Chapter 4 - A Fierce Test
It was now or never.
Naruto eyed the swirling rapids churning before him, steeling his nerves. This was the day - he could feel it in his bones. The day he would finally conquer these deadly currents that had tossed him around like a rag doll countless times over the past weeks.
Beside him on the rocky bank, Bushy Brow - no, Lee, he had to remember the kid's actual name - was still rambling on about "embracing the river's youthful energy" or something like that. Naruto tuned him out, rolling his shoulders as he focused on the water's path. He had to time this perfectly.
"Right, Naruto?" Lee finished whatever convoluted pep talk he had been giving, flashing a wide grin and thumbs up.
"Oh yeah, you bet!" Naruto agreed automatically, having no idea what he was agreeing to. His attention never left the river. Just him and the water now - it was time to show this thing who was boss.
With a primal shout, Naruto charged forward and flung himself into the awaiting rapids. Icy water enveloped him instantly, driving the air from his lungs. But he recovered quickly, kicking hard against the greedy currents trying to suck him under.
"You won't beat me this time!" Naruto yelled, swallowing a mouthful of water in his defiance. The river seemed to roar in his ears, a living thing determined to put him in his place. But Naruto surged forward stubbornly.
His lungs burned as he fought his way inch by agonizing inch upstream. The rapids clawed hungrily at his feet, trying to pull him back into their grasp. Still, Naruto pushed on with single-minded purpose. He had to prove his strength, to himself and everyone.
Naruto's limbs were starting to feel impossibly heavy, like lead weights dragging him down into the dark depths. His lungs screamed for air between mouthfuls of water as he struggled against the relentless currents.
How much further till he reached the end of these monster rapids? It felt like he had been battling the churning water for hours. Surely he had to be close now!
Blinking river water from his eyes, Naruto spotted a blurry green figure standing atop the surface upstream. As his vision cleared for a moment between waves crashing over his head, he realized it was none other than Bushy Brow-sensei!
Somehow Guy was standing calmly on top of the raging river, not even getting his ankles wet. His fuzzy brows were furrowed in concentration as he watched Naruto's struggle, but his voice boomed encouragement that rang clearly over the rapids' roar.
"Come on, Naruto! Your flames of youth will not be extinguished so easily!" Guy shouted, giving an enthusiastic thumbs up. "Power through! Show this river the force of your spirited determination!"
Naruto tried to respond, but only ended up sputtering as another surge of foamy water rushed into his open mouth. Still, seeing his bizarre sensei standing there so confidently atop the deadly currents sparked something in Naruto's chest. A fresh wave of stubborn energy surged through his aching limbs.
I just gotta swim to Bushy Brow-sensei! Naruto told himself. If Guy could stand there looking so unbothered, surely the currents wouldn't be as strong just a little further upstream.
Naruto pushed forward with renewed vigor, kicking with all his might. But the river seemed to redouble its efforts too, the rapids tightening around him like a smothering blanket. He could feel its grip dragging him down, the weight of the water crushing in on all sides.
Dark spots danced across Naruto's vision as his lungs spasmed, desperate for air. Everything was starting to grow dim, his senses fading. But through the haze, he stubbornly kept his gaze fixed on that blurry green beacon still shouting encouragement from atop the river.
Just...a little...further! Naruto choked out, even as the blackness crept further across his sight. His sodden limbs had turned to unresponsive lead, barely obeying his commands anymore. But still, he struggled onward with single-minded focus, refusing to give in.
Guy's voice seemed far away now, indistinct over the water clogging Naruto's ears. "That's it, Naruto! Your flames of youth burn brightly!"
Naruto could barely make out his sensei's fuzzy shape upstream anymore. His waterlogged clothes and limp muscles dragged him down as the rapids' greedy grasp tightened like a vice. Darkness rushed in. His lungs convulsed, involuntarily gasping for air but finding only frigid water.
Is this it? A distant part of Naruto's fading mind wondered. Has the river finally won?
No! Naruto thought fiercely. He refused to let the rapids beat him, not when Bushy Brow-sensei was right there waiting for him to reach the calmer waters.
If I can't do it, I'll just have to do 100 push ups in the water! Naruto told himself, feeling a surge of stubborn energy. Bushy Brow Lee was really rubbing off on him if he was willing to take on such a crazy self-challenge.
With a determined yell, Naruto pumped his aching arms furiously, clawing his way through the churning currents. His muscles screamed in protest, threatening to give out at any moment. But he gritted his teeth and pushed forward. Just a little more!
