My Name Is Namikaze Naruto - Chapter 31

Three days later.

It was the usual school time in the Hidden Leaf Village at the Ninja Academy. But today was a bit special because it was the annual graduation ceremony. The students who passed the graduation exam three days ago would have their last day at the Academy today. After the official team assignments, these boys and girls would become Genin of the Leaf Village.

Naruto also arrived at the school around the same time. He sat in his usual corner spot, observing his classmates’ joyous and excited faces. Though Naruto’s expression remained unchanged, he couldn’t help but shake his head slightly in his mind.

“Such peace…”

No fear for the future, no confusion about what’s to come.

Instead, they were filled with expectation and excitement.

This wasn’t wrong, per se.

But in this world.

With such a mindset, how many of these boys and girls would survive?

A ninja.

Is not just a profession.

It symbolizes the line between life and death.

The Leaf Village has been at peace for too long without the threat of war. The Academy could cultivate these talents more safely and smoothly. However, without the nurturing environment of wartime, how many of these so-called geniuses could truly grow?

“Perhaps one day, they might die on a simple C-rank mission…”

Looking at his cheerful classmates, this thought emerged in Naruto’s mind. It wasn’t mockery, just a statement of fact. They were like flowers in a greenhouse, a fitting description for these graduates of the Leaf’s Ninja Academy.

Most importantly.

Naruto saw no tension in them.

It seemed becoming a ninja was a wonderful thing.

They saw only the light, not the darkness.

They enjoyed the benefits of peace.

But had never seen the cruelty of war.

Naruto never wanted to be like this. Knowing the storyline, he was aware that time was running out. Every minute and second was precious.

In this classroom.

Probably only Sasuke Uchiha understood a bit of what it meant to be a ninja in the dark.

Naruto’s eyes flickered as he glanced at Sasuke’s indifferent profile.

Only this Uchiha orphan shared some similarities with him.

Let these “naive” kids play their ninja games.

“Hey? Naruto? Can you attend the graduation ceremony? Didn’t you fail the exam before?”

While Naruto was bored, observing his classmates, a familiar figure appeared beside him, speaking in a slightly surprised, lazy tone. Naruto didn’t need to turn his head to know who it was.

Looked at the familiar ponytail in his sight.

Indeed.

It was Shikamaru Nara, the “intellectual” of the so-called “Konoha 12” in the original series.

At this moment.

This lazy genius, reputed to have an IQ over 200, had a curious expression.

Naruto’s failure in the graduation exam surprised Shikamaru three days ago.

As someone who always ranked in the top five, failing the graduation exam was beyond Shikamaru’s comprehension.

Then, just when he thought Naruto would retake the exam after another year, here he was at the graduation ceremony.

Driven by curiosity, the usually lazy Shikamaru approached and asked.

“Oh? Shikamaru, it was a supplementary exam afterward. I passed it, so I can attend today’s graduation ceremony.”

Looking at the lazy youth before him.

Naruto lightly pointed to the forehead protector on his head, smiling as he spoke.

In their six years at the Academy.

Naruto got along fairly well with most of his classmates.

Not just because of his grades, but also his personality.

While civilian classmates might distance themselves from Naruto due to their parents’ influence, those from prominent families like Shikamaru’s were different. Though their parents didn’t directly tell their children about Naruto’s special status, they didn’t tell them to stay away either, letting the kids decide for themselves.

So, Naruto had relatively good relationships with the likes of Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino.

“Oh? A supplementary exam, I see.”

Shikamaru nodded thoughtfully.

Although Shikamaru’s sharp mind could easily see through the intricacies, since Naruto was here with a forehead protector, it meant the Academy approved his graduation. Lazy as he was, Shikamaru wouldn’t probe further.

“Oh? Naruto can graduate too? That’s great. You were one of the best in our class.”

Choji, who was almost always with Shikamaru, approached while eating chips, smiling and saying.

“Want some chips, Shikamaru? Naruto?”

He offered his chips to them.

“No, I’m good. (You eat, Choji.)”

Naruto and Shikamaru replied in turn.

“The team assignments are coming up soon. I wonder how they’ll split us up. It’d be great if we could be in the same team.”

Shikamaru, hands behind his head, spoke with a bit of anticipation.

“Anyone else could say that Shikamaru, but don’t you already know your team assignment?”

Naruto turned slightly, resting his chin on his left hand, smiling at Shikamaru.

Naruto’s words made Shikamaru’s expression fall. He nodded reluctantly.

“Yeah, I was just saying.”

The traditional Ino-Shika-Cho formation.

Everyone in the Leaf Village knew about it.

If they weren’t the same age, it wouldn’t matter.

But if they graduated together.

Ino-Shika-Cho would always form a team.

This has been a tradition since the founding of the three clans in the Leaf.

In this generation, Shikamaru of the Nara clan, Choji of the Akimichi clan, and Ino of the Yamanaka clan were set to form a team from day one.

Shikamaru knew this well, and he wasn’t surprised that Naruto did too. Naruto was known as studious in their class, spending more time in the Academy library than the rest of the class combined.

Knowing this was no surprise.

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