Naruto:Dark Return

A Sleepless Night

The next morning, Naruto slumped over his desk at the ninja academy, looking utterly drained. Dark circles under his eyes were a testament to his restless night.

The culprit? His overactive imagination, fueled by the allure of Young Aito, the story Ichiro had written.

Naruto had spent the night envisioning himself as the protagonist, complete with daring exploits and a gentle cousin who bore a striking resemblance to Sakura.

The thought alone brought a rosy flush to his cheeks and a goofy smile to his face.

Classroom Banter

As the morning sun rose higher, the classroom gradually filled with students. Among them was Sasuke Uchiha, who walked in with his usual stoic demeanor.

Sasuke's sharp eyes caught sight of Naruto's absurd grin. He curled his lip in disdain.

"Idiot," he muttered as he passed.

Naruto, already in a daze, turned his head, frowning at Sasuke's insult.

"Who are you calling an idiot?" Naruto asked, squinting at him.

Sasuke sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "If you're too dumb to figure it out, you've just proven my point. Idiot."

Naruto nodded solemnly, surprising Sasuke. "You're right. The idiot really is scolding me."

"…"

Sasuke's face darkened. He clenched his jaw, annoyed that Naruto had somehow turned the insult back on him.

The tension between the two was palpable, and their glares seemed to spark with imaginary lightning bolts.

From the sidelines, Chōji, munching on a bag of chips, burst into laughter.

"Haha! Naruto's actually winning this time, Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru, leaning back lazily, opened one eye. "Yeah, but it's troublesome. Naruto's too fired up. He doesn't even realize what he's doing."

Shikamaru's keen observation brought a knowing smirk to his face. "Besides, with what happened last night, I'm not so sure Sasuke is still the top student in this class."

The Chaos Grows

Just as Naruto and Sasuke's clash reached its peak, the classroom door flew open, and Sakura and Ino rushed in.

Their rivalry was on full display as they argued about who had entered first.

"Move it, Ino-pig! I was here before you!" Sakura shouted, her forehead scrunched in determination.

"Keep dreaming, Billboard Brow!" Ino shot back, jabbing her finger at Sakura.

Trailing behind them was a timid Hinata, who hesitated in the doorway. Her eyes darted nervously between Naruto and Sasuke's confrontation.

Seeing Naruto's determined face, her cheeks flushed bright red. She quickly shuffled to her seat, too embarrassed to interfere.

Sakura and Ino finally noticed the brewing argument between Naruto and Sasuke. Their competitive bickering was momentarily forgotten as they approached the boys.

While Sakura showered Sasuke with praise, she scolded Naruto harshly.

"You're no match for Sasuke! Sit down before you embarrass yourself!"

Naruto's anger flared, and Sasuke's cold gaze turned even frostier as Sakura's words stoked the fire between them.

The classroom descended into chaos, with students cheering, jeering, and turning the scene into a noisy spectacle.

Iruka Arrives

"Alright, that's enough!"

Iruka entered the room, flanked by two other Chūnin instructors. His voice cut through the noise, and the students scrambled to return to their seats.

Iruka's eyes scanned the room, pausing briefly on Naruto. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, but he quickly masked it with professionalism.

"We're starting this year's Genin Graduation Exam now," Iruka announced, his voice steady.

Excited whispers rippled through the classroom. For many students, this was the moment they had been preparing for.

Naruto's Shocking Reveal

Before the exam could officially begin, Iruka dropped a bombshell.

"The first to graduate without taking the test… Naruto Uzumaki, for defeating a Chūnin-level opponent."

The classroom erupted in disbelief.

"What?! That loser Naruto defeated a Chūnin?"

"Pinch me! I must be dreaming!"

"This has to be a joke. Did he bribe the teachers or something?"

"Yeah, there's no way that happened. We demand a test!"

Naruto, flustered by the accusations, jumped onto his desk, trying to explain.

"It's true! I defeated Mizuki-sensei last night! I'm not lying!"

The more he tried to defend himself, the louder the chaos grew.

Inside Naruto's mind, Ichiro sighed, his voice calm but commanding. "Stop talking and show them. Use the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu."

Naruto paused mid-rant, realization dawning on him. "Oh, right! Thanks, Ichiro!"

Proving Himself

Naruto leaped off the desk, quickly forming a hand seal.

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In an instant, the classroom filled with dozens of identical Narutos, leaving no space unoccupied. The clones swarmed the room, even pushing Iruka and the two Chūnin instructors into a corner.

"Idiot! Cancel the jutsu! You've summoned too many!" Iruka shouted, his voice strained as he struggled to stay upright.

Naruto sheepishly dispelled the clones, leaving behind a room full of stunned silence.

"That… That was an A-rank jutsu…" one of the Chūnin muttered in disbelief.

Another student gasped, "Naruto knows an A-rank jutsu?!"

Naruto crossed his arms, smirking smugly. "That's right! I can do A-rank jutsu. Pretty impressive, huh?"

The classroom buzzed with murmurs of awe and respect. The earlier accusations of cheating and bribery disappeared, replaced by admiration and envy.

Sasuke's Shock

In the back of the classroom, Sasuke sat frozen, his fists clenched tightly under the desk.

"A-rank jutsu… defeating a Chūnin…" he muttered, his teeth gritted in frustration.

The humiliation of being surpassed by Naruto, the class clown, gnawed at him. He barely heard his name called when it was his turn to take the test.

Sasuke's performance was shaky, a far cry from his usual confidence. If not for Iruka's intervention, he might not have passed.

As Naruto winked at him from across the room, Sasuke's frustration reached a boiling point.

End of Chapter

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