At the academy, Iruka stood at the front of the class, eyes steady.
"This is your final test," he said, voice calm but firm. "I'll call your names one by one. You'll perform the Clone Jutsu. Fail to create a proper clone… and you fail to graduate."
He began calling names. One by one, students stepped forward, the tension in the room gradually thickening like fog before a storm.
Then came the name that made a few students murmur.
"Next, Naruto Uzumaki."
Shikamaru turned lazily and muttered, "Good luck, Naruto…"
Choji, with a mouthful of chips, grinned, "You got this!"
At the back, Hinata blushed faintly, stealing a glance. "G-Good luck, Naruto…" she whispered, barely audible.
Naruto, nerves hidden under a wide grin, stepped into the adjoining room. Iruka and Mizuki were seated, observing.
"Relax, Naruto," Iruka said gently. "Make a clone."
Mizuki nodded with a faint smile, though his eyes shimmered with something… cold.
Naruto took a deep breath, clenched his fists. "Just you watch, Iruka-sensei."
He quickly weaved hand signs. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof.
A cloud of smoke dispersed, and beside Naruto stood a perfect clone, not an illusion.
Iruka's eyes widened. "A… solid clone…?"
He felt his chest tighten. You did it, Naruto… You finally did it.
Even Mizuki's expression cracked for a moment. His eyes flickered with something unreadable… then disappeared behind a practiced nod.
"YEAHHH! I DID IT!" Naruto shouted, nearly bouncing with pride.
Iruka smiled and stepped forward, holding out the symbol of his success, the Konoha headband.
Naruto accepted it with trembling hands. That moment, that metal plate engraved with the leaf meant everything.
Back in the classroom, Naruto returned, the headband shining on his forehead like a badge of honor. He grinned wide, showing it off.
Kiba scoffed. "Heh, must've been easy."
Naruto stuck his tongue out. "Shut up!"
The room burst into laughter.
Hinata smiled silently, a soft warmth in her chest. He really did it…
As the academy ended, students filtered out into the village, smiles and dreams dancing behind their eyes.
But when some villagers saw Naruto with the headband, their faces changed.
"Tch… what was the Hokage thinking, making him a ninja? What if he..?"
"Shut up!" another hissed. "You want trouble? Someone hears, you're done."
Naruto didn't hear them. He was looking for someone.
"Where's Johan…" he murmured. "He promised ramen… Guess I'll make him treat me later."
Just then, a voice called out, "Hey, Naruto!"
Naruto turned. It was Mizuki.
"Ah, Mizuki-sensei!" Naruto smiled. "What is it?"
Mizuki smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Congratulations. You've worked hard."
Naruto beamed. "Thanks, sensei!"
"Well… I think you deserve to know a secret. There's another test. A special one. Pass it, and you become a Chunin directly."
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "Chunin?! Really? I'll be a step closer to Johan… He's already a Jonin…"
He clenched his fists. "Tell me, sensei. I want to do it."
---
Evening fell.
A child sprinted into the forest, dragging a massive scroll. His face was full of excitement.
"This was easy! I'm gonna be a Chunin!"
---
At the Hokage's tower, the storm had already begun to churn.
"What? Naruto stole the Scroll of Sealing?!" one elder roared.
"I told you we shouldn't have let that boy graduate!"
"Idiot," another snapped. "He's Johan's twin brother! The youngest Jonin in leaf history, even faster than Kakashi!"
"So what? That boy still...!"
"Enough," came a tired, firm voice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stepped forward. His gaze was grave. "Find Naruto. Bring back the scroll… unharmed."
Iruka burst in just as the order was given. His heart dropped. Naruto… What have you done?
---
Near the forest, Iruka spotted him.
"Naruto! Stop!"
Naruto turned, face bright. "Iruka-sensei! I did it, right? I even learned Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu! I already knew the normal one, but this..."
Iruka blinked. Multi… what?
Naruto continued, "Mizuki-sensei said if I took this big scroll from the Hokage's office, I'd become Chunin!"
Iruka froze. "Mizuki… said that?"
Before he could respond, Mizuki appeared.
"Give me the scroll, Naruto," Mizuki said calmly.
Iruka stepped between them. "Stay back, Mizuki."
And then Mizuki smirked. "You still don't get it, do you, Naruto? You're not just a kid… You're the Nine-Tails. A demon."
Iruka's heart stopped. "Don't!"
But Naruto was still. Silent.
Then… he spoke.
"I know," he said softly.
