The Shackles of Destiny
"Uchiha Sasuke, full marks!"
With Iruka's praise, the students crowded at the door, eager to see.
"That's Sasuke for you!"
"That's the child of the Uchiha clan, full marks!"
"He's amazing!"
The praise kept coming, and all eyes were on the boy with the cold, sharp features. His face was angular, his nose high, and his eyes distant as usual, giving him a clean and sharp profile. His hair, styled with a spiky cut, framed his face as he stood aloof.
Naruto, too, was watching Sasuke, leisurely observing this future teammate of his.
"Next, Uzumaki Naruto!"
As soon as the name was called, whispers broke out among the crowd. Conversations seemed to bubble over, and eyes flickered toward Naruto.
"That guy at the bottom of the class, is he going to use his seduction jutsu again?"
"Hahaha!"
"That's how he got kicked out by Iruka-sensei last time."
"Disgusting! Using that kind of ninjutsu, so gross!"
The gossip caused Sasuke, who was about to leave, to glance back toward the source of the comments. Just as Naruto turned around, their eyes met for a brief moment.
The assessment was quick, lasting no more than a minute. Sasuke stayed put, watching, waiting silently.
After a brief pause, Iruka's voice came again, this time with some hesitation.
"Uzumaki Naruto, full marks!"
Full marks? Even Naruto had gotten full marks!
The group of students gathered at the door was stunned, their faces filled with surprise. It was silent for a moment, as the one at the bottom of the class had scored full marks.
Although the transformation jutsu wasn't the final measure, it was an important subject in the ninja academy, and scoring full marks meant graduation was almost guaranteed.
The door opened, and Naruto walked out of the classroom. His gaze swept over the crowd, stopping at the far end where Sasuke was.
Sasuke's expression remained unchanged. He glanced at Naruto briefly before turning to leave.
Naruto smiled and didn't take it to heart. As expected, Sasuke was as proud as ever.
After solving his chakra imbalance, Naruto had spent little time mastering the transformation jutsu. Perhaps it was also due to his remarkable bloodline as an Uzumaki.
Mastering the transformation jutsu meant he wouldn't have to worry about the graduation exam anymore.
After the mock exam, Naruto left without hesitation, walking out of the academy.
As he passed by Hinata, he remembered how she had helped him yesterday and paused to thank her.
"I was in such a rush yesterday, so... sorry I didn't thank you sooner."
"Thank you for helping me, Hinata-chan."
Hinata's face flushed the moment she heard him call her "Hinata-chan." She seemed embarrassed but also a little pleased.
"I... I didn't do much, Naruto-kun. You don't have to thank me," she stammered.
Hinata's shy, sweet demeanor made her especially charming. She wore a long-sleeved training outfit that covered her fair arms, and her hair was cut to shoulder length. Her skin was smooth and glowing, like she had been bathed in milk.
She had the elegance of a daughter from a prestigious family, but her bashful nature made her even more striking—like the perfect portrayal of a refined young lady.
"No, really, it was thanks to you, Hinata-chan." Naruto smiled, but he noticed her growing more embarrassed.
As he realized more eyes were gathering around them, Naruto understood that he wasn't that close to Hinata yet.
If he continued talking to her, it might lead to gossip. So, he knew it was time to leave.
"I'll go now, Hinata-chan. Anyway, thank you!"
He waved and walked away, heading out of the ninja academy hallway.
He thought to himself about preparing a gift to give to Hinata next time they met. That way, it wouldn't seem too out of place.
[Progress: 2.2% towards Hinata's affection, Nine-Tails' approval]
The mechanical voice in his head startled Naruto.
The Nine-Tails had always been a troubling presence. While the power it provided was useful, the Nine-Tails itself was just a strong chakra—nothing more than a temporary power boost.
Such power was easily targeted. Whether by Konoha, who viewed it as a weapon, or the various forces seeking to capture the Nine-Tails, Naruto was always at risk.
He was nothing but a piece of meat on a chopping block, destined to be sought after by anyone with strength.
Honestly, Naruto would rather the Nine-Tails leave him alone. It could find another home and never interfere with him again.
But since the Nine-Tails couldn't leave his body without killing him, he was stuck. Still, with the system in place, Naruto realized that even if the Nine-Tails wasn't inside him, he could still harness its power.
So… maybe it was for the best if the Nine-Tails just stayed out of his business.
Naruto understood clearly. Having the Nine-Tails inside him was like how Eren gained the power of the Attack Titan. In that moment, his fate was sealed. He wasn't escaping the chain that bound him to a destiny of destruction.
Similarly, for Naruto, his fate was determined the moment he became the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. From that point on, he was set on a path that wasn't entirely his choice.
The destiny that had been carved out for him was inevitable. His future would be shaped by the deaths of Jiraiya, Neji, and the blood sacrifices that came with it.
He had to accept it. He was done fighting it. He would lie down and live for himself, no longer trying to resist the fate that was imposed on him.
---
As night fell, a small fire flickered by a river in the forest. Fish were slowly roasting over the flames.
A blonde-haired boy, looking like a young man, sat by the river with a fishing rod. The moonlight shone softly on the water, and the surface rippled, shimmering with the reflection of the light.
The forest was silent, the white crescent moon mirrored on the water's surface.
Suddenly, there was a soft rustle. A figure appeared beside Naruto, seemingly out of nowhere.
A shadow passed quickly—Shunshin no Jutsu.
Naruto had sensed the presence before he even saw the figure. He turned quickly to find a white-haired ninja standing in front of him.
"Waterwood-sensei?" Naruto asked, pretending to be surprised. "What are you doing here?"
It was Mizuki, Iruka's friend, the ninja known for his cunning. At this moment, Mizuki had no idea he was under the watchful eye of the Third Hokage's crystal ball surveillance. He smiled gently at Naruto.
"Naruto, do you want to get stronger?"
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