Early summer.
With one week left until the graduation exam, the Ninja Academy's atmosphere was already tense. The morning sun shone on the training ground, where ninety-seven students from the three sixth-grade classes stood in neat formation. Standing before them were not only their various subject teachers but also the Dean of Students. And at the very front, holding a pipe, was the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"It's Sandaime Hokage-sama!"
"Why is Hokage-sama at the school?"
Whispers spread through the crowd, and everyone realized that today, a major announcement was likely to be made. Naruto-kun stood in the lineup of Sixth Grade Class A, his dark blue top spotless, his gaze behind black-rimmed glasses as calm as water.
"Quiet!"
With Iruka-sensei's shout, the training ground instantly fell silent.
"Students." The Sandaime Hokage stepped forward, his voice loud and gentle. "At this important moment, as you are about to graduate and become Konohagakure Genin, I have a special announcement to make."
He took a puff from his pipe, and smoke slowly rose.
"Given that many remarkable new sprouts have emerged from this graduating class, and also to encourage Konoha's future pillars, I hereby establish a special reward in the name of the Hokage."
The entire field was silent, everyone's anticipation piqued.
"The student with the highest overall evaluation in the graduation exam—" The Sandaime Hokage paused, his gaze intentionally sweeping in Naruto-kun's direction, "—will receive a high-level Ninjutsu!"
As if a giant stone had been dropped into a calm lake, the entire training ground instantly erupted.
"A high-level Ninjutsu as a reward? Did I hear that right?"
"High-level Ninjutsu... it should at least be B-rank, right? The highest Ninjutsu my dad knows is only C-rank. If I could get it..."
"Stop dreaming, you might have a chance at being dead last though."
Exclamations, doubts, and discussions intertwined. Even the Jonin Dean of Students was slightly shocked, not to mention the ordinary Chunin teachers. This reward was too significant, beyond imagination.
The Sandaime Hokage raised his hand to quell the noise and continued:
"The second and third place winners will also receive one C-rank Ninjutsu each. I surveyed the entire field, his gaze sweeping over every young face. The future of Konoha is in your hands. Where the leaves dance, the fire burns. Show your light and heat!"
As his words fell, thunderous applause erupted... After the announcement, the students dispersed in twos and threes, each with different emotions on their faces.
"That's great! Even if I don't get a high-level Ninjutsu, a C-rank Ninjutsu isn't bad." Haruno Sakura clasped her hands, her eyes sparkling. "But the top three... Sasuke-kun will definitely make it, and that guy Naruto-kun is ridiculously strong now, so I can only aim for third place, huh..."
Yamanaka Ino mercilessly poked her forehead. "Forehead-girl, stop dreaming. This is about overall performance. You should focus on improving your practical combat ranking."
Not far away, Aburame Shino tugged at his collar and quietly said to Shikamaru and Choji beside him: "A very troublesome situation. Everyone will fight desperately."
Shikamaru yawned, lazily saying, "So troublesome, it has nothing to do with me anyway."
Choji looked a bit worried, "But Shikamaru, you said Naruto-kun..."
"That guy will definitely be first." Shikamaru said without hesitation. "This so-called public reward is just a formality."
"Why?" Seeing Choji's innocent eyes, Shikamaru helplessly slapped his forehead. "Forget it, don't think about these things. How about barbecue for lunch?"
"Good, good!"
Shikamaru's voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for those around him to hear. Sasuke-kun's steps paused slightly. He glanced at the blonde figure wearing glasses, who was engrossed in a thick book not far away, and a cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Hmph, old man. Is he so sure that first place is already his?
Sasuke-kun didn't linger, walking away with his hands in his pockets. He no longer felt any jealousy or injustice. He just wanted to become stronger, using that Breathing Technique and so-called health secret, and then... catch up to him, surpass him. This was the ambition of the Uchiha clan...
Sunset, Training Ground 15.
"Hah—hah—" Inuzuka Kiba leaned on his knees, panting heavily. Sweat soaked his clothes, and Akamaru lay by his feet, equally exhausted with his tongue hanging out.
"Again!" Inuzuka Kiba gritted his teeth and charged at the wooden dummy again. His fist slammed heavily into the leather-wrapped dummy, making a dull thud. "Why... can't I catch up..."
Inuzuka Kiba kept replaying past scenes. The way he was instantly defeated by Naruto-kun's weighted punch. Naruto-kun's eternally calm demeanor, as if everything was under control. Shikamaru's certainty when he said, 'That guy will definitely be first.'
"Akamaru." Inuzuka Kiba stopped, sliding to the ground against the wooden dummy, his voice filled with unprecedented fatigue and self-doubt. "Am I really that bad?"
"Woof...?" Akamaru came over and rubbed his head against Kiba's leg.
"That dead last... no, Naruto-kun, how did he do it?" Kiba looked at his hands, full of scars and calluses. "I've been training desperately too, but why... does the gap feel like it's growing bigger and bigger?"
Akamaru couldn't answer, only letting out soft whimpers. He and Naruto-kun used to be evenly matched; at the beginning of the school year, he could even beat Naruto-kun. First, he was surpassed in the running test, then defeated in practical combat, and later even Sasuke-kun was no match for him.
Just two days ago, in a sparring match with Naruto-kun, he was defeated again without a doubt. Naruto-kun still wore his heavy weights but easily defeated him. Kiba still couldn't forget the look in Naruto-kun's eyes when he defeated him—calm. No mockery, no smugness, or rather... no emotion at all.
"Could it be that the gap in talent really can't be bridged by effort alone?" This thought almost suffocated Inuzuka Kiba.
The sky gradually darkened. Inuzuka Kiba dragged his tired body, carrying Akamaru, towards home. Just as he turned a street corner and entered a relatively secluded alley.
"Kiba-kun?" A gentle voice sounded from behind him.
Inuzuka Kiba turned around and saw a white-haired teacher wearing a standard Chunin vest. The teacher known as "Mr. Nice Guy," Mizuki.
"Mizuki-sensei." Kiba forced himself to perk up and greeted him.
"Still training late at night, huh?" Mizuki walked over, glanced at Kiba's still bleeding knuckles, and sighed. "You need to take care of your body even when you're working hard."
Working hard? What's the use of working hard?
Mizuki keenly caught the fleeting gloom in Kiba's eyes. To execute his plan, he had been secretly observing, looking for a suitable pawn. Originally, his target was Naruto-kun, but Naruto-kun was too dazzling now, so he had to turn his attention to others. Inuzuka Kiba was the person he had recently chosen. Like the old Naruto, impulsive, competitive, and not very smart. Simply the perfect pawn.
So, Mizuki lowered his voice, speaking with "heart-to-heart" sincerity:
"Honestly, your fighting spirit and effort are absolutely top-notch among your peers. But..."