"Did you see that, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura Haruno's eyes sparkled as she eagerly gestured toward the stage.But Sasuke, true to his usual demeanor, remained indifferent, his dark eyes fixed elsewhere, betraying no emotion."Next up… Ino Yamanaka." Iruka-sensei called, his voice calm but attentive.Ino stepped forward confidently. Within seconds, she formed two clones, each one flawless in appearance. Her movements were precise, her Chakra control evident."85 points!" Iruka announced.The class murmured appreciatively."Next… Hyuga Hinata," Iruka-sensei continued.Hinata walked forward, her head lowered slightly. She radiated nervousness, her soft footsteps hesitant on the wooden stage.Naruto's voice suddenly rang out from the back: "Go, Hinata!"The shout startled her, causing her cheeks to flush crimson. Yet beneath her embarrassment, her heart fluttered with an inexplicable warmth.Ino, noticing this, covered her mouth, suppressing a giggle.Hinata took a deep breath, centering herself. "Clone Technique!" she whispered.Despite her nerves, three perfect clones appeared beside her."Very good, 90 points!" Iruka-sensei praised. Relief washed over Hinata, and a small smile formed on her face. She gracefully walked off the stage, her head still slightly bowed."And now… Uzumaki Naruto!" Iruka-sensei's voice carried across the room.Naruto's heart thumped with excitement. He leapt onto the stage with his usual boundless energy, brushing past Hinata in a blur of orange and blue."G-go for it, Naruto-kun…" Hinata murmured, her voice barely audible.Naruto grinned confidently as he approached Iruka-sensei."Are you ready, Naruto?" Iruka-sensei asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips."I am!" Naruto replied, standing tall and resolute.For a moment, the entire class held their breath. The memory of Naruto's struggles only a month ago—the countless failed attempts at basic Ninjutsu—lingered vividly in their minds. Their eyes followed him, filled with a mixture of anticipation and doubt."Clone Technique!" Naruto called.He formed the hand signs with precision, channeling his Chakra carefully. In an instant, three perfect clones materialized before the students' eyes.The classroom erupted."Hiss—" several students gasped.Only a month ago, Naruto could barely form a single clone. If he managed to produce one, it was usually weak and unstable, collapsing almost immediately.But now… three flawless clones appeared instantly, each one mirroring Naruto perfectly.Iruka-sensei's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and pride in his gaze."Naruto… you…" he started, trailing off in astonishment."Hahaha! How is that, Iruka-sensei? Amazing, right?!" Naruto exclaimed, bouncing with energy. "This is the result of my hard training!"Iruka-sensei's heart warmed. He alone knew the sweat, tears, and relentless effort behind this transformation. He couldn't help but feel a bittersweet pride."Yes, well done, Naruto," Iruka-sensei said, nodding firmly."90 points…" he started, then Naruto interrupted."Wait! Iruka-sensei, I want to show you something else… Can I get extra points for this?"Iruka-sensei's eyes twitched, a small smirk forming. He seemed to understand exactly what Naruto had in mind."Hmm… theoretically, yes," he said cautiously.Naruto's grin widened. "Then watch this!""Shadow Clone Technique!" he shouted.Before anyone could react, bursts of white smoke enveloped him. When the smoke cleared, five fully solid Shadow Clones stood on stage.The classroom exploded in astonishment."W-what is that?!" one student cried."These aren't normal clones… they're solid!" another whispered."How is this possible? Five solid clones at once?!" a third added.Even the more experienced students struggled to comprehend the sheer scale of Naruto's progress. Creating solid clones demanded not only precise Ninjutsu but also immense amounts of Chakra. The fact that Naruto could sustain five at once was beyond imagination.Iruka-sensei paled, momentarily speechless. He had never expected Naruto to achieve this level in such a short time.Naruto's heart raced. If he pushed further, he could summon even more Shadow Clones, perhaps ten or more. But he restrained himself, knowing that using too many would drain his Chakra and leave him vulnerable in the upcoming sparring session.Hinata and Ino exchanged wide-eyed glances, both utterly stunned."I-is that… really Naruto-kun's new technique?" Hinata whispered."Even the Byakugan can't detect it fully. Are these clones… evenly distributed with Chakra?" Ino asked, disbelief in her tone.Sakura Haruno could only gape silently. Sasuke's fists clenched so tightly that the sound of cracking knuckles filled the tense air."Naruto… how strong are you now?!" he muttered, barely containing his frustration.Iruka-sensei exhaled slowly, regaining his composure. "Naruto, your Shadow Clone Technique surpasses many Chunin—and even some Jonin…"Naruto's eyes sparkled with pride."In that case, you do indeed deserve extra points," Iruka-sensei continued. "I doubt anyone will object. Your Ninjutsu assessment score is…""100 points!" Iruka-sensei's voice rang clear.The room fell silent for a brief moment before erupting into a mixture of awe and excitement.Even though several students had achieved perfect scores before, Naruto's demonstration of five solid Shadow Clones overshadowed them all. These were clones capable of fighting and training, not mere illusions or decoys.Naruto leapt into the air, fists pumping with joy. "Yay!!!"Hinata's cheeks flushed as she smiled, genuinely overjoyed for him.Ino let out a soft sigh, muttering, "He's… like a completely different person."Sakura Haruno could only stare, speechless. The Naruto she had known a month ago was unrecognizable now—powerful, confident, and brimming with skill.Sasuke's eyes darkened, determination etched on his face. "I will defeat you… fair and square."Even after the classroom settled, the excitement lingered. Naruto's accomplishment was a shockwave that would resonate for days.Iruka-sensei cleared his throat, calling attention back to the stage. "Next assessments, please."But following Naruto's display, the subsequent assessments seemed almost mundane. None of the other students could match the impact Naruto had made.By the time the cultural studies and Ninjutsu assessments concluded, the class was buzzing with chatter about Naruto's progress. His Shadow Clone Technique had raised the bar for everyone.Finally, the Ninja sparring assessments were announced. These carried immense practical significance but were considered secondary in the official grading system. Exceptional performance could earn extra points, but average results wouldn't cause a deduction.Naruto's mind raced with anticipation. The stage was set. His hard work had paid off, but the true test—the test of actual combat—was just beginning.As he glanced at Sasuke across the room, he knew this was only the start. The path to becoming Hokage would be long and arduous, but Naruto had taken a monumental step today.And with his new Shadow Clone Technique, he was ready for anything.
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