Chapter Two:
Instructor Iruka grabbed Naruto's arm firmly after he finished vandalizing the faces of the four Hokage and dragged him to the academy yard in front of the students. Anger was clear on his face not the anger of hatred, but the anger of a teacher who fears for his student's repeated failure.
He shouted his name:
— Naruto! Tomorrow is the graduation test from the Ninja Academy, and you've already failed twice!
Naruto lowered his head, but his annoying grin didn't disappear completely. He wasn't the only one who had failed twice… I failed twice as well. Not because I couldn't perform the techniques, but because I didn't want to appear better than him. I didn't want him to feel that I was surpassing him, that I was smarter or stronger, while he was seen as the village's fool.
But this time… things are different.
The instructor ordered everyone to line up.
— We will conduct a practice test now. Transformation Technique… Henge no Jutsu.
The students stepped forward one by one, transforming into perfect copies of the instructor or some other characters. Naruto and I were at the end of the line, watching silently. I could feel the tension creeping into my chest.
Suddenly, the blue screen appeared before me.
[System: You must succeed this time no matter the cost.]
[System: Reward for success: +50 Movement Level, +20 Speed.]
My eyes widened. I didn't expect a reward of this size. Fifty movement points all at once? That's not a small matter in a world that depends on speed and reaction.
I whispered inside my mind:
— Sorry, Naruto… but I have to succeed.
The instructor called my name. I stepped forward with steady steps, focused the chakra in my body, and summoned the image of Instructor Iruka in my mind. I performed the seal quickly.
— Henge!
I transformed with perfect accuracy. No distortion, no flaw. A perfect copy.
The instructor smiled and said:
— Excellent, Naruko. Well done. Be good like her, Naruto.
The students began whispering in admiration. Some of them clapped lightly. I felt the looks of admiration directed at me. It was strange… but warm.
Naruto shouted enthusiastically:
— Yeah yeah! I'll do even better than you, Naruko!
He stepped into the center, formed the hand seals quickly, and then suddenly… a woman with long hair and an exaggerated body appeared, bursting into provocative laughter.
Naruto said:
— This is what I call the Sexy Jutsu!
Blood streamed from Instructor Iruka's nose in a moment of shock.
I shouted:
— Stop it, Naruto! That's embarrassing! And she… looks like me, you idiot!
He scratched his head and laughed. But the instructor's expression suddenly changed.
— Naruto! Don't invent ridiculous techniques!
The practice test ended, and the students left. Except for Naruto, who stayed with the instructor to clean the faces of the four Hokage. I had to accompany him because I had nothing else to do.
The screen appeared again.
[System: Congratulations on your success. Reward received.]
[System: Additional reward.]
[System: Your role is becoming more prominent.]
I jumped in place with joy:
— I passed!
Naruto shouted while cleaning:
— Why don't you help instead of jumping around like a crazy person?!
Instructor Iruka said firmly:
— You are the one who caused all of this alone. So bear the consequences.
I stuck my tongue out at him and said:
— Pff… stupid Naruto.
He flared up with anger, but I ignored him.
Instructor Iruka said:
— Hurry, Naruto, so you can get home early.
Then suddenly, Naruto's voice dropped:
— As if I care… there's no one waiting for me at home.
I froze.
Those words were heavier than any scolding. I knew his story. I knew the loneliness he had lived through. But hearing it directly from him… was different.
When I first came here, I couldn't bear the thought. I hated home because it made me miss my world and my real family. Every day I felt suffocated. I tried to run away, even end my life, despite the system's repeated warnings.
[System: Danger… danger… you will die.]
[System: Danger.]
My life almost ended… if someone hadn't saved me.
Itachi Uchiha.
He appeared at the right moment, carried me on his back silently, and returned me to the village. That day, I realized this world does not forgive the weak. Either I grow stronger… or I'm erased completely.
---
After Naruto finished cleaning, the instructor took us to his favorite ramen shop, Ichiraku Ramen. We sat on the wooden benches and started eating.
Naruto suddenly smiled and said:
— One day I'll become Hokage! I'll surpass everyone, and I'll make the villagers recognize me. And I'll protect Naruko!
I looked at him in surprise.
— Protect me?
He laughed confidently:
— Of course! You're my sister.
I lifted my ramen bowl and said enthusiastically:
— And I'll become Hokage's assistant, Naruto!
His smile widened. In that moment, he truly looked happy.
---
The next day, we sat in the exam hall. Tension was visible on everyone. Naruto was next to me, trembling slightly.
I patted his shoulder.
— Do your best this time.
Suddenly, the instructor called me:
— Naruko Uzumaki, to the adjacent room.
I went to the next room alone and entered. Instructor Iruka was there, along with Instructor Mizuki, sitting at the front.
He gave me the signal to start.
— Clone Technique… Bunshin no Jutsu.
I formed the hand seals and performed the technique. Two perfect clones appeared beside me.
The instructors clapped.
— Excellent.
Iruka-sensei handed me the forehead protector, which meant I had finally become an official shinobi. I was happy.
After that, I went to the photography room to take my annual photo. I sat on a wooden chair, and in front of me was an old-looking camera. The photographer… and on one of the seats sat the Third Hokage.
The photographer took the picture, showing me as a beautiful smiling girl with my hair tied on both sides and in my official uniform similar to Naruto's outfit. Then the Hokage held up my personal ID card.
— Your level is high. I can't believe you failed twice. Was that intentional?
I froze.
[System: Don't let the Hokage suspect more.]
I laughed in a way that resembled Naruto:
— Haha, no! It was very difficult for me!
I acted foolishly in front of him. He sighed and said:
— Your card says you love chocolate more than anything… I guess I raised my expectations of you too much.
[System: Success.]
I left the hall wearing the forehead protector, which looked amazing on me. The students gathered around and flocked to me…
— Congratulations, Naruko!
— You look amazing!
— The forehead protector suits you perfectly.
[System: You have become more prominent.]
[System: The number of people interested in you has increased.]
[System: Increase in daily tasks.]
[System: You have gained a new ability.]
I shouted:
— A new ability?!
[System: Do you want to know it? Yes / No.]
I pressed Yes.
[System: Your ability to see how much love the main characters feel for you.]
I froze.
— What?! I thought it was a combat ability!
[System: Do you want to delete it?]
— No, no! I was joking!
It could be useful… in some way.
I searched for Naruto and suddenly saw him on the swing, watching others with an incredibly sad look. I realized he had failed again. My prolonged stay in this world made me forget some things from the original story, so I had expected Naruto to succeed this time… I removed my forehead protector and hid it in my pocket, and as I was about to approach him…
I heard two women whispering:
— Look at that boy.
— The only one who failed.
— It's good that he failed; he clearly doesn't deserve to be here at all…
Anger flared inside me, and I was about to punch one of them… but I couldn't respond.
I approached him.
— Naruto, it's okay. You did your best. Next time you can…
Before I could finish, he shoved me hard backward.
He said loudly, angrily:
— Leave me alone!
Then he ran away from me quickly.
I shouted:
— Naruto! Come back here!
But he didn't look back.
I stood in place, clutching the forehead protector in my pocket. The thing some people don't know about Naruto is that sometimes he acts selfishly and never considers those around him…