Through blurry vision, Naruto could see Guy-sensei leaning over the water's surface, hand outstretched toward him. "Come on, Naruto! Seize hold of your spirited youth!" his sensei bellowed.
Naruto reached with all his might, waterlogged clothes and limp muscles dragging him down. He was so close now, he could see Guy extending a hand toward him, ready to pull him from the rapids' clutches. Naruto sputtered as he took in another mouthful of water, nearly choking in his desperation. With a final heroic kick, Naruto surged forward, fingers outstretched toward his sensei's waiting grasp...
Only for his leg to seize up completely in a painful cramp, the overexerted muscles finally giving out.
"Waaah!" Naruto yelped as the loss of forward momentum allowed the rapids to surge up and swallow him once more. No matter how he thrashed, the river wouldn't release its ruthless hold this time.
Just when he was certain this would be his watery grave, a giant green hand closed around Naruto's arm in an iron grip. With a mighty heave, Guy hauled him from the rapids' clutches and onto the solid surface atop the water, where Naruto collapsed on hands and knees. He retched up what felt like gallons of river water as his chest heaved, sucking in desperate lungfuls of sweet air.
"Yosh, Naruto! What an epic display of youthful tenacity!" Guy cheered, paying no mind to the sopping, bedraggled state of his student. "While your body may have reached its limit, your spirit blazes ever brighter!"
Naruto could only wheeze in response, too exhausted to even lift his head. But somewhere deep down, a tiny ember of pride flickered in his chest. He hadn't reached Guy under his own power as he'd desperately wanted. But he had battled right up until the crushing darkness took him, refusing to yield.
As the roaring in his ears faded, Naruto became aware of Lee's voice cheering loudly from the riverbank. "Truly amazing, Naruto! Your youthful drive is an inspiration!"
Naruto managed to lift his head enough to shoot Lee a weak grin. But when he tried to rise on still-wobbly legs, Guy placed a giant hand on his back, halting him.
"Rest now, my student," Guy rumbled, his usually booming voice oddly gentle. "You have more than proven the strength of your spirit today. Further testing is unnecessary."
Though frustration gnawed at him, Naruto didn't try to stand again. As much as he hated accepting defeat, he knew when he was utterly spent. With a resigned sigh, he allowed Guy to support him as they slowly made their way across the river's surface back towards shore.
Naruto placed one shaky leg onto solid ground, the feeling of stability foreign after being tossed about ruthlessly by the rapids day after day. He almost fell flat on his face just from standing on unmoving earth. Who knew dry land could be so tricky?
"Heh, I must be getting too used to battling those crazy currents if just walking is throwing me off!" Naruto joked. He tried to laugh but it came out as more of a wheeze.
Guy let out a booming chuckle, clapping Naruto firmly on the back. "Your perseverance against the treacherous waters has honed both your body and spirit admirably!"
Which was certainly true. While he hadn't noticed until last week, every time he flexed in the mirror now, he could make out bumps of what he thought might be his muscles coming in. It wasn't like he was huge or anything, but it still brought a smile to his face knowing his hard work was paying off.
That wasn't to mention, after nearly drowning, nothing scared him anymore.
As they made their way from the river's edge to the training field, Naruto's sodden clothes squelched loudly with each step. He grimaced down at the soaked orange fabric clinging uncomfortably to his skin. At this point, he figured the river water scent was never coming out. Kiba would definitely fuss because of that.
Naruto was already rolling up his waterlogged sleeves, ready to begin taijutsu drills, when Guy let out another oddly gentle laugh.
"Eager as ever, but remember, even the brightest flames of youth need rest to burn stronger!" Guy declared. "After your valiant efforts today, I insist you take the rest of the week off from training to recover your strength."
Naruto's eyes bugged out. "WHAT?! No way, I'm totally fired up and ready to go, Bushy Brow-sensei!" He struck a weak version of Guy's nice guy pose, hoping it would convince him. There was no time to slack off with the graduation exam looming!
But Guy just smiled and ruffled Naruto's soggy mop of blond hair. "Nonsense! Pushing yourself past exhaustion will only dampen your passionate flames. Allow your weary muscles time to rebuild stronger than before! You will be well-rested in time for your exam!"
Seeing Naruto's crestfallen look, Guy laughed again. "Tell you what - we will make it a challenge! If you can complete fifty push-ups right now despite your fatigue, we will continue training as usual."