Both men stared at him, stunned.
"I know I'm not the fox. I didn't kill anyone. Johan told me. And I believe him."
Mizuki's face contorted with rage. "Tch!"
He lunged at Naruto, but Iruka leapt in front, the large shuriken slammed into his back, knocking him to the ground with a pained grunt.
Naruto stood frozen… until he saw the blood.
"What… have you done to Iruka-sensei…?"
His fists trembled. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
With shaking fingers, he formed hand seals.
"Wind Style: Wind Blade Flick!"
Sharp currents slashed across Mizuki's chest and arms, leaving thin, bleeding wounds. Mizuki stumbled back, surprised.
"You even know offensive jutsu?!"
Naruto grinned, trembling. "Yeah… surprise."
Mizuki snarled and charged again. He struck Iruka in the back again, dropping him.
Then… a sound echoed.
Click. Click. Squeak.
Tiny red eyes appeared in the dark. Dozens.
Mizuki froze.
A single bat flapped down and landed on Naruto's shoulder. It stared at Mizuki with glowing, malevolent eyes.
Naruto smiled. "He came back…"
The bat's eyes shimmered, and the world around Mizuki shattered.
---
Inside the genjutsu: nothing but void. Darkness pressing in from all sides.
Mizuki screamed, flaring his chakra, nothing.
Then came the squeaks. The fluttering.
Bats.
They circled him, faster and faster, shadows in motion.
Then...pain.
Teeth. Claws. Shredding him bit by bit. Blood flew. Eyes ripped out. Flesh torn from bone.
Mizuki screamed. "STOP! HELP ME!!"
Outside, he collapsed. Blood poured from his nose, ears, and eyes.
Iruka, still conscious, watched in shocked.
---
At the Hokage's Tower, Hiruzen observed through his crystal ball.
Beside him, Johan stood. Still. Unblinking.
"You did well," Hiruzen said. "The traitor is dealt with. We may get information… if he survives."
Johan said nothing for a moment, eyes still locked on Naruto's image.
"…Can I leave now, Lord Hokage?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Yes. Go."
Johan vanished into the shadows.
Moments later, the door creaked open again.
"Danzo," Hiruzen said, not turning.
"He's getting stronger," Danzo said coldly. "You must control him. Or we'll have another disaster on our hands."
Hiruzen's voice turned sharp. "He's still a protector of the Leaf. And I asked him to get involved."
"You should've let me raise him. He'd have been… controllable."
"I know why you want him under control, Danzo," Hiruzen snapped.
The air in the room turned heavy. Even the ANBU tensed.
Danzo said nothing more. He turned and left, muttering.
Hiruzen exhaled.
"Johan is kind… but when it comes to Naruto, something inside him changes."
He looked out the window, old eyes clouded with memory and fatigue.
"I'm getting too old for this… No one wants to be Hokage anymore. Except Danzo… and maybe Naruto."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
---
After the entire ordeal, the hospital room was bathed in the soft glow of moon light. A gentle breeze fluttered the curtains, and the scent of antiseptic hung faintly in the air.
Iruka sat on the edge of the hospital bed, already bandaged and healed, though traces of fatigue still lingered on his face.
The door opened quietly.
Johan stepped in, his presence quiet. His eyes flickered from Iruka to Naruto, who was perched on the nearby chair, unusually silent.
Johan walked over and paused for a moment before bowing slightly.
"…Thank you," he said, voice low but sincere. "For saving Naruto."
Iruka blinked, then gave a sheepish smile as he scratched the back of his head. "Ah… no problem. He's my student. Of course I'll save him from harm."
His voice held a quiet conviction, one that wrapped around Naruto like a warm blanket.
Naruto stared, wide-eyed, at Iruka, then at Johan. His heart swelled, a strange tightness in his chest he couldn't explain, like something soft had taken root there.
He looked away quickly, hiding a faint shimmer in his eyes.
Then he grinned, voice breaking the silence. "Let's go eat ramen…"
Iruka laughed, the sound light and full of relief. "Yeah. It's a good idea. After all…" He ruffled Naruto's hair gently, "…you became a Genin today."
Naruto's grin widened, a flash of joy crossing his face. "YEAHHH! Let's go!"
The three of them stepped out of the hospital into the night, shadows stretching behind them but warmth ahead.
And at Ichiraku, as steam rose from their bowls and laughter echoed under the fluttering banners, Naruto felt it again, that warmth in his chest.
He had fought, and more than anything… he wasn't alone.