Chapter 13: The Celebration
After finishing his explanation, Kakashi smiled warmly at his three new students.
"Congratulations," he said. "From this moment on, you are officially genin of Konohagakure."
Sakura and Sasuke both showed visible signs of excitement. Sakura's eyes grew misty with joyful tears, while Sasuke allowed himself a small, rare smile and a relieved exhale. Even he couldn't hide his satisfaction at having passed.
"You're free to do as you please until tomorrow," Kakashi continued. "Be at the village gate at six in the morning. I'll take you to pick up your first assigned mission."
He turned to leave, then paused as if remembering something. Over his shoulder, he added, "Oh, one more thing. There's a celebration banquet tonight for all the newly graduated genin and their Jōnin instructors. Everyone who passed will be there. You three should come as well—after all, you're the first batch of genin to pass under my watch."
Sakura and Sasuke nodded, still caught up in the glow of their success.
With that, Kakashi vanished in a flicker of the Body Flicker Technique, leaving the three genin alone in the empty training ground.
The moment he was gone, Sakura threw her arms up as if releasing all the tension she had been holding.
"Yay! We passed! Naruto, Sasuke—we're officially genin now!"
Even Sasuke's usual aloofness softened slightly. He let out a quiet breath and allowed himself a small nod of acknowledgment.
Sakura blinked her large eyes at her two teammates. "I need to go home and change clothes before the banquet. What about you two? Naruto? Sasuke?"
"I'll head straight there," Sasuke said coolly.
Naruto smiled and shook his head. "You two go ahead. I'll walk for a bit first."
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged curious glances, wondering what Naruto intended to do, but neither asked. After a quick round of goodbyes, they left the training ground, heading in opposite directions.
Once he was alone, Naruto exhaled slowly and closed his eyes.
He replayed the fight with Kakashi in his mind, analyzing every moment, every exchange. Neither of them had gone all out, but the battle had still been instructive.
First, his Hakuda—the hand-to-hand combat arts of the Shinigami—had proven exceptionally effective. It had elevated his melee capabilities significantly. Yet Naruto could still feel room for improvement. If he combined the precision of his Sharingan with the fluid strikes of Hakuda, his physical combat power would increase dramatically.
Second, the battle had given him a clearer understanding of Jōnin-level strength. He now had a better sense of what kind of opponents he could handle and where his current limits lay.
Having organized his thoughts, Naruto turned his attention inward.
'System,' he commanded silently. 'Sign in at Training Ground Three.'
Ding…
Training Ground Three: Sign-in successful!
Ding… Reward obtained: Forbidden Jutsu [Eight Inner Gates].
Additional reward: 2.7% template experience.
A flood of information rushed into Naruto's mind—the complete cultivation method and techniques for the Eight Inner Gates. The knowledge settled into place, fully digested within moments.
Naruto nodded in satisfaction.
He had stayed behind for two reasons: to review the battle, and because the system had refreshed a sign-in location right here. The timing was perfect.
The Eight Inner Gates. Known as the pinnacle of taijutsu forbidden techniques. By releasing the body's natural limiters, the user gains tremendous power for a short period. When all Eight Gates are opened, it is called the Eight Gates Released Formation, capable of granting power several times—or even dozens of times—that of a Kage-level shinobi.
The technique's strength scaled with the user. The stronger the foundation, the more terrifying the result. Of course, the cost was equally high.
With the Eight Inner Gates enhancing his physical abilities, combined with the refined techniques of Hakuda, Naruto's taijutsu had once again taken a massive leap forward.
His Byakuya Kuchiki template had also progressed—from 87% unlocked to 89.7%.
Naruto finished integrating the rewards just as the sky began to darken. The first hints of moonlight filtered through the trees, casting silver shadows across the training ground.
Glancing up at the deepening twilight, Naruto allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. Then he turned and headed toward the celebration banquet.
——
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
Kakashi had gone directly to report to the Third Hokage immediately after leaving the training ground. He stepped into the familiar office, removed his forehead protector, and waited as Hiruzen set down his brush.
"Sarutobi-sama," Kakashi said respectfully. "I've completed the exercise."
The Third Hokage nodded, his expression calm but expectant. "And? How did they perform? Did they pass?"
"Yes," Kakashi replied. "All three passed."
Hiruzen's weathered face relaxed into a look of genuine relief. "To pass your test… it seems they truly have the makings of fine shinobi. And the other matter?"
As he spoke, the Third Hokage's eyes narrowed, sharp and calculating—the look of a seasoned old fox.
The reason he had asked Kakashi to report immediately after the exercise was precisely this other matter.
Kakashi's brow furrowed slightly. He considered his words carefully before speaking.
"Sarutobi-sama," he said slowly, "I don't believe Naruto was responsible. For Mizuki to have been killed without any resistance, the killer would need to be at least elite Jōnin level. Uzumaki Naruto does not possess that kind of capability. In my judgment, it wasn't him."
The Third Hokage listened, then nodded slowly.
That was why he had assigned Kakashi as Naruto's instructor—to observe the boy up close, to evaluate him, and to determine whether he could have been involved in Mizuki's death.
Even a survival exercise is never just a survival exercise, Naruto would later think, had he known. The machinations of those in power are meticulous as old foxes. Probes, intrigue, deception—they are everywhere, in everything.