Things had been progressing well for the seven friends. As they approached the end of their four years at the academy, excitement buzzed in the air. Tomorrow, they would face their graduation test, but all of them knew they would pass with ease. Each of them had grown significantly, honing their skills and pushing their limits.

Ino's Progress

Ino had reached the point of high genin to low chunin level chakra reserves. Her control was near perfect, especially considering she had started with very small reserves. Her taijutsu had improved significantly, and she had progressed well in her clan's style. She could perform the academy three techniques flawlessly, although she still struggled with substituting without hand seals.

Ino had mastered two of her clan jutsu: the Mind Transfer Jutsu and the Mind Disturbance Jutsu. Just a few days ago, she had also mastered the first stage of wind manipulation, allowing her to perform Wind Style: Great Breakthrough. Her sensory technique had improved to the point where she could sense objects within a 1.5 km radius, making her a formidable ally in battle.

Hinata's Growth

Hinata's chakra reserves were at a low chunin level, and while her control was great, it wasn't quite as refined as Ino's. Her taijutsu had progressed significantly, and she had successfully developed beginner and intermediate stances for her new style, which she called Dancing Fist. With her Byakugan activated, she could even provide a challenge for Naruto and Sasuke in taijutsu.

Of her clan jutsu, Hinata could perform the Eight Trigrams: 16 Palms and was in the process of creating a water version of the Kaiten. She had mastered the first stage of water manipulation a few months ago and could perform Water Style: Water Whip and Water Clone, adding versatility to her combat style.

Shikamaru's Strategy

Shikamaru's chakra levels were around the same as Ino's, and his control was decent. He had mastered the first stage of lightning manipulation before all his friends, which Naruto suspected was due to the fact that it was the only training he could do while lying downtrue to his lazy nature. He was halfway through the second stage, which involved breaking rocks with lightning chakra.

While he hadn't learned any lightning ninjutsu, he had created Lightning Style: Shadow Possession Jutsu and learned Shadow Strangle Jutsu and Shadow Pull Jutsu, although he hadn't yet integrated his lightning style into them.

Shino's Evolution

Shino's chakra had improved significantly, allowing him to add a third hive of Kikaichu bugs to his body. His taijutsu was satisfactory, but he only worked on it in case someone managed to get in close range. He had finished the first stage of fire manipulation, and like Shikamaru, he hadn't learned any fire jutsu, focusing instead on combining them with his insects.

Shino was working on making his bugs deploy fire-style chakra and had come up with the idea of having his bugs shoot small fire jutsu. While the jutsu wouldn't be strong enough to do much damage individually, having hundreds of them firing jutsu from all directions could prove dangerous to any opponent.

Choji's Determination

Choji had not yet finished the first stage of earth release but was very close. His chakra reserves were at a high chunin to low jonin level, and although his control was the worst among his friends, it was still better than most genin in the village. He had learned Earth Style: Mud Wall and Hiding Like a Mole Jutsu, which he was trying to use in conjunction with his Human Boulder technique.

Overall, all of them could give most chunin a good fight, and they were ready to prove it.

The Main Duo's Progress

Our main duo, Naruto and Sasuke, had improved the most among their friends.

Naruto's chakra levels were inhumane, probably more than some bijuu. He could create hundreds of shadow clones and barely feel the drain. His chakra control was on par with the best, having completely mastered the kunai spinning exercise. His gravity and restriction seals were now at level 10, showcasing his mastery over sealing techniques.

He had completed the intermediate stances of the Elemental Fist and was halfway through the advanced stances. His ninjutsu had progressed remarkably, having mastered all three stages for all three of his natures. He had developed several C to B rank jutsu for each nature but had yet to go above A rank jutsu. Although his genjutsu skills were abysmal, he could detect up to B rank genjutsu and dispel them with ease.

Naruto's kenjutsu skills were through the roof. He had learned everything he could from his mother's scrolls in the library, and now he just needed a kenjutsu partner for experience. His sensory ability had expanded to a remarkable 5 km radius, allowing him to detect movements and chakra signatures from a significant distance. He was also almost done with sealing level 6, having diligently studied both the regular and Uzumaki books. Additionally, he had mastered the first two forms of Shunshin, opting to use a water-based version as his signature technique, while he was working on Shisui's teleportation version.

Sasuke's chakra was at a mid-jonin level, and his control was impressive, having also mastered the kunai spinning exercise, though not quite to Naruto's level. They had come across the fifth and final exercise, waterfall walking, which combined tree and water walking, but decided to wait until they became genin to try it. They also didn't know where to find a waterfall in the village.

