Over the next two days, time passed faster than Naruto imagined.
Every morning, he arrived at school on time and listened to the lecture sitting in his window-seat.
After school, when he got home, he sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes to enter his mental space, and explained the contents of the magic grimoire to the Nine-Tailed.
Sometimes, when he got tired of reading, the human and the fox would stop.
The Nine-Tailed asked softly, “Are there any clues to go back?”
Every time this question was asked, Naruto’s answer was the same: “No.”
“Since you were able to come back after going over there,” the Nine-Tailed’s voice was low, “then it should be a two-way passage, and a certain ‘key’ must exist.”
“It would be great if I knew.”
Hearing this, the Nine-Tailed changed its posture and lay down: “Then let’s not think about it for now.”
“Since you’re back, finish dealing with the matters here first.
Maybe the passage will open again.”
Naruto nodded.
…
The next morning, when Naruto pushed open the classroom door, quite a few people were already sitting inside.
His gaze habitually swept around the classroom and finally landed on the seats in the back row.
Hyuga Hinata was sitting there with her head lowered, both hands resting on an open textbook.
Her white eyes were very focused, looking at the words on the pages.
Walking down the aisle, Naruto spoke softly, “Good morning, Hinata.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Hinata quickly raised her head.
Seeing Naruto standing not far away, her cheeks rapidly flushed, and her fingers instinctively clenched the corners of the book page.
“Mo… Morning, Naruto-kun.”
Naruto smiled at her, didn’t say much more, and turned to walk towards his seat.
At the other end of the classroom, Ino Yamanaka was resting her chin on her arms propped on the desk, watching this scene with a thoughtful expression.
Afterwards, there were more and more people in the classroom.
When Inuzuka Kiba came in, he greeted Naruto.
Akimichi Choji followed closely behind, holding a pack of snacks in his hand.
Nara Shikamaru followed at the very end, yawning.
After several people sat down, the sounds of talking in the classroom rose and fell in succession.
Some nervously flipped through books, some cheered each other on, and some lay on the desks pretending to sleep.
“Quiet.” Iruka pushed the door open and walked in.
The noisy sounds in the classroom gradually subsided, and everyone’s sight focused on him.
“The graduation exam starts now.” Iruka lowered his head to look at the list and raised his head, “Students whose names I call, go to the adjacent classroom for the Clone Technique test.”
Naruto sat in his seat with a calm expression.
Over the past few days, he had perfectly mastered all the Ninjutsu taught by the school.
“First, Uchiha Sasuke.”
Sasuke stood up from his seat with a cold expression.
Sakura cupped her hands around her mouth and lowered her voice to shout, “Come on, Sasuke-kun!”
Sasuke didn’t look back and didn’t stop his pace, walking straight out of the classroom.
For a long time, Iruka continued to read names.
When some came back, their faces wore smiles, while others lowered their heads when they came out.
When Sakura was called, she walked out and came back a few minutes later.
Her expression didn’t change much, except for a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth.
When Hinata came back, there was a faint smile on her face.
She quietly glanced at the blond teenager and walked back to her seat with her head lowered.
Naruto sat in his seat, his gaze not paying much attention to the door, constantly looking at the leaves of the tree outside the window shaking back and forth in the wind.
How on earth should he return to the Magic World?
He thought for a moment, took a gentle breath, and suppressed those thoughts.
“Uzumaki Naruto.”
Iruka’s voice came from the doorway.
Naruto stood up without pausing and walked toward the door.
Iruka’s gaze lingered on Naruto’s face for two seconds, and then he showed a hint of an encouraging expression.
“Don’t be nervous.
I believe that based on your performance during this period, you will definitely pass.”
“I know, Iruka-sensei.”
After saying that, Naruto stepped into the adjacent classroom.
The classroom was very empty.
In the exact center was a wooden table, upon which a row of brand-new Konoha headbands was neatly arranged.
Behind the table were two chairs, one empty and one occupied by a person.
Mizuki-sensei.