At the mention of a challenge, Naruto's eyes lit up. No way was he gonna back down, no matter how much his wobbly limbs burned!
Dropping swiftly into a push-up position, Naruto grunted as his arms immediately started to shake from the strain. But he gritted his teeth and steadily began counting off each repetition.
"One!... Two!... Three!" Naruto panted, muscles burning as he forced his body to dip down again and again. He made it to thirty before his elbows finally buckled, sending him face-planting into the dirt.
"Wha- hey, my arms gave out on their own!" Naruto protested as he spit out a mouthful of dust.
Guy just laughed heartily. "Exactly! Your body knows its limits, even if your fiery spirit does not." He flashed a blinding grin and thumbs-up. "Now go and rest! We will resume at dawn the day you finish your exam with rekindled fires of youth!"
Naruto sighed loudly but didn't argue any further. As much as he hated to admit it, Bushy Brow-sensei was probably right. A good bowl of Ichiraku ramen and a few full night's sleep did sound pretty great right about now.
Iruka smiled as his students filed into the classroom, their excited chatter filling the air. Today was the day - the academy graduation exam. After years of teaching and nurturing the next generation, it was time for them to take the monumental step toward becoming shinobi.
"This is it, Akamaru! We're gonna ace this thing!" Kiba crowed loudly as he strolled in, chest puffed out confidently. Perched atop his head, the small white dog yipped in agreement.
Nearby, Shino took his usual seat silently, while Hinata offered Iruka a shy "Good morning, Sensei," as she hurried to her desk.
Ino and Sakura came in bickering as always, arguing over who would claim the open seat next to Sasuke. The Uchiha prodigy ignored it all, staring broodingly out the window as if he were the only one in the room.
Choji ambled in behind Shikamaru, already munching on a bag of chips for breakfast. "You ready for this, Shikamaru?" he asked around a mouthful.
The Nara just yawned, shrugging his shoulders lazily. "I guess. What a drag though..."
Their voices all blended together into a symphony of excitement and anxiety. Iruka's chest swelled with bittersweet pride. They had all come so far from those rambunctious kids who could barely throw a kunai straight. Now here they were, ready to take the next step on the shinobi path.
Well, almost all of them were here. One orange-clad rascal had yet to make his usual loud entrance. Iruka suppressed a weary sigh. Naruto Uzumaki was no doubt running late again. Some things never changed.
Still, Iruka wished the boy would hurry up. Naruto couldn't afford to miss any part of today's exam. Not with his...difficulties.
Iruka knew Naruto's utter lack of proficiency with ninjutsu or genjutsu would make passing a challenge. His only real shot was acing the taijutsu portion.
Even after the endless days of one-on-one ninjutsu lessons with Iruka, or even training rigorously with Might Guy these last few months, Naruto still struggled to mold chakra properly. Iruka suspected the powerful seal suppressing the Nine-Tailed Fox also severely limited the boy's own chakra access.
But they could only work within the confines of what was possible. And for Naruto, excelling at taijutsu was his best hope of graduating. Iruka just prayed the boy's hard work and determination would see him through. Failure today would crush his fiery spirit.
The chatter died down as Iruka cleared his throat, drawing the class's attention. "Alright everyone, the written exam will begin shortly. I know you're all eager to get out there and show me your skills, but remember - patience and focus are the marks of a true shinobi..."
As Iruka launched into his final inspirational speech before proctoring their exam, the classroom door suddenly banged open. A blur of orange darted inside, accompanied by shouts of "Wait for me!" and "I'm here, believe it!"
Iruka suppressed a smile. Right on cue. Some things never changed after all.
Iruka took in the disheveled sight of Naruto standing sheepishly in the doorway. The boy's spiky blonde hair stood up even wilder than usual, his goggles were askew on his forehead, and his t-shirt was indeed on backwards. His orange pants didn't match his blue sandals, which were on the wrong feet.
"Naruto, so glad you could join us," Iruka said, unable to keep the wry amusement from his voice.
"Heh, sorry Sensei! I guess my alarm clock didn't go off this morning," Naruto blurted out. He flashed his signature foxy grin and scratched the back of his head.
Iruka just shook his head indulgently. Only Naruto could show up to the most important exam of his life looking like he rolled straight out of bed. But he had to admire the boy's dedication to training, even if it resulted in his chronically disheveled state.
