Naruto's Exam

In a bustling city, at the end of an inconspicuous street, Naruto picked up a special souvenir and asked in surprise: "Is there anything special about this thing?"

"This special pocket dart was made by our former mayor, Minato himself. It was because of his powerful ability and this weapon that we won the victory in that large-scale urban conflict ahead of time." Kakashi responded, patting Naruto's shoulder gently.

Naruto was shocked, staring at the pocket dart in his hand, and felt that his previous second-year feeling towards it disappeared instantly. "One day, I will become the mayor and surpass Minato-senpai!" He clenched the weapon in his hand.

Kakashi touched Naruto's head and said confidently: "Naruto, I believe you can definitely do it."

While Naruto was still wondering why Kakashi-sensei had such high expectations of him, past clips began to replay on the screen.

In the image on the screen, Naruto was sitting alone on the swing of the elementary school, his eyes full of loneliness. The voice-over sounded, it was the voice of the deceased former mayor, the third generation.

Xiao Li exclaimed: "Oh my God! That's the voice of the third generation mayor!"

Everyone looked towards the center of the venue in confusion, where stood an old man smoking a pipe. Compared with the heroic second-generation mayor next to him, he looked more like a figure who had walked out of the long river of time.

The third-generation mayor seemed quite embarrassed, and secretly thought it would be best to stay away from the scene.

As the video continued to play, the voice of the Third Mayor echoed in the air: "Naruto is just like you. He has never even experienced the feeling of fatherly and motherly love..."

Naruto, who was originally very excited after hearing the voice of the Third Mayor, suddenly fell to the bottom after hearing these words...

---

"The villagers avoided him as much as possible because of the accident," the video continued, "so in order to get other people's attention, he had to rely on various means to gain attention..."

The current mayor, Minato Namikaze, looked at Naruto's lonely back on the screen. As the screen changed, he understood why Naruto had such a lonely expression.

That day was the first day of the city's elementary school, and all the lower-level officials, middle-level officials, and even senior officials in Konoha District brought their children to report. However, as the son of the former mayor, Uzumaki Naruto had never felt the love from his parents.

Thinking of this, Minato Namikaze's heart was filled with guilt and apology, but he knew very well that even if he wanted to say these words to his son now, he couldn't do it.

At this time, the citizens of Konoha present also fell into deep thought. The pain brought to them by the Nine-Tails incident was still fresh in their memory - the terrible monster with destructive power, which destroyed their homes, killed their loved ones, and even caused the death of the former mayor Minato, was hidden in the body of this child.

Someone couldn't help but sigh: "But that child is so pitiful!" This remark resonated with other viewers. Indeed, they would inevitably be afraid and suspicious in real life, but when watching this video, they could more deeply understand Naruto's innocence and helplessness.

The video continued to play, and the words of the third generation mayor rang in my ears: "He has always longed for others to recognize his existence..."

The scene jumps to the roof of the city hall building. The third mayor, wearing the mayor's robe and a cloak that symbolizes authority, is taking a deep puff of his pipe. Umino Iruka, like a subordinate, respectfully listens to the instructions behind the third mayor.

The next words made the citizens of Konoha present feel heavy, and also made Naruto confused.

"Iruka, in fact, the Fourth Mayor originally hoped that the villagers would regard Naruto as a hero..."

The third mayor continued, "With this wish in mind, he resolutely chose to sacrifice his life just to seal the nine-tailed monster..."

"Hero...?" Naruto was stunned and muttered to himself: "Can a being like me who carries a monster be called a hero?"

At the same time, deep in the soul of Minato Namikaze he couldn't help but rush towards Naruto. He wanted to hug his son who was full of disbelief, but found that he couldn't say anything and could only sob silently.

Suddenly, Naruto remembered that the Third Mayor was right here! He turned his head and looked at the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was also looking at him kindly at this moment...

"Naruto, I'm sorry..." The Third Mayor said guiltily, "You should be seen as the hero left behind by the Fourth Mayor."

He is also the most precious son in his and Kushina's hearts...

The third mayor came over and placed his wrinkled hands on Naruto's shoulders. "Grandpa didn't take good care of you, and you suffered a lot..."

"If the Fourth Mayor were still alive, he might apologize to you..." Although Minato might not blame Naruto, if it were Ms. Kushina, she would probably give him a lesson.

However, no one knew that the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze was actually at the scene. He pursed his lips tightly, tears welling up in his eyes.

