Graduation Exam! (1)

The Graduation exam finally began! The written exam was held on the first day.

Kouga left a shadow clone at home to read through the notes again and would dispel it mid exam to supplement anything he forgot later short term. He wanted to graduate, so naturally he took a step further. Mika saw his method and followed his example. But as a true Otsutsuki her brain was built differently and never needed it to begin with.

In class, Naruto handed the question papers to everyone, looking at his students that had confident faces. He smiled slightly before beginning the exam.

Even Iwabe, the multi repeater, was breezing through it for some reason. After 2 hours, Naruto raised his hand.

"Time is up! Stop writing!" Naruto called and collected all the papers. He looked over at Boruto's papers first in worry, but he let out an exhale of relief. Because well, his son didn't get the clue… turned out he didn't need it.

"Remember to rest well for tomorrow's practical exam! It wouldn't be easy-ttebayo!" Naruto grinned, wondering how they would be surprised with Kakashi being their objective this time.

"It wasn't that difficult after all!" Boruto said and relaxed.

"Mm. It's so so." Kouga agreed.

Everyone in class looked at those two like freaks. Iwabe especially felt stupid hearing those two being nonchalant.

"Denki, you really saved my ass there!" Iwabe patted Denki's shoulder.

"It's thanks to you guys for distracting sensei. I couldn't have taken pictures of the papers if you guys didn't help." Denki sighed in relief himself.

"Eh? What, you guys cheated…?" Boruto was surprised. 

"Naruto sensei already told us subtly to do that. Didn't you listen in class last week?" Sarada crossed her arms.

"What? He did?" Kouga too was surprised.

"You were always doing something else… Kouga…" Sarada shook her head in exasperation. 

"No matter! Hehe! I am sure we got it all right! Besides, what's more important is tomorrow." Boruto stood up from his seat, his heart excited for tomorrow.

Kouga nodded vigorously. "We will become real shinobi finally." 

And I can start moving with The Order, and as Umbra for real. Thinking that, Kouga had fire burning in his heart.

"I am quite nervous…" Wasabi, the cat looking girl said.

"Heh. I am sure it will be easy too! Let's get it over already!" Boruto said with confidence.

"Wasabi, the end of our fate could only be seen after we stepped into the unknown." Kouga smiled at her, giving her a little encouragement.

She blushed slightly. "Y-yes… Kouga-kun…" She fidgets her fingers, feeling her heart beating faster hearing his 'romantic' encouragement. 

The other girls glared at her for being so obvious. Sarada shook her head. These girls…

Nue, Beast of the Void, we have to prepare ourselves. Kouga entered his mindscape to give them a reminder. The two bijuu level beasts roared in support. Kouga's bandaged fist clenched. 

Naruto who was marking in his office felt a shiver run down his spine. What was that…? He had a premonition that he would face trouble tomorrow somehow.

Naruto took a deep breather, maybe he was overthinking it as usual. 

"Yo Naruto." Suddenly a hand patted his back.

"Ah! Kakashi sensei!" Naruto turned back to see him.

"Call me Lord Seventh if there are others alright." Kakashi just smiled slightly under the mask.

"Haha. I just can't get used to calling you that Kakashi sensei."

"Hm~ Your son had a perfect score huh. Even though he didn't steal the papers. Even Tsuyu's son and her adopted daughter did very well… though."

"You know about her identity, right?" Kakashi's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"You mean Mika? Yeah she's from the Moon. She's a quiet child for sure. But I figured she was doing well I think."

Kakashi sighed inwardly. Naruto probably didn't know Mika was most likely a true Otsutsuki, perhaps reincarnation or resurrected Kaguya herself at least that was what Sasuke assumed. Sasuke naturally did a deep investigation on her. Her face very similar to Kaguya was already a sign. His Rinnegan could see her chakra level was monstrous, only lower than Tsuyu's own. Sasuke even went to the Moon to threaten the blind Toneri personally to which he claimed he had no idea who she was since Toneri was supposed to be the last one.

"Nevermind that…" Kakashi put the matter to the side.

"Your son was too confident. Even for your son, I cannot go easy on him. I never liked these recent graduates that come from these peaceful times."

Naruto chuckled. "Hey you never go easy on us back then either. So just do as you usually do Kakashi sensei."

Kakashi smiled softly, remembering those days when he tested them with the bells.

"Hah. Here I thought you would ask me to go easy on him. Very well, I will give him a good lesson."

"Haha. Just don't use that technique on him, come on save my son some dignity-dattebayo. Hey my butt still hurts remembering it!" 

"...Ah… that technique you mean… I won't… don't worry." Kakashi coughed lightly. Quite embarrassed his younger self even used such a thing.

"And another thing, for Kouga and Mika… Sasuke made a different arrangement. The two were special cases. Their goal wasn't me. It will be you."

"Eh? Me??"

"Why else would you be one of the proctors? Those two are hiding a lot. It's different if your opponent was those two though. Here." Kakashi gave Naruto a bell for tomorrow's purpose.

Naruto crossed his arms, feeling a little dissatisfied. It's like Kakashi was giving them special treatment in some way since they had a different condition to graduate. Before he could complain, Kakashi continued.

"Your task will also assess their real strength. Keep your eyes open and report in detail afterwards. Sasuke wants to know."

"Hey, I know those two hide their strength a little. But they have not graduated yet and haven't had a lot of experience. Isn't this too much?"

Kakashi snorted slightly.

"Oh. I wish you luck for tomorrow then." He had a mischievous smile on his lips.

***

The next morning finally came. Kouga felt excited all over and had practiced many moves yesterday.