"Just take your seat so we can begin," Iruka said, pointing to Naruto's empty spot next to Shikamaru.
"You got it!" Naruto scampered over and nearly upended the desk as he plopped down heavily. Shikamaru muttered "troublesome" under his breath but didn't otherwise react.
Once settled, Naruto began fidgeting excitedly in his seat as he always did. Iruka had to resist the urge to scold him to pay attention. The boy's restless energy could be exhausting, but also oddly endearing in its own way.
Clearing his throat, Iruka continued the motivational speech he had been giving before Naruto's disruptive entrance. "As I was saying, today will test all that you've learned these past years. Stay focused and do your best. I know you will all make me proud."
He softened his tone. "And remember, pass or fail, this exam does not define your destiny as shinobi. With hard work and perseverance, you can overcome any obstacle in your path."
Iruka's gaze lingered on the orange-clad boy still squirming impatiently in his seat. Naruto met his eyes and flashed a confident thumbs-up. Iruka hoped the boy's enthusiasm wasn't misplaced. This exam would severely test his problem areas of ninjutsu and genjutsu. But perhaps Naruto's dedication to taijutsu would see him through.
"Now then, let's begin with the written test," Iruka announced, picking up a stack of exam packets from his desk. A chorus of groans rose up at the mention of a written exam, but Iruka just smiled. "Come now, a shinobi needs more than just jutsu. Intelligence and strategy are key."
As Iruka passed out the test packets, he noticed Naruto staring at the sheets like they were written in a foreign language. The boy's shoulders were tense, his ever-present grin replaced by a look of apprehension. Iruka felt a pang in his chest. He knew written exams were a source of anxiety for the rambunctious boy.
Making his way back to the front, Iruka offered Naruto an encouraging nod. The simple gesture seemed to bolster the boy's spirits. He sat up straighter, determination shining in his blue eyes as he picked up his pencil.
Iruka only hoped it would be enough. For all his bluster, he knew Naruto was deeply insecure about his perceived shortcomings as a student. Failure today would wound his self-confidence deeply. But Iruka had faith the boy would pull through somehow. He was too stubborn not to.
"You have one hour to complete the test," Iruka announced. "Begin!"
Naruto slumped over his desk as Iruka called time on the written exam. His hand was cramped from clutching the pencil so tightly and his brain felt like mush after struggling through all those questions.
But as he glanced down at the test packet, he was surprised to find he had answered most of it.
There was that one about the Second Hokage and his special ice powers - Naruto was pretty sure he had scribbled the right answer for that. Oh, and the matching section on village history wasn't so bad either! He might not be a genius like Sasuke, but he had managed to recall a few things from Iruka-sensei's long lectures over the years.
A few guesses here and there, but still, way better than the blank page or frustrated scribbles he was used to. All those long extra study sessions with Iruka-sensei must've paid off after all.
Overall, Naruto figured he hadn't completely flunked the written portion. Granted, all those diagrams about chakra networks and stuff had basically looked like chicken scratch to him. But hey, he had tried his best!
Naruto stretched his arms over his head, stifling a yawn. Man, he was ready to get this show on the road! Written tests were the worst. He was itching to get outside and finally show off his sweet moves.
"Alright, we'll take a quick break to go over the test answers and then move on to the weapons assessment," Iruka announced as he collected their papers.
"Yes!" Naruto cheered under his breath. Weapons training was way more his speed. No more boring history facts or calculations - just him and his tools! He patted the bulging holster on his hip, eager to demolish the target range.
The class filed outside into the sunny training yard. Naruto inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with fresh air. Much better than the stuffy classroom! He joined the crowd gathering by the targets, tuning out Iruka's review of the written exam answers. Probably all stuff he got wrong anyway.
Instead, Naruto closed his eyes, visualizing his perfect throws on the range. With his awesome skills, he'd totally smoke this test! Believe it!
"Naruto! Are you paying attention?"
Iruka's sharp voice jolted Naruto from his daydreaming. He opened his eyes to find the class looking at him expectantly.
"Oh yeah, sure thing Sensei!" Naruto said with an exaggerated nod. "Just uh, meditating to get focused and stuff, ya know?"
Iruka sighed, clearly not believing his bluff, but decided to move on. "As I was saying, first up is shurikenjutsu. I'll call you one by one to demonstrate your target accuracy. You will all be evaluated by me, Daikoku, Suzume, Sadoru, and Mizuki."
