As Sarutobi Hiruzen shifted the discussion to the second major topic—the defensive arrangements for the chūnin exams—Kitagawa Gen’s mind wandered.

With this much attention on security, if anything did happen, Konoha would react immediately.

'And when the evacuation starts, I can finally let Ōtsutsuki Genshiki make a move. After all...'

He had been behaving himself these past days—not just to avoid trouble, but also to quietly adapt to the changes brought by his last awakening.

Now that his bloodline development had reached 40%, the transformation in his body was undeniable.

His skin had grown even paler, and he felt as if something was forming on his forehead.

'Especially between my brows... something feels strange.'

At one point he even wondered if he’d jinxed himself. Was he really about to grow a horn?

'Or maybe... just like Uchiha Madara, am I actually nurturing a new eye?'

The Ōtsutsuki bloodline was far too strange—especially unfriendly for someone like him, who had started entirely from nothing.

But regardless, this time he truly intended to move around and test himself properly.

'Let’s just take it as a chance to get used to the power of my other identity.'

...

“Finally graduating!”

While Kitagawa Gen was still in the Hokage’s office for the meeting, over at the Academy the kids were much more relaxed.

This year’s class was unusually large, and compared to previous years, the group was special.

The heirs of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, the genius of the Aburame Clan, the young heir of the Inuzuka, the last orphan of the Uchiha, the Hyūga heiress, and the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki.

It was fair to say—this was the most concentrated batch of Konoha’s “second generation elites.”

“Yeah, we’re finally graduating. I just wonder what the exam will be this year.”

Ino leaned by the window, glancing at the lazy Shikamaru, and asked curiously.

“Shikamaru, do you know?”

“How would I know that kind of thing?”

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Even if he did know, he couldn’t just blurt it out. Damn it.

“But don’t worry. These exams aren’t hard. You’re not telling me you can’t even pass something like this, right?”

“Tch, I’m going to be Hokage! A measly exam is nothing!”

Naruto instantly grew fired up, clenching his fists and shouting at the top of his lungs, drawing everyone’s attention.

“You idiot, keep your voice down!”

Sakura couldn’t hold back anymore and immediately yelled at Naruto. Only then did she realize Sasuke was watching, and her face instantly softened into warmth.

“Honestly, he’s just too much sometimes.”

“Damn it... that arrogant Sasuke!”

Naruto grit his teeth at the sight, but Sasuke only snorted with disdain.

“Idiot.”

“Hey, you wanna fight?!”

“I don’t have time to waste on you. You’d better start thinking about how to handle the exam.”

Perhaps it was because he had spent so much time around Kitagawa Gen, and because he hadn’t yet been struck with a “critical hit” by Uchiha Itachi’s Tsukuyomi, Sasuke’s mental state was still holding up well.

Watching Naruto on the verge of jumping in protest, he ignored him, his expression suddenly turning serious.

“Instead of worrying about that, you’d better think about who the examiner might be. If it’s him...”

“Uh...”

With just one line from Sasuke, Naruto’s eyes widened.

Of course he knew exactly who Sasuke meant. No matter how often he swore he would become Hokage, if Kitagawa Gen turned out to be the examiner, the thought alone still filled him with dread.

“What... what are you all so worried about?”

Hinata had stayed quiet until now, but seeing both Naruto and Sasuke fall silent with such grave looks, she couldn’t help but ask curiously.

“Yeah, what are you afraid of?”

Inuzuka Kiba, rubbing the little Akamaru in his arms, also asked with a puzzled look.

“Seriously, you’re acting weird.”

Chōji nodded, speaking through a mouthful of chips.

“It’s just the graduation exam. There’s no way it’ll be that bad.”

His words made Ino and Sakura both nod in agreement, though tension flickered across their faces as well. Only Shikamaru tilted his head back and let out a yawn.

But soon enough, when Naruto finally spoke, even he couldn’t hide his unease anymore.

“What I’m worried about... is that bastard Gen.”

Naruto swallowed hard as he said it, and Sasuke couldn’t stop himself from adding: “Even though Gen-senpai is a good person, his personality... now that he’s a jōnin, if he applied to supervise our exam, then...”

