Naruto was currently walking towards the academy. Today was the day he would graduate and get his hitate. In his original timeline, this was one of the most important day of his life.

While he was confident he could pass, he couldn't help but be kinda worried. If he wasn't the deadlast, would Mizuki target someone other in his class?

Well even if he did, the hokage knew of his reality making it near impossible for him to escape.

He still wanted to beat him though.

" Oi, Naruto."

Breaking off from his thoughts, he saw it was Sasuke waiting for him at the spot they usually met before heading to the academy together. Their 'friendship' had some unique reactions to say the least. But most annoying were the dreaded fangirls. They would bother him constantly regarding his friend ship with Sasuke, or to ask where he was when they couldn't find him. They had started to eat his lunch on the treetops for a while just to avoid them ( the occasional breeze was a plus).

"Hiya, Sasuke."

"What took you so long dobe? "

"You know, stuff.. "

"You mean sleeping."

"Oi come on, that was a one time thing only! "

"Hn, whatever, let's get going already."

The two of them then started heading towards the academy, occasionally having a back and forth.

At the academy...

As both Naruto and Sasuke entered their classroom, they were greeted with the usual view of their class. Most of the boys were talking amongst themselves,( except for Shino and Shikamaru, who were gazing into the abyss and sleeping respectively) , while the girls magically appeared before them, swooning over Sasuke. They both just sweat dropped as they sat on the two seats next to Shino, as to not have the fangirls argue over who gets the third seat by sitting somewhere else.

They Aburame boy was as stoic as one could be. He wore a greyish jacket, with an upturned collar, which hid his mouth. Ho also wore dark pants, while his hair was brown, bushy and standing upwards. He also wore black sunglasses which completely hid his eyes.

"Yo Shino, how its goin' ?"

"Oh,hello Naruto. Fine as always."

The blonde was used to Shino's nature of not talking much without any proper incentive, and as he didn't had anything to say, he didn't say anything more.

Same with Sasuke, but he was preoccupied with the daunting task to ignoring the fangirl squad.

A few minutes Iruka and Mizuki entered the room with a register and a pen each in their hands, alongside Mizuki carrying a box filled with Hitate.

The class went silent in anticipation for the exams.

"So class, as you already know, today is the day you are to be given the chance to become genin of Konoha. The exam is simple, your scores will be based off your abilities in basic shuriken jutsu, taijutsu and finally, ninjutsu. Please head out into the training grounds for the exams now, and all the

best. "

The class and the teachers then made their way out into the training grounds.

After a while...

"Next up Naruto Uzumaki."

Iruka called over Naruto up to the front.

By now they were back in the academy building from the grounds having finished up the Shuriken jutsu and the taijutsu portion.

Sasuke managed to edge out a victory in the first, while Naruto dominated taijutsu. Finally, it was time for the ninjutsu portion.

"Ok Naruto, what I need you to do first is a simple Transformation jutsu.

" Hai sensei."

Naruto then transformed into Hiruzen Sarutobi in his hokage robes.

Both Iruka and Misuki nodded in approval.

"Now, can you do a clone jutsu ? "

"Ok, but before that, is it fine if I use some other kind of clone sensei? "

Iruka nodded as he said, "Sure, as long as it's a proper clone of yourself it counts." He wondered which clone will Naruto make.

"Alright! Shadow Clone Jutsu !"

Naruto then made about four clones of himself surprising the two chunin who didn't knew Naruto had learned such a advanced technique.

"Very good Naruto, that's it, you pass."

"Yeah! "

Naruto then went forward to have Iruka tie up a hitate to his forehead.

"Well, time for next examinee please! "

Naruto then went out while another examinee entered the chamber.

"So it seems like we both passed."

"Pretty much."

Sasuke and Naruto were currently walking out the academy gate.

"Wanna celebrate at Ichiraku's? "

"Sure."

"Hey Naruto."

The boys turned around to see that it was their sensei Mizuki.

"I was wondering if you had a minute."

"Sure sensei."

Then he looked at Sasuke and said, " I will see what sensei wants, you wait for me."

"Hn, okay."

Then they went their seperate ways.

"I would like to congratulate you on your passing Naruto."

"Thanks sensei."

"Well, it seems like this idiot will repeat his idiocy."

"Seems like that. '

" So Naruto, even though it is against protocol, I must tell you that with your current score you are second in the class behind Sasuke."

"That's great sensei."

Naruto then feigned a frown.

"But I still wasn't able to get the rookie of the year spot.. "

"That's the thing, there is a secret practical test for extra points, if you can score a perfect on that , you will easily get the top spot, you interested? "

"Sure am sensei !"

"That's the spirit! "

A kinda uncomfortable smile curled onto Mizuki's lips.

Dumb idiot, they both thought.

"Okay, so the exam goes like.. "

After sunset...

Naruto had just nicked off the Forbidden Scroll from the Hokage Tower, again. When he originally did that, he was to happy and excited to notice the lack of protection the scroll had.

Just as he was about to leave through a window, Hiruzen appeared.

"That scroll will be returned I believe? "

"Don't worry jiji, just keep a few shinobi ready to act."

"I will, but still, it would be too suspicious if I let you go just like that."

Naruto thought for a while, then he said, "I got it! "

He then used his legendary Sexy Jutsu, making the Hokage collapse after blood gushed out of his nose.

Naruto just grinned and said a "Sorry jiji! " as the left for the forest.

The Forest...

