Graduation Exam! (2)

The practical examination has begun! Everyone was gathered at the entrance of the Forest of Death, each excited or nervous to complete their last trial before setting off as a shinobi.

Kakashi was hiding, observing the bunch of unserious shinobi. Only Kouga seemed to know what was at stake from his face. Did they think being a shinobi was such an easy thing? Was this a casual job? A pang of irritation felt in his heart. He looked at Naruto's son who's all smiling and poked Kouga's side a few times to make him get out of his serious face. Really unserious like his dad back then. 

"Kouga, you look so tense. What's with you huh?" Boruto poked his side a few more times. Kouga was usually quite energetic, at least while he was in his own world.

"Kouga, we will do our best. Let's do this together." Mitsuki spoke, seeing Kouga stressed for some reason.

"Sorry Mitsuki. I had a separate exam…" Kouga had a sorry expression for a second, but his focus turned to the upcoming battle. What strategies he could use to fight his uncle. Almost everyone in there had excitement and nervousness, but there was a sense of ease and casualness.

"Huh??" Mitsuki and Boruto were just confused when they heard it.

But before they could ask, the other sensei made their appearance.

"It's Shino sensei, Anko sensei, and Konohamaru sensei!" One of the girls pointed out.

"Konohamaru nii-chan! You are one of the proctors too?" Boruto smiled seeing him. Konohamaru often visited and played around with him when he was a kid.

"Boruto, call me sensei here, kore." He crossed his arms.

"Ehe… I can't help it-ttebasa…"

Shino stepped forward, his voice loud and clear.

"Now, listen! I will explain the rules for the practical exam now!" 

Anko meanwhile distributed a strip of white cloth to each of them.

"First, tie the white bandana on your forehead. The cloth symbolised your life. If it is taken away from you, you fail."

Konohamaru added. "This practical exam will be conducted like a real combat situation. The east section of the forest will be the battlefield, covering a 5 kilometer radius. As for your opponents, it will be us."

"By the way, just like how you had your bandana as a target, your target will be this plate on us. If you manage to hit them or destroy them, we will no longer fight." Anko made an example, pressing the device tied to her abdomen making it turn red.

"Hehe. We are gonna fight Shino sensei and Anko sensei huh… this will be easy!" Boruto placed his arms behind his neck, feeling relaxed. Especially that big Anko-sensei. She seemed slow and could be excluded already.

Sarada looked at the idiot in irritation. 

"Shino sensei is a Jonin you know. While Anko sensei is a Special Jonin. It wouldn't be easy. Besides, Konohamaru sensei is also there. He's someone who wants to be Hokage like Papa." 

"Nah, it's not a big deal. Besides these bandanas and those targets are just a drag. We can just fight regularly, can't we?"

"Hm. Then we couldn't hold back and risk your life." A voice suddenly interrupted Boruto's idiotic rant.

Iwabe was shocked to see the figure. "It's Lord Seventh! To think he's here too…!" His eyes were shining seeing him. He admired the strong and wanted to be like them. His top role model? Of course it's Tsuyu, the Iron Maiden.

Boruto ran up to Kakashi. "Kakashi old man! Since when did you return to Konoha!" 

Kakashi often visited back then too so he was very familiar with his dad's sensei.

"Hey, Boruto. It's been a week really. But please call me Lord Seventh when we are with others…" He felt a little embarrassed. He wanted to make a serious entrance but Boruto ruined it.

"Uh. Okay… but what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing huh. Well, I am the proctor this time."

Sounds of gasps were heard all around. Everyone had a sense of nervousness in them. He was the previous Hokage, and naturally someone super strong.

"Come on, don't worry guys Kakashi old man is already retired. We can beat him-ttebasa!"

"Hm~ You all seem to know me well enough. I know about you guys too, really."

"Eh? What is it? What about us?" Boruto was ready to hear praise that their batch was the best.

"You guys are a bunch of troublemakers." Kakashi crossed his arms, looking at these bunch of brats like they were just playing some shinobi games.

"In my eyes none of you were ready to graduate. You had a few more years to sharpen your skill and grow here before becoming a shinobi." Kakashi pointed to his skull, as if saying all these people were immature.

These brats were raised in a very peaceful environment, never experiencing hardship or pressure, and even their motivation to become a shinobi was flimsy.

"I will judge if you truly are worthy. First, you will have to take this bell from me, and you will pass."

"And just so you know, the bandanas and the targets on the proctors were just to give a limit so we don't go overboard. We don't want anyone dead here, don't we."

