It took under three hours for Naruto to finally figure out the jutsu the Hokage had shown him. The shadow clone jutsu was fairly easy for the boy once figured out. The old man hit one of the clones and it poofed into a cloud of smoke and dust. Naruto jolted in shock. He had felt that. And it hurt. The hit was not a gentle love tap.

   "So I'll be allowed to use this in the exams?" The blonde was nervous. 'What if the answer is no? What then?'

   "Yes," the man smiled. "And I will be there for the tests this year." The blonde perked up. 'I'm so sorry Naruto,' the old man sighed loudly. "It's time for you to go home. And I'll have more paperwork I need to go through."

  "I don't understand," the voice huffed. "The old man showed you the perfect tool to clone yourself, and he doesn't know how to fight paperwork?"

   "Hey Old Man!" Naruto turned to the Third. "Why did I feel that you hit that clone of me?"

   "Shadow clones are corporal," the man stopped mid sentence. "I am going to need a drink." The man wanted to hit his head against something hard. "Because I am an idiot."

   "I don't think he realized that was said out loud. Anyways. Let's get home, you need to do your homework and get some sleep before tomorrow."

   'Yes mother," the blonde giggled at the affronted silence that came from that  sentence. 'I'm not sorry.'

   "I am questioning why I decided to help you." The reply was a happier laugh coming from the boy.