Sasuke had completely mastered his two tomoe Sharingan, enhancing his taijutsu and fighting style. He was almost there to achieving three tomoe, but he figured he needed a small push—something with adrenaline, which he had read was necessary to progress the Sharingan in his clan library. He was nearing completion of the third stages of lightning and fire manipulation and would likely finish them in a few months.

Like Naruto, Sasuke had developed a collection of C to B rank jutsu for both his elements and could cast up to B rank genjutsu with his eyes. His skill with his sword, Hakutora, was unmatched, and he had started learning Bojutsu to better wield it. He had also mastered both the regular and elemental Shunshin, choosing a lightning version for his primary technique.

The Night Before Graduation

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the village, the seven friends gathered at their usual spot in the training ground. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation for the graduation test that awaited them the next day.

"Can you believe it? Tomorrow we finally graduate!" Ino exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, it feels like just yesterday we were all clueless genin," Choji added, munching on a snack.

Shikamaru, lying back against a tree, looked up at the sky. "It's troublesome, but I guess it's time to move on to the next stage of our lives."

Hinata smiled softly, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I'm really proud of all of us. We've worked so hard."

Naruto grinned, his confidence shining through. "We're going to crush that test! I can't wait to show everyone what we've got!"

Sasuke nodded, his expression serious. "We've trained hard, and we're ready. Let's not let our guard down."

Shino, ever the stoic one, added, "We must remain focused. The test will reflect our abilities."

As they shared their thoughts and excitement, Naruto felt a sense of camaraderie that filled him with warmth. They had all come so far together, and he knew that no matter what happened, they would face it as a team.

The day of the graduation test had finally arrived, and excitement filled the air at the Konoha Academy. Students buzzed with anticipation, but amidst the chatter, Sasuke leaned over to Naruto, a smirk on his face. "You know this doesn't count toward our final grade, right? Even if you excel in this test with a perfect score, you'll still be dead last."

Naruto rolled his eyes, a playful grin on his face. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm going to show everyone what I can do!"

They made their way to their seats, and as they settled in, Iruka-sensei and Mizuki walked into the classroom. Mizuki's eyes immediately locked onto Naruto, a sneer forming on his lips. Naruto noticed the tension in Mizuki's demeanor; he had been getting more and more restless over the past few days, though Naruto couldn't quite put his finger on why. He decided to keep an eye on Mizuki, sensing something was off.

Iruka handed out the written tests, and as Naruto received his paper, he immediately dispelled the genjutsu that had been placed on it. To his surprise, he found a blank page staring back at him. Wait a minute, Mizuki-sensei has never given me a blank page before, he thought, recalling how Mizuki usually altered the wording of the questions.

Raising his hand, he called out innocently, "Mizuki-sensei, there's something wrong with my test!"

Mizuki glared at him but quickly masked it with a fake smile. "Ah, my mistake! I apologize for the oversight, Naruto."

Naruto shrugged it off, taking the test and starting to fill it out. He was determined to do his best, even if it didn't count toward his final grade.

After the written exam, the students moved outside for the kunai test. Each student was given ten kunai and ten shuriken, with the requirement to land at least three out of twenty to pass. Sasuke rolled his eyes at the low standards. "The academy standards are really going down," he muttered.

As the test began, Kiba stepped up first, managing to hit 12 out of 20. Sakura, on the other hand, struggled, barely passing with a score of 3 out of 20. Naruto couldn't help but burst into laughter at her frustration.

"Come on, Sakura! You can do better than that!" he teased, but she shot him a glare, her face flushed with embarrassment.

In retaliation, she charged at him, ready to hit him, but Sasuke quickly intervened, casting a genjutsu on her. In her daze, she punched a nearby tree, yelping in pain as she realized she had hit something solid instead of Naruto. The sight of her fuming while nursing her hand made Naruto laugh even harder.

Shikamaru stepped up next, scoring 16 out of 20, while Choji managed 14. Shino impressed everyone with a score of 19, and Hinata followed closely with 18. Ino scored 17, and the group cheered for each other's successes.

When it was Sasuke's turn, he pulled out a cloth from his pocket and blindfolded himself. With a confident smirk, he threw all ten kunai and ten shuriken, landing a perfect score. "Show off," Naruto scoffed, but Sasuke merely smirked in response.

Finally, it was Naruto's turn. As he approached the target, he noticed that the kunai and shuriken were in terrible condition, just like every other time. This time, however, he decided to put wind chakra into them. With a flick of his wrist, he threw the kunai and shuriken, scoring a perfect 20 out of 20. The kunai passed completely through the targets and embedded themselves in the trees behind, earning shocked looks from most of the students and both teachers.

