The exams had begun, and the academy was filled with a tense atmosphere. Children's stress levels were through the roof, with most of them anxiously heading to the exam halls.
Satoru, however, was lost in his own thoughts as he walked towards the written exam room. Keiko's face flashed through his mind, a distraction he hadn't anticipated.
As Satoru approached the hall, Nawaki caught sight of him, grinning like he'd uncovered the greatest secret of all time.
"Oi, Satoru, are you blushing? Thinking about someone, huh?" Nawaki teased, nudging him playfully.
Satoru's face turned bright red, but he denied it with every ounce of willpower he could muster. "No, of course not!" he blurted, avoiding eye contact.
But it was too late. Nawaki had caught the blush, and with a mischievous grin, bolted off to tell the rest of the group.
'Why am I even blushing?' Satoru thought, feeling his heart beat faster. He let out a resigned sigh and didn't bother chasing after Nawaki. 'Let him have his fun.'
Despite that moment, his mind kept drifting back to Keiko.
Something about her had changed his usual calm demeanor. His thoughts lingered on her even as he sat in the exam room, staring at the test paper.
The exam, which would have normally kept his focus, felt like a boring chore compared to the flood of emotions now clouding his mind.
Once the test ended, Tatsuo and Nawaki were waiting for him outside the exam hall, both with grins that spelled trouble. "Satoru!" Tatsuo began, "Nawaki told me everything. So, is it true?"
Satoru clenched his fists and denied it again with all his might, "It's not true! I don't know what you're talking about!"
Tatsuo, however, didn't seem to care about Satoru's protests. Instead, he clapped him on the back and dramatically wiped away his 'manly tears'.
"My friend, congratulations! You're becoming a man!"
Before Satoru could respond, Dai suddenly appeared out of nowhere, as if he had been waiting for the perfect moment.
"Satoru! You look even more youthful than usual! Ah, the power of youthful love!" he said, striking a dramatic pose.
Satoru groaned inwardly, realizing there was no escape from this, but deep down, he couldn't help but wonder why his thoughts kept drifting back to Keiko in the first place.
He reached the hall for the chakra control exam
The chakra control exam was no simple task. Students were instructed to choose a leaf to stick to their forehead using chakra, with the difficulty varying based on the weight and number of leaves.
The bare minimum was to stick at least one of the lightest leaves, but Satoru, driven by his usual determination, opted for something far more challenging—a single leaf from the heaviest category.
As he sat cross-legged on the ground, the exam began. Around him, children focused intensely, trying to keep their leaves in place. The room was silent except for the occasional shuffle or deep breath as everyone concentrated on channeling their chakra.
Some children opted for the easier, lighter leaves, and within minutes, those leaves began to flutter to the ground. Others managed to hold on a bit longer, but the strain was evident on their faces.
Satoru remained calm, the heavy leaf balanced perfectly on his forehead. His training had prepared him for this. His participation in the chakra control and medical classes had paid off. Time passed, and one by one, the leaves fell from the foreheads of his classmates.
Ten minutes turned to twenty, and by the thirty-minute mark, the room had only one student still holding the leaf: Satoru.
The teachers exchanged impressed glances, murmuring among themselves about his level of control and precision. He could feel their eyes on him, but he stayed focused, maintaining a steady flow of chakra, never letting the weight of the leaf overwhelm him.
As the exam concluded, Satoru stood up and the leaf fell gently to the ground. The teachers, visibly impressed, nodded their approval.
"Well done, Satoru. Your chakra control is exceptional," one of them remarked.
Satoru gave a small, respectful bow, but inside, he felt a sense of pride.
After the chakra control exam, Satoru proceeded to the ninja tool exam.
It was a more straightforward test—throwing wooden kunai and shuriken at targets. Despite his confidence in chakra control, this was not his strong suit.
"Here we go," he muttered to himself as he stepped up to the line, feeling the pressure to perform well after his success in the previous exam.
He took aim and threw his first kunai. It whizzed past the target, missing completely. He winced but kept going.
The next few throws weren't much better, with most of them veering off course or hitting the very edges of the target. However, after a few more attempts, Satoru managed to land a couple of hits on the target.
Just enough to pass.
Then came the shuriken. His first throw seemed fine, but as the shuriken spun through the air, it veered off to the side, hitting one of the instructors—right in the butt.
"Hey!" the instructor yelled, hopping in place, glaring at Satoru.
Satoru turned bright red, bowing profusely. "Sorry! Total fluke!"
The other students couldn't help but laugh, though Satoru was more embarrassed than amused. After that, he managed to calm his nerves and hit the target enough times to squeak by the exam.
Next up was the physical exam. This year, Satoru felt more prepared. Thanks to the extra taijutsu classes he had been taking, his stamina and reflexes had improved significantly.
The class involved two hours of sparring and intense physical training. Though not the strongest student by any means, he had learned how to endure long bouts of physical activity.
When his turn came to spar, Satoru was matched up against a weaker opponent, which suited him just fine. The fight dragged on for longer than expected, with neither boy landing solid blows, but in the end, Satoru managed to pull off a victory.
After the exhausting series of exams, Satoru reflected on his performance. Despite some stumbles, he felt good about his overall effort.
'I think I've made it through another year,' he thought with a small, satisfied grin.
As the auditorium buzzed with excitement for the graduation ceremony, Satoru sat among the guests, quietly observing the proceedings.
Beside him was Miku, who had taken a seat after they exchanged greetings and caught up on the events of the past year.
"So, Miku," Satoru leaned closer, keeping his voice low, "do you think you could teach me some cool jutsus?"
Miku smiled and shook his head. "Maybe after you hit fifth grade, Satoru. Don't want you getting too ahead of yourself, right?"
