The night was silent, bathed in the pale glow of the full moon. Then, a roar split the heavens.
A monstrous figure towered above the forest,the Nine-Tailed Fox. Its orange fur blazed like fire, each swing of its massive tails tearing through mountains and scattering trees as though they were nothing more than twigs.
From the village walls, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, spoke solemnly.
"Twelve years ago… a Nine-Tailed Fox attacked our village. Our shinobi rose to protect their homes, to protect their loved ones…"
The scene unfolded a desperate battle. Shinobi leaped at the beast, only to be struck down as the earth itself quaked. But then, one man appeared.
The Fourth Hokage rode atop a giant toad, his expression calm yet resolute. The villagers would remember him as the savior who faced the Nine-Tails, defeating it by sacrificing himself. With the last of his strength, he sealed the beast inside a newborn child…
That child was Naruto Uzumaki. And the Fourth Hokage had given his life in the process.
12 Years Later
Daylight bathed the village, and atop the cliffside where the stone faces of the Hokage overlooked Hidden Leaf, a boy laughed loudly, holding a dripping paintbrush.
"Ha ha ha! You don't have the guts to do what I do!"
It was Naruto Uzumaki, standing proudly on the freshly vandalized stone faces.
Moments later, Iruka Umino arrived, grabbing him and dragging him straight to the Third Hokage.
"This is the third time already," Hiruzen said, stroking his beard. "Why do you keep doing this, Naruto?"
Naruto's eyes softened, his voice dropping.
"Because he sealed that monster inside me… That's why these villagers hate me."
He knew the Fourth Hokage had sealed the Nine-Tails into him. What he didn't know was that the Fourth Hokage was his father.
Hiruzen's eyes watered.
"Naruto… If he hadn't sealed that demon inside you, every one of us in this village would be dead. The Fourth Hokage sealed it to save everyone. Please… don't disrespect him. He was a great man."
Seeing the old Hokage's tears, Naruto muttered,
"I'll never spray-paint the Hokage faces again or disrespect him."
Iruka, however, remained skeptical.
"How do we know you're telling the truth? Words have no real value until proven by action."
"You'll see," Naruto shot back. "I'm a man of my word."
Hiruzen nodded.
"Good. Tomorrow is the academy graduation exam. Good luck, Naruto."
At the Academy
The next day, Iruka stood before the class.
"Well then, present your Transformation Jutsu!" since Naruto was misbehaving.
Sakura Haruno stepped forward and transformed flawlessly into Iruka, smiling proudly.
"Did you see that, Sasuke? I did great!"
Sasuke Uchiha didn't even glance at her. Calmly, he transformed into Iruka with precise detail ,even replicating the scar on his face. Iruka was impressed.
Meanwhile, Naruto muttered with Shikamaru and Ino behind him.
Shikamaru sighed, "This is such a drag."
Ino huffed, "We always have to pay for your screw-ups. You're so annoying."
"You think I care?" Naruto smirked.
Then, with a mischievous grin, Naruto performed his transformation into a naked woman. Iruka nearly fainted.
"Naruto! Have you no decency!?"
Naruto just laughed.
The Academy Grounds
Outside, the academy stood plain a white-painted building with a red wall and a large wooden door, the Konoha symbol above it. Behind it lay a modest yard, with a swing swaying gently in the breeze.
Inside, Iruka gathered the class.
"You'll have two hours to practice before the test begins."
Then he pulled Naruto aside.
"You're going to clean the Hokage faces you vandalized. Even if it takes all night. You're not going home until it's done."
Naruto shrugged.
"Whatever. It's not like someone's waiting for me at home."
Iruka's heart tightened. Perhaps he'd been too harsh.
At the Hokage stone faces:
"Do you know what the Hokage are, Naruto?"
Naruto lit up.
"Of course! They're the strongest ninja of their time and leaders of the village!"
"It's not just that," Iruka said softly. "The Hokage represent hope, dignity, admiration"
"I know," Naruto cut him off. "That's why I'll become Hokage. Then everyone will have to respect me. They'll admire me!"
Iruka smiled. That boy really has such a grand goal.
