"Naruto, today is the day you graduate from the ninja academy. You're quite good - I never expected someone as poor as you were back then could grow to this level."
It was still that chubby, plump silkworm. At this time, lying on top of the protagonist of Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto's head, speaking in an old-fashioned manner.
"Yes, it's been over three years since I met you and Meruem. Three years ago he left you by my side. It's all thanks to you - these have been the happiest three years of my life. Without you, there wouldn't be the me of today."
Wearing a white long robe over his shoulders, very similar to the divine robes the Fourth Hokage wore back then. Combined with long hair completely different from the original spiky flat-top, plus those blue eyes - if you weren't paying close attention, it would be easy to mistake him for the original Fourth Hokage.
The only differences were the three whisker-like marks on both sides of his cheeks and skin much darker than the Fourth's.
But overall he looked even more composed and handsome. If he grew a little beard on his face, he'd simply be a lady-killer of the uncle-loving type. Of course, the prerequisite was that Naruto needed to grow taller and his face needed to be more weathered.
Actually, this was all deliberately chosen by Naruto. Since learning his father was the Fourth Hokage, he constantly wanted to prove to those ignorant villagers that he was the Fourth's son. On the other hand, he also wanted to use this to provoke the Third Hokage and his father's former subordinates.
He now wasn't as weak as three years ago. His whole body's explosive power and rock-hard muscles all indicated Naruto's amazing taijutsu abilities.
Rock Lee of Konoha Village was called the genius of hard work, but Naruto, trained by the Golden Silkworm Gu, worked even harder than Lee. Moreover, Naruto had one terrifying advantage over Lee - Naruto's recovery ability could be called a bug.
No matter how arduous the physical training, no matter how much his body was overdrafted the previous day, the next day Naruto could still get up full of vigor and continue training.
This was something others couldn't envy. As a member of the Uzumaki clan, a branch of the Senju lineage, his body was already far stronger than ordinary people. Plus Naruto had the Nine-Tails inside him, making his recovery ability even more terrifying.
It could almost be called a weakened version of the Sage's Body.
In terms of taijutsu alone, even some special jonin weren't his match. Even facing jonin, only taijutsu-type jonin dared claim certain victory. Of course, ninja competitions didn't rely solely on taijutsu. The current Naruto was still completely clueless about genjutsu - this was his weakness.
Fortunately, he could rely on the Golden Silkworm Gu. Combined with the massive chakra in his body and that fox's existence, Naruto really wasn't afraid of genjutsu in the general sense.
The only regrettable point was ninjutsu. Naruto only knew a few sparse ninjutsu, learned through his relationship with Uchiha Sasuke.
But the Uchiha clan was naturally a fire element clan - having a few Wind Release jutsu in their collection was already quite good. However, Naruto did successfully obtain the Shadow Clone Jutsu and Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Although Multiple Shadow Clone was classified as a forbidden technique, it wasn't some incredible move - many jonin knew it.
It was just a forbidden technique for ninjas below special jonin level.
One had to sigh that great clans were great clans. Even after being massacred with only one orphan remaining, their foundation still couldn't compare to civilian ninjas.
Naruto was also the only person in all of Konoha that Uchiha Sasuke could talk to, or could be called a good friend.
However, after three years together, Naruto had achieved amazing friendship with the Nine-Tails fox Kurama. Even Meruem controlling the Golden Silkworm Gu couldn't understand this - he could only sigh that the protagonist was the protagonist.
With the Nine-Tails' power to borrow, plus his own considerable strength, if the current Naruto went berserk recklessly, even the Third Hokage probably couldn't stop him.
Of course, after going berserk, Naruto would probably only have half his life left. Tailed Beast transformation caused too much bodily damage, especially Nine-Tails jinchuriki's transformation.
Killer B, the Eight-Tails jinchuriki's transformation was the most peaceful among the nine Tailed Beasts.
Don't think this description of Naruto's strength was exaggerated. Otherwise, why do you think jinchuriki were deterrents for ninja villages against other villages? Because that thing itself was a nuclear weapon's existence.
As long as a jinchuriki recklessly truly went berserk, even just the One-Tail going crazy required a Kage-level expert to forcibly suppress.
However, that all belonged to the Nine-Tails' abilities. Without borrowing the Nine-Tails' power, Naruto's own comprehensive strength only equaled elite chunin. Mainly genjutsu dragged him down too much. But if they really fought, ordinary special jonin shouldn't think about taking him down.
Thinking about it made sense. Who taught Naruto's taijutsu? The Golden Silkworm Gu.
Who controlled the Golden Silkworm Gu? Meruem.
How weak could Naruto, taught by super taijutsu expert Meruem, be?
"Wow, look, look, it's Sasuke!" "He's so handsome~" "Right, right, so handsome." "How can he be so handsome?"
When Naruto and Sasuke entered their class together, this was what Naruto heard those infatuated little girls saying.
"Hey, cocky Sasuke! Really enviable - you're so popular." Naruto put one hand on Sasuke's shoulder with an evil smile.
