like."

Shikaku nodded in agreement.

"Tou-san? Can we go home?" Naruto asked.

"How about instead we go to the field and finish our discussion?" Minato smiled.

Naruto smiled and nodded in agreement. He looked down at his Hitai then placed it on his head and tied it.

"Now I look like you," Naruto laughed.

Minato ruffled Naruto's hair, "You've always looked like me."

Minato placed his arm around Naruto as they made their way down the familiar path to their favorite spot.