"Tell you what, Naruto. If you pass today, let's go to Ichiraku Ramen. As many bowls as you want."
"Now that's some real motivation!" Naruto grinned.
The Graduation Exam
When it was Naruto's turn, Iruka's tone was firm.
"Perform the Clone Jutsu."
Naruto's stomach dropped. Oh no… my worst jutsu.
He focused, pouring all his effort into it but produced only one pitiful, half-dead-looking clone.
Iruka shook his head.
"You fail, Naruto."
"Damn it! Please, give me another jutsu!" Naruto pleaded.
"I can't, Naruto. The exam is the exam."
Then Mizuki spoke up from the corner.
"Come on, Iruka. Give the kid a break. This is his third time. He's repeated the academy twice. You know he really wants this."
Naruto's eyes lit up with hope but Iruka's voice was cold.
"The life of a shinobi is harsh. If he can't even perform an E-rank jutsu, he cannot survive as one."
Later, Naruto sat alone on the academy swing, staring at the ground. Families celebrated around him, children lifted on their parents' shoulders. He overheard whispers.
"Good thing that monster didn't become a ninja."
"Lower your voice. You'll be fined."
"Still… imagine if he had."
Naruto clenched his fists.
Mizuki's Offer
"Naruto," a voice called.
Naruto looked up.
"Oh… Mizuki."
"Why did you have to fail again?" Mizuki's tone was soft. "Iruka wants you to be a ninja, but he doesn't want to just hand it to you. He wants you to earn it. You know, Iruka was just like you once. He lost both his parents."
"Really? Iruka lost his parents too?" Naruto whispered.
"Yes," Mizuki nodded. "But listen… there's another way to pass. Meet me at the south forest tonight, 7 PM."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Really!? I'll be there!"
A Sinister Plot
That night, Iruka lay awake, remembering the Nine-Tails attack his father slain before his eyes, his mother's house crushed, her life taken in an instant. His chest ached.
A knock interrupted him. Mizuki stood outside.
"Naruto stole the scroll. The Hokage needs you in his office."
In the office, the Third Hokage stood surrounded by fifteen shinobi a tall, muscular swordsman, one with an eyepatch, one twirling nunchucks, another with a half-mask, and a shinobi wearing a scarf from another village.
Hiruzen's voice was grave.
"Naruto Uzumaki has stolen a B-rank scroll containing dangerous jutsu. If it falls into enemy hands, we could be at risk. Find Naruto, retrieve the scroll, and bring him to me unharmed."
The shinobi bowed.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
In the Forest
Naruto sat under a tree, sweating as he studied the scroll. His eyes widened as he practiced the Shadow Clone Jutsu. I have to get this right…
But shadows stirred behind him.
"Oh, it's you, Iruka," Naruto smiled.
"It's over, Naruto," Iruka said loudly.
"Well, darn… At least I learned a jutsu! That means I pass, right?"
"What!? Who told you that?"
"Mizuki! He said"
Shurikens sliced through the air. Iruka shoved Naruto aside, taking the hit.
Mizuki stepped from the shadows.
"Give me the scroll, Naruto. Don't let him fool you. Iruka's using you!"
Naruto trembled.
"What's going on!?"
Mizuki sneered.
"Twelve years ago, the Nine-Tails killed Iruka's parents. The Nine-Tails… is sealed inside you. That's why everyone hates you. That's why Iruka made you fail. It's because you're the demon fox!"
Naruto froze, his heart shattering.
"That's not true!" Iruka roared, shielding Naruto. "Naruto isn't the Nine-Tails. He's just a boy without parents… a boy who's lonely and only wants attention. Just like I was. Naruto, I should have been there for you. I'm sorry."
Fine, Mizuki said, giving up the act. He threw a giant fuma shuriken at Naruto, but Iruka leapt to protect him.
Naruto's eyes burned red. Whisker marks deepened. Power surged within him.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!!"
Mizuki laughed.
"Pathetic. You can't even make one proper clone. You think you can—"
A thousand Narutos appeared, charging him. Mizuki's laughter turned to screams as the Narutos pummeled him mercilessly.
"That's what you get for harming my sensei!"