He pointed to each one of the proctors lined up beside him. Naruto frowned at this. He had to impress not one, but five people? He wasn't worried, though. He would definitely wow them with his awesomeness.
As students took their turns throwing, Naruto bounced on his toes, amping himself up. This was his time to shine! He'd nail a perfect score for sure.
"Naruto, you're up," Iruka called. Grinning, Naruto grabbed a shuriken and took his position at the line. The target board seemed to stare back at him tauntingly.
Focusing all his energy, Naruto whipped the shuriken forcefully. It sailed through the air in a wide arc before just barely nicking the outer edge of the target, not even close to a critical hit. Naruto's shoulders slumped. So much for his perfect score.
A few snickers came from the crowd. "Nice shot, Naruto," someone jeered sarcastically. "You really nailed it."
Naruto shot whoever said that a silencing glare before grabbing another shuriken. He wouldn't mess up this time! Taking a breath, Naruto threw again, only for the shuriken to hit the very outer rim once more.
"Come on, what's going on?" Naruto yelled in frustration. He usually wasn't this bad at weapon throwing!
Iruka placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, just take your time and focus." His voice was encouraging, but Naruto could hear the thinly veiled concern. His poor performance wasn't doing him any favors on the exam.
After a few more dismal throws, Iruka called time and had him move aside before he damaged his score any further. Naruto trudged off the range, irritation simmering in his gut. So much for acing that portion. But it was fine - he'd redeem himself in the next test!
Right after him, Sasuke stepped up and effortlessly landed all five shuriken dead center with machine-like precision.
Naruto gritted his teeth as the other students broke into admiring murmurs. "Did you see Sasuke's throws?" "What perfect form!" He shot the Uchiha a dirty look. No matter how hard he tried, the smug jerk always had to show him up!
During the next test of accuracy with kunai and senbon needles, it was the same story. Naruto's throws were slightly better, but Sasuke's were dead perfect. That smug jerk just had to show off and make him look bad! Naruto clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms. There was only one test left now - his last chance to finally one-up Sasuke.
As the other students cleared the range, Iruka stepped forward holding a bundle of small paper tags. "Okay everyone, for the final portion we'll be testing your use of explosive tags."
Naruto's heart instantly sank down to his sandals. Explosive tags.
Cold sweat beaded Naruto's brow as Iruka demonstrated the hand sign to channel chakra into the tag. Of course they had to finish on the one ninja tool he had no hope of using properly! He had been so focused on acing the physical tests, he'd forgotten all about the explosive tag requirement.
Panic gnawed at Naruto's insides, but he forced himself to take a deep breath. Okay, stay calm! Maybe if he just really concentrated, the tag would spark a little. Enough to pass, at least!
As students took their turns, some tags sparked more impressively than others. But everyone made theirs activate on some level. Naruto gulped, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. Then it was his turn.
Hands shaking slightly, Naruto accepted the tag from Iruka. His teacher gave him an encouraging nod, no doubt sensing his unease.
Focusing intensely, Naruto formed the activation seal. Come on, just a single spark! He pleaded internally. Sweat rolled down his temple from the effort as he tried fruitlessly to summon some ounce of chakra. But as with all his previous attempts, the tag remained lifeless in his grip.
Frustration boiled up in Naruto's chest. It wasn't fair! Why was chakra control so impossibly hard for him when others could do it without even thinking?
Caught up in his emotions, Naruto found himself yelling "Come on, work stupid tag!" He channeled every scrap of energy into focusing on the paper between his fingers.
Nothing.
Iruka attempted a weak smile. "Let's move you aside for now and wrap up this portion." Naruto could hear the strained note in his teacher's voice. They both knew this finale had been nothing short of disastrous.
Shoulders slumped, Naruto trudged away. At this rate, Naruto wasn't sure passing this exam was possible. As Sasuke stepped up next, landing a perfect activation spark on his first try, Naruto felt that familiar ache in his chest. No matter what, Sasuke would always succeed effortlessly where he failed miserably.
As the exam wrapped up, Naruto lingered behind the others, anxiety gnawing at his insides. He knew he was absolutely going to fail the ninjutsu and genjutsu portions. But maybe if he rocked the taijutsu evaluation, it would make up for completely bungling the tools assessment? But as he replayed his explosions, shadows, and chicken-scratch test answers, that hope dwindled with each step toward the classroom.
Right now, his dreams of becoming Hokage felt very far away.
