MTLNOVEL Chapter 5: CHAPTER 4
TIME: 2 AND A HALF YEARS
LOCATION FOREST
It had been Two and a half years since Benimaru and the rest of his classmates had been administered into the academy
Benimaru had begun training more and more rigorously since then, improving his physical conditioning to what should be impossible for a mere eleven year old, he now had gained lean muscular abs which perfectly stuck to his shirt, almost hidden if not under close inspection
He had mastered the leaf sticking exercise in order to further improve his chakra control as although perfect copy gave him naturally good chakra control, he still needed to train it due to his abnormally large reserves which were reaching chunin level at such a young age. Almost as much as Naruto's
Benimaru and his classmates were now halfway done with their final year, about to graduate and become genin, actual ninjas
During that time, Benimaru and Sasuke had become basically rivals, competing with each other in almost anything, whether it be academic or combat, it would almost be a contest to outdo each other
They had regular sparring matches with each other hoping to improve their own abilities and surpass the other. They were comrades, brothers even until....
The entire Uchiha clan was slaughtered, in just one night every man, woman and child of the Uchiha clan was killed, sent to the pearly gates by one man, a thirteen year old child named Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother
Sasuke has never been the same since then, he's been more distant and cold, trying to maintain an emo uncaring personality and after months of not doing anything, Benimaru Finally confronted him
"It's hard, I get it but-"Benimaru began, trying to comfort him but was harshly interrupted
"What exactly do you think you get?" Sasuke snapped at him "You know nothing about my pain and someone like you could never understand me"
Sasuke tried to walk away but Benimaru grabbed his arm, effectively stopping him
"So you're just going to walk away from your problems" Benimaru asked him, letting go of his arm "Then be my guest, you can cry, you can run, you can try to hide but it won't bring them back Sasuke" Benimaru said seriously "So look me straight in the eyes and tell me that you're going to run away from your problems like a fucking bitch instead of facing them head on" He said glaring into Sasuke's eyes
"I don't know" He muttered out weakly
"You better figure it out quickly you'll end up wasting your life acting like a bitch" Benimaru replied, walking away while waving his hand to him "If you truly can't let go then, use that excess energy to kill the person that did it" He said seriously "Kill your brother, Itachi Uchiha" he said, fully escaping from sight, leaving Sasuke alone with his thoughts
A few days later, Sasuke didn't show up for classes, neither did he show up for training with Benimaru which caused him to get worried
Maybe I was too harsh on him
Not only him but others classmates and Iruka got worried as well
"Does anyone know what could've happened To Sasuke-kun" Iruka asked the class
"Maybe he's sick" One asked
"Maybe he's going on a vacation" Another added
Other people kept giving suggestions but right then and there Sasuke entered the classroom and for the first time in months he smiled
Glad to have to back, you bastard
Sasuke walked up to Benimaru as they both high fived each other
"Thanks for pushing me" Sasuke whispers
"Don't mention it" he whispers back
Sasuke goes to his seat as class begins as normal
TIME: A FEW MONTHS LATER
LOCATION: ACADEMY
It was the day of Graduation, it was a day that marked the end of the four years that Benimaru and the rest of his classmates had spent within the academy wall
To graduate the academy was simple, it was just a straightforward Ninjutsu test, a task which was too mundane for our protagonist to even bat an eye
"What do you think we should have for dinner tonight Sasuke, should we go out or...?" Benimaru asked casually, not even registering that they were doing an exam
"Anything is fine honestly, as long as it has tomatoes" Sasuke responded
"Why do you love tomatoes so much, they're gross" Benimaru made an "ick" sign
"What are you talking about" Sasuke huffed "Tomatoes are amazing"
"Tomato freak" Benimaru muttered under his breathe with made Sasuke get a tick mark on his forehead
They kept arguing for a while but eventually went inside the academy building to start their exams