Seeing Naruto walk in, Mizuki immediately piled a gentle smile on his face: “Naruto has come, come in.”
Naruto walked to the center of the classroom, stood still, glanced at Mizuki, and then glanced at Iruka who followed closely behind.
Iruka sat on the other chair with his hands resting on his knees, his expression much more serious than Mizuki’s.
“Exam subject, Clone Technique.” Iruka announced, “Naruto, start whenever you’re ready.”
Naruto nodded, raised both hands, and began to form hand seals.
“Clone Technique!”
A surge of Chakra gushed out from within his body, and after the white smoke dispersed,
Two identical clones appeared on Naruto’s left and right sides.
Their standing postures were neat, their figures were clear, and even the serious expression on their faces was identical.
“Good…
Very good!” There was a hint of excitement in Iruka’s voice, but he quickly suppressed it.
He cleared his throat and nodded, saying, “Passed!”
Mizuki sat on the other chair, the smile on his face still gentle.
But Naruto noticed that Mizuki’s gaze seemed to darken for a split second.
“Congratulations, Naruto.” Mizuki stood up, picked up a headband from the table, and handed it to Naruto: “Starting today, you are a true Ninja.”
Naruto looked at the brand-new headband and looked up at Mizuki again.
Mizuki still showed a gentle smile.
Naruto said a word of thanks, grasped the headband in his hand, and turned to walk out.
Iruka reminded, “There is a Genin orientation meeting tomorrow, don’t forget.”
Several students who had just finished the exam were standing in the hallway.
Seeing the headband in Naruto’s hand, some showed expressions of surprise.
Naruto didn’t care about their gazes and walked straight back to his original classroom.
When he pushed open the door, most of the people inside had not left yet.
Shikamaru leaned against his chair with his eyes half-closed.
Choji had just finished eating a pack of potato chips and was licking his fingers.
Kiba was talking to a classmate next to him, and seeing Naruto walk in, his gaze instantly fell on the headband in Naruto’s hand.
Kiba bounced up from his chair: “You really passed after all.”
Naruto raised the headband in his hand and walked back to his seat to sit down.
Shikamaru opened his eyes to glance at Naruto, then closed them again: “Congratulations.”
“It seems we can be Ninjas together again.” Choji also leaned over from his chair, squeezing out a sentence incoherently with his mouth.
Naruto nodded with a smile in response, and then placed the headband on his desk.
After everyone’s exams were over, Iruka announced the dismissal of school.
The school gate was also very lively.
Those parents were waiting at the gate, and seeing their children walk out, they went up to them.
Some patted their children’s heads and said ‘Well done’, while others put their arms around their shoulders and smiled while saying something.
There were also a few students who failed squatting in the corner, their shoulders trembling, with parents standing beside them offering gentle comfort.
Naruto stood at the school gate and watched for a while.
In the past, when he walked down such a road, he would always lower his head to avoid these scenes.
Because all that liveliness belonged to others and had nothing to do with him.
But now that he stood here, his heart no longer had that empty feeling from before.
In Konoha, he had Iruka-sensei, Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, and the others.
And there was a guy whose relationship was clearly very distant, but felt like a brother to him.
In the Magic World, he had a master and a real home.
In both places, there were people who cared about him, and not a single one was missing.
Therefore, he didn’t feel lonely.
Thinking of this, Naruto withdrew his gaze and turned to walk in the direction of home.
After taking a few steps, a voice came from the tree shadows beside him.
Naruto stopped and turned his head sideways.
“Naruto, your perception is quite sharp.” Mizuki walked out from behind the tree, his face still wearing that gentle smile.
Naruto asked, “Mizuki-sensei?
Is there something you want from me?”
Mizuki smiled and stepped closer.
“Nothing major.
I just saw that you passed the exam today and wanted to congratulate you alone.”
“Thank you, Mizuki-sensei.” Naruto was slightly startled and replied politely.
Mizuki’s gaze landed on the headband in Naruto’s hand: “By the way.”
“I have a matter here that I want to chat with you about.”