Streets of the Bloody Mist, as people like to call it, greeted him with their usual coldness this morning. Many people believe that it's the worst place on Earth you can be born in. But Yato did not agree with them. Not just because he called this place home. During his tenure as a jonin of Kirigakure, he had been to quite a lot of places. And with great confidence, he can say, most of them were a lot worse.
He had seen countless villages where people sold their children and relatives into slavery just for a loaf of bread, and countries where you can be killed in the light of day just because of the color of your skin.
Contrary to popular sentiments, Yato loved his home and the people who lived here. Well, most of them.
Today his morning routine was the same as usual. He woke up at 4 a.m., did his morning exercises, had a cold shower, and had a hearty breakfast. Then he checked his schedule and hurried on his way to work. Today is a special day – the Graduation Trial of fresh ninja wannabes. He was appointed by lord Mizukage as one of the examinators this year, so he could not afford to be late on this important occasion.
He left home exactly at 7 a.m. and decided to opt for a casual walk instead of the rooftop ways that he usually used. The exam will start at eight and he still had plenty of time left. Walking his way towards Academy a strong sense of deja vu captured his mind. He was reminiscent of his graduation exam and the good old days as a child in one of the huge auditoriums of the Academy. Lost in memories he did not notice how he came and entered the special staff room at the exam venue.
Whilst entering the room he quickly scanned people that were already inside. He came early and only a few people got there before him. He noticed that one of his comrades from the frontlines of the 2nd Great War was already there.
– Hey, Isobu, how are you doing?
– Oh, Yato! Long time no see! Didn't know that you were also chosen to oversee the exams today.
– You will not believe how shocked I was to hear about it myself. You know it, after all, I come from a civilian family.
– Don't downplay yourself, you are a great jonin, it was a matter of time until your prowess would have been noticed.
– Maybe you are right, by the way, what are your duties today?
– Glad that you have asked, I will be the main supervisor on the ground. From the looks of it, you will be assessing everything from the gallery, am I right?
– Yeah, you are as observant as always, old friend.
– Well, make yourself comfortable, the exam should start soon and I still have to check a few things beforehand, see you later. – with these words, Isobu left the room and went toward the arena.
Yato stayed there and decided to check on the list of names of the kids who will be fighting their hearts out this morning. Two hundred and twenty-seven, this class is probably the biggest one in recent history. He instantly noted a few notable clan names from the list and already felt that he will be enjoying quite a spectacle today. His face did not show any emotions until he noted a surname that he never imagined encountering. His eyes went wide instantly, communicating to everyone present his shock.
– Hey, you there, Yato right?
– Yee…yeah.
– Hozuki Gengetsu, just like the second, nice to meet you. What's wrong? Have you seen a tailed beast there?
– N-No, it's just the name, Byakko Kawahime. I thought that the old monster is the only living member of that clan.
– Ah, so you are talking about lord Shokuin's grandchild. To be honest I was dumbfounded too when I learned that the old geezer has an offspring left. You know, this kid didn't even go to the academy, Mizukage himself registered the name for the exam. I don't even know if it's a boy or a girl.
– After seeing a few members of Hoshigaki, Karatachi, and Suikazan clans participating, especially of what their kids had shown on recent exams, I already thought that there will be a lot of action today. But seeing a grandchild of Shokuin-sama participating I don't even know what to think. I learned about him in the Academy but was never able to see him personally.
– Don't get too excited, as far as I was able to learn, the child's mother is from the Hinoenma clan. Who knows, which side the child inherited most.
– Even at that, he is still called the …
– 'God-slayer', – suddenly a low voice interrupted him. Yato turned his head towards the entrance and quickly bowed.
– Lord Third, it's a pleasure to meet you today! – he exclaimed. Gengetsu followed his actions a fraction of a second later.
– Get into your positions, the exam will start soon. – was the only thing that the Third Mizukage said them before he sat on his place first.
Shortly after the main gates of the arena opened and a wave of kids of varying ages flooded into the venue. He could see kids who looked like the ones who should only enter the academy and those who looked like they should have graduated along with him. Sigh', kids these days, what do they feed them?
Isobu was already going to announce the start of the exam, until he noticed the last small figure, with a serene face and clad in colorful kimono, entering through the gates. It was a figure of a little girl who can't be older than five. She had porcelain fair skin, blue eyes, wavy blond hair that reached her shoulders, and a beauty mark under the right side of her mouth. All in all, she looked like a beautiful doll that had no place in what was going to happen further. What did this child forget here, was she lost on her way to kindergarten?
– Is this the place of a genin exam? – she asked with a voice that cannot be described anyhow but cute. Even her voice is pretty, Yato noted to himself, and it suited her a lot.
– Yes, it is. Can I know your name? – asked Isobu.
– Its Kawahime, Byakko Kawahime. – at those words, Isobu just noted her presence in his documents, without any visible reaction to the name, and announced:
"Kids, today is the day of your lives! I have just explained to you the rules, but let's have a quick recap. The battle is free for all, to pass the exam, you have to put out of 'function' as many enemies as possible. The terrain of the arena is an artificial landscape with small forests, ponds, and valleys. You are allowed to use all of your abilities and all of your weapons. The duration of the exam is 1 hour. Remember, at least half of you will not make the cut, and at least a third will die or will be fatally injured. Be brave! And remember lord Mizukage is watching all of you personally. And now, Start!"
With these words, all the participants quickly jumped away into different positions and were eyeing everyone with obvious intent, yet no one dared to make the first move. It is visible how everyone was on edge… except for one person. The girl named Kawahime simply bent over to the ground and lifted a simple short stick. She made a few swings with it as if adjusting to its weight. Then her serene face changed to that of a sadistic and evil brat in mere seconds. With a wide grin she exclaimed to the whole arena so that everyone heard:
– Hey, you all useless bums, look at me! You all better give up and fall on your knees in front of this Queen right now and I may spare your useless lives! Otherwise, do not cry when I will beat your pathetic souls out of your bodies straight to the rendezvous with Shinigami's asshole! This is the first and the last warning, you ugly assess! Stop courting death!
Yato was dumbfounded. How can this toddler know such things? The room fell into a deep silence. Only Lord Third mumbled 'This brat, runs her mouth just like HIM'. At that moment in the arena, a moment of shock at such a pure display of idiocy after, with loud shouts and curses all shit broke loose.