Satoru chuckled but nodded in agreement. His eyes drifted toward the stage where the Hokage, standing with the village elders, was about to give his speech.
The crowd quieted as the Hokage's presence commanded attention.
With a calm and reassuring tone, the Hokage began his address:
"Today, we gather not only to congratulate these young shinobi on their hard work and perseverance but also to remind them of the core values that make our village strong. As you step forward into the next chapter of your journey, remember that the Will of Fire burns within each of you. This will—the will to protect your comrades, to defend your village, and to uphold peace—defines who we are as a community."
The Hokage paused, scanning the faces of the young graduates who were listening with rapt attention.
"You are now Genin, the next line of defense for our village. As shinobi of Konoha, your duties will be difficult, and the path ahead is full of challenges. But know that you are not alone. The Will of Fire is shared by all who live here, and it is your bond with your comrades that will keep that flame alive. Go forward, uphold this legacy, and always remember that you are the strength of Konoha."
The auditorium erupted in applause as the Hokage finished his speech. The newly promoted Genin stood taller, a sense of pride filling the room.
As the celebration continued, Miku glanced at Satoru's lap and raised an eyebrow. "What's in the briefcase?" he asked, curious.
Satoru shifted slightly, glancing at the briefcase before replying, "It's a gift for a senior. Something I've been working on for a while."
Miku nodded, not pushing the matter further, but the look in Satoru's eyes hinted that there was more to it than just a simple gift.
Satoru's gaze shifted toward Danzo, who was standing in a corner, deep in conversation with an ANBU member from the ROOT.
The sight of Danzo only made Satoru more tense, his grip tightening on the briefcase.
'This is it,' Satoru thought. 'This is where I decide whether I go through with this or not.'
He hesitated for a moment, thinking about the potential consequences of what he was about to do.
But after a few seconds, he steeled himself, standing up and walking over to where Danzo stood. His footsteps were measured, his nerves barely contained.
Danzo glanced at him as he approached and nodded, recognizing the boy immediately. "Satoru," Danzo greeted him in his calm, composed manner. "How has the year treated you?"
Satoru bowed respectfully, maintaining the carefully crafted image he had built in Danzo's eyes. "It's been productive, sir. I've learned a lot."
Without wasting time, Satoru leaned closer and whispered, "I've found some information over the past year. I think you'll find it important."
With that, Satoru handed Danzo the briefcase, keeping his voice low. "It's about the Zen'in clan and their activities. I want you to take a look."
Danzo took the briefcase, his eyes sharp and unreadable as he studied Satoru's face. For a long moment, neither spoke, the weight of what Satoru had just done hanging in the air.
"Very well," Danzo said slowly, his voice steady but full of meaning. "I'll look into it."
Satoru bowed again and walked away, his heart racing. The briefcase was out of his hands now. What came next was no longer under his control.
As Satoru stood in the clearing, the tension in the air was palpable.
Naoya and his father, Naobito, were visibly on edge, especially as Satoru arrived alone.
Naobito's voice was laced with anger as he barked, "What is the meaning of this, boy? Why did you call us here?"
Satoru's eyes narrowed. "I have proof that you've been selling out Konoha," he said, "You've colluded with other countries for profit—selling Konoha's sacred resources, and worse, passing on classified information to enemy nations."
Naoya's face twisted in disbelief. He immediately lashed out, "Liar! Our clan would never do such a thing!" His voice dripped with arrogance, convinced that Satoru was fabricating stories.
However, Naobito was different. His face paled, and a tremor of fear ran through him. His mind raced, wondering how this child had discovered his darkest secrets.
'How does he know?' Naobito thought, his thoughts spiraling toward a violent solution. If he killed Satoru now, could he silence this threat before it spread further?
"What do you want?" Naobito asked, his voice strained, trying to keep his composure despite the panic creeping in.
Satoru's gaze was steady as he answered, "I want everything. Every single jutsu and technique your clan possesses—including your secret techniques."
Naobito's fury erupted, and he unsheathed his katana, lunging at Satoru with deadly intent.
But Satoru, reached into his pocket and calmly pulled out a small device—a voice recorder. He pressed play.
The recording crackled to life, and Sonoda's drunken voice filled the clearing. He and his friends were bragging, boasting about their illicit dealings.
Their laughter was slurred, tainted with the drugs Satoru had slipped into their drinks that night. Every detail, every confession was laid bare.
Naobito froze. His hand holding the katana trembled. The consequences of this information reaching the wrong hands would be catastrophic for him and his clan. His mind instantly jumped to Danzo.
"You—have you already sent this to Danzo-sama?" Naobito's voice faltered, his fear now unmistakable.
Satoru smirked, casually shrugging his shoulders. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. Who knows?" He chuckled, the sound unnerving in its coldness. His amusement was clear. The game was in his hands.
Naoya, still clueless about the weight of the situation, shouted angrily, "Why?! What have we ever done to you? What could possibly drive you to do this?!"
"hahahaha!!!" Satoru's laughter cut through the air, sharp and maniacal. He locked eyes with Naoya, his expression twisting into something darker. "You hurt Keiko!" His voice dripped with venom. "Now, you're going to pay."
Naobito, realizing the full extent of the trap he was in, stepped back in shock. The boy in front of him was no longer just some orphan—he was a mastermind who had cornered them completely.
Satoru's smile faded,"You have until tomorrow to meet my demands. If you don't…" He let the threat hang in the air, his voice trailing off, but the weight of his words was unmistakable.
Without another word, Satoru turned and walked away, leaving Naobito and Naoya standing in the clearing, a storm of fear and confusion brewing between them. The clock had started ticking.