As Naruto's words fell, the scene changed in an instant.
This time, it was no longer just one or two clones.
"Go!"
From the crowd, a senior who had been watching with folded arms suddenly lunged. Beside him, a teacher maintaining order also charged in. Even from the ground, two clones burst out.
In a flash, over a dozen Kage Bunshin rushed at Sasuke from every direction—above, below, left, right, front, back—perfectly in sync.
"What?!"
Sasuke paled.
The Sharingan could track the movements, but his body simply couldn't keep up. Two fists can't beat four hands—let alone twenty-plus.
He dodged the first two clones and kicked the ones bursting from underground, but arms behind him locked his own in a tight hold.
More clones piled on.
Choke-holds, leg-grabs, arm-locks… in barely two seconds.
The cocky, newly-awakened Sharingan Sasuke was pinned beneath a human pyramid, utterly immobile.
"Let me go, damn it! Fight me one-on-one!"
Face grinding into the dirt, Sasuke yelled in humiliation.
A clone pressing him down said matter-of-factly:
"We are fighting you one-on-one—very fair."
"Enough."
A voice cut in: The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He flickered into the arena. Seeing Sasuke gasping under the pile, crimson eyes blazing, the Hokage felt surprise—and understanding.
"The match is over. Release him."
At the order, the clones let go, puffing into white smoke.
Sasuke scrambled up, Sharingan fading as his Chakra ran dry. Panting, he stared around, hoarse:
"Where's the real one? Uzumaki Naruto! Where are you? Are you so scared of dying you won't even show up for the victory?"
The Third Hokage shook his head; that night had clearly affected Naruto. Whether for better or worse remained to be seen.
At the edge, Shikamaru covered his eyes. "Who can fight him now? We'll only ever pop a single clone…"
Teachers and students scanned the field, whispering, guessing. Yes—after all this, Naruto's clones were everywhere, but where was the real boy? Had he even come to school?
The Third Hokage regarded the fuming Sasuke with resignation, then turned past the students toward the examiner seats—precisely to the Chunin proctor beside Iruka, the quiet scorekeeper no one had noticed.
"Naruto, you've won. Come out; stop the search."
Amusement colored the Hokage's tone.
Silence fell; every eye followed his gaze to the unremarkable examiner.
Iruka jumped back in shock, staring at his coworker.
"Th-this is Naruto!?"
Under everyone's stare, the Chunin proctor sighed, set down his marking board—
Poof.
Smoke cleared to reveal bright blond hair and those trademark black-rimmed glasses.
The real Uzumaki Naruto straightened his clothes and gave the stunned Sasuke a gentle smile.
"Sorry, Sasuke."
"The room was crowded; blending into the exam staff was safest. And from the referee spot, I could watch every opening you showed."
Looking at the "teacher" who had stood under his nose—and probably graded him—Sasuke's vision darkened; his composure cracked.
Naruto stepped up, gazing down at him.
"Deceit, concealment, disguise—they're part of strength too."
Sasuke clenched his teeth, glaring.
Dirty tactics, yes—and yet Naruto had won, utterly, without question. Not just overwhelming power, but a dimensional crush in tactics.
Helplessness washed over Sasuke, followed by fiercer longing. In that instant of awakening, his strength had leapt.
Master this power and I'll see through every trick. Just wait, Naruto. I'll make you face me.
Without realizing, Sasuke now looked up at Naruto as the benchmark to surpass. The fire inside him burned hotter than ever.
Invisible threads carried his surging spirit straight to Naruto.
"Good."
Feeling the feedback, Naruto nodded.
He reached out, pulled Sasuke up as he had countless times, then clapped his shoulder.
"Don't lose heart. You awakened the Sharingan, the legendary eye. Except for me, no one in school can touch you. Keep at it and maybe—just maybe—you'll beat my real body someday."
He trailed off, not quite believing it himself.
"Hmph. I don't need your comfort."
Sasuke slapped the hand away and limped into the crowd.
"Alright!"
The Third Hokage's voice hushed the murmurs. He stepped forward, eyes kindly yet commanding.
"Today I've seen Konohagakure's saplings grow strong. The Naruto-Sasuke duel was brilliant!"
"Though Naruto's tactics… ahem… were unconventional, that is exactly the quality a shinobi must show on missions—break norms, use everything to succeed."
He proclaimed:
"I declare this year's valedictorian: Uzumaki Naruto!"
Applause thundered.
They might fear his sneakiness, but strength was strength. Perfect theory scores and overwhelming dominance made the title undeniable.
In the crowd, Hinata's cheeks blazed as she clapped wildly. Ino and Sakura stared, seeing him in a new light.
[Ding!]
[Mission: Graduate as Valedictorian – completed]
[Reward: C-rank treasure chest x1]
Naruto merely smiled his usual smile.
The applause no longer thrilled him; the chest was just a bonus. His calm gaze swept past the cheering crowd toward the landmark building beyond.
The real prize waited inside the Hokage Building.