"Heh. Sounds fun. Then we will show you what we really made of-ttebasa." Boruto's gaze turned more serious, but the smile on his lips never left.

"Ano… Nanadaime, there's a bell for each participant right?"

"Of course not… there's only one here." Kakashi replied casually.

"Huh?!" Many gasped in confusion.

"Wait a second, you are saying only one person can pass!?" Boruto was in disbelief.

"If you don't like it, just quit." Kakashi put his hands in his pockets, not caring. "In this day and age, we had more than enough personnel. Even if no one graduates here, no one would care."

"How can you do something so unreasonable!" Boruto said with a pang of irritation.

"Uhh… I think we should work together to get the bell? It's weird only 1 can graduate out of 21 people here. If each exam was like this Konoha would run out of Shinobi at some point even if we had many now… it's unsustainable. Maybe…" Kouga muttered.

Kakashi had his eyes almost popping out. Kid, can't you shut up??

"Hm…" Shikadai noticed the logic, before he could support the notion. Kakashi's voice turned stern.

"It's my decision! If you don't like it, quit! Only 1 can pass, that's that!"

"Kakashi old man! You can't do this to us! That's unfair!"

"What's so unfair about it? The shinobi world was never about fairness." Shino said coldly.

"In a real mission, in a real battle, there is no way everything will go as you predicted. Whether it's your lack of intel, your lack of strength or opponents skills that you couldn't handle, where can you find fairness?"

"Don't forget, the world you are about to enter is where even a single mistake could lead to your death… that's the reality." Konohamaru added.

"We three will be the bodyguards of Nanadaime. And we will stop you from reaching him." Shino explained.

"We are not making it easy for you guys."

"We are not holding back either, so come at us like you want to kill. Show us your resolve."

"Are you sure about that?" Boruto looked at Kakashi, his tone becoming serious.

"Yeah, after all, there's no way a bunch of kids that grew up playing around could defeat me."

"Tch…" Boruto clenched his fist, hated the fact that Kakashi looked down on them. He already decided to show Kakashi what he was made of.

"But before we begin, Kouga Inuzuka, Mika Inuzuka, you would have your own separate examination. I am sure you two were informed prior."

Kouga and Mika nodded. The entire class was surprised. Boruto remembered that Kouga mentioned it at the beginning.

"Hey! What's the meaning of this Kakashi old man? Why did the two have different exams?" Boruto was surprised, then a sense of unfairness and being excluded.

"What about it? Those two were far better than any one of you. They need a different exam." 

"Damn it… sure Kouga is strong, and Mika is good I guess, but I am strong too! Let me join them then!"

Kakashi frowned in displeasure.

"Like I said, if you do not like it, quit."

Boruto grumbled, hated the fact he couldn't say a word. He looked at Kouga's expression. He seemed really serious and deep in thought.

A pang of jealousy he long forgotten rose in his heart. Why do those two get special treatment like they were far above everyone else? Kouga was strong, sure, but that was years ago when he got beaten. He trained hard all this time to surpass him too.

And what's more ridiculous was Mika. She was just so so in all practical classes!

Kouga noticed Boruto's stare, feeling a bit complicated, not sure what to say. It's the same stare he gave years ago. He really didn't want to fight Boruto over this trivial thing. He considered him his friend, and a part of Rinshinsho…

"Then the two I mentioned, just stay put until further notice. As for others… you guys will begin on my mark."

"We don't need that-ttebasa! I will take you down now!" Boruto suddenly rushed forward, with a jump he threw some Kunai to him. Kakashi was right in front of him, why bother chasing him and handling his so-called bodyguards. This was the best time to act and prove himself.

The kunai stabbed into Kakashi, causing gasps among the crown. But with a poof, it turned into a log.

Kakashi was walking away leisurely at the side.

"Yare yare, like father like son. Never mind. We will will start now." Kakashi raised his hand, and instantly disappeared.

The other sensei too instantly used body flicker and disappeared.

"Let's go chase them!" Wasabi shouted. Everyone quickly rushed forward.

Boruto looked back at Kouga and Mika just standing there, feeling annoyed and displeased. What's so good about them… sure Kouga was cool and all with his secret thing… but Boruto was strong too.

"Kouga, do you best then. I will make sure I graduate." Mitsuki said his words to Kouga before leaving.

"Mm. Do your best, Mitsuki. The Order awaits your triumph." Kouga replied with seriousness.

