*Powwwww*
A loud horn blared through the dense forest, signaling the start of the final round. Forty-five eager genins were poised, each ready to secure one of the twenty-four coveted seats.
The tension in the air was palpable, like sparks from clashing blades, as participants braced themselves for battle.
Yuichi and his team wasted no time. With Takeshi's sensory abilities, they had already pinpointed the location of the nearest Objective Zone.
They moved swiftly, using the Body Flicker Technique to cover the distance. The forest whipped past them in blurs of green and brown.
"The location is only 50 meters away now," Takeshi muttered, his eyes narrowing in concentration.
"No other teams are nearby. Let's stick to the plan."
The trio nodded in unison, their eyes sharp and focused.
***
Meanwhile, in a high tower overlooking the 29th training ground, a group of elite ninjas observed the exam.
Most of them didn't need binoculars; they enhanced their vision with chakra, watching the progress of the participants from afar. These were no ordinary ninjas—clan heads, high-level jonin, and the Hokage himself, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood among them.
Hiruzen, ever curious, broke the silence. "Who do you think will complete the round the fastest?"
The room was filled with silent contemplation as the senior shinobi analyzed the participants below. Each had their own favorite, but none voiced it immediately. The competition was fierce, and this batch of genin was particularly promising.
Kagami Uchiha, Hiruzen's close friend and a renowned shinobi, spoke up first. "I think the Senju boy's team will finish the fastest."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, though he already had a good idea why Kagami thought this. Still, he asked, "And the reason for that?"
Kagami, leaning casually against the window, waved a hand. "It's obvious, isn't it? The Senju kid is a highly skilled sensory ninja. He can locate the Objective Zones faster than anyone, and his team has the firepower to take down a chunin instructor."
A brief silence fell over the room. Kagami realized a bit too late that his informal tone wasn't suited for such a formal setting.
He straightened up and cleared his throat. "Apologies, Lord Third. My reasoning is simply that the Senju's sensory abilities will give his team a significant advantage, and from what I've observed, their teamwork is solid. They'll outpace the others."
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "No need to apologize, Kagami. I agree with your analysis."
Others in the room exchanged glances but chose not to voice their disagreements. The round had already begun, and in a few minutes, the results would speak for themselves.
***
Back on the battlefield, Yuichi and his teammates were moving into the position.
As they closed in, Takeshi was the first to engage the chunin instructor guarding the Objective Zone. Without hesitation, he launched four shuriken and a kunai in quick succession. The weapons sliced through the air, aimed precisely at the instructor's life token.
The angle was deadly, designed so that even if the shuriken were blocked, the kunai would find its mark.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The instructor deflected the first four projectiles with the speed and precision of a seasoned warrior.
But the kunai—it was a clever feint, forcing the instructor to pivot at the last second, barely evading the attack.
Just as the instructor moved, Saiko launched her assault.
"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!" she shouted, sending six fast-moving water bullets from the left flank.
The instructor dodged the first four, twisting his body to avoid the impact. His fluid movements were a display of masterful combat. But the final two water bullets were too close. He had no choice but to deflect them with his kunai, splashing water over his arms and torso. His expression tensed.
"They're coordinated," he thought, surprised by their teamwork. Most genin teams would struggle with such synchronized attacks.
Suddenly, his instincts flared. A chill ran down his spine, a presence behind him!
Yuichi, cloaked in the crackling aura of Lightning Enhancement, was already closing in. The instructor had been so focused on the others that he failed to notice Yuichi's silent approach.
Before he could react, Yuichi's fist, wrapped in lightning, struck the back of the instructor's neck with a thunderous crack.
The blow reverberated through the air. The instructor's eyes widened in shock before he collapsed, unconscious, his life token falling to the ground.
Yuichi panted softly, his body still buzzing with electricity as he quickly snatched the life token off the fallen instructor.
"Got it," he muttered, his eyes scanning the forest for any signs of approaching teams.
"Yuichi, hurry up!" Saiko called out, her voice tense. "We've got company!"
Takeshi was already on high alert.
"They're coming from the east," he said, his senses picking up the movement of another team rushing toward them.
Yuichi sprinted to the Objective Zone where Saiko and Takeshi had already placed the graduation scroll on the stone podium in the center. As they completed the mission, Yuichi felt a strange sense of disbelief. It was too fast. Too easy.
Just moments later, another team burst through the trees, their breath heavy from exertion. The leader of the group; a tall, muscular boy stared at the podium, his expression turning to one of frustration.
"What the hell?" the boy snarled.
"Is it already captured?" His teammate, equally bewildered, muttered curses under his breath.
Saiko flashed them a polite smile, her demeanor cool and confident. "Better luck next time."
But Yuichi and Takeshi were silent, lost in thought. Yuichi couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
"That was… too smooth," he mused.
"We shouldn't have been able to finish this round so quickly, especially against a chunin." He glanced at Takeshi, whose sensory skills had been invaluable.
Takeshi, on the other hand, was eyeing Yuichi, his mind reeling from the strength Yuichi had shown.
"He knocked out a chunin with a single strike… How powerful is this guy?"
Takeshi wondered, his respect for Yuichi growing.
***
Back in the tower, an hour and fifteen minutes later, the results had become clear.
A heavy silence hung over the observation room. Even those who had placed their bets on the Senju team hadn't expected this.
"That was... unexpected," one of the jonin muttered under his breath.
Kagami, arms folded across his chest, stood in thoughtful silence. He had predicted the Senju boy's team would finish first, but not with such an overwhelming lead.
Hiruzen, ever composed, glanced around the room. "It seems Kagami was right after all," he said with a small smirk. "This batch is full of surprises."
Kagami chuckled softly. "I didn't expect them to be this fast, to be honest. That boy Yuichi… there's something about him."
Hiruzen nodded, his eyes narrowing as he observed the young genin below. "Indeed. We'll have to keep a close eye on him."
The future of these talented genin was just beginning, but the leaders of Konoha had already started making their evaluations. There was more at stake here than just the graduation exam.
***
In the Objective Zone before any more teams arrived, two instructors appeared. One immediately tended to the fallen chunin, while the other approached Yuichi's team, his expression neutral but impressed.
"Congratulations," the instructor said, his voice steady. "You've passed the early graduation exam."
Saiko let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, a wide grin spreading across her face. "We did it."
Yuichi, still processing the events, glanced at the forest behind them, where the sounds of battle could be heard in the distance.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "We did."
The instructor continued, "The final merit list will be posted tomorrow. Until then, you're free to leave or stay and observe the remaining participants."
Saiko and Takeshi decided to stay and watch the other teams, but Yuichi, still deep in thought, chose to head back. As he walked through the forest, the weight of the day's events lingered in his mind.
"This was just the beginning."