"Naruto, wait here, okay?" Haruto said, stepping into a nearby shop.
Naruto nodded, kicking a pebble as he waited, glancing around curiously. After a while, Haruto returned with a bright smile.
"Follow me."
Naruto tilted his head but obeyed as Haruto led him to another shop. Naruto looked around, bored out of his mind, until Haruto finally returned with a slim box in hand.
"What's in the box?" Naruto asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"If you wanna know—catch me!" Haruto shouted as he dashed off.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Naruto laughed, chasing after him.
Back at home, Haruto unlocked the door and turned around to find Naruto panting.
"Go take a quick shower, idiot. You stink." he said, playfully pushing Naruto inside. They both freshened up and changed.
Haruto wore a matching outfit to Naruto's—black ninja gear with red accents, while Naruto's had orange details. The Uzumaki spiral was stitched proudly on the shoulders.
Naruto gasped. "Whoa! These are SO cool!"
"Now—if you wanna be handsome, be less talkative today, got it?" Haruto said with a teasing smirk.
Naruto gave a confused look but nodded. "Okay?"
"Close your eyes."
Naruto did, and Haruto placed a silver chain around his neck. The moment Naruto opened his eyes, he saw it—a silver pendant in the shape of the Uzumaki clan symbol.
"The symbol! Like on our shoulders!" Naruto shouted in awe. Then he noticed—Haruto had the exact same necklace.
"Wow… we match!"
Haruto nodded. "Remember, just follow my lead. Got it?"
"Got it!!"
---
Outside the academy gate…
"Naruto, act cool. Don't care about anyone's opinion. Be like… Sasuke."
"Ugh, why HIM?" Naruto groaned.
Haruto smirked. "To beat someone, you have to become him first."
Naruto's eyes sharpened. "Got it." He instantly shifted into a cold, calm demeanor.
Haruto blinked sweat beads at his cheeks as he brushed them "Whoa. Okay… but walk normal, not like you're about to declare war."
Naruto adjusted his gait, now calm and confident.
---
Inside the class…
The classroom door slammed open. All heads turned. Naruto entered with his hand in his pocket, pendant swaying with each step as he ascended the stairs and sat down.
Haruto followed, sitting beside him as they both closed their eyes and opened them at the same time, scanning the class.
'Damn… Naruto's acting is fire.'
Whispers filled the room. Shikamaru leaned over.
"Yo… Naruto."
"Yeah?" Naruto replied coolly.
"New clothes? You look fire in this."
Naruto smirked. "Thanks, man."
Shikamaru chuckled. "And the whole 'cool guy' thing—it's good, but doesn't feel like the real you."
Haruto patted Naruto's shoulder. Naruto sighed and grinned. "I just wanted to look cool. And I did."
"Yep. That's the Naruto I know."
From across the room, Sakura glanced at Naruto, briefly impressed, but Naruto didn't feel like it was enough.
And as for Haruto? Despite his good looks, his current charm perk was still low-tier. Once it upgraded, the world would know...no not the world but the boys...will know pain
---
Later…
Iruka stepped into the room.
"Alright everyone, I know many of you just turned 12."
"Hai!" the class responded.
"The graduation exam is in 2 days. You've got time off till then—use it well!"
The room went silent before breaking into chaos.
"I'm gonna fail, Haruto!" Naruto panicked.
Haruto patted him on the back. "No you won't. I'll tell you exactly what to do."
The day after the exam was announced...
"Haruto, please teach me! If you don't, I'm gonna fail for sure!" Naruto whined, tugging on his brother's sleeve.
The last day before the exam...
"I'm begging you now, Haruto! Please!" Naruto was practically on his knees.
Haruto finally sighed, acting reluctant. "Alright, fine."
"Now you say okay?!"
Haruto leaned forward, his tone suddenly serious. "Listen to me carefully, Naruto. You have to fail the exam."
"...Huh?"
"And after that, you have to act angry at me. Like, really mad."
"But why?!"
"Mizuki-sensei… he'll approach you after the exam. He'll give you a secret task — and if you follow through, you'll become stronger, and become genin"
Naruto blinked. "Wait, really? But how do you know?"
Haruto stiffened for a second before quickly replying, "I… overheard him talking to someone. Just trust me."
Naruto gave him a thumbs-up, grinning. "Deal!"
---
Exam Day
Just as Haruto predicted, everyone passed the graduation test — except Naruto.
But this time, Naruto didn't sulk. He acted.
"You don't know how it feels to fail!" he shouted at Haruto outside the academy. "Just go away and leave me alone!"
Haruto didn't flinch. He simply nodded and walked off, casting one last glance back.
Good luck, bro.
Naruto sat alone on the swing, letting his head hang low. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, and soon enough—
"Naruto," came a voice.
Naruto looked up. It was Mizuki, stepping forward with a gentle expression.
"Sorry about today. Must've been tough."
Naruto sniffed and muttered, "My brother didn't help me... I hate him..."
Mizuki's smile widened slightly. "Well, what if I told you there's another way to pass?"
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Mizuki nodded, lowering his voice. "But it's a secret. You'll need to follow my instructions exactly..."
---
Late that night
The Hokage's office was dark and quiet — except for the small shadow that slipped through the window.
Naruto, trembling but determined, crept inside and unrolled the scroll he'd just taken.
"The Scroll of Seals…" he whispered, not realizing that his every move had already set a storm into motion.