Finally, the day of the exam had arrived. My heart was racing with excitement and nerves as I stepped onto the academy grounds, knowing that this was a pivotal moment. This day would determine whether I was ready to graduate and become a Genin. Everything I had worked for was leading up to this.
First up was the taijutsu sparring. I gave it everything I had, pushing my body to its limits.
My first match was with Monti, and looking back, it's incredible how far we've both come. I remember our very first match, where he won easily and, with a haughty attitude, called me weak. I wasn't mad; it was actually funny to me, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the memory. Now, in our recent sparring matches, I found myself taking the wins, though it was never an easy feat.
Today felt different; it might have been our final sparring match. Monti stood before me, and I could see a flicker of respect in his eyes. He acknowledged my strength and didn't show any attitude this time, which was refreshing. The excitement bubbled between us as we prepared to fight. When the start signal was given by Sensei, I rushed at him, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I utilized a systematic academy style to take the initiative in the attack.
Monti was just as determined, constantly blocking my hits while occasionally throwing his own. The tension in the air was palpable, each move calculated and filled with intent. After what felt like an eternity of exchanging blows, I saw an opening. Monti lost his balance due to a surprise kick, and in that moment, I seized the opportunity. A rush of triumph washed over me as I secured the victory.
My next match was with Kuro, and while the experience was similar to before, I felt a surge of confidence. I managed to hang on longer this time and threw a few punches back, feeling the rush of combat in my blood. Even though Kuro blocked my attacks, I was proud of my resilience. However, the result remained the same, and I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment creeping in.
The final match was between Kanji Hyuga and Kuro Uchiha, and this time Kuro emerged victorious. I felt a mixture of admiration and frustration watching him, knowing I still had more to learn. Baskin was beaten by an Akimichi, and Nora lost in the second round to Kanji. I couldn't help but reflect on the journey ahead of me, filled with both challenges and excitement.
Despite my best efforts, I secured third place. I couldn't defeat the Hyuga or Uchiha kids, who took the first and second spots. But it wasn't like I didn't put up a good fight—I fought fiercely, and even the sensei seemed impressed by how much I had achieved despite only using the academy's training methods. Hearing that praise filled me with pride, even though I knew I had a long way to go before matching those clan prodigies.
Next came the shuriken throwing. This event was particularly competitive, with the top three spots ending in a tie between two Uchiha and one Hyuga. I managed to secure the fourth spot, though I was a little behind them. It stung a bit, but I knew that these kids had the benefit of their clans' expertise, which made them stand out in precision-based exercises.
Then came the written exam. Here, I managed to shine. I scored the highest marks, but the top students were close behind me, all scoring 98 marks. There was hardly any difference, but I was proud of my achievement. It wasn't just about physical strength—academics mattered too, and I had proven that I was more than capable.
The chakra control test was another intense round. It ended in a five-way tie, and I was among the top five. Once again, I held my ground against some of the strongest students in the class, showcasing how far I had come with my chakra control skills.
After the basic third-year exams, it was time for the real challenge—the graduation exam. We were asked to perform the three basic ninjutsu techniques that had been taught in the academy. Only those who could successfully perform them would be able to graduate. As expected, I passed, along with 11 other students in our class, allowing us to graduate early. The sensei were pleased with our performance, and it felt good to know that all our hard work had paid off.
In the end, I secured third place overall. The first position went to Kuro Uchiha, and the second to Kanji Hyuga. Despite not being first, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. After all, I had performed better than most of the other clan kids, only losing to the top students from the most prestigious clans, like the Uchiha and Hyuga. If I had a specialized fighting style like theirs, I might have claimed the top spot—but I kept those thoughts to myself. This experience only reinforced the idea that the time and effort you put into training truly matter. It's the reason why, in the story of Naruto, others eventually fall behind Naruto and Sasuke—they simply worked harder and smarter.
After the exam, we were each presented with our leaf headbands—a symbol of our graduation and the beginning of our journeys as Genin. We were told that in a week, we would be assigned our Jounin sensei, someone who would guide us to become even stronger.
Excited about the next chapter of my life, I was eager to finally use the jutsu I had been honing for almost three years now, not just for dangerous future events, but because I wanted to experience the thrill of wielding these powers. In my previous life, I spent countless hours fantasizing about them, and now I could hardly wait to use them in battle.
At the academy, we only fight using taijutsu—we've never fought using Ninjutsu. It made sense from the academy's perspective, since they had only taught us three basic jutsu, all designed for escape, disguise, or evasion. There were no attack jutsu. The academy focused on the basics and how to survive, but I was ready for more.
I rushed home to tell my mom and dad about the exam results and my rank. They were overjoyed, and we celebrated together that night. It was a proud moment for all of us, knowing that I had taken a significant step toward becoming a true shinobi.
The next morning, while I was still buzzing with excitement from the previous day's events, my mom's friend, who had been one of my biggest supporters, came to our house. She asked me if I wanted to go over to her captain's house. My eyes lit up immediately, and without hesitation, I said yes. The opportunity to meet her captain was something I couldn't pass up, and seeing my enthusiasm, she couldn't help but smile.
We left soon after, walking through the village. The air was fresh, and everything seemed brighter, maybe because I was feeling so excited. I had no idea what to expect, but the idea of meeting someone as strong as her captain filled me with curiosity and excitement. Would this captain be a skilled ninja? Would they teach me something new?
As we walked, I kept wondering about what kind of person this captain was. Mom's friend had mentioned him a few times, but now I would finally get to meet him. My mind was racing with possibilities, and with each step, my excitement grew.
This felt like the beginning of something special, and I couldn't wait to see what the day had in store for me.