Chapter 4 (Patreon)

“Investigate it! I want to know exactly what happened!”

The Third Hokage’s furious orders rang out across Konoha as Anbu rushed to carry them out. Shinobi and villagers alike turned toward the scene of the explosion, wondering who could have caused two blasts in such a short time. Had a shinobi from another country infiltrated the village? Was another war about to begin?

Unease hung over Konoha throughout the morning. Even the Ninja Academy’s graduation exam, originally scheduled for that day, had been postponed.

In his office, Hiruzen smoked his pipe, his expression dark as he reviewed the findings from both explosions and considered the possible explanations. The Anbu watching Kakashi and Minato’s other former subordinates had found nothing unusual. It seemed none of them was responsible. Then who was behind the attacks, and what were they after?

Whatever the answer, Hiruzen knew he couldn’t allow another incident. Nor could he let the person responsible gain any influence over Naruto. The boy was Konoha’s jinchūriki, a weapon the village relied on in war, and control over him had to remain firmly in Hiruzen’s hands.

‘But how do I place Naruto in Root without giving anyone grounds to object?’ He exhaled a ring of smoke as an idea took shape. If Naruto failed his graduation exam, that would give him the excuse he needed to send the boy to Root for training.

Ten minutes later, Iruka was summoned to the Hokage’s office.

“Iruka, have the students perform the Clone Jutsu for this graduation exam,” Hiruzen said, smiling at him as he drew on his pipe.

Hiruzen valued Iruka as a teacher. At the Academy, he had spent years instilling the Will of Fire in successive classes, shaping the children into loyal shinobi.

Iruka’s heart sank at the instruction. Naruto had always struggled with that particular jutsu, and he couldn’t help worrying that the boy would fail again.

“Lord Hokage, could we test them on something else? Naruto’s Clone Jutsu still needs a lot of work, but he’s very good at the Transformation Jutsu.”

Hiruzen chuckled, his eyes narrowing as a cloud of pipe smoke drifted across his face.

“Don’t worry, Iruka. If Naruto fails, I’ll have him train with Anbu. I care about his future, too.”

That reassured Iruka. Anbu was made up of elite shinobi, after all. Training with them could be an excellent opportunity for Naruto. Then he remembered that he had just questioned the Hokage’s decision, and he scratched his head awkwardly.

“I’m sorry, Lord Hokage. I didn’t mean to question your judgment.”

“It’s alright. We’ll proceed as discussed. You may go.”

Meanwhile, Naruto was still lying in a hospital bed, wrapped in bandages from head to toe. He could barely move his hands, and he had no idea how many bones he had broken.

[Ding! Congratulations on your first kill. Special reward granted: Bloodline Upgrade Scroll ×1.]

The golden scroll appeared in his right hand. With some difficulty, he managed to unroll it, and it dissolved into light that enveloped his body. Warmth spread through his limbs as the scroll took effect.

Once again, his proficiency with [Adamantine Sealing Chains], [Heal Bite], [Mind’s Eye of the Kagura], and [Talent for Fūinjutsu] increased, along with his chakra reserves. More importantly, his body’s ability to recover had improved dramatically, and his injuries began healing at an astonishing rate.

By the next day, his broken bones had almost healed. He could get out of bed and was ready to return to the Academy for the graduation exam.

After changing into his new clothes, Naruto glanced at the fresh milk and grilled meat on the table, his lips curling in a faint sneer. Both the clothes and the food had been brought by the Anbu newly assigned to watch him, and this time, he could eat without worrying.

His sensory range now covered all of Konoha. He had kept track of the new Anbu’s movements and knew the man hadn’t tampered with his food. The milk and meat were fresh, with none of the unpleasant smells he had come to expect.

Apparently, people only stopped mistreating him when they had something to fear.

The Academy’s graduation exam was straightforward. Almost everyone passed, received a Konoha forehead protector, and became a genin. Naruto, however, was an exception.

The only examiners were Iruka and that fool Mizuki. Drawing on the memories he had inherited, Naruto did his best to perform the Clone Jutsu, but all he managed to produce was a limp, lifeless-looking copy sprawled on the floor.

Frustration settled over him. Even after coming to this world and gaining his new abilities, he was still facing the same problem: he couldn’t graduate.

‘Do I have to steal the Scroll of Seals and learn the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, just like in the original story? But can I really learn it the way Naruto did? What if I can’t?’

“Iruka, perhaps we could give Naruto a pass,” Mizuki suggested, offering Naruto a kindly smile.

“No,” Iruka said firmly. “Look at that clone. He can’t use it for anything. Letting him graduate like this would only put him in danger.”

Naruto sighed. He knew Iruka wasn’t singling him out; the man was strict and took his responsibilities seriously. Still, Naruto had to try.

“Iruka-sensei, I’m good at the Transformation Jutsu. Couldn’t you test me on that instead? If I don’t graduate, I can’t even become a ninja!”

Iruka hesitated, tempted to agree, but the Third Hokage had specifically chosen the exam’s requirements. He couldn’t simply change them. Besides, the Hokage had already arranged a better opportunity for Naruto.

“It’ll be alright, Naruto,” he said reassuringly. “The Third Hokage has agreed to let you train with Anbu for a while. You know how skilled their shinobi are. With their help, you’ll be on your way to becoming an elite shinobi yourself.”

“What?” Naruto exclaimed, a sudden sense of danger tightening in his chest.

‘Training with Anbu? Does he mean Root? Isn’t that what Root calls itself—Anbu’s training division?’ The thought sent a chill through him. ‘That old man wants to turn me into a weapon with no feelings, something he can control completely!’

After two dangerous confrontations and taking lives for the first time, Naruto had become far more alert to threats and the motives behind people’s actions. If the Third Hokage suspected any connection between him and the two explosions, this arrangement suddenly made sense. Hiruzen’s real aim was to bring him under tighter control.

‘That scheming old man! I’m not going to Root so they can strip away my feelings and turn me into a puppet. I might as well be dead!’

Naruto looked up at the classroom clock. It was already six in the evening. They would probably take him to Root the following morning, which meant he had only one night to find a way to graduate.

[Ding! New mission: Resolve the graduation problem.]

[Option 1 — The Fool’s Choice: Wait obediently to be sent to Root tomorrow.]

[Reward: Will of Fire Brainwashing ×1. Become a Root shinobi, protect Konoha from the shadows, and selflessly devote your entire life to the village.]

[Option 2 — The Devil’s Choice: Steal the Scroll of Seals, pretend to learn the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu from it, and graduate successfully.]

[Reward: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu and Skill Upgrade Scroll ×1.]