Combined with his slightly roguish demeanor, this was also a fatal attraction for those little girls.
"Boring." Sasuke glanced at the somewhat rough hand on his shoulder without making other unnecessary movements, just disdainfully curling his lip.
If it were the original story's relationship between Sasuke and Naruto, Sasuke would definitely knock Naruto's hand away immediately.
"Wow~ look, look, it's Naruto-kun~" "He's also so handsome~" "Right, his smile is so attractive."
Naruto's current attire and appearance were also very popular. At this time, they completely ignored their families' warnings. This age was really cough cough a good age for romance!
"What, you actually like that delinquent, and there's even a white bug on the delinquent's head - aren't you disgusted?" Some Passerby A who didn't like Naruto complained.
Then they were belittled by that bunch of infatuated troops like venomous snakes until nearly crying.
"Mom... girls are so scary." Passerby A's last thought.
The white bug naturally referred to the Golden Silkworm Gu. But for the ninja world, just explaining it as a summoning beast or ninja beast/pet was fine - this wasn't anything rare. Moreover, when in public, the Golden Silkworm Gu absolutely wouldn't speak, just maintaining a dumb, silly appearance exactly like a real silkworm, cute and dumb.
Others at most thought Naruto's taste was strange. Even the Third just looked and was fooled by the Golden Silkworm Gu. This world had no concept of Nen beasts. If the Golden Silkworm Gu as a Nen beast didn't want them to see it, naturally they couldn't see it.
Only the Byakugan could see a mass of energy matter. This world didn't have Nen concentrated in the eyes.
"Idiot Naruto, you're not bad yourself - Konoha Academy's Golden Delinquent."
"You want to die?" "You can try."
"Wow, they look so handsome even when fighting~" *N infatuated fans.
"Women are such a pain." Shikamaru, lazily sprawled on his desk, said listlessly.
"Don't say that, Shikamaru-kun. Naruto said he's treating us to barbecue at Sasuke's house tonight. Want to come?" Choji, constantly stuffing snacks in his mouth, said unclearly.
"Why is it at Sasuke's house again? I really can't stand his cocky attitude." The speaker was a hooded boy with a white puppy on his head.
"Kiba, don't you also have a cocky attitude?" Sakura, one of the chief commanders of Sasuke's guard squad, spoke up.
"Naruto-kun today... is so handsome..." Hinata, constantly playing with her fingers, glanced up at Naruto then immediately lowered her head again.
"Hinata... this won't do! If you like someone, you should boldly say it. Look at me - I like Sasuke, so Sasuke-kun, I like you!" Ino, who appeared from nowhere, boldly patted Hinata's back, the last sentence shouted toward where Naruto and Sasuke were.
"Oh my, Ino-pig, you want to die?" Sakura said with angry (jealous) fire burning in her eyes.
Inner Sakura: Damn it, if I'd known, I wouldn't have argued with idiot Kiba. That confession should have been mine!
"Forehead girl, say that again." Ino wasn't backing down either.
"Ah, it's Hinata-chan. Come to Sasuke's house for barbecue tonight - just our usual group." Naruto said cheerfully to Hinata.
"Ah, Naruto-kun called me Hinata-chan... chan... chan..." Seeing Naruto so close, Hinata's entire head turned red, with light steam rising from her head.
"Okay." A mosquito-like tiny voice came from Hinata's mouth. If not for Naruto's amazing hearing, he probably wouldn't have heard it.
"Hey, idiot Naruto, why is it at my house again?" Sasuke said very unhappily. Honestly, he didn't understand why Naruto befriended these so-called classmates - in his view, these guys were all weaklings.
Those Naruto befriended were all the Konoha Twelve from the original work. This was what the Golden Silkworm Gu on his head taught him. To take back everything that originally belonged to him, he had to strengthen all possible relationships. Each of the original Konoha Twelve except Sakura was the son or daughter of relatively powerful family clan leaders in Konoha.
"Because your house is big, and it's better with more people - more lively." Naruto said familiarly with his arm around Sasuke's neck.
Unexpectedly, this action caused even more screaming from a bunch of infatuated fujoshi.
"Tch, boring." Sasuke snorted and turned his head away. But he knew Naruto wanted him to be with everyone too, so he wouldn't be alone anymore.
Really can't do anything about you, my friend.
Watching Naruto playing around with classmates nearby, a thought suddenly popped into Sasuke's mind: it would be great if we could be assigned to the same team, my only friend.
If it were you, you'd definitely help me take revenge, right?
The ninja academy graduation exam was very simple - of course, this was for the Konoha Twelve. Clone Jutsu - for Naruto who had already mastered Shadow Clone Jutsu, this simply wasn't a thing.
Well, actually it was because Naruto had absolutely no way with the regular Clone Jutsu, one of the three basic techniques, so he used Shadow Clone instead.
Clone Jutsu's chakra operation requirements simply made Naruto want to curse.
However, for examiners Mizuki and Iruka, being able to use the advanced version of Clone Jutsu - Shadow Clone Jutsu - meant passing the exam.
(End of Chapter)
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