As the ninjutsu portion of the exams began, students lined up in anticipation, waiting for their turn to be called by alphabetical order. Inside the exam room, Iruka and Mizuki evaluated each student, noting each successful demonstration of the academy techniques. Some students emerged proudly, a headband signifying their achievement, while others looked disappointed, leaving without one.
Finally, it was Hitomi's turn. She walked in confidently, ready to demonstrate her skills. Iruka smiled at her as he explained, "Alright, Hitomi, please show us the jutsus you've mastered."
Hitomi gave a firm nod. She started with the Clone Technique, creating three clones that stood beside her. Iruka raised an eyebrow, impressed by her control and precision. Next, she performed the Replacement Technique, swapping herself with a nearby chair in a flash.
"Great job," Iruka praised, his voice encouraging. "Keep going."
Without missing a beat, Hitomi performed the Transformation Technique, taking on Iruka's appearance with surprising accuracy. She even imitated his expression, crossing her arms and giving a mock-serious look. Mizuki chuckled, and Iruka smiled, clearly amused by the sight of his own reflection.
To further demonstrate her skills, Hitomi asked, "Sensei, could you tie me up with this rope?"
Curious, Iruka complied, securing the rope around her. Hitomi grinned, then quickly used the Rope Escape Technique to free herself, the ropes falling to the ground in a heap.
But Hitomi wasn't done. She made a series of hand signs and, in a quick movement, used the Head Hunter Jutsu, vanishing into the ground and reappearing in front of the two instructors, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
As her final move, Hitomi performed the Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu. She inhaled deeply, then released a steady burst of flame that dissipated safely away from Iruka and Mizuki, who watched her with admiration.
Iruka clapped, his expression one of genuine pride. "Excellent work, Hitomi! You've done an outstanding job. Congratulations!" He handed her a forehead protector, and she took it with a grateful bow.
"Thank you, Iruka-sensei, Mizuki-sensei," Hitomi replied, her face shining with accomplishment. With a deep breath, she fastened her new headband, the symbol of her success, around her forehead.
Naruko entered the exam room, her eyes filled with determination. At Iruka's signal, she quickly demonstrated the Replacement and Transformation Jutsu, flawlessly transforming herself into a copy of Iruka. She also showed the Cloak of Invisibility Technique, and, with a quick hand sign, used the Body Flicker to appear beside Iruka in an instant.
But then came the Clone Jutsu. Naruko concentrated, but only two pale, ghostly clones appeared before flickering away. She looked down, her hands clenched as disappointment shadowed her face, and tears formed in her eyes.
Iruka's expression softened, clearly pained, but he spoke firmly, "Naruko… you did very well. But the Clone Jutsu is one of the basic requirements for passing."
Seeing Naruko's crushed look, Mizuki intervened, feigning kindness. "Iruka, maybe she could have one more chance?"
Iruka sighed, his voice low. "I'm sorry, Mizuki. Rules are rules, and I can't show favoritism."
Naruko nodded slowly, her face downcast, and she left the room, her heart heavy with disappointment.
Yuto took a deep breath as he entered the exam room, feeling a mixture of excitement and satisfaction that he was finally at this stage. Iruka stood with a composed expression, yet there was a spark of expectation in his eyes. "Alright, Yuto, you may begin," he instructed, gesturing with his hand.
Yuto smirked slightly. 'Time to show them what I've got,' he thought. He quickly formed the Clone Technique hand signs, creating six perfect clones of himself that stood ready by his side.
Iruka and Mizuki exchanged a nod, impressed by his precision and control. Moving smoothly, Yuto performed the Replacement Technique, swapping himself with a nearby chair without any hesitation, demonstrating his quick adaptability. Then, in a flash, he used the Transformation Technique to take on Iruka's exact likeness, down to the smallest detail.
Iruka nodded in approval, but he and Mizuki still waited expectantly. Yuto could sense they were eager for more, so he decided to step it up a notch. With a grin, he spoke with calm confidence, "Wake up to reality." His voice echoed with intensity, as if delivering a legendary warning.
In a flash, his Kamigan's red glow flickered in his eyes, and his form disintegrated into a cloud of crows, scattering through the room in every direction. As the crows swirled around, both Iruka and Mizuki looked on, stunned.
'This is just like Itachi's move, that soon became a meme.' Yuto thought, savoring the moment. He reappeared, now seated casually on the chair he'd replaced with earlier, as if he'd never left. This was similar to the meme of Itachi fliping sasuke the middle finger, disintegrating into crows and appear seated on a chair.
The two Chunin hadn't expected such mastery from an academy student. Iruka broke the silence, astonished. "Yuto, that… was outstanding. Truly impressive."
But Yuto wasn't quite finished. With a smirk, he formed additional hand signs, and the crows he had scattered started to multiply, each one splitting and forming clones until the room was filled with over a hundred crows. The sight left Iruka and Mizuki wide-eyed, as they watched the coordinated formation of the birds.
Finally, he dispersed the crows, leaving the room empty once more except for his presence. Iruka was still absorbing what he'd just seen. "Yuto," he said, shaking his head slightly in awe, "you've truly gone above and beyond. You've clearly earned this."
With pride, Iruka handed him the Konoha headband, which Yuto recognized instantly—the iconic black-clothed one like Naruto's after the timeskip. Yuto accepted it, admiring the cloth and feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. 'This is it. I've really made it,' he thought, as he carefully tied the headband around his head, feeling like he'd crossed a threshold he'd waited for since his arrival in this world.
When Yuto stepped outside the academy, he immediately spotted Hitomi waiting for him. She looked relieved when she saw him, and they exchanged congratulations, both clearly proud of each other's accomplishments. But then Hitomi's expression shifted, her eyes flickering with concern.
"Yuto… Naruko didn't pass. She left before I could really talk to her," Hitomi said quietly. "She said she needed some time."
Yuto's face tightened slightly, though he tried to keep his worry under control. 'This wasn't like in the anime. Naruto stayed near the academy swing where Mizuki tricked him,' he thought, anxiety stirring within him. 'If Naruko left, will things still play out the same way? Or has everything changed because of this?'
Hitomi continued, "I tried to catch up to her, but she insisted she needed to be alone. I'm worried… she looked really upset."
Yuto nodded thoughtfully, concealing his true concerns. "I get it. She's been working so hard. But… don't worry, I'm sure she'll find a way through this." He tried to reassure Hitomi while sorting through his own thoughts.
'I have to be careful. If Mizuki still plans to target her, Naruko could be in real danger…' He realized he'd need to keep a close eye on the situation, but he didn't want to alarm Hitomi just yet.
(Pls give me some power stones!)
(Find out next time on Naruto:Eye system)