Chapter 7

Time passes… The late afternoon sun bathed the streets of Konoha in a golden light as Naruto walked through the village, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His thoughts were racing, a mixture of excitement and nerves swirling in his chest. Tomorrow was the day—the day that determined whether or not he would finally become a ninja.

Naruto kicked at a stray stone, watching it bounce down the dirt road. I've been training for this for years, he thought, trying to calm the flutter in his stomach. His taijutsu was strong, his chakra control had improved significantly, and he could now pull fragments of the Nine-Tails' chakra with ease. He had pushed himself harder than anyone, and yet, despite all his progress, the weight of his academic struggles lingered.

The thought of the written portion of the exam made his stomach twist. He knew he'd fall behind in that area—he always did. And the practical portion wasn't any better. Naruto clenched his fists as he thought about the Shadow Clone Jutsu, the simple technique that had become his greatest weakness. His chakra pathways, now enlarged from training with the Nine-Tails' chakra, made it nearly impossible for him to perform such a basic jutsu. Every time he tried to pull out a simple clone, it either failed or came out malformed.

How am I supposed to pass if I can't even do something as basic as that? Naruto thought with a scowl, kicking another stone.

But despite his frustration, Naruto's resolve burned as brightly as ever. Tomorrow was everything. After years of training, struggling, and pushing himself to the limit, he wasn't going to let this chance slip away. He was going to become a ninja, no matter what.

As Naruto made his way toward the Academy, he spotted a group of girls chatting near a stall. Sakura's bright pink hair caught his attention first, but then he saw her—Ino. She was laughing, her eyes sparkling as she spoke with Sakura and another girl, their heads bent together in quiet conversation.

Naruto's heart skipped a beat. It had been years since they had been close, but he still remembered their childhood friendship, the afternoons spent in the Yamanaka Flower Shop, and the teasing banter they used to share. Now, though, things were different. They barely spoke anymore, and when they did, it was only in passing—a nod of acknowledgment, a brief smile before going their separate ways.

As Naruto passed by, Ino looked up, her laughter fading as she caught his gaze. For a moment, their eyes met. Naruto felt a strange mix of nostalgia and sadness wash over him. There was still something there, a quiet recognition of their shared past, but the connection was fragile now, distant.

Ino gave him a small nod, her smile faint but genuine. Naruto returned the gesture, a half-hearted grin tugging at his lips. It wasn't much, but it was enough to remind him that, despite everything, a part of their bond still remained.

But before Naruto could say anything, Ino turned back to her friends, her attention once again focused on Sasuke, who stood a few yards away, aloof as always. Naruto's smile faded. Sasuke. The name alone was enough to make his blood simmer with frustration.

Doesn't matter, Naruto thought, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. I've got my own problems to worry about.

Naruto continued his walk, heading toward the usual meeting spot where he knew Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba and Shino would be hanging out. Sure enough, when he arrived, he found them lounging under a tree, Akamaru napping on Kiba's lap while Choji munched on a bag of chips and Shikamaru lazily gazed at the clouds.

"There he is!" Kiba said with a grin as Naruto approached. "Ready for tomorrow, Naruto?"

Naruto forced a grin, trying to shake off the nerves. "Of course I am! I've been training harder than any of you guys. There's no way I'm failing."

Choji chuckled, tossing a chip into his mouth. "Yeah, but I heard Mizuki-sensei is gonna be extra strict with you, Naruto. You sure you're ready for that?"

Naruto's smile faltered for a second before he forced it back. He had long suspected that some of the teachers were harder on him than the others, but he wasn't about to admit that to his friends. "Doesn't matter. I'll pass no matter what."

Shikamaru gave Naruto a sideways glance, his usual bored expression in place. "You should just relax. You've been stressing out too much lately. What a drag."

Naruto flopped down beside them, staring up at the sky. He appreciated the boys' company more than they knew. Over the years, their bond had grown strong. Even though he was still a bit of an oddball, they accepted him for who he was. And after everything they'd been through together at the Academy, Naruto knew he could count on them.

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto muttered. "I'll relax after I pass."

Kiba grinned, giving Naruto a playful punch on the arm. "Just don't choke on the written exam, alright?"

Naruto groaned. "Don't remind me."

The following day the Academy buzzed with nervous energy as the students gathered for what was likely the most important day of their lives thus far: the graduation exam. Naruto stood near the back of the classroom, his heart pounding in his chest as he glanced around at the others. His hands were balled into fists at his sides, his nerves threatening to take over. The weight of everything rested heavily on him.

I've trained harder than anyone, Naruto told himself, trying to calm the anxious flutter in his stomach. This is my chance to prove myself.

Around him, the other students whispered among themselves. Sasuke sat near the front, as calm and collected as ever, his gaze fixed forward. Naruto scowled but quickly shook the thoughts away. He had to focus.