"Hello class" Iruka smiled at them "I along with Mizuki Sensei will be testing you today" He motions to Mizuki "When we call your name simply come forward and perform the Kawarimi no jutsu, Bunshin no jutsu and Henge no jutsu" He told them "Without further ado let's get started"
Iruka began calling the names and since the order was best in the class to worst in the class Benimaru's name was called first. Since he had barely passed Sasuke in the last test they did
"Ryota Benimaru, come forward" Iruka call out as he led Benimaru to the next room where Mizuki was already waiting and sat down "Please perform the Bunshin no jutsu, Henge no jutsu and the Kawarimi no jutsu" He said with a smile
"Sure" Benimaru said casually
With his hands still in his pockets Benimaru walks forward, then removes one hand and performs a single hand seal and in a puff of smoke appears a second Benimaru which makes Iruka flabbergasted but Mizuki confused
"That isn't a normal Bunshin" Iruka mutters "That the kagebunshin, an actual living, breathing clone and not just an illusion" Iruka opens his mouth in shock "How the hell did you learn such an advanced technique"
"I copied it" Both Benimaru's say in unison as the clone transforms into Iruka then substitutes with a nearby log and disappears
"Did I pass" he asks as he puts his hands back in his pockets
"Yeah, you passed" Iruka said, still reeling from shock as he handed Benimaru a Konoha headband as he left
Iruka went to call out the next person, which was Sasuke who also passed
He then called the next, then the next, then the next, every clan child passed but every civilian failed unfortunately, except for one Sakura Haruno
Iruka had tested everyone till there was no one left but one
"Naruto Uzumaki, please come forward" Iruka called him with a smile, despite his voice being horse and obviously cracking due to how tired he was
Although Iruka had originally hated Naruto for "Being the nine tails" after teaching him for so long, he learnt to let go of that hatred and make friends with the kid, realizing that he is actually a very nice child who is mistreated for no reason
Naruto entered the room, very anxious since he knew how his always went. Throughout Naruto's entire time in the academy he has never performed the clone jutsu successfully and this was the moment of truth
"Naruto Uzumaki, please perform the Bunshin no jutsu, Kawarimi no jutsu and the Henge no jutsu" Iruka said also slightly anxious since he knew how bad Naruto was at the clone jutsu
Naruto stepped forward, and successfully transformed into Iruka then substituted with a log nearby
Then with trembling hands, he tried to do the bunshin no jutsu but in a puff of smoke all that came out was a failed clone
I'm sorry Naruto
"You fail" Iruka told him
"Iruka maybe we can give him a pass since he managed to do the Henge and Kawarimi no jutsu perfectly" Mizuki tried to beg for him despite the fact that he was inwardly grinning
"We can't do that Mizuki, academy protocols are strict and clear" Iruka told him "He couldn't do the three basic jutsus so he can't graduate"
Naruto, although disheartened couldn't blame Iruka and left to the playground and sat on his swing, watching as other parents congratulated their kids for passing and graduating all the while mocking him and telling their kids to ignore him
Until, Mizuki came up to him
"Hey Naruto, how would you like it if I told you there was another way to pass the graduation exams" He said with a fake smile
"Another way" Naruto muttered
LOCATION: OUTSIDE HOKAGE OFFICE
TIME: SAME DAY, NIGHT TIME
"Did you hear what happened" One ninja asked
"No, what happened" another responded
"Naruto Uzumaki stole, the scroll of seals" The ninja informed him
"What, no way" he clenched his fist, obviously angry "I knew that nine tailed brat was nothing but trouble, I don't get why the third is so lenient with him and doesn't just execute him already"
"THAT'S ENOUGH" The third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted "as you may already know, the scroll of seals has been stolen by Naruto Uzumaki, the scroll is to be recovered and the boy is to be found without injuries, Understand?" He barked out orders to them as they had no choice but to comply
"YES HOKAGE-SAMA" They shouted in Unison
"Good" Hiruzen said "Now, SCATTER"
The ninja went in different directions, desperately looking to find Naruto and recover the scroll
Naruto what have you gotten yourself into