The school gate was unusually noisy today. Parents shepherded their children, advice and encouragement filling the air.
Mamoru gave a lazy yawn, trailing behind Sasuke as they strolled toward the building.
It was the day of the graduation exam, no chance of slipping by with a Shadow Clone this time, so the real Mamoru had to show up.
The twins ignored the surrounding clamor, threading through the crowd and stepping onto the campus.
When the classroom door creaked open, Mamoru and Sasuke appeared side-by-side in the doorway, a rare sight that instantly drew every eye in the class.
Sasuke, long used to the attention, remained expressionless and walked straight to his seat.
Mamoru paused at the threshold, gaze sweeping the room. He hadn't been here in a while, but memories from his Shadow Clone meshed perfectly, every desk and face still felt familiar.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, dust motes dancing lazily in the beams.
"Morning, Mamoru-kun." Ino leaned from her seat, waving enthusiastically.
"Morning." He smiled back, heading for the spot wedged between Ino's enthusiasm and Shikamaru's laziness.
Beside him, Shikamaru lifted an eyelid and, only as Mamoru arrived, slowly rose to let him in.
Mamoru suddenly remembered something and stopped. He slipped his backpack off, flipped it open, and pulled out a bright magazine, then stepped down two rows.
Smack!
The magazine landed on Naruto's desk, raising a puff of dust.
Mamoru said, rapping the cover, "Latest issue of Aha-Hmm. Didn't you keep pestering me to check it out?'
"The newest one..." Naruto blinked, then beamed like he'd found treasure, trembling as he held the magazine aloft.
"Yes! This is it, brand new!"
Mamoru murmured, leaning close, "Careful. If Iruka-sensei catches you, don't say I gave it to you."
Naruto thumped his chest, grinning, blue eyes sparkling. "Relax. I'd never sell you out."
"We'll see." Mamoru straightened, shook his head, and sauntered back to his seat.
No sooner had he sat than Shikamaru side-eyed him. "Bringing that trash to school again... I'll never get why you and Naruto like that stuff."
Mamoru said, smirking. "It's camaraderie. Good things are meant to be shared."
He leaned closer and whispered, "Honestly, aren't you a bit too mature, Shikamaru? Kids our age are supposed to be curious about this, right?"
Shikamaru gave him a flat look. "Troublesome. And who calls himself a kid?"
From the front row, Naruto blurted, "Amazing."
His hands shook as he flipped pages, the sound rustling loudly.
"Naruto! Quit looking at that filth!" Sakura's roar cut through.
She glared, fists clenched, veins bulging on her forehead.
Naruto shrank, slamming the magazine shut. "But Sakura, Mamoru gave it to me, why don't you blame him?"
"Mamoru-kun's only corrupted because of you." Sakura snapped.
Mamoru almost laughed at the instant betrayal.
"No way! He's the one—" Naruto tried.
"Shut it!" Sakura barked, and Naruto fell silent.
As Mamoru enjoyed the show, Ino leaned over.
"Honestly, Mamoru-kun..." She twirled a blond lock, pouting.
"If you wanted to look, you could've just asked me."
"I don't want to." The answer came swift.
Internally he added, 'Who'd want to see a brat like you?'
"Why not!?" Ino froze, stunned.
Shikamaru muttered, tilting his head, "What's so great about him? Girls make no sense."
Ino shot him a scornful glance. "Can't even figure that out? No wonder you're unpopular, Shikamaru."
"..."
Shikamaru's lips twitched, he had no comeback.
Chatter and occasional page-turns drifted as sunlight crept across the desks.
The instant Iruka stepped in, the click of his heel silenced the room. Expectant and anxious eyes fixed on him.
He said, palms on the desk, "Aright, graduation exams begin. When I call your name, come to the next room. Today's test is Clone Technique."
Faces shifted at the announcement. Some lit up, others fell.
Naruto turned pale, clones were his worst nightmare.
Iruka read, "First up, Sasuke. Follow me."
Sasuke rose, cool as ever, and left with Iruka, the door shutting with a decisive click.
Moments later he returned, expression unchanged, a Konoha forehead protector now in hand. For the top student, the exam was a breeze.
One by one, the rest were summoned. Whenever the classroom door swung open, every eye locked onto the returning student. Those clutching a brand-new forehead protector couldn't hide their joy, while those with empty hands hurried back to their seats, heads down, trying to escape the stares.
"Mamoru, you're up!" A classmate who had just finished his exam called out, voice thick with relief.
"Finally." Mamoru stood, stretching lazily.
"Good luck, Mamoru-kun." Ino cheered beside him.
Without looking back, Mamoru waved a careless hand over his shoulder and walked out.
The adjoining exam room felt cavernous. A single examiner's table stood in the center, several Konoha ninja forehead protectors arranged in neat, glinting rows. Iruka and a white-haired examiner sat behind it.
Mamoru stepped to the center, gaze flicking across the white-haired man. He remembered him all too well.
Mizuki, wasn't it? The one who'd tried to trick Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals after Naruto failed. Hiruzen had seen through the scheme and simply waited for Mizuki to walk into the trap.
"Mamoru, the test is Clone Technique. Begin." Iruka said, voice gentle but formal.
Four soft pops echoed as white smoke bloomed and four perfect copies of Mamoru appeared. Five figures stood in line, even the creases in their jackets identical.
Iruka smiled. "Three clones is the pass mark. You produced five, excellent work. You pass, Mamoru."
Mizuki added with a smile, "As expected of the Uchiha. Both brothers so gifted, you'll be formidable ninja."
Mamoru caught the flash of envy and resentment before Mizuki hid it.
Iruka lifted one and held it out. "Come claim your forehead protector. Afterward, send Naruto in, it's his turn."
"Sure." Mamoru took the metal plate stamped with the Konoha leaf, turned, and left.
Back in his classroom he called, "Naruto, you're up."
"Watch me! This time I'll nail it!"
Naruto slapped his cheeks, sucked in a breath, and charged out like a man marching to his death.
Minutes later he trudged back, chains seemingly dragging at his feet, and buried his face in his arms without a word.
Mamoru and Shikamaru exchanged a glance and stayed put. Anything they said would only make it worse.
Sunlight slanted across Naruto's blond hair but couldn't reach the gloom inside him. Outside the gate, graduation-day bustle swirled.
Students who'd passed beamed as they showed parents their forehead protectors, laughter rising and falling.
Even those who'd failed mostly earned warm hugs and soft words: "Next year, you'll do it."
Yet that warmth had clear edges.
Beneath a tree, Naruto sat alone on a creaking swing, eyes fixed on the others wrapped in love he couldn't touch.
Mamoru and Sasuke walked past the crowd.
Mamoru's gaze brushed the lonely figure on the swing and Mizuki, now beside Naruto. He looked away at once, slinging an easy arm around Sasuke's shoulders.
He proposed brightly, "To celebrate graduating, let's hit the yakiniku place."
Sasuke frowned. "We had sukiyaki the day before yesterday. Your excuse then was 'rewarding my future efforts.'"
Mamoru's eyes darted. "Huh? Did I say that?"
"Stop playing dumb."
"Please, this is my once-in-a-lifetime request!" Mamoru pressed his palms together.
"You've used that line too many lifetimes already." Sasuke muttered.
"Come on, just this once!" Mamoru tightened his grip and steered Sasuke toward the shopping street.
"Let go!" Sasuke protested, resisting half-heartedly.
"The smell of grilled meat is calling us!" Mamoru sang.
In the long sunset glow, their silhouettes melted into the crowd and vanished.