Naruto fidgeted anxiously as he waited for his name to be called. His heart hammered against his ribs, palms slick with sweat. This was it - the taijutsu exam that would determine if he passed or failed.
He tried not to think about how horribly he had bombed the ninjutsu and genjutsu portions earlier. Just picturing the dumbstruck looks on the proctors' faces as he failed yet again to produce even a simple clone or transformation made his cheeks burn.
"Pathetic. He can't even handle basic techniques," he imagined them whispering as he had slunk out of the exam hall.
Naruto knew the only way he could graduate now was to absolutely destroy the taijutsu test. He had to go above and beyond, leaving no doubt in the proctors' minds that his taijutsu skills were Hokage-level.
Easier said than done.
Naruto glanced around at the other students awaiting their turn. Most looked anxious or deep in concentration as they mentally prepared. Meanwhile, Sasuke stood off to the side looking utterly unconcerned, hands tucked casually in his pockets. Naruto suppressed a growl of annoyance. Nothing ever seemed to faze the smug prodigy. He probably aced the ninjutsu tests effortlessly while Naruto had made a fool of himself as usual.
Naruto peered around the corner of the academy building to where the taijutsu arena awaited. Right now, Shino Aburame was up, calmly blocking and evading strikes from his examiner. His movements were precise and efficient, if a bit stiff.
"Wonder what I'd be fighting if it was my turn," Naruto mused aloud. "Maybe a bear? Or a huge rock golem! That'd show off my sweet moves for sure."
He punched the air, picturing himself trouncing some worthy taijutsu opponent. After all his intense training with Bushy Brow-sensei, he could take on anything!
Well...except for ninjutsu and genjutsu, but who even needed those!
"Get 'em good, Akamaru!" Kiba whooped as he squared off against Suzume-sensei. Despite the ferocity of his strikes, the veteran instructor calmly blocked or diverted all of his blows. Naruto clenched his fists. If someone as aggressive as Kiba couldn't overpower the teachers, how was he supposed to?
Still, when it came his turn, Naruto was determined to give it everything he had. He bounced on the balls of his feet, trying to burn off nervous energy as he watched Hinata's gentle strikes get easily brushed aside by Daikoku-sensei.
Come on, come on, I wanna go already! Naruto thought, gritting his teeth. The anticipation was killing him. He had to prove himself here or risk failing the whole exam.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, he heard someone call his name. "Naruto, you're up."
"Yes! It's go time!" Naruto yelled, leaping from his hiding spot. Adrenaline flooding his system, Naruto sprinted into the arena, skidding to a stop in the middle as he faced off against...Mizuki-sensei?
Mizuki forced a smile as the orange-clad boy bounded into the taijutsu arena. Keeping up the act, he called out in a friendly tone, "Alright Naruto, show me what you've got! I know you've been training hard."
Inside, he scoffed. As if any amount of training could make up for the fox boy's utter lack of talent. This was just a formality before he failed the little monster yet again.
"You bet, Sensei! I'm gonna kick your butt, believe it!" Naruto shot back with his signature cocky grin.
Mizuki suppressed an eye roll. All bark and no bite as usual. He'd knock the kid down a peg soon enough. "Come at me with everything you've got then," he challenged, settling into a loose fighting stance.
Bracing himself for the same sloppy, wild blows Naruto normally threw around, Mizuki was caught completely off guard when the boy shot forward in a blur of speed and unleashed a punishing roundhouse kick aimed right at his head.
Mizuki's eyes widened and he barely dodged in time, the air from the strike ruffling his hair. Naruto didn't let up, chaining together a series of blindingly fast and unexpectedly precise punches and kicks that drove Mizuki back on the defensive.
What is this? The little punk has never fought like this before! Mizuki realized with dawning alarm. He desperately blocked another punishing blow, wincing as the impact reverberated through his arms. Naruto was like a feral beast unleashed, every strike brimming with raw power and killer intent.
This wasn't the sloppy brawler Mizuki was used to subduing easily. Naruto moved with honed instincts - stance balanced, guard up, transitions smooth. It reminded Mizuki disturbingly of how that weird jounin Might Guy fought.
A creeping dread settled in Mizuki's gut. At this rate, the boy might actually pass if he didn't take him down fast. Gritting his teeth, Mizuki aimed a crushing punch straight for Naruto's unprotected ribs, hoping to quickly end the fight.
