Naruto let out a sigh of relief as he leaned against the academy building, tilting his head back slightly. The morning sun bathed his skin in warmth, its golden rays soft against his face, while a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, cooling him just enough to keep the heat bearable. If only his company reflected the serenity of nature—but he knew better than to expect that.
Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the emotions swirling around him. It was like standing in the middle of a storm, each gust carrying a different intent—some hostile, some indifferent, and a few just plain annoying. His connection to nature made it easy to sense these things, an awareness woven into his very being.
Sasuke, for instance, was still seething. His glare practically burned a hole in the side of Naruto's head, fueled by the humiliation he'd suffered earlier in class and the scolding he'd received from Iruka-sensei after they finished their written exam. Naruto flicked his ear, trying to shake off the faint ringing left from Iruka's booming reprimand. That man had a set of lungs on him.
Then there were the other nuisances—Sasuke's little squad of fangirls. They were already plotting his downfall, whispering among themselves about how dare he embarrass their beloved Uchiha. As if. He scoffed at the idea. Even if they tried, there wasn't a chance in hell they'd ever land a hit on him.
Opening his eyes, Naruto found himself staring at another unwelcome sight—Menma, Conan, and Kiba. The witless trio. All bark, no bite.
Menma's cheeks were puffed out like a frog's, his violet eyes burning with irritation. Naruto didn't need to guess why—he already knew. Menma was pissed, plain and simple. And honestly? Naruto couldn't bring himself to care. He was done with their arrogant posturing, done with the way they carried themselves like the world owed them something.
A quiet chuckle rumbled in his chest as his thoughts drifted to the Nine-tailed fox—the ancient beast now trapped in the bellies of his younger siblings. The great and terrible Nine-Tails, sealed away in two clueless brats. Even though the beast had once rampaged through the village, leaving destruction and death in his wake, Naruto couldn't help but feel some pity for him. Being stuck inside those two must have been its own special kind of hell.
Shaking his head, Naruto pulled out the red book he'd been reading earlier, flipping it open to where he left off.
Iruka stood off to the side, deep in conversation with the Hokage. No doubt they were reviewing the results of the written test, carefully picking apart each student's performance. Meanwhile, the rest of the class lingered outside, aimlessly milling about, gossiping about the same tired nonsense—who would be Rookie of the Year, who would be the top kunoichi, who had the best chance at climbing the shinobi ranks.
Naruto scoffed and turned the page. Idiots.
Those titles were a trap in their own right. Not officially, of course, but to any veteran shinobi worth their salt, they were nothing more than a curse. A real shinobi didn't seek the spotlight. They didn't chase after meaningless accolades or bask in the illusion of glory. They stayed in the shadows, honed their craft, and lived by a code that separated warriors from common killers.
They're idiots...
"They're still young, Naruto," Vision's voice chimed in, amused but thoughtful. "They'll learn the truth soon enough—probably after their first mission."
"Maybe," Naruto conceded, eyes scanning the next line in his book. "But Iruka told them countless times, and it never sticks."
As Naruto continued reading about the Mystic Palm Technique, a familiar prickling sensation crawled up his spine—someone was watching him. Lowering his book just enough to peek over the edge, he scanned the crowd. Menma, Conan, and Mito were no longer standing near their friend group. Instead, they were off to the side, talking to their parents in hushed but animated voices.
Naruto's gaze drifted toward the Hokage, and lo and behold—there they were. Minato and Kushina stood behind the Hokage's desk, surrounded by the other clan heads and parents. Even his uncles, Hando and Kaito, stood beside them, their expressions unreadable. Naruto wasn't surprised. His parents were always too busy to spare him even a moment, but when their precious prophecy children needed them? They were there in an instant. Figures.
A shimmer of golden light flickered beside him, coalescing into a familiar figure.
"Naruto, are you alright?" Vision asked, his voice gentle yet firm. His gaze flickered toward Minato and Kushina.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah. I've grown accustomed to it, so it doesn't bother me."
Vision turned his head fully toward Naruto. "You can't lie to me. It still affects you."