Mizuki frowned, his expression darkening as he thought, How did the demon manage to do this?

Sasuke chuckled, echoing Naruto's earlier words. "Show off," he said, shaking his head.

The Taijutsu Test

Next came the taijutsu test, where students had to face either of the two senseis in a ring and survive for 30 seconds to pass. Shikamaru, true to his lazy nature, gave up exactly at 30 seconds. Shino, not particularly skilled in taijutsu, managed to survive for 40 seconds, but it was Ino who impressed everyone by lasting 54 seconds and landing a couple of hits.

Choji, eager to show his strength, punched Iruka, who bent over from the force of the punch but quickly recovered, eliminating Choji at 1 minute and 3 seconds. The crowd gasped, impressed by Choji's strength but also concerned for Iruka's well-being.

Hinata was paired with Mizuki, and she was determined to make him pay for his earlier behavior. Using her Dancing Fist technique, she struck with precision, making sure to apply pressure to his chakra points. Mizuki found himself on the defensive, trying to avoid her strikes while also attempting to counterattack. Hinata managed to survive for a solid 45 seconds, leaving Mizuki frustrated.

Finally, it was Sasuke's turn to face Iruka. Sasuke liked Iruka and didn't want to hurt him too much, so he opted for a strategy of dodging rather than attacking. He skillfully evaded Iruka's strikes, adding well-placed counters that showcased his growing taijutsu skills. After two minutes of back-and-forth, Iruka, clearly exhausted, called the match, impressed by Sasuke's performance.

The Showdown: Naruto vs. Mizuki

Now, it was Naruto's turn to face Mizuki. The tension in the air was palpable as the students gathered around to watch. Mizuki, clearly agitated, charged at Naruto with full speed, striking with all his might and intent to hurt.

Naruto, however, was unfazed. He dodged Mizuki's attacks with ease, his movements fluid and confident. As Mizuki lunged forward again, Naruto found an opening. With a swift motion, he swiped at Mizuki's knee, snapping it in the process. Mizuki fell to one knee, yelling in pain, but Naruto wasn't done yet.

"Don't let your opponent get behind you," Naruto quipped, disappearing in a blur. He reappeared behind Mizuki, forming a tiger hand sign. Iruka's eyes widened in alarm, thinking Naruto was about to unleash a dangerous jutsu on Mizuki.

"Wait, Naruto!" Iruka shouted, but it was too late.

"Leaf Secret Ultimate Taijutsu Art: One Thousand Years of Death!" Naruto yelled, stabbing his fingers into Mizuki's backside with the tiger sign. The earth chakra he infused into his fingers amplified the strength of the attack, sending Mizuki flying across the field and crashing into the wall, knocked out cold.

The entire training ground fell silent for a moment before erupting into laughter and disbelief. Everyone sweatdropped at the absurdity of Naruto's taijutsu move. Ino's face turned red with frustration, a vein popping on her forehead as she yelled at him, "How could you do that?!"

Sasuke, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile, shaking his head at his best friend's antics. "You really are something else, Naruto."

Mizuki was carried away on a stretcher, and Iruka, trying to regain his composure, announced, "We will resume the test tomorrow once Mizuki recovers."

The next day, the students returned to the academy for the ninjutsu section of the graduation test. One by one, they entered the other classroom where Mizuki and Iruka were waiting. Each student came back wearing their new headbands, beaming with pride.

When it was Naruto's turn, he stepped into the classroom, and Mizuki's expression darkened momentarily before he quickly masked it. Naruto noticed but chose to ignore it, focusing on the task at hand.

"Sorry about yesterday, Mizuki-sensei," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head and grinning. "I didn't mean to hurt you that badly."

Mizuki forced a smile, his tone dripping with insincerity. "It's okay, Naruto. Even I found that move quite funny."

Iruka then asked Naruto to perform the Transformation Jutsu. Without hesitation, Naruto transformed into Mizuki, mimicking his appearance perfectly. Iruka looked around, impressed. "Great job, Naruto! You got all the details down perfectly."

"Now, let's see the Substitution Jutsu," Iruka instructed.

'Naruto' stood there. "I'm not Naruto; I'm Mizuki," he said, still in his transformed state.

Iruka frowned, urging him, "Cut the jokes and do it, Naruto."

Just then, as Iruka turned to look at 'Mizuki' beside him, him grinned widely. In a cloud of smoke, he transformed back into Naruto, leaving Iruka momentarily stunned. "You get extra points for doing it so fast without hand signs," Iruka said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Now, let's see the Clone Jutsu," Iruka continued.

