The ninja academy's wide training field buzzed with anticipation.
Teachers and students crowded around, holding their breath as Uzumaki Naruto stood opposite a Chūnin examiner. For the first time in years, a student had applied for early graduation.
High above, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched naruto
In a shaded corner, a silver-haired masked ninja silently observed, his gaze complicated.
"So this is the student I'll be mentoring... the Fourth Hokage's son — Uzumaki Naruto?" Kakashi thought.
"The basic graduation test is the Three Body Technique," the examiner announced flatly.
"Uzumaki Naruto, begin your ninjutsu demonstration."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. He could feel the examiner's disdain.
Forming hand seals with casual ease — Bang! — a perfect clone appeared beside him, mimicking his lazy grin.
"This is the Clone Technique," he said. "Next, the Transformation Technique."
With another puff of smoke, Naruto transformed into the examiner himself. In an instant, his figure flickered, leaving behind only a wooden log.
"The Body Replacement Technique," he finished with a smirk.
Three Body Techniques — flawless. He'd mastered them years ago, back when he was only three. This test was child's play.
The examiner's eyes twitched, irritated by Naruto's confidence. Still, he silently marked the paper.
"Since you've applied for early graduation," he said sharply, "you'll also face a combat evaluation. Last ten minutes against a Chūnin — me."
He set down his pen and stood up, a cold fury flickering in his eyes.
Damn demon fox. If you survive ten minutes with me, I'll write my name backward.
Though he didn't speak the words, the hatred in Misugi Yoshida's expression said it all.
Naruto blinked, his expression briefly distant. That same hatred — those same eyes — had once driven him to train alone, far from the villagers' scorn.
He had hoped that time might dull their resentment.
But some wounds never healed.
"Fine then," Naruto muttered, clenching his fists until they cracked. "Come on."
In the crowd, Sasuke flinched — he could feel Naruto's killing intent rise.
"You can make the first move," Naruto said coolly, gesturing with a taunting finger.
The examiner's eyes went wide with rage. That was his line to say.
"This brat… this monster… I won't let him pass. He should have never been born!" Misugi thought, seething.
Swish!
A kunai flew straight toward Naruto.
Ding! — Naruto deflected it with ease.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
A roaring gust exploded from Misugi's mouth, tearing across the field.
Naruto leapt high, flipping through the air, and landed above him in a blur.
"Foolish. Just a sitting target," Misugi sneered, throwing three more kunai to cut off every escape route.
He formed another set of hand seals.
"Wind Style: Air Bullet!"
A spinning wind sphere shot forward like lightning.
"Moonwalk!"
Naruto's feet slammed against the air itself — boom! — and his body vanished in a blur, dancing across the sky as if gravity didn't apply.
Misugi's jaw dropped. Naruto's movements were impossible to follow — a dozen afterimages surrounded him.
"Wind Style: Wind Snare!" Misugi shouted desperately.
Blades of compressed air burst out like a storm of knives, slicing through the ground.
The watching students gasped and stumbled back.
"This is Chūnin-level power! Way above us!"
"But Naruto's still holding his ground! He's dodging everything like it's nothing!"
"Doesn't that mean he's already at Chūnin level? He's only seven!"
"Is Konoha about to have another child prodigy?"
Before anyone could blink, Naruto appeared behind Misugi, pressing a cold kunai against his neck.
The examiner froze. He'd lost.
A grown Chūnin, defeated by a seven-year-old. Unthinkable.
"I... I surrender," Misugi said bitterly, lowering his head.
Rage burned in his eyes, but the result was undeniable — Naruto had passed.
He was officially eligible for early graduation.
"Three Body Techniques: flawless. Exceptional taijutsu — physical power surpasses expectation," one teacher murmured.
"He's even stronger than Kakashi was at that age!"
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen looked at Naruto's file and smiled softly.
He had known Naruto trained relentlessly, often sparring with the taijutsu fanatic Might Guy, but even he hadn't expected such growth.
"Walking in the air… that's no ninjutsu. That's pure physical mastery," Hiruzen mused. "Incredible."
Thump!
He stamped the Hokage seal on the approval document.
From that moment on, Uzumaki Naruto was officially recognized as a Konoha Genin — a true ninja of the Leaf Village.
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