Naruto huffed, rubbing his eyebrow with his thumb. "I can handle it, Vision. And I've made peace with it." He nodded toward Menma and Mito, watching as they gestured wildly, their voices rising as they spoke to their parents. "Looks like the idiot ran straight to Mommy and Daddy to tattle on me."
Hando and Kaito weren't looking at Menma or Mito, though. Their eyes were locked onto Naruto, a mix of emotions flashing across their faces—rage, curiosity, suspicion. Naruto met their stares head-on, his blue eyes flaring with power from behind his mask. His uncles' expressions shifted slightly before they turned away, breaking the silent battle of wills to refocus on the twins.
With a quiet scoff, Naruto returned to his book, determined to ignore them. He managed a few minutes of peace before a familiar, obnoxiously loud voice shattered the quiet.
"You're telling me he mastered it already?!"
The booming exclamation cut through the crowd like a blade, drawing everyone's attention. Naruto sighed.
Standing near Minato and Kushina was none other than Jiraiya, the so-called Toad Sage. His spiky white hair framed his stunned face, his mouth hanging open like a fish caught on a hook. Naruto's sperm and egg donor gawked at him in equal disbelief.
And there it was—that recognition Naruto had once craved. He could see it shimmering in their eyes, but it was too late. He didn't want it—not because of who he was, but because he'd done something their precious children hadn't managed yet.
The murmurs around them died down as Iruka stepped onto the fighting platform, clipboard in hand. Behind him, Mizuki loomed, scanning the gathered students with an impassive stare while the parents whispered amongst themselves.
Iruka coughed into his hand before raising his voice. "Settle down, everyone! The next test will commence shortly. When I call your name, step into the ring for your ranged skill test. To pass, you must hit at least half of the targets. First up—Shino Aburame!"
A lanky teen in an olive-green jacket, his lower face hidden behind high collars, stepped forward. With a quick push of his finger against his round glasses, Shino strode toward the testing area.
Naruto watched, shaking his head at the dismal performances of the civilian children. Barely a third of them passed. Not that he blamed them. Unlike the clan heirs, they didn't have access to specialized tutors or centuries of refined training methods.
Then—
"Sasuke!"
Naruto cringed as Sakura's shriek rang through the air, no doubt making half the crowd temporarily deaf.
"Look! I'll ace this test for you!" she declared, all but prancing onto the platform.
Naruto gagged. Across the courtyard, Sasuke's eye twitched, his expression caught between irritation and horror. And then Sakura promptly made a fool of herself, barely hitting half the targets and almost castrating Mizuki in the process.
The tests continued, name after name being called. When Iruka finally reached Menma, the arrogant fox brat strutted forward like he owned the ring. His fan club shrieked his name, drowning out the background noise—until Jiraiya's booming voice cut through again:
"That's my godson! A real ladies man!"
Kushina's fist met Jiraiya's face instantly.
"Don't corrupt my son!" she roared, her crimson hair lashing wildly as people around them wisely stepped out of the danger zone.
Naruto barely suppressed a snort of laughter.
Menma, for all his bluster, scored a decent 14 out of 20—but his face twisted in frustration at the number, his hands clenching at his sides. Mito, passing him on her way up, smacked him upside the head before tossing him a smug grin.
Mito ended with a respectable 17 out of 20, flashing a triumphant raspberry at her fuming twin before strolling back. Kiba, watching her walk away, actually drooled.
More students went up, their performances ranging from impressive to downright embarrassing. When Shikamaru's turn came, he did exactly the bare minimum required to pass.
His mother's furious screech followed almost immediately. "Shikamaru! Didn't I tell you to stop being lazy!"
"Troublesome woman," he muttered, trudging off the platform.
Unfortunately for him, his mother heard. "What did you say?!"
Shikamaru paled, hands flying up in surrender. "Nothing!"
The crowd roared with laughter as he practically fled, darting behind Chōji while his mother tried to wrestle free from his father's grip.
Finally, Iruka's voice rang out again: "Naruto Namikaze-Uzumaki!"
A few students chuckled, but their laughter was far more subdued than before. His earlier display had shaken their confidence.