Those words silenced the entire group of rookies.

A jōnin normally had no reason to proctor a genin exam. But considering Kitagawa Gen’s character... it was exactly the kind of thing he might actually do!

“If that really happened, then we’re finished...”

“Damn, I’ll be doomed the moment I go home!”

“No wonder he once put a fellow student in the hospital... too scary.”

The group fell silent, as if a shadow had settled over them. Even Hinata’s eyes widened at the thought.

What none of them noticed, however, was Mizuki standing just outside the classroom door, staring intently at them—especially at Naruto.

“The Nine-Tails brat...”

“This time, I’ll be counting on you.”

...

A few days later.

The graduation exam at the Ninja Academy had finally arrived.

When this year’s candidates learned that the exam would be the Clone Technique, some were instantly overjoyed while others were disheartened.

But none of that applied to Naruto and the others—Clone Technique wasn’t any real obstacle for them. Even for Naruto, it was the same.

Although the Nine-Tails inside him interfered, making it hard for him to precisely control chakra and cast jutsu, Jiraiya had been back in the village for quite a while now and had been teaching him for just as long. How could he possibly have done nothing?

What truly lifted their spirits—and even made Sasuke let out a sigh of relief with a smile—was the fact that the examiner wasn’t Kitagawa Gen.

“Hell yeah!”

The exam went smoothly. Even Naruto passed without issue. When Iruka placed the forehead protector in his hands, that moment sent his excitement soaring to the limit.

But just as he was about to rush back to show off to Kitagawa Gen, Mizuki suddenly called out to him.

“Congratulations, Naruto. You passed the exam.”

“Hehe, thanks, Mizuki-sensei.”

It was already dusk by then. Naruto had been scheduled last, and by the time he was done, nearly everyone else was gone.

Though he was eager to leave, he still forced himself to smile politely at Mizuki.

“But don’t get cocky. Stepping out of the Academy is just the beginning.”

Mizuki chuckled, putting on the air of a good sensei.

“After all, once you’re out of the Academy, your jōnin instructor will be the one to evaluate you—and that’s the real test. I heard you get along with Jōnin Gen. You know his record, don’t you?”

“Gen…”

The thought of Kitagawa Gen, who had ‘crushed his teammates’ and graduated alone, popped into Naruto’s head. Then he thought about how Kiba seemed eager to team up with him.

Naruto couldn’t help but grimace. Damn that Gen, setting such a terrible precedent!

“And Gen really is a true genius,” Mizuki said with a sigh, though jealousy flickered in his eyes.

“In his first year after graduating, he became a chūnin. By the second year, he was a jōnin. Who knows? In the future, he might even become the Hokage of the village!”

“Hokage…”

Naruto pressed his lips together. That word hit him right where it hurt.

“Still, I really do hope you’ll graduate successfully.”

Mizuki patted Naruto on the shoulder, then leaned closer and whispered.

“Speaking of which, I heard there’s a Book of Seals in the village. It contains records of incredibly powerful techniques. Just mastering one of them would make you a shinobi on par with the Hokage.”

“Hokage…”

“Yes, Hokage.”

Mizuki studied Naruto’s blank expression and realized he might have rushed things. He quickly added: “Don’t think too much about it. Congratulations on your graduation—and forget what I just said. I only mentioned it because I know how close you are to Jōnin Gen.”

“After all, he’s the village’s genius, a true genius, maybe even a future Hokage. As his friend…”

“Well, whether it’s me or anyone else, none of us want to see you fall too far behind.”

...

“Tch, so that’s your game. I thought there was going to be some real trick.”

On the rooftop of the Academy, Kitagawa Gen stood with Kakashi, both watching the two below. Gen couldn’t help but press his lips together.

“Not the cleverest move, but it might just provoke Naruto.”

Kakashi couldn’t help but chuckle from the side, though he soon shook his head.

“After all, your influence on Naruto is pretty strong.”

Even from a distance, neither of them were ordinary shinobi. Once they locked onto a target, they had their own ways of gathering intel.

Mizuki might have lowered his voice, but his words still carried clearly to their ears.

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I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. /TitoVillar

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