Naruto held out half a ram seal, and to everyone's surprise, three clones popped out next to him. Unbeknownst to them, these were shadow clones, not the regular ones.

Iruka's eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the sight of Naruto's clones. "Incredible! You've mastered the Clone Jutsu!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a headband, a proud smile spreading across his face. "Congratulations, Naruto! You've officially become a genin of Konoha!"

Naruto's face lit up with joy as he accepted the headband, feeling a rush of pride. "I did it! I really did it!" he shouted, unable to contain his excitement. He quickly tied the headband around his forehead, the symbol of his hard work and determination now proudly displayed.

Outside the Academy

The sun shone brightly over Konoha as students gathered outside the academy, their parents proudly watching them. Naruto sat on a swing, enjoying the gentle breeze and the warm weather. He could hear snippets of conversations from nearby parents, some of which made his stomach churn.

"I heard they let him pass. He should be kicked out of the village!" one parent whispered harshly.

Naruto sighed, used to these comments by now. He had learned to ignore the negativity, focusing instead on the support of his friends. As he swung back and forth, he felt a familiar presence approaching. Turning around, he saw Mizuki walking toward him, a smirk plastered on his face that made Naruto uneasy.

"Mizuki-sensei," Naruto greeted, trying to keep his tone light.

Mizuki's smirk widened. "I must say, I was impressed with your performance during the graduation test. But that won't be enough for you to get the Rookie of the Year title," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, sensing the underlying malice in Mizuki's words. "What do you mean?" he asked, feigning surprise.

"There's a special test in the academy for students like you," Mizuki continued, his smirk growing more sinister. "If you're up for it, that is."

Naruto could smell the deception from a mile away, but he played along, curiosity piqued. "What is it? I'll do it!" he exclaimed, eager to see where this would lead.

Mizuki's eyes glinted with malice as he explained, "You need to steal the Scroll of Seals from the Hokage's office, bring it to the forest outside Training Ground 18, and learn a jutsu from it."

Naruto's heart raced at the mention of the forbidden scroll. He knew it was a dangerous task, and Mizuki was clearly trying to manipulate him. But he decided to play along, nodding excitedly. "Sure! I'll do it!" he said, hoping to catch Mizuki in his treachery.

The Night of Deception

As night fell over Konoha, Naruto stealthily made his way past the ANBU patrols, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He had a plan, and he was determined to see it through. He slipped into the library, where the Scroll of Seals was kept, and quickly made his way to the end of the room.

As he reached for the scroll, he suddenly heard a voice behind him. "Naruto."

He turned around to see Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, standing there. "Jiji!" Naruto exclaimed, surprised. "You snuck up on me!"

Hiruzen chuckled, his eyes twinkling with warmth. "I've had years of practice, Naruto. I trust you will return that scroll."

Naruto nodded, holding the scroll tightly. "Of course, I will!"

But then, in a moment of mischief, Naruto decided to use his Sexy Jutsu. With a puff of smoke, he transformed into a stunning blonde with ponytails and whisker marks, her curves accentuated by the smoke clouds covering her modesty.

Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock, and he promptly passed out from blood loss, collapsing to the floor. Naruto shook his head, a smirk on his face. "Jiji, you're such a pervert!" he laughed, leaving the Hokage's office and heading toward the forest.

In the Forest Clearing

Once he reached the clearing in the forest, Naruto opened the scroll. His eyes scanned the contents, filled with various Wood Style jutsu and other techniques he couldn't use. However, one jutsu caught his attention: Edo Tensei, the ability to bring souls into the bodies of living creatures.

That could be useful, he thought, creating a clone to make a copy of that jutsu in another scroll.

Another jutsu that piqued his interest was the Second Hokage's theory on changing the color of lightning. He created another clone to copy that as well, intending to give it to Sasuke later.

As he continued to peruse the scroll, he found other powerful techniques: Summoning: Rashoumon, capable of summoning gates strong enough to withstand even Tailed Beast Bombs; the Dead Demon Consuming Seal; the Eight Trigrams Sealing; and Bringer of Darkness Genjutsu. He made clones to copy all of these jutsu, knowing they could be invaluable in the future.

After a while, as Naruto's clones finished copying the techniques and dispelled, Iruka entered the clearing, his expression serious. "Naruto! Why have you betrayed the village?" he demanded.

Naruto feigned confusion, his heart racing. "Betrayed? Mizuki-sensei said I would pass the secret academy test and become Rookie of the Year if I stole this scroll and learned a jutsu from it!" he exclaimed, trying to sound genuinely bewildered.