Kouga looked at the mirror, tidying up his hair, straightening his hoodie looking dashing and cool. He smiled in front of the mirror, showing his canine tooth. The red markings on his cheeks signify his Inuzuka lineage from his dad. The bandages on his left hand were neat, hiding the seals on his wrist.

He rechecked his tool bag, kunai, shuriken, sealing scrolls, wires… He felt so excited to graduate finally. He looked at his chakra blade and the Inshi Holder longingly. He wanted to bring it along too but that was Umbra's identity…

No matter. This was a step to becoming a strong shinobi, a warrior, and a protector like his mother.

"Nue, Beast of the Void, we will do this!" Kouga said to themselves with spirit. Nue roared inside of him, Reibi also unleashed his pressure. The entire room shook with heavy dense chakra. 

Kouga came down to get breakfast that his dad prepared today. Tsuyu sipped her warm coffee, casting a glance at her son with an excited expression on his face. Mika on the hand was calm like usual, quietly sipping her tea.

"Kouga, Mika. You two will take a different practical exam as special cases. They will tell you two more later. It's the order of Hachidaime." Tsuyu continued sipping after passing the reminder from Sasuke.

"Eh? What? But that's unfair. Why are they giving me and Mika different exams?" Kouga's eyebrows frowned, his cheeks almost puffing in dissatisfaction.

"Yeah. That's right. Sasuke is too much. This is targeting our son. I will file a complaint!" Kiba frowned, displeased.

Tsuyu twitched her eyebrows. These two…

"... Just go through it. You two were guaranteed to graduate anyways." Tsuyu said nonchalantly. These two were trained by her half of the time, she knew how strong these two were. Besides, it would also be good for the two to have an opponent they could go all out at that wasn't her.

Kouga grumbled, clearly dissatisfied. He wanted to join the exam with the rest of his friends too…

"Kouga, don't worry. I am sure you will graduate just fine." Kiba patted his back seeing his worried expression. He didn't know his son could feel stressed. It was his first time seeing this expression.

"Just give it your all. A heads up. Your opponent… will be your uncle." Tsuyu said calmly.

"What…? Uncle Naruto will be our opponent…?" Kouga was shocked. Top 3 strongest in the entirety of Konoha, someone who had fought mother and caused those devastations…

Kouga suddenly looked stressed and as if he lost his confidence all of a sudden. He didn't know if he could graduate if it was his uncle. He was so strong… and he couldn't do it as Kouga… His eyes looking down at his plate, his expression stiffened slightly.

"Hey, don't worry too much. Naruto won't just fail you." Kiba tried to reason. And he didn't think Naruto would bully his son…right? Besides, Kouga was strong on his own. In fact, even Kiba didn't know Kouga's actual strength but in his perception Kouga could be said to be at Chunin level when he trained with him at times.

Tsuyu looked at her son for a few seconds, thinking something, seeing him lose his confidence for no reason. Did he think he had to win against Naruto to graduate? That's too silly… who would set up such unreasonable conditions for a genin.

"... Don't worry about your little secret, a barrier was set up by the team to prevent any big scenes. Give it your all… Go at him as if you want to kill him." Tsuyu said coldly, her eyes sharply locking down on Kouga.

"Kaa-san…" 

"I will set up another barrier for you and Mika. No one will know other than me and your uncle. As for Naruto, he was a Hero of Konoha like me, it wouldn't matter if he knew all of your strength. You would be fighting with him against the Evil Gods someday, don't you think?" Tsuyu said the words so nonchalantly to remove her son's imaginary limiter. She wanted Kouga and Mika to give it their all.

As if enlightened, Kouga suddenly moved from his seat and ran upstairs to get something.

"Kouga, what is it!" Kiba stretched his neck, wondering what's all of a sudden.

Kouga came down with his Chakra Blade and Inshi Holder. Since it was uncle Naruto, it was fine. He was one of the 3 Legendary Heroes. He had to fight not just as Kouga, but both himself and as Umbra to win.

"I will graduate, otou-san, kaa-san. I will give my all." His words were filled with conviction, his chakra fluctuated, creating heavy pressure in the air. A black void tore from his chest as he placed the two objects into Reibi's body.

He clenched his fist, his expression turned serious all of a sudden. Kiba was stunned silly. Even he felt like a mountain pressing down on him from Kouga's leaking chakra.

Oi oi. Since when did my son gain my wife's aura… 

Oh, he grew up… Kiba looked at his son in pride. He thought Kouga was always playing around and was just silly all the time… He wanted to shed tears seeing him like this.

Tsuyu smirked slightly.

"That's the spirit. Finish your breakfast. Remain calm and steady. Your uncle is strong, but I have seen you train and grow. You don't need to win against him to graduate, not really. But go at him like you want to kill him, otherwise you wouldn't be able to even touch his skin. Don't let him think you are weak. I will be watching your fight later."

"Yes, kaa-san." Kouga's eyes were sharp. No longer had that lost expression earlier. 

Go at him like I want to kill… Kaa-san will be watching too… I can't disappoint mom.

Mika looked at Kouga in surprise. It seemed the graduation meant a lot to him and he wouldn't play around. Mika placed down her tea cup, making a decision. Kouga was a family for her too in many ways, watching him grow up as a soul in Tsuyu's body. And now as his supposed little sister.

I wouldn't hold you back, then, Kouga.

Another pressure emanated from Mika stacking with Kouga's, causing Kiba to feel sweaty and suffocated. He was just confused where the other dangerous aura came from. Akamaru at the other seat whimpered and jumped to Kiba's laps.

Tsuyu was anticipating how the two would go against Naruto. Naruto was a perfect punching bag and a stage for them to shine and measure their own level properly. 

***

Author Note: Inshi Holder is inspired from this thing! (in comment)