To his disbelief, Naruto slipped the blow, almost as if he was expecting it. He rocketed a brutal uppercut into Mizuki's jaw that made Mizuki see stars. As he reeled back, chest heaving, a chilling realization hit him.
Up until now, he'd been going easy on the kid, expecting he wasn't even going to be worth the effort. But—to give credit where it was due—the brat wasn't half bad.
He couldn't let him pass.
Mizuki saw the surprise in Naruto's eyes as he suddenly struck out with vicious force, all pretense of an evaluation gone. His fist collided brutally with the boy's jaw, snapping his head back. But to Mizuki's disbelief, Naruto recovered quickly, dodging the next blow.
Around them, Mizuki noticed the other students watching the fight intensify. Their excited chatter turned to murmurs of unease.
"Is Mizuki-sensei hitting him too hard?"
"That looks really intense for just a test."
Irritation flickered through Mizuki. These brats knew nothing about what needed to be done. He had to end this fast before they could interfere.
With a guttural yell, Mizuki unleashed a punishing combo of blows, forcing Naruto back on the defensive. The boy's guard was good, but Mizuki's cold fury lent him brute strength. He battered relentlessly against Naruto's defenses, not letting up for a second.
Naruto's eyes widened in confusion and pain as Mizuki's merciless strikes rained down. "W-wait, what's going on? Mizuki-sensei!" he gasped, barely dodging a kick aimed for his ribs.
Mizuki's lip curled in a sneer. The demon fox didn't deserve an answer or mercy. With a swift feint, he got through Naruto's guard and landed an uppercut squarely under his chin.
Naruto's head snapped back, a crimson spray of blood and spittle arcing through the air. The boy crashed limply to the ground, dazed. In an instant, Mizuki was on him, knee pressing cruelly into his chest as his hands closed around Naruto's throat in a chokehold.
Naruto's fingers scrabbled frantically at Mizuki's wrists, eyes bulging as he futilely tried to suck in air. The boy's panicked struggles only made Mizuki squeeze tighter, face twisted into a manic grin.
Die, demon fox! He thought viciously. But too soon, restraining hands grabbed him, voices yelling at him to stop. Mizuki tried to shake them off, but was hauled forcibly away from Naruto's limp body.
As they pulled him back, Mizuki arranged his features into a mask of concern and confusion. "What happened? I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me," he lied smoothly. "It must have been all the stress of exam evaluations. I never meant to be so rough with him."
He watched as Iruka knelt by Naruto, checking his injuries with worried eyes. The other proctors regarded Mizuki with suspicion and unease. Still, none challenged his excuse.
Mizuki suppressed a satisfied smirk. No matter what fancy moves the beast had picked up, he was still just a weak, pathetic child. There was no way he could pass the exam now.
He had accomplished what needed to be done. The village would remain safe from the Nine-Tailed Fox menace.
Naruto lay staring up at the sterile white ceiling of the academy infirmary, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his throat and jaw. The awful choking sensation from Mizuki's hands crushing his windpipe lingered, making every swallow razor sharp.
Why had his sensei snapped like that during the taijutsu exam? One minute they were sparring normally, the next Mizuki had this scary look in his eyes and started whaling on him relentlessly.
Naruto winced as he accidentally put pressure on the tender lump swelling under his chin. Mizuki's final uppercut had come out of nowhere, snapping his head back viciously. He was lucky his neck wasn't broken!
Not that it mattered now. Naruto sighed, the sound rasping painfully in his abused throat. There was no way he passed after choking so badly in the final test against Mizuki.
Frustration simmered in Naruto's chest. He had trained for months with Bushy Brow-sensei, pushed himself to the brink of collapse day after day. For what? To get trounced without even landing a devastating hit on Mizuki?
Naruto thought back to those final terrifying moments pinned under Mizuki's crushing hold, fingers scrabbling desperately at the hands strangling the life from him. Why had his sensei looked at him with such cold hatred in his eyes? He would never forget that murderous rage directed his way.
A soft knock at the door jolted Naruto from his dark memories. He quickly scrubbed the lingering wetness from his eyes before calling out in a hoarse voice, "Come in!"
The door creaked open and Iruka poked his head inside, concern etched across his scarred features. "How are you feeling, Naruto?"
Naruto tried to smile, but it came out as more of a pained grimace. "I'm alright, Sensei! Just a little banged up is all." His raspy voice made the lie obvious.
Iruka's frown deepened as he stepped closer to the bedside, taking in the ugly ring of bruises darkening Naruto's neck. "Naruto..." he began softly.
