At last, the day of the Ninja Academy graduation exam had arrived.
"Ahhhhh! The Clone Jutsu?!" Naruto howled the moment he saw the test topic. "Why does it have to be the one I'm worst at?!"
From the side, Shikamaru muttered with thinly veiled disdain, "You got a jutsu you're good at?"
The Three Basic Techniques were considered foundational ninjutsu. Most students didn't feel much pressure. Sakura, meanwhile, blushed as she stole a glance at Sasuke in the distance, whispering softly to herself, "I have to pass today's exam... so I can become a genin with Sasuke!"
"Damn it! If it means I get to be with my precious Sakura, I'm gonna pass no matter what! Bring it on, Clone Jutsu! I, Naruto Uzumaki, am not afraid of you!" Naruto shouted with fighting spirit flaring.
Sasuke remained calm as ever. No matter what the topic was, his face reflected nothing but quiet confidence. He turned his head slightly to glance at Kirito, then asked coolly, "Hey, it's your worst jutsu. What're you gonna do?"
Kirito just shrugged. "Whatever happens, happens~" he replied with his usual carefree attitude.
At the back of the line, Hinata's gaze lingered on Kirito, filled with silent worry. She whispered so softly only she could hear, "Big Brother Kirito… do your best. If you don't pass, the clan will be furious…"
Even though the Hyuga clan had stripped Kirito of his guard status years ago and separated the two of them, the bond they'd forged from living together all that time still lingered, those pure, innocent memories had become eternal.
"Naruto Uzumaki, fail!"
Iruka-sensei's firm and impartial verdict echoed through the hall, making Naruto the first student this year to fail the exam, and the first who wouldn't be graduating.
Naruto collapsed onto the floor like a deflated ball, unable to accept the harsh truth.
Laughter erupted all around. Only Sasuke didn't laugh. He frowned slightly but didn't speak.
"Hyuga Kirito, fail!"
Iruka sighed as he looked at Kirito, eyes full of regret. Such a shame. Kirito showed real promise with shuriken techniques… but his ninjutsu scores were abysmal. Truly disastrous. At least Naruto had managed to produce a misshapen clone, Kirito had only managed to puff out a single smoke cloud…
The laughter swelled even louder. Naruto groggily got back up and clapped Kirito on the shoulder.
"Guess we're in this together, buddy~"
Kirito scratched his head with a helpless smile. "Yeah… guess it still didn't work out." But true to his nature, he didn't dwell on failure. That just wasn't his style.
Hinata stood frozen in place, hesitating to go to Kirito and offer comfort. She wanted to, but she didn't dare. The clan disapproved of her associating with him, and getting too close might only cause Kirito more trouble.
"Hmph!" Sasuke let out a heavy snort and stormed off without a word, radiating frustration. It was a silent rebuke, a "why can't you do better?" kind of disappointment. In Kirito, he'd seen one of the few people worth recognizing as a rival in shurikenjutsu. And now that same person couldn't even pass the most basic exam. The letdown hit hard.
"Come on, let's go. What's done is done." Kirito waved it off and walked out of the Academy with the still-mourning Naruto.
Outside the gate, parents and relatives were waiting eagerly. Their faces lit up when they saw their children step out with brand-new forehead protectors, symbols of their graduation. Those scenes of joy made Naruto's loneliness feel even sharper.
Kirito opened his mouth, just about to say something comforting, when his brows suddenly furrowed.
"Are you Naruto and Kirito?" A man walked up to them from the school gate. His warm smile and gentle voice gave off the vibe of an older brother.
"Mizuki-sensei," Naruto mumbled, still disheartened. "We're not in the mood. We're heading out…"
"Wait, is this about the exam?" Mizuki's smile widened, becoming almost too perfect. "Come with me. I'll tell you a secret."
"Oh? Sounds interesting~" Kirito replied with a half-smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. At that moment, a sound echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Main Story Mission triggered]
…
They followed Mizuki to a small, deserted forest clearing. He looked around carefully, making sure no one was nearby. Then, crouching low and speaking in a hushed, conspiratorial tone, he said, "Do you two want to know… another way to pass the graduation exam?"
Naruto, who'd been moping the whole time, suddenly perked up. He raised his head eagerly and said, "Really?! Tell me, tell me!"
Kirito, however, wasn't buying Mizuki's cheap bait. He simply kept his focus on the system interface flashing in his mind.
[Mission Type: Main Story Quest]
[Mission Difficulty: D Rank]
[Completion Reward: One randomized dimensional weapon draw (One-hit kill. Has a chance to include additional sub-rewards).]