Graduation

March 17

Today was the day of the graduation exams at the Ninja Academy, an event that only occurred every six years.

Iruka stood at the podium, looking at the students with a smile.

"Today's exam is about the Clone Technique. Don't be nervous, just show what you've practiced."

He then turned to Mizuki, who was standing beside him. "Mizuki, please handle grading the score sheets."

"Understood," Mizuki nodded, then looked at the audience. "Now, form a line as usual and come up one by one. The first is…"

The students quickly lined up in front of the podium, stepping onto the stage in turns to demonstrate their Clone Technique.

At the back, Shikamaru let out a bored sigh.

"This is such a drag," he murmured.

Naruto, on the other hand, was nervous. His skill in the Clone Jutsu was poor, and he had never been able to perform it correctly.

Kuro, standing beside him, patted his shoulder.

"Don't be nervous."

"Kuro…"

Naruto looked at him, feeling an unexpected calm. But Kuro, adjusting the frame of his glasses, added with a faint smile.

"Either way, being nervous won't change the outcome if you mess up."

Naruto blinked, momentarily confused. Then he noticed Kuro's slight smile, and something clicked in him.

"Tsk! I'll pass the exam and become a ninja!" he said with determination, clenching his fists.

"Who knows?"

Kuro's words lit a spark in Naruto.

"Kuro, you bastard! Why do you always put me down?"

The two started bickering quietly as the other students continued advancing in the line. However, Naruto's tension began to dissipate little by little.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, managing to calm himself.

"Thanks, Kuro," he said, throwing him a grateful look.

But Kuro replied with a slight smile, "Why are you acting like a girl?"

"Dammit!" Naruto gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging as a "#" symbol seemed to form above his head.

Why is this guy getting more annoying by the day?

Naruto was about to explode, but just then, Iruka's voice echoed from the podium.

"Naruto Uzumaki."

"Here I go!"

Naruto reacted and ran up to the stage.

The result, unfortunately, was no different from the original story. The clone he managed to create was exhausted, with a miserable face, and could barely stand.

Naturally, he didn't pass.

Naruto protested, even tried to convince Iruka with special techniques, but only ended up getting scolded.

The exam concluded shortly after. A total of 28 students passed, including Kuro.

Iruka handed out headbands to those who passed and reminded them to return to the classroom the next day for team assignments. With that, the Academy came to an end.

The students left the classroom with mixed emotions, some happy and others disappointed. Naruto walked behind, head hanging low.

Kuro approached him, trying to cheer him up.

"Don't worry, you'll definitely become a ninja."

Naruto looked at him as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just shook his head.

"I want to be alone," he said, turning and walking away.

Kuro remained silent, watching Naruto's figure disappear into the sunset. The loneliness and sadness he projected were evident.

Finally, Kuro sighed, turned around, and began walking home.

Although I know Naruto will make it in the end, it's impossible not to feel moved seeing him go through this.

"Well, time to go home and celebrate!"

…

The next day.

The scorching sun was already high, illuminating every corner of Konoha.

The bright light highlighted the village's vibrant colors as sakura flower petals floated in the cold wind, announcing the arrival of spring.

Today was an important day: the team assignments for the newly graduated ninja.

The teenagers who had passed the exam were excited and arrived early to the classroom. Even Kuro was no exception.

Ninja…

In this world, many people dream of becoming a ninja.

The idea of flying between trees, having abilities and powers that defy common sense, and mastering powerful ninjutsus is exciting, especially for young people who have yet to face the harsh realities of life.

In the classroom, the atmosphere was noisy. Everyone, except Shikamaru, chatted enthusiastically.

"So troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, resting his head on his arms as he observed the commotion.

The others talked about their future teammates, their leaders, and how brilliant their ninja careers would be.

Kuro, for his part, didn't share the same level of excitement. He knew that a ninja's life wasn't as glorious as it seemed.

Reality was filled with sacrifice, danger, and death.

Sitting in the back row, elbows on the desk and hands supporting his face, he silently observed his classmates. He knew all of them, though he couldn't remember many names.

He knew the exam only evaluated whether someone had the basic skills to become a ninja, but the real test was in the hands of each team leader.

Out of the graduates, only nine would pass that test and become ninja. The rest would return to the Academy, their dreams crushed by harsh reality.

As Kuro got lost in his thoughts, Ino approached with a smile and spoke softly.

"Kuro-kun, do you think we'll be on the same team?"

Kuro looked at her calmly and replied indifferently.

"Don't get your hopes up."

"That's not decided yet! Don't be so pessimistic!"

Kuro's cold attitude didn't anger Ino. On the contrary, her tone was almost seductive, as if she were talking to her boyfriend.

'My Kuro-kun isn't indifferent; he has personality, he has style,' Ino thought.

What about the other boys? Well, according to Ino:

Do they have my Kuro-kun's charm? No? Then get out of here!

Kuro could only sigh.

Over the years, Kuro had changed a lot. His physique and bearing stood out more and more.

His black hair was neatly styled, contrasting with his slightly tanned skin. His delicate features and dark eyes, which gave him a calm and friendly look, made him stand out.

Additionally, thanks to his discipline in diet and exercise, he was taller than the rest of his classmates, reaching 1.63 meters, while most boys barely reached 1.50.

Even though he wore simple clothes, like a long-sleeved shirt and basic pants, his natural elegance made him one of the most attractive boys in the class.

However, he wasn't particularly popular.

In this era of Konoha, girls preferred a more "rebellious" style. The clearest example was Sasuke, with his cold and distant aura, which seemed to fit that model perfectly.

But Ino was different.

Since meeting Kuro at her family's flower shop, her attention had always been on him.

Now, at 12 years old, Ino was beginning to show her genes. Her outfit also reflected a growing confidence.

She wore a sleeveless violet shirt that hugged her figure and a skirt split at the sides up to the waist, revealing bandages wrapped around her thighs. White gloves covered her hands, and a ninja pouch was tied to her right leg.

While this type of clothing was common in the ninja world, for Kuro, who came from another world, it was something…

________

Time: If you're craving more (and I know you are!), I have just what you need. On my Patreon, you'll find exclusive chapters. Join our community and be the first to discover what happens next!

👉 [patreon.com/Athome790]

Your support fuels me. Thank you for the support! 💖