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The day of the Academy graduation exam had finally arrived. The exam hall was filled with eager and anxious students, all waiting for their chance to prove themselves worthy of the title "genin."
Every graduating student of the Academy's final year gathered in rows, the air thick with anticipation and nerves.
Some fidgeted while others were quiet, mentally preparing for the grueling series of tests they would soon face.
Among the chatter and shifting bodies, a sudden flicker of movement caught everyone's attention.
A jonin instructor, tall and imposing with sharp eyes, appeared with a flash of speed, landing at the front of the hall.
His demeanor was calm, yet there was a certain intensity in his expression that commanded immediate attention.
"Attention!" he called out in a deep, resonating voice. The room went silent.
"My name is Seita Yuto, and I will be proctoring your exam today. We will now begin. Line up in an orderly fashion and collect your token numbers."
The students scrambled to form a line, each grabbing a small token with a number etched on its surface.
As the last student received their token, Seita flickered onto a podium, where he stood tall and surveyed the students below him. His sharp gaze moved from face to face, studying them.
Seita's voice boomed through the hall. "First, we will test the four basic jutsu. Then, we'll move on to taijutsu combat, shurikenjutsu, and a chakra control test. Only those who pass all four stages will be granted the title of genin."
As his words sank in, the tension among the students visibly rose. Some looked shocked, others anxious, while a few seemed excited.
Whispers filled the air as students exchanged worried glances. The new, tougher requirements for becoming a genin had caught several off guard.
One student, clearly disgruntled, raised his voice, his fists clenched in frustration. "How can the genin exam be this tough? I won't accept it! The exams in previous years only required us to perform three basic jutsu. This is unfair!"
Seita's expression twitched with annoyance, but he maintained his composure.
"These changes were made by Hokage-sama himself," he said with a stern tone. "The whole Academy was informed of the new requirements. If you didn't take the time to prepare, that is your own fault."
Seita's voice grew even colder as he continued, "As for you, you're disqualified. Come back next year if you wish to complain. Someone, take him away."
In an instant, two chunin appeared beside the protesting student. With swift movements, they grabbed him by the arms and began dragging him off the training field.
The student, now panicking, yelled, "No! Let me go! I'