Naruto had been looking at the scroll for a while now, he had kinda forgotten about it after becoming genin, but the scroll had some great jutsus after all. First up was his signature Shadow Clone, followed by the Explosive Clone Jutsu and Futon: Divine Wind, S class and A class respectively. According to the info, Explosive clones ranking was due to one needing to know Shadow clone to be able to use it, along with the fact that each of those clones consumed about five Shadow Clones worth chakra. Not a problem for Naruto.

The second was Divine Wind, an A rank jutsu which made its way into the scroll by its sheer complexity. It was apparently used by concentration wind chakra on the surface of your hands, treating it like the extension of your own body rather than just chakra. One required near perfect chakra control and huge reserves to achieve that. after concentration the chakra, the hands would be flung, along side a simultaneous molding of the Chakra into a sharpened form.

"Hmm, it's like infusing shuriken with wind chakra, but here it's using our own hands."

"Divine Wind? Yes, I know that jutsu from back in the day, the only users I know were the first Kazekage and that Hokages War hawk friend."

"How do you know that? "

"About the Kazekage, that idiot tried to attack me when I was crossing by Land of Wind into the Land of Fire, I don't know his motivations, while I saw Mito helping that War hawk learn back in the day."

Naruto was kinda surprised that Danzo was trained by First Hokage's wife, but didn't find it life changing. He would learn the jutsu better and faster than that creep.

Naruto then noticed that it had been a while since he brought the scroll there.

"It's about time."

Right on queue, Iruka appeared.

"Naruto! what the hell were you thinking taking off with the scroll like that? "

Naruto put on his best 'I am confused' look before replying, "Well, Mizuki sensei told me that it was the part of a secret test."

Iruka tensed up.

"What, Mizuki?"

"That's right."

The overdramatic villian made his presence know as he appeared a few feet away from them.

"Good job Naruto, you pass. Now give me the scroll like the good boy you are."

Before Naruto could reply, Iruka spoke up, "Why Mizuki? why betray Konoha? "

"Heh, this village has done nothing but to keep me weak, I can only attain my true glory by getting out of it's shackles! Now give me the scroll ! "

This time Naruto spoke up before Iruka could.

"You are a real idiot if you thought I will give you that."

Mizuki became furious.

"You brat!"

Right then a rather sick smile appeared on Mizuki's face.

"Do you know why everyone hates you Naruto? "

"Oh do tell." Naruto simply replied, knowing where this was going.

"Don't do it Mizuki!" Iruka shouted while charging the rouge ninja with a kunai, who dodged the attack, before shouting,

"IT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE THE CONTAINER OF THE NINETAILED FOX THAT ATTACKED OUR VILLAGE YEARS AGO, YOU ARE KYUBI REINCARNATED!!"

he finished in a crazed tone.

...

"Are you done displaying your stupidity? " Naruto asked nonchalantly.

The two chunin were flabbergasted at Naruto's lack of reaction.

"Did Naruto knew?" Iruka thought.

"Well, it doesn't really matter", Naruto said as chakra began spiraling in his right hand.

He then suddenly vanished and reappeared in front of Mizuki.

" Rasengan!" he shouted, shoving the blue orb in Mizuki's stomach, causing him to be pushed back into a tree.

"Ugghhhh... "

The attack left Mizuki battered, unable to move or even speak.

Right then, three ANBU operatives appeared in the clearing.

"Mizuki! you are under arrest for betraying the village and conspiracy, do not resist!"

Although Mizuki wasn't really in the condition to resist.

"So that's how it is !"

Naruto and Iruka were currently in the Hokage tower, standing in front of Hiruzen.

The hokage had just now completed a sham story about how Naruto knew about the Kyubi, and how he had helped the Hokage in exposing Mizuki's treachery.

Iruka seemed convinced, and Hiruzen was glad for that (AN-it's a bit hard to make a good story after all, wink wink).

"It's impressive Naruto that a academy student like you was able to outmanoeuvre a chunin!"

"Yeah, I am the best after all." Naruto said, puffing up his chest.

"Cough, cough."

The two shinobi turned their attention to the Hokage.

"As per the situation, Naruto, you will receive the credit and pay for helping in capturing Mizuki, as a B-rank mission in your record, you fine with that?"

"Sure jiji."

"Then both of you may leave now", said Hiruzen slumping back into his chair.

The two ninja then left the office , leaving the hokage to his devices.

At Ichiraku's...

Naruto was already at his sixth bowl of ramen, Iruka just having barely finished his first bowl.

"So Naruto finally got his own hitate huh? " Teuchi said with a wide smile.

"I knew you could do it Naruto kun." said Ayame.

"it was nothing nee chan ! "

Teuchi laughed saying, "Of course it was nothing for you young man, and Iruka, " He said turning to the chunin, "both yours and Naruto's orders are on house today, it's his graduation day after all! "

"Thank you. " Iruka said grateful for not having to pay for Naruto's humongous bills for even once.

"Hey dobe."

Iruka and Naruto turned around Sasuke.

"I never heard back from so i thought of looking for you here, I wasn't far off it seems like."

Naruto just then realized that he had kinda forgotten about Sasuke for a little while.

"Hey Sasuke, sorry something came up, anyways wanna eat ramen? Teuchi ojisan said it's on house today! "

"Hn, I could eat."

Sasuke then sat down on one of the seats in the ramen stall, eating alongside Iruka and Naruto through the evening.

The new start seemed better than the original.

AN- Sorry for all waiting it's so short. Two calamities came up- my exams and a freakin' flood, messing up my schedule. I kinda think this chapter will feel a bit off, but it is how it is. I am still trying to improve my writing, both in storytelling and grammar. As usual, thanks for reading and have a good day, or night I guess...

bye.