Naruto looked away, unable to meet Iruka's piercing yet kind gaze. He didn't want to see pity there. To distract himself, he fiddled with a loose thread on the infirmary blanket.
"It's my own fault for messing up," Naruto mumbled, embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "Guess I just freaked out when Mizuki-sensei came at me so hard. I should've been tougher."
Iruka's eyes flashed at that. "No Naruto, how Mizuki acted was inexcusable," he said sharply. Seeing Naruto's surprised look, Iruka softened his tone again. "Taijutsu exams are meant to assess skills, not cause harm."
Naruto dropped his gaze again. Maybe Iruka was just trying to make him feel better about choking. Either way, the test was over and he had failed spectacularly.
Swallowing thickly, Naruto forced himself to ask the question burning inside him. "So...did I at least pass the other portions?" He tried to keep the hope from creeping into his hoarse voice.
Iruka hesitated, and Naruto felt his heart sink down to his stomach. That pause said it all. After a strained moment, Iruka sighed and shook his head.
"I'm afraid not, Naruto. Your written test score was barely passing. And in the ninjutsu and genjutsu exams..." Iruka trailed off, but he didn't need to finish. They both knew Naruto had bombed those completely as always.
Naruto's fingers curled into fists, clutching the blanket tightly. He had known this was coming, but having his failure stated so plainly still stung. Bitter disappointment flooded his mouth, more choking than even Mizuki's grip on his throat.
Iruka reached out and gently grasped his clenched fist. "Naruto, listen to me. This isn't the end for you. With some more time and training—"
"Forget it," Naruto interrupted harshly, yanking his hand away. He ignored the flash of hurt on Iruka's face. Right now the crushing pain in his own chest demanded all his focus to keep from spilling over.
"Don't worry about me, Sensei," Naruto forced out around the tightness in his throat. "I'll be fine!" He tried to flash his usual carefree grin, but it felt more like a grimace.
Naruto turned away, not wanting Iruka to see the tears welling up in his eyes. He had failed. After all that intense training with Bushy Brow-sensei, he still hadn't been good enough to pass. It wasn't fair!
A gentle hand rested on his shoulder. "Naruto, listen. There may still be a way for you to pass."
Naruto quickly scrubbed the tears from his eyes before slowly turning back around. Iruka gave him a sympathetic look.
"Really, Sensei?" Naruto asked, unable to keep the glimmer of hope from his voice.
Iruka nodded. "Yes. There's a secret scroll in the Hokage's residence that contains powerful taijutsu techniques. If you can learn just one of them before tomorrow, I'll allow you to graduate."
Naruto's eyes went wide. A scroll with kick-butt taijutsu moves? This was the chance he needed!
"You bet I'll master a technique in no time, believe it!" Naruto exclaimed, jumping up from the infirmary bed with renewed excitement.
Iruka smiled, though it seemed strained. "I know you won't let me down. But listen carefully - you must sneak in and out without getting caught. This is a test of your stealth skills."
Naruto nodded seriously. He could be sneaky when he wanted to be. "Just tell me where to find it, and that scroll is as good as mine!"
Iruka lowered his voice. "It's hidden in a chamber under the Hokage residence."
Before Naruto could ask for more details, Iruka suddenly stiffened. "Someone's coming. Just remember, complete secrecy." And with that cryptic warning, his teacher slipped out the door.
Naruto barely had a moment to digest this new information before the infirmary door opened again. One of the academy medics stepped inside, eyeing him critically.
"Shouldn't you be heading home to rest, Naruto?" the woman asked pointedly.
Naruto plastered on a wide, innocent grin. "Yep, on my way out now!" He quickly gathered his things and hurried from the infirmary, nearly bowling the medic over in his haste. He had a top secret mission to prepare for!
And as the boy bolted through the door, he failed to miss Iruka standing beside the entrance with a devilish smirk on his face. Only when the boy flew down the hallway and out of sight, did a puff of smoke engulf Iruka, revealing his true form—
—Mizuki.
Author's Note:
And it's done!
Okay, now to address the elephant in the room... yes, we're going the Mizuki-Scroll-of-Seals route. BUT don't worry, it'll be a little different! After all, Naruto won't be able to learn shadow clone jutsu, so how could he beat Mizuki at all?
Stay tuned, as next chapter will be the last in the graduation arc! As always, thanks for reading!
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