Ninja Academy.
Taking advantage of the lunch break, Iruka called Naruto to the office.
He opened a drawer, pulled out a form, and placed it on the desk with an apologetic expression.
"Sorry, Naruto… your early graduation application was rejected by Lord Hokage. There aren't enough jonin available to form a team, so you'll have to wait until next year."
"Understood, Iruka-sensei."
Naruto glanced at the big red REJECTED stamp and nodded mechanically, like someone who had already seen this coming a mile away.
Honestly, he'd known it would fail the moment he submitted it.
There was no way the old man—Hiruzen—would approve it.
On one hand, the Hokage wanted him to build bonds at the Academy.
On the other hand… he was probably afraid Naruto would become a ninja and immediately run wild out of control.
After all, Academy students were basically caged rabbits.
Real ninjas?
Free-range wolves with mission choices.
Totally different species.
Still, the application wasn't completely useless.
Yesterday, the old man had "casually" visited his house and gifted him one of Konoha's forbidden techniques—
The Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Plus some personal training notes.
Compensation, basically.
Sorry kid, no graduation. Here, have a dangerous forbidden jutsu instead.
Very Hokage logic.
Iruka looked at Naruto's calm, almost dull expression and sighed softly.
Although Naruto rarely listened carefully in class, his effort was obvious.
Carrying the name of the "Nine-Tails brat," he still managed to rank first in the class and had already mastered higher-grade material.
If there was a flaw…
It was probably his withdrawn personality.
And being a jinchūriki.
But that wasn't Naruto's fault.
If the kid had parents and a normal childhood, he wouldn't be so quiet and guarded.
Honestly… he was already doing amazingly well.
"Go back to class," Iruka said gently. "Academy life isn't that bad. Don't pressure yourself too much. Learn to relax sometimes."
Naruto nodded and left.
After he walked out, the office atmosphere immediately became lively again.
A teacher nearby spoke jokingly.
"You really care about Naruto, Iruka. But with his personality, your concern might not even matter."
Iruka frowned at him.
"Mizuki, since when does a teacher care about getting something in return?"
Mizuki shrugged.
"So you're fine being a chūnin teacher forever? Your class has kids from big clans. You could move up—director, principal, something better."
Iruka shook his head.
"I don't have that kind of ambition. Being a teacher is enough."
Mizuki clicked his tongue.
"What a waste. If it were me, I'd climb up no matter what. Opportunities don't wait."
Iruka didn't reply.
Some people taught for power.
Some taught for kids.
Different worlds.
After lunch, Naruto returned to the back of the classroom and sat down, thinking about the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
The difference between Shadow Clone and Multiple Shadow Clone was simple.
One made a few copies.
The other made an army.
Five clones versus hundreds… or thousands.
Basically the difference between "group project" and "human wave tactics."
Aside from the Five Kage-level monsters, only jinchūriki could spam it without collapsing from chakra exhaustion.
Unfortunately…
It still wasn't that useful to Naruto.
He wasn't the hot-blooded idiot from the original timeline who yelled and rushed enemies with 500 clones.
Numbers were flashy, sure.
But stealth, scouting, and deception were way more practical.
Brains beat shouting.
Usually.
At that moment, Sasuke returned and leaned over.
"Did your graduation application pass?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Rejected. The Hokage said there's no suitable jonin. Told me to wait another year."
Sasuke visibly relaxed.
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"…Why do you look relieved?"
Sasuke coughed lightly.
"I applied too. Got rejected as well. So… it's not because I'm weak."
Naruto: "…"
So it was a pride issue.
"Why did you even apply?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke snorted.
"You caused such a big commotion applying. The whole class was talking about it. As second place, of course I had to apply too. It's about attitude."
Naruto pressed a hand to his forehead.
This guy really treats everything like a ranking war…
At that moment, Choji—sitting in front—turned around, munching chips.
"I wanna graduate early too. Once I'm a ninja and get paid, I can eat barbecue every day!"
Shikamaru lazily stretched beside him.
"Too troublesome… It's peacetime. Why rush to become a ninja? Missions sound like a pain. School naps are way better."
Classic Shikamaru.
Peak life philosophy.
Nearby, Hinata quietly peeked over.
She wanted to join the conversation… but Naruto felt too dazzling now.
Applying for early graduation, ranking first, training like crazy…
Compared to him, she felt small.
Unless she could defeat Neji head-on…
She didn't even dare step closer.
Without realizing it, Naruto's graduation stunt had triggered a weird competition in class.
Half the students suddenly wanted early graduation too.
Peer pressure.
The real forbidden technique.
Several months passed.
Weekend afternoon.
Naruto used a shadow clone to distract Kakashi while his real body slipped away.
Destination—
The Forest of Death.
After careful renovations, the once dark and damp underground base was now much brighter.
Explosive tags were buried everywhere in the soil.
If anything went wrong…
Boom.
Whole place gone.
Very environmentally unfriendly.
Very Naruto.
Hearing footsteps, Shisui Uchiha raised his head expectantly.
After months together, their relationship had become… strangely decent.
Aside from being unable to leave and having his chakra sealed, Shisui could move around freely.
Naruto had even "kindly" given him a new pair of eyes.
Not Sharingan, obviously.
Just some unlucky spy who tried attacking Naruto outside the village.
Got hit by a Rasengan.
Died instantly.
Free eye donation.
Very tragic. Very convenient.
With working eyes, Shisui could teach him much more effectively.
An elite jonin's understanding of chakra far surpassed those Academy teachers.
Still…
Shisui couldn't help feeling confused.
Why did a kid strong enough to defeat him lack so much basic knowledge?
What kind of jōnin education was this village running these days?
After teaching some advanced chakra control techniques, Shisui opened the lunchbox Naruto brought.
The smell was familiar.
Food from a shop inside the village.
After hesitating, Shisui finally asked quietly,
"…How is the Uchiha clan doing lately?"
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