Kouga felt a little left out. He did wish to join them. But it didn't matter now.

Both of them turned their heads to behind them, already noticing the presence hiding.

"Ah… you two caught me already. Are you two ready? The same rule applies. Take the bell from me dattebayo!" Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, feeling sheepish. He was not the sneakiest ninja anyways… he was the worst in that department other than genjutsu.

"As for our battlefield, it would be the entire west section. For starters… you have to find me!"

Kagebunshin no jutsu! A smokebomb covered the area, and from it, hundred shadow clones rushed east of the forest!

Mika's expression was calm. In fact she could feel the real Naruto due to Kurama's chakra. Knowing what to look for, it was easy. Her Byakugan activated, the veins popped. Her Byakugan was able to see the entirety of Forest of Death.

Kouga's own dojutsu activated. The veins popped just the same, his iris swirled with blue glow like an ocean, his pupil turned into that of a beast.

"The chakra all seemed similar… these trails…" Kouga observed the hundred chakra trails left by Naruto. 

"But this hint of orange chakra… My uncle had Kurama in him. Uncle is still underestimating me."

His eyes locked onto a singular distinct chakra trail with a hint of redness in them. With Kurama not being sealed, his chakra was leaking out a lot. His dojutsu could see through his chakra. Kouga and Mika looked at each other for a second, nodding in understanding as both knew where Naruto was and rushed straight to him.

Mika wanted to say she could just open a portal right to the real Naruto but seeing Kouga didn't mention it, she thought it was fine to not make it too easy.

A Naruto shadow clone appeared with a smile so suddenly.

"You have to-" Before Naruto could say that they had to defeat the clones on the way, Kouga's blue eyes glowed. A void in his chest tore open, and from it he took his Chakra Blade.

A sharp sleek purple chakra blade was made in an instant. Like a shadow he moved past Naruto's shadow clone, a trail of blue and purple light was left behind as he flashed and sliced his neck off. 

The head was separated in a matter of a second from the moment he saw Naruto.

Poof!

"Hick!" The real Naruto shrieked in shock and held his neck, feeling the memories of the shadow clone returning.

"S-So fast?? At least let my shadow clone speak…" Naruto gulped. What did Tsuyu say to him??

Three shadow clones appeared in front of the two to attack together. Mika rushed forward, her Byakugan still active.

Godly Vacuum Fist.

With a powerful palm, she crushed the three shadow clones in an instant, the leftover of the force of her palm caused the earth and trees in front of her to be destroyed and damaged.

"Hick! M-Mika too!? What's with Tsuyu's children!" The real Naruto started to sweat. His shadow normal shadow clones seemed like trash?

An Eye Creature was looking up from above. Tsuyu had a slight smile on her lips as she watched through the creature's eye.

"You shouldn't embarrass yourself, nii-san."

Naruto felt the two really had locked his location down and were heading straight to him. 

"My diversion didn't work? How do they sense me-ttebayo! Even Byakugan couldn't differentiate shadow clones right?" 

I believe it's me… Kurama had to say it. He's the main culprit really.

"Eh? You? Kurama…!"

The memories of his shadow clones being sliced off in 3 moves, or being mercilessly destroyed by Mika's seemingly gentle but stupidly powerful fists that even create air shockwaves returned to Naruto one by one. Kouga's speed matched even that of normal naruto's shadow clone speed, his Shiyōgan able to see the flow of chakra to Naruto's muscles and the direction of its fluctuation before each movement, almost like a precognition.

Mika on the other hand had equal speed just from her flesh alone. While her power could kill a shadow clone with a single slap.

"Kurama…! Do I use your chakra too? This is too much…!"

Hahaha… it's been sometimes I have seen you so embarrassed. Look around. She had set up a barrier already. She already expected you couldn't handle the two without using all you got as well.

Naruto looked up, to see a thin veil of red covered the area without him noticing.

Naruto felt really embarrassed. But he needed to give a sense of challenge to the two, right? 

"Kurama, then please!"

Naruto's figure was covered in an orange chakra cloak as he entered KCM mode.

Kagebunshin no Jutsu! A hundred KCM shadow clones were sent to stop them.

"Is this really okay-ttebayo?" Naruto felt worried for the two and looked up at the Eye Creature in the distance. He knew Tsuyu was watching right now and didn't stop him at all.

Now, this will be interesting to watch. Tsuyu took a sip of her gourmet coffee, finally seeing Kouga and Mika struggle.

***