Iruka's eyes widened in shock. "Mizuki told you that? Naruto, you can't trust him! He's trying to manipulate you!"

Just then, a volley of shuriken flew through the air, aimed at both of them. Naruto and Iruka quickly dodged, but Iruka got a few scratches on his arms while Naruto remained unscathed.

Mizuki appeared on a tree branch, a sinister grin on his face. "Hand over the scroll, Naruto," he commanded, his tone dripping with malice.

"No!" Iruka shouted, stepping protectively in front of Naruto. "You won't lay a finger on him!"

Mizuki's smirk widened. "Oh, but I have a secret to tell Naruto. A secret about why everyone hates him."

Iruka's expression turned grave. "Mizuki, stop! You can't tell him that!"

Mizuki ignored Iruka's plea, continuing, "You see, Naruto, the truth is that the Yondaime sealed the Kyuubi into you. He didn't actually kill it. You are the Kyuubi incarnate, and that's why everyone despises you."

Iruka's voice firm. "Naruto! You are not the Kyuubi; you are my greatest student!"

Naruto felt a warmth spread through him at Iruka's words. "Greatest student?" he repeated, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Yes! You've worked hard, and you've proven yourself time and time again!" Iruka insisted, his eyes fierce with determination.

Naruto then walked to the center of the clearing "Mizuki, if you ever try to hurt anyone I care about, I'll kill you" his blue eyes ice cold.

Mizuki laughed, a cruel sound that echoed through the clearing. "And how do you plan to stop me, Naruto? You're just a genin!"

Naruto smirked, confidence flooding back into him. "Whatever you throw at me, I'll return a thousandfold!" He held his hands in a cross-sealed position and shouted, "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In an instant, the clearing was filled with thousands of Narutos, each one grinning and ready for action. Mizuki's eyes widened in fear as he realized the sheer number of clones surrounding him.

Mizuki, realizing he was outnumbered, tried to back away. "You think you can defeat me? I'm a chunin!" he shouted, attempting to regain his composure.

"Chunin or not, you're still a traitor!" Naruto yelled, his clones rushing forward to surround Mizuki. "You're not going to hurt anyone else!"

Mizuki's bravado faltered as he found himself cornered. "Wait! You don't understand! I was just trying to help you!" he pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Help me? By betraying the village?" Naruto scoffed. "You're nothing but a coward!"

With a wave of his hand, Naruto commanded his clones to attack. They rushed at Mizuki, who tried to fight them off, but he was quickly overwhelmed. The sheer number of clones was too much for him, and he was soon knocked to the ground, unable to escape.

Iruka stared in awe, realizing that Naruto had mastered a really advanced jutsu. "Naruto, close your eyes!" he instructed.

Naruto complied, and he felt his headband being removed from his forehead. He didn't move, curious about what Iruka was doing. Moments later, he felt another headband being placed on his forehead.

"Open your eyes," Iruka said, his voice filled with pride.

Naruto opened his eyes to see Iruka smiling at him. "I gave you your own headband, Naruto. I know you will become a very strong shinobi in the future."

Tears of joy filled Naruto's eyes as he smiled widely. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei!" He rushed forward and hugged Iruka tightly, feeling a sense of belonging and acceptance that he had longed for.

The Hokage Office

After successfully subduing Mizuki, Naruto and Iruka made their way to the Hokage's office. The atmosphere was tense as they entered, the weight of the situation hanging in the air. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was seated behind his desk, his expression serious as he reviewed some documents.

"Ah, Naruto, Iruka," Hiruzen said, looking up as they entered. "I heard about the incident in the forest. I'm glad you're both safe."

After discussing the events of the day, Hiruzen turned serious again. "Naruto, I want to thank you for stopping Mizuki. His actions could have led to chaos in the village. As a token of my appreciation, I will reward you with the pay of a B-rank mission and a B-rank mission in your record."

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? A B-rank mission pay? That's awesome!"

Iruka chuckled, shaking his head. "You've earned it, Naruto. You acted bravely and decisively."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" Naruto exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over. "I'll use it to buy more ramen!"

Hiruzen laughed, the tension in the room easing. "Just remember to save some for your friends."

Once Iruka left the office, Naruto couldn't help but smirk. "You know, Jiji, I was thinking… should I reveal that the Hokage got defeated by a 12-year-old genin's perverted technique?"

In an instant, Hiruzen was at Naruto's feet, his head bowed in a pleading gesture. "Please, Naruto! Don't say anything!" he begged, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Naruto burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the office. "I'm just kidding, Jiji! I wouldn't do that to you!"

Hiruzen sighed in relief, a smile creeping onto his face. "You little rascal. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility."