**Chapter 1: Naruto's Sky**
"Nine-Tailed Beast, the feeling of your chakra flowing through my body is truly blissful."
With his fox-like eyes wide open, Naruto gazed contentedly at the sky, his expression utterly entranced.
"You brat, you still know how to enjoy life, don't you?"
The Nine-Tailed Beast's booming voice, tinged with a hint of raspiness, echoed in Naruto's mind.
"Of course! I'm about to take the Ninja Academy graduation exam. If I don't enjoy myself now, when will I?" Naruto lazily replied, greedily inhaling the crisp morning air.
"Hah... I truly envy you," the Nine-Tailed Beast's voice carried a hint of melancholy.
"What's wrong? Want to see this vibrant world again? No problem, leave it to me!" Naruto thumped his chest with a confident guarantee.
"Heh, brat, I've always believed in you," the Nine-Tailed Beast's tone grew expectant. "I can't wait to get out of here. It's so dark inside."
"Damn it, isn't there a light in there?" Naruto's scornful voice echoed inwardly.
"What good is that dim thing? Hey kid, when are you going to improve my living conditions? Not only am I stuck in this basement, but I'm locked in a cell too!"
The Nine-Tailed Beast couldn't help but start complaining.
"It's not like I wanted to do this," Naruto retorted irritably. "You should be grateful you even have a place to stay, instead of being so picky."
"Kid, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to lose my temper!" the Nine-Tailed Beast growled, its tone indignant.
"Alright, alright, Nine-Tails, I was wrong. I'll figure out a way to release you as soon as possible," Naruto said, reluctantly standing up. "But before that, I need to head to the Ninja Academy. I can't be late for the exam."
Immediately severing his connection with the Nine-Tailed Beast, Naruto raced toward the Ninja Academy.
The Nine-Tailed Beast had always been short-tempered. Naruto still remembered the last time he provoked it by saying it would never have a wife, causing the beast to instantly erupt in fury. Naruto had suddenly manifested four tails, nearly blowing up his entire house.
Ever since that incident, whenever the Nine-Tailed Beast threatened to lose control, Naruto would immediately cut off their connection. Who knew what that lunatic might do next?
"After the Ninja Academy exam, I'll finally get the Scroll of Seals, right? Heh heh, I can't wait..."
Naruto couldn't help but rub his hands together, imagining all the powerful ninjutsu he'd learn...
"I once didn't belong to this world, but now, I will become its ruler!"
Wearing a white short-sleeved shirt with a yellow spiral emblem on the chest, the six-year-old Naruto pointed a single finger skyward, making this solemn vow.
"Phew, the Ninja Academy... finally reached my destination."
Glancing at the massive Konoha symbol on the rooftop, Naruto adjusted his goggles and strode inside.
He effortlessly navigated to the competition waiting area—a classroom—and surveyed the crowd. A sigh escaped him. "I really want to pass the exam, but I'm destined to fail the Clone Technique... Oh well, as long as I get the Scroll of Seals, nothing else matters."
Reassuring himself, Naruto steeled his resolve and settled in to await the exam.
"This year's test will be the Clone Technique. All candidates, please line up in order at the entrance."
A Chūnin emerged from a room and announced to the group of similarly aged children.
"So it's the Clone Technique after all..."
Naruto glanced at the Chūnin with a hint of annoyance. In the next moment, his mischievous eyes began darting around. "No beauties here, but there must be plenty of cute girls, right?"
"Huh? Sakura?"
Stretching his neck, Naruto's eyes lit up. "Even with such a small frame, she's already so well-proportioned... Not bad at all."
"Forget it. I'll spare you the teasing for now."
The mere thought of Sakura's terrifying temper sent a shiver down Naruto's spine.
Besides, with so many people around, a fight would be disastrous...
*If I were to touch her or even kiss her...*
Naruto unconsciously swallowed hard. *Sakura would probably tear this place apart.*
"Mm-hmm, time to change targets. Heh heh, a wise choice indeed."
Naruto mentally patted himself on the back before his mischievous eyes resumed their shameless scanning.
"Hmm... let's see..."
Naruto muttered to himself. "Huh? Hinata? Heh heh, this time it's definitely going to work."
He took only a few steps forward before freezing in place.
"What if she faints?" Naruto suddenly realized the very real possibility of this happening.
"Ah... Oh my god..."
He raised an arm and slapped himself on the cheek, so frustrated he felt like vomiting blood. "Such a perfect opportunity... The atmosphere, the setting..."
"Next, Naruto Uzumaki," the same Chūnin who had announced the start of the exam called out.
Naruto glared daggers at the Chūnin before stomping into the room, muttering, "Damn it... My entire life will be stained by this millstone-sized humiliation..."
"Naruto Uzumaki, please demonstrate the Clone Technique," Mizuki said with a "friendly" smile, gesturing for him to begin.
*Heh heh, you old fox. I'll beat you until your face blossoms like a peach tree,* Naruto thought maliciously as he glanced at Mizuki. *Trying to use me, huh?*
"Okay," Naruto replied obediently, nodding. He assumed an awkward horse stance, formed the Clone Technique hand seal, and strained with all his might, his body trembling slightly.
Naruto wasn't straining to extract Chakra; he was doing it to... disrupt the Chakra flow within his body.
Otherwise, how could he have created such a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering, ghost-weeping, Buddha-shaking, Guanyin-fearing, dead-dog-like clone?
*Poof!*
To outsiders like Iruka and Mizuki, it appeared that Naruto had finally succeeded in creating a clone after exerting tremendous effort.
But the result was...
"Fail," Iruka declared regretfully, shaking his head.
"Huh?" Naruto exclaimed, feigning extreme disappointment.
"Come on, Iruka, just pass Naruto. He's technically learned the Clone Technique, right?" Mizuki, the sly fox, watched Naruto's feigned disappointment, his fox tail wagging excitedly. His gaze toward Naruto grew increasingly affectionate, sending shivers down Naruto's spine.
*Old fox, stop looking at me with those gay eyes!* Naruto mentally banished Mizuki to the darkest corner of his contempt.
"Mizuki, there's no need to plead for Naruto. Look at his clone—what use would it be in actual combat?" Iruka shook his head. "Naruto, I can't pass you this time."
"Oh," Naruto replied with feigned disappointment, nodding and turning to walk toward the door.
"Naruto..." Iruka watched Naruto's somewhat dejected figure, his eyes stinging with emotion.
As dusk approached, the setting sun cast a golden glow, making Naruto's blond hair shine even brighter.
"Naruto, are you still upset about what happened earlier? Iruka was just looking out for you," Mizuki said, sitting down beside Naruto to "comfort" him.
"Then why won't Iruka-sensei let me graduate?" Naruto asked, his voice tinged with "despair."
"Naruto, do you really want to graduate that badly?" Mizuki's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
*Heh, finally showing your true colors, fox?* Naruto thought inwardly, suppressing a smirk. Outwardly, he nodded eagerly, feigning hope.
"I'll tell you a way," Mizuki whispered, explaining his plan.
"Mizuki-sensei, you mean if I get the Scroll of Seals, I can graduate?" Naruto asked, his voice brimming with hope.
"Exactly," Mizuki nodded emphatically.
"Alright then, I'll go get the Scroll of Seals," Naruto said, brushing the dust off his pants as he stood up.
"Good. I'll wait for you at the village gate. Hurry back."
Mizuki nodded at Naruto and darted toward the village gate.
"Waiting for me? Heh heh, so eager to get beat up, huh?"
Naruto chuckled inwardly, his body already leaping across rooftops, moving swiftly through the village.
End of Chapter