Sorry, since the original text involves a lot of specific world backgrounds (such as ninja, Naruto and other elements), directly modifying it into an urban novel style will make the plot and characters lose their original coherence and rationality. But based on your request, I will try to reconstruct a story fragment with an urban background:

[“Sorry, Lin Ran…” Li Mo asked in a hoarse voice:]

“Can you forgive a father like this?”

However, at this moment Li Mo has not yet realized that the bitterness, helplessness and struggle behind Lin Ran's growth process, especially his childhood experiences, far exceeds what he is about to see.

[In the video, Zheng Tao feels pressured by being assigned as Lin Ran's class teacher.]

[Zheng Tao said earnestly: "Mr. Principal, please reconsider. I am really not suitable to be Lin Ran's class teacher."]

Suddenly, many eyes were focused on Zheng Tao. Facing such public pressure for the first time, Zheng Tao quickly waved his hands to defend himself:

"Oh! That happened a long time ago. Don't bring up such trivial things again."

Lin Ran looked at him with an aggrieved expression on his face: "Teacher Zheng Tao...you are too much...I have always believed in you...I didn't expect you to be like this-"

"I'll pay for your meals for a month!" Zheng Tao interrupted Lin Ran and announced loudly, "I'll pay for your lunch for a month!"

Lin Ran flashed a sly smile, and it was obvious that his plot had succeeded. Zheng Tao just smiled and shook his head, then continued to watch the video footage.

[The video shows that the principal is also worried about how to place Lin Ran.]

[The principal told Zheng Tao: "No one can do anything about Lin Ran's behavior problems. Now no teacher is willing to take over as his class teacher."]

Lin Ran, who was watching the video, complained in a low voice: "Principal, this is too much..."

The principal touched his nose and awkwardly changed the subject: "How about this, I will also help you pay for a month's lunch."

"Yeah!" Lin Ran laughed proudly.

Han Yu on the side couldn't help but say: "Lin Ran, you should pay more attention to eating more vegetables."

On the other side, Zhang Fan patted Lin Ran on the shoulder and said, "Can't you just be quiet and watch the video carefully? Look, the people in the Intelligence Department are staring at you."

Although Zhang Fan immediately glared back at those gazes, after all, when it comes to glaring, no one can compare to the Zhang and Zhao families in terms of eyesight.

[The principal in the video looked very serious. He was worried about Lin Ran's future.]

[“If this continues, Lin Ran may not be able to complete his high school studies successfully.”]

"If he fails to finish high school, his future will be very bleak."

[Zheng Tao was shocked when he heard this: "Wait a minute, Principal, Lin Ran—"]

[“If we really can’t find someone willing to be Lin Ran’s homeroom teacher,” the principal looked at Zheng Tao firmly, “then we’ll have to let him drop out!”]

There was a moment of silence among the crowd, as if a cold wind had blown past.

Lin Ran was dumbfounded. He never realized that at some point in the past, he had almost lost the opportunity to continue his studies and even almost failed to complete high school.

"Principal grandpa..." Lin Ran said in astonishment.

"In fact, the principal is forcing Teacher Zheng Tao to take over your student," Chen Yi, the class's wise man, reminded Lin Ran, "Teacher Zheng Tao is a well-known good guy. As long as the principal says so, he will definitely agree to be your class teacher."

Yang Yang teased, "Lin Ran, isn't it because you were too naughty in school?!"

Qian Zhi echoed, "Yes, yes! You graffitied in the school history museum at that time, and wrote words like 'idiot' and 'fool' on the photos of successive school leaders. Do you remember that you used spray paint? Hahahahaha, you are really something!"

The first principal of 'Idiot': "?!!!" It's fine if it's just me, but why is he included in it too?!

'Fool' The second principal sighed silently.

All of this was seen by the mysterious figure Lin Jia who was quietly observing from the side. He said in a slightly sarcastic tone: "Humph, there is always a shadow behind the glamorous appearance. Leaving school is not a bad thing. Why not join our elite training camp..."

-

Uzumaki Naruto was concentrating on watching the changes in the expression of his most respected teacher Zheng Tao in the video, and he had no idea that he was almost involved in a mysterious elite training camp.

"Humph! Even if I don't grow up, my respect for Mr. Iruka won't diminish in the slightest!"

Iruka was once again moved by Naruto's words. He stroked Naruto's hair and said with emotion: "You kid."

At this moment, in a corner of a bustling modern city where no one can see, the former mayor Iruka was looking at Naruto, the backbone teacher of Konoha Middle School, with a gratified smile, and expressed his sincere gratitude to him.