"Alright, everyone!" Iruka called from the front of the room, his voice cutting through the chatter. "The time has come. Today's exam will be split into two parts: the written portion and the practical jutsu test. You all know what's at stake, so do your best."

Naruto swallowed hard as Iruka's words sank in. This was it. This was his chance to prove that he wasn't just the dead last.

As the written portion of the exam began, Naruto's worst fears were realized. He stared down at the test paper in front of him, his mind going blank as he tried to make sense of the questions. They blurred on the page, the words and diagrams seemingly shifting as his anxiety grew.

Around him, the other students worked diligently. Naruto glanced up and saw Sasuke already scribbling answers with ease, his face calm and collected. Shikamaru yawned lazily but seemed to be making progress. Even Choji and Kiba were working through the test without much trouble.

Why can't I get this? Naruto thought, frustration bubbling up inside him. He knew he had never been good at academics, but this felt worse than usual. He was trying so hard, but nothing was clicking.

He glanced down at his paper again, gripping his pencil tightly. He scribbled down answers as best he could, though he knew deep down that this portion of the exam was not going well for him.

It's fine, Naruto reassured himself, his mind racing. The practical part is what matters. I'll make up for it there.

The classroom shifted to the training grounds for the practical portion of the exam. Naruto stood in line with the other students, watching as one by one, they stepped forward to perform the Shadow Clone Jutsu. His nerves only intensified with each passing moment.

Sasuke, unsurprisingly, performed the jutsu perfectly. He stood at the front of the group, his hands forming the seals with practiced ease. With a puff of smoke, several perfect clones appeared beside him. The instructors nodded approvingly as Sasuke stepped back, his expression still unreadable.

Naruto bit his lip. The Shadow Clone Jutsu—it was his worst nightmare. His enlarged chakra pathways made controlling the small amount of chakra required for the technique almost impossible. No matter how many times he had practiced, he could never seem to get it right.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Iruka called, and Naruto's heart sank as his name echoed across the grounds. This was it. This was his last chance to prove himself.

He stepped forward, his palms slick with sweat. Taking a deep breath, Naruto formed the seals, concentrating hard as he tried to control his chakra. His hands trembled slightly as he pushed the chakra out, willing it to form the proper clones.

A puff of smoke erupted around him, but when it cleared, Naruto's stomach dropped. In front of him stood a single, pathetic-looking clone—its features warped and twisted, barely recognizable as a real copy of himself.

Iruka sighed, disappointment evident in his eyes. "Naruto, you…"

Naruto's shoulders slumped. He didn't need Iruka to finish the sentence. He already knew what it meant.

He had failed.

Naruto sat by himself on the steps outside the Academy, his head hanging low. He had given it everything he had, and still, it wasn't enough. The weight of failure sat heavy on his chest, suffocating him.

I'm never going to be a ninja at this rate… all because I was dumb enough to train on using the 9 tails chakra back then, Naruto thought bitterly. He could already picture the other students moving on, Sasuke and the others passing the exam with flying colours while he was left behind.

"Naruto," a voice called from behind him.

Naruto looked up and saw Mizuki walking toward him, a sympathetic smile on his face. "I know you're feeling down," Mizuki said as he sat down beside Naruto, "but there's still a way for you to pass the exam."

Naruto frowned. "What do you mean?"

Mizuki leaned in slightly, his voice low. "There's a special test—a way for you to prove yourself to the instructors. You just need to get the Scroll of Seals from the Hokage's office. Inside, there's a jutsu that will guarantee your success."

Naruto's heart skipped a beat. The Scroll of Seals? That sounded serious. "But… I can't just steal something like that."

Mizuki placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, his smile widening. "I know you're strong, Naruto. If anyone can do it, it's you. This is your chance to show everyone how much potential you have."

Naruto hesitated. Part of him knew something didn't feel right, but the desperation to prove himself overrode his instincts. He had failed the exam—this was his only chance to become a ninja.

"Foolish child. If you think for even a second that this pathetic man has any ounces of truth in his words then you truly are a fool." The 9 tails growled within the back of Naruto's mind.

He knew what the beast said was true. This whole 'special test' offered to him was far too good to be true but, also illogical. He knows Mizuki doesn't have that kind of authority. Iruka sensei never mentioned of another way to pass the test and neither did his Hokage-jiji.

But, he couldn't risk the off chance of what Mizuki being true. He was far too desperate and sad to take those chances. He didn't want to regret skipping out on what could help him on progressing forward.

A long internal debate within Naruto was happening as he stares at Mizuki, swallowing hard as he comes to his conclusion.

"Okay," Naruto said, determination flaring in his eyes. "I'll do it."

