Before dawn, Naruto returned to the Hokage Mansion to show Hiruzen his progress.
In front of him, several perfect Shadow Clones appeared without a single flaw.
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction and called Iruka.
When he arrived, Naruto immediately noticed that Iruka-sensei was not well. He looked sad.
He had probably already heard about Mizuki's betrayal from the Hokage. As his childhood friend and former comrade at the Ninja Academy, he had the right to know what had happened.
When Hiruzen approved Naruto's graduation, Iruka wanted to object, arguing that he was not yet ready.
But then Naruto showed him the Shadow Clones.
Seeing them, Iruka smiled, ruffled his hair, and even promised to treat him to ramen later.
His mother, Kushina, and even his father, Minato, were delighted with how great a teacher Iruka was.
Even Hashirama and Tobirama praised him, saying that all academy teachers should be like him!
The day ended with Naruto and Iruka eating ramen at Ichiraku, alongside Teuchi and his daughter Ayame.
Naruto also didn't miss the opportunity to proudly show off his ninja headband tied to his left arm.
…
A few days later, Naruto woke up and tried on his new outfit, specially prepared for this moment.
Today, he would be assigned to a team with a Jōnin as his teacher!
Even though having Kakashi as his teacher didn't excite him, there was nothing he could do about it.
He knew that, in the end, Kakashi would only focus on Sasuke and ignore him along with Sakura.
Before leaving his apartment, he looked in the mirror.
[Kushina Uzumaki: My baby is so adorable! Look at how much you've grown! You're as handsome as your father!]
[Minato Namikaze: Oh, Kushina, you're going to make me blush...]
[Tobirama Senju: Shouldn't it be the other way around?]
[Kushina Uzumaki: Let him blush! I love it when he gets embarrassed!]
Naruto immediately closed the chat group. He didn't want to hear his parents flirting.
In the mirror was reflected a fourteen-year-old boy, 161 centimeters tall, quite tall for his age.
His blond hair, longer than usual, was tied into a short ponytail, with bangs.
His blue eyes shone with determination.
And as for his new outfit…
He couldn't help himself. While walking through the streets of Konoha, he saw the outfit that the original Naruto would wear in Naruto Shippuden.
Without hesitation, he spent a large portion of his monthly allowance to buy it.
He didn't want to sound egotistical, but he considered himself quite attractive.
At least his training over the last three months had paid off.
His appearance had changed quite a bit.
(Note: His appearance matches the cover image.)
Besides, he liked his whisker marks. Even though he knew many feared him because of them.
Smiling one last time, he left his apartment and headed to the Ninja Academy.
On the way, a boy jumped in front of him.
"I challenge you!" he shouted before slipping and falling to the ground.
Ever since Naruto graduated, the Third Hokage's grandson, Konohamaru, had been following him everywhere, trying to challenge him to a fight.
It all started the day Naruto went to the Hokage Mansion to take his graduation photo.
"You're so strong, Naruto-nii! That's why I admire you!"
"But I didn't even do anything…" Naruto scratched his head, holding back laughter as he watched Konohamaru trip.
"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry. Let's play another day, okay?"
Without waiting for a response, Naruto disappeared from his sight.
"As expected of Naruto-nii! He's incredibly powerful… I couldn't even keep up with him!"
Clearly, Konohamaru was mistaken, but Naruto would never correct him.
Everyone liked a little admiration from time to time.
…
Upon arriving at the Ninja Academy for Iruka's Briefing Session, he avoided Sasuke and, without hesitation, sat next to Hinata.
Just as he had avoided Sasuke, he had also avoided the expired milk in his fridge that morning.
He wasn't in the mood to spend the day with a stomachache.
As soon as he entered, several gazes fell on him. No one had expected him to graduate.
"Hey, Hinata… How about we go eat after this? Just the two of us."
Hinata's face immediately turned red, and she quickly nodded.
"Y-yes… th-that sounds nice, Naruto-kun."
[Hizashi Hyūga: Is my niece in love? How is this possible?!]
[Kushina Uzumaki: This reminds me of Minato and me when we were kids! Minato would blush just like that too!]
[Minato Namikaze: K-Kushina! Don't say those things, it's embarrassing!]
[Fugaku Uchiha: To think the Fourth Hokage had this side to him… I never would have imagined.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: But Minato, you were so cute when you blushed…!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: You two, get a room.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: If we weren't in the Pure World, you'd already have a little sibling, Naruto!]
[Mito Uzumaki: Fufu~ As bold as ever, Kushina.]
[Mikoto Uchiha: She has always been like that…]
Naruto immediately closed the chat group.
Thinking about what his parents might be doing in the Pure World made his skin crawl.
He turned his attention back to Hinata.
"I'll take you to Ichiraku!"
She shyly nodded.
Even after three months of sitting together and talking, she was still just as shy.
[Hizashi Hyūga: I won't let you get away with this, brat! Not with my niece!]
The message from Hizashi, directed straight at him, caused the chat group window to open again.
[Naruto Uzumaki: And what exactly is a dead man going to do to stop me?]
[Hizashi Hyūga: That…]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Don't worry. Hinata is my wife. I'll take care of her~]
[Kushina Uzumaki: KYAAAA~ My baby is in love!]
[Hizashi Hyūga: Your wife?! You're not even married yet!]
[Tobirama Senju: Maybe this is another thing Naruto knows from the future?]
[Madara Uchiha: Does the brat know about the future…?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: You guessed it, Tobirama! I know everything that's going to happen in the ninja world!]
Madara Uchiha, in the Pure World, frowned.
If what the brat said was true, his Moon's Eye Plan could be in danger.
With the strength Naruto was gaining, it wouldn't be surprising if he defeated Obito one day.
[Madara Uchiha: How much do you know about the future…?]
Madara chose his words carefully.
[Naruto Uzumaki: The moon looks so pretty today… Oh, sorry, I got distracted. What were you saying? Ah, right. I know everything.]
[Madara Uchiha: …]
[Kushina Uzumaki: So you really will marry that girl, Hinata?! You better give me lots of grandchildren!]
[Hizashi Hyūga: No way! Impossible! I refuse to believe that my older brother would allow such a thing! Hinata is the heir of the Hyūga Clan!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Hiashi names Hanabi as the heir of the Hyūga Clan.]
[Hizashi Hyūga: ...]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Besides, I become a hero to the entire Ninja World. My reputation becomes good enough to be an acceptable candidate to marry the princess of the Hyūga Clan.]
[Tobirama Senju: A hero? Why do you become a hero?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Because of my role in the Fourth Ninja War. I also become the Seventh Hokage... although this time, I'm no longer interested.]
[Hashirama Senju: Seventh Hokage? If Tsunade becomes the Fifth, then, who is the Sixth?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Don't you guys think I'm giving away too much information for free?]
[Izuna Uchiha: You always leave us hanging just to ask for something when it gets interesting!]
[Tobirama Senju: A moment ago, you said that this time you're not interested in becoming Hokage... What exactly does that mean?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: ...]
Sitting next to Hinata, Naruto smiled. He already had an excuse prepared to justify his knowledge of the future.
He would say that he had traveled back in time. There was no better explanation.
And if everyone believed he had information about upcoming events, even better. He could sell them intel in exchange for resources and training.
The more they paid him, the stronger he would become.
After all, that had always been his goal.
[Tobirama Senju: I knew it. Thanks to your silence, I was able to confirm it. You, brat, are from the future.]
"Idiot..." Naruto thought amusedly, seeing that Tobirama had fallen right into his trap.