Surveillance footage showed that one night many years ago, Iruka was on his way home from get off work when he accidentally ran into Naruto who was caught playing a prank near the school. The neighbors were talking about this and believed that such a child should not be allowed to stay in the city. They even secretly questioned the current mayor's education policy and suggested that Naruto be detained as a serious offender.

Iruka, the mayor at the time, could not help but waver in his heart at these remarks. He began to doubt whether his original choice was correct: for a distant future, in order to allow someone to fight against the masked man, he sacrificed his son and wife...

At the same time, this video also silenced the citizens who had accused Naruto. When they saw their own faces on the screen, they all wanted to defend themselves, but when they mentioned the legend that Naruto was the reincarnation of the soul of the first great mayor, Hashirama Senju...

What a joke! He was a great man who quelled the war and ushered in a peaceful era!

"Enough!" Naruto in the video loudly retorted to the talking crowd, "I am not a 'thing', I have my own name!"

"My name is - Uzumaki Naruto!"

"One day, I'm going to be the mayor! Just wait and see!"

The two people who witnessed this scene smiled. One of them was the former deputy mayor, Tobirama Senju, who had fought alongside Naruto in the Fourth City Alliance War. He had seen Naruto's power to change people's hearts in that battle, and was convinced that Naruto would become a powerful leader who surpassed his brother and would be the most outstanding city manager.

The other is the nine-tailed demon fox, Kurama, who has been with Naruto since he was born until he was promoted to the seventh mayor and completely changed this city!

They said in unison in their hearts: "You will succeed and become a great being that surpasses all the mayors of the past - the best city guardian in history!"

However, despite the recognition from the two people who could predict the future, they could not change the history of the past, especially the pain Naruto suffered in his childhood.

In the video, Iruka wakes up in the middle of the night, filled with fear of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. At that time, Naruto just wanted to find a way to impress the new homeroom teacher - even if it was by playing a prank.

Recalling the days when he had just become the homeroom teacher, Iruka felt embarrassed by his repeated gaffes in front of his students, so he punched Naruto in the head without hesitation.

Naruto covered his head and looked at himself on the screen with grievance. At that time, he just hoped that Iruka-sensei would notice him, even if it meant being scolded to prove his existence.

However, Iruka in the video did not do what he wished, but followed the advice of his former homeroom teachers:

"Ignore that kid. He will only become more shameless. It's best to ignore him. Maintain stability. Don't cause any disturbances, and don't provoke him."

Before the video was recorded, the fat deputy director who made these remarks now wishes he could find a hole to crawl into.

As the mayor, Minato Namikaze has already memorized his face. If there is a chance one day, he will definitely have an in-depth discussion with him in his capacity as the mayor on how to properly educate children.

In the video, Iruka, who was carrying out the strategy of the previous homeroom teacher, did not notice anything wrong. However, his behavior actually hurt Naruto, causing the latter to be unwilling to set foot in this sad place of school ever since.

In this circle of classmates who were full of ridicule, bullying, and looking down on him as a waste and a source of trouble, the noodle shop owner Uncle Ichiraku was the only person who showed kindness to Naruto during that period, apart from the retired old mayor.

Seeing the dejected Naruto, Uncle Ichiraku warmly invited him to taste ramen.

"No, I don't have any money."

"It won't be too late to invite me when you succeed."

Among the people who watched the video, those who now had a new understanding of Naruto all had a sharp increase in their favorability towards Ichiraku Ramen Shop and its owner, Uncle Ichiraku.

Not only the major cities, but even ordinary citizens, nobles and even the mayor were watching this video. The scene of Naruto enjoying ramen in the video instantly became a living advertisement.

Many viewers were drooling over it, and the various districts were discussing whether Ichiraku Ramen should open a branch. Citizens were considering going to Konoha to try the ramen, while nobles and mayors thought it would be too much trouble to go to Konoha in person, so wouldn't it be better to hire bodyguards to deliver food to them every day?

In this way, everyone is happy...

In the video, no matter how happily Naruto said that he was as optimistic and cheerful as ever, every time he returned to that cold so-called "home", the moonlight shone on him through the window, and everyone watching the movie could see that the child who always smiled in front of others and brought vitality to people was now curled up in a corner, with his lips tightly closed, trying hard to hold back the tears that were welling up in his eyes.

Gaara looked at the scene in front of him and called out in a low voice: "Naruto..."

The previous video made him realize that Naruto might be the person in the world who understood his pain the most. And now, this video convinced him that they were both in the same hell.