Later that night, Naruto crept through the village, his heart racing as he made his way to the Hokage's office. The thought of being caught sent adrenaline coursing through his veins, but he pushed the fear aside. This was his last chance to prove himself, and he wasn't going to let it slip away.

He managed to steal the Scroll of Seals without being detected and quickly made his way into the forest to hide. As soon as he was safe, he unrolled the scroll, his eyes scanning the list of forbidden jutsu.

Naruto's eyes widened as he read the description. It was a much more advanced version of the Shadow Clone Jutsu, one that required a massive amount of chakra. And that was when it hit him—this jutsu was perfect for him. With his large chakra reserves, he could pull it off.

With renewed determination, Naruto began practicing the jutsu. At first, it was difficult and the clones kept coming out malformed. But after several attempts, something clicked.

With a final burst of chakra, Naruto formed the hand seals and concentrated. A puff of smoke surrounded him, and when it cleared, he was standing in the middle of dozens of perfect shadow clones.

A wide grin spread across Naruto's face. He had done it. He had finally found a jutsu that worked with his unique chakra reserves.

Naruto was still admiring his newly-formed clones when Mizuki appeared, his expression dark. "Good job, Naruto," Mizuki said, his voice laced with false praise. "Now, hand over the scroll."

Naruto hesitated, something about Mizuki's tone setting off alarm bells in his head. "Why do you need the scroll?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

Mizuki's smile twisted into a sneer. "You don't really think this was about helping you, do you? I need that scroll for myself."

Naruto's eyes widened as Mizuki's true intentions became clear. He had been manipulated. Mizuki had never wanted to help him—it had all been a lie.

The worse part about it all was because he knew… he knew this was a possibility, he knew yet through his own desperation he agreed to it.

Before Naruto could react, Iruka appeared, blocking Mizuki's path. "Naruto, don't listen to him!" Iruka shouted. "Mizuki's been using you. The scroll isn't a test—it's a trap."

Naruto's heart pounded as his own actions sank in. The realization hit him hard.

Mizuki's sneer grew. "You really think this failure is worth protecting, Iruka? He's just a waste of space."

Naruto's fists clenched. For years, he had heard the same words whispered behind his back—that he was nothing but a failure. But now, standing there with the scroll and the power of the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, Naruto knew better. He wasn't a failure, and he wasn't going to let anyone—especially Mizuki—make him feel like one anymore.

With renewed determination, Naruto stepped forward, his eyes burning with resolve. "I'm not a waste of space," he said firmly, his voice steady. "And I'm not a failure."

Mizuki laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "You think you're strong now just because you learned a little jutsu? You're still the same loser you've always been."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. He had heard enough. He formed the hand seals for the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, and with a surge of chakra, the air around him filled with smoke. When it cleared, dozens of perfectly formed shadow clones surrounded Naruto, all of them staring down Mizuki with the same determined glare.

Mizuki's smirk faltered as he looked around, clearly taken aback by the sheer number of clones.

"This… this is impossible," Mizuki muttered, his confidence wavering. "There's no way…"

But Naruto wasn't listening anymore. He had found his strength, and now, it was time to prove it.

"Get him!" Naruto commanded, and in an instant, his clones surged forward.

Mizuki barely had time to react before the wave of clones overwhelmed him. Naruto's fists connected with Mizuki from every direction, each clone landing blow after blow, leaving the traitorous ninja with no way to defend himself. The real Naruto stood back, watching as Mizuki crumpled under the relentless assault of his shadow clones.

Within moments, Mizuki lay on the ground, defeated and barely conscious.

Naruto's clones disappeared in puffs of smoke as the fight came to an end. He stood over Mizuki's fallen form, breathing heavily but filled with a sense of triumph. He had done it. He had defeated Mizuki, protected the scroll, and—most importantly—proved that he wasn't the failure everyone thought he was.

Iruka approached, his expression filled with pride and relief. "Naruto," he said softly, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You did it."

Naruto turned to face him, his heart pounding. For a moment, he couldn't speak. The emotions—fear, anger, determination, and, finally, pride—swirled inside him, leaving him breathless. He had done it. He had truly done it.

Iruka smiled down at him, and with a slow, deliberate movement, he reached into his pouch and pulled out something Naruto had longed for: a Konoha forehead protector.

"Take this," Iruka said, handing it to Naruto. "You've earned it."

Naruto's eyes widened as he stared down at the forehead protector in his hands. It felt real. He had passed. He was finally a ninja.

Tears pricked at the corners of Naruto's eyes, grinning from ear to ear. He untied the goggles he had worn for so many years and proudly tied the forehead protector around his head.

"Thank you, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said, his voice filled with emotion.

Iruka smiled, his pride evident. "You've worked harder than anyone, Naruto. You've earned this."