Naruto pushed off the wall and lazily made his way toward the platform, ignoring the muttered comments from the peanut gallery.
"Don't act cool like Sasuke, Naruto!" Sakura screeched. "You're still a loser! Sasuke's gonna beat your ass!"
A few of Sasuke's fangirls screamed their agreement.
Beside Mito, Ino punched the air and yelled, "That's right! He'll pummel you so bad your own mother won't recognize you!"
Naruto barely spared them a glance. Reaching the platform steps, he peered over his book and blinked. "Huh? Did you say something, Sakura? Ino?"
Silence.
From his seat, the Hokage stiffened, his pipe clattering to the floor as his face paled.
"Oh no," the old man whispered in horror. "Not another one."
A collective sweat drop formed over the crowd as those familiar with a certain silver-haired Jonin recognized the exact brand of disregard Naruto had just displayed.
Ignoring the reactions around him, Naruto stepped up to the table, pocketing his book before gathering ten kunai. No flashy tricks. No showing off. With precise, fluid movements, he flicked his wrist, sending the kunai flying in rapid succession. Each one hit dead center. He repeated the process with the shuriken, ensuring he met the required marks without overshadowing the others.
Iruka cleared his throat. "G-Good job, Naruto. 18 out of 20."
Naruto strolled back to the edge of the crowd, leaning against the building with a practiced ease. His posture was relaxed, but he could still feel the weight of lingering stares. He ignored them. It wasn't worth his time.
Pulling out his book, he flipped it open and let his eyes skim over the familiar lines of text. He just wanted this all to be over—get through these tests, officially start his shinobi career, and leave his so-called clan behind. The sooner he could carve out his own path, the better.
More students stepped up for their tests, one after another, until Iruka's voice rang out again, calling the final name on the list.
"Sasuke Uchiha!"
The reaction was immediate.
Shrill screams erupted from the crowd as Sasuke's rabid fan club chanted his name like some war cry. The duck-butt-haired prodigy strutted up the steps, his usual scowl firmly in place. Just before he started, he turned his head and shot Naruto a glare, dark eyes brimming with smug confidence.
Naruto barely spared him a glance before returning to his book.
Sasuke performed his test with his usual precision, sending the crowd into another round of cheers as he strutted back, a triumphant smirk tugging at his lips.
"Yeah! Take that, Naruto!" Sakura screeched, her voice cutting through the noise like a kunai. "Sasuke got 19 out of 20! He's so cool!"
Naruto sighed internally. Here we go again. When he didn't respond, the banshee stomped over, fists clenched.
"Hey! Are you even listening to me, baka?!" she barked, standing directly in front of him, practically vibrating with irritation.
Naruto turned a page. Sakura's eye twitched before she raised a fist.
"Don't ignore your betters!" she shrieked, lunging forward for a punch.
Naruto barely reacted. With a flick of his wrist, he swatted her hand away like she was an annoying fly. Then, with practiced ease, he channeled chakra into his fingers, holding his middle finger back with his thumb. Before Sakura could even process what was happening, Naruto reached up and flicked her forehead.
The result was immediate.
A shriek tore from Sakura's throat as she soared through the air, colliding headfirst into Ino. The impact sent them both tumbling several meters across the dirt, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
Gasps filled the courtyard as students scrambled out of the way.
Ino groaned, staggering upright, her hair an absolute mess. Meanwhile, Sakura lay sprawled on the ground, clutching her forehead like it had been cracked open, rolling back and forth in agony.
"Sakura!" The shrill voice that followed made even Naruto's eyebrow twitch.
A middle-aged woman with pink hair came barreling through the crowd, eyes wild with panic.
"Who dares attack my daughter?!" Her voice rattled the windows, silencing every conversation in an instant.
Sakura sat up, her lower lip wobbling as tears welled in her eyes. A large, angry red bump had already formed on her forehead. Her once-pristine outfit was ruined, covered in dirt and streaks of blood from scraped elbows.
Sakura's mother let out a low growl, her beady eyes darting across the crowd like a predator hunting prey. "Who did this?"
Sakura sniffled, burying herself into her mother's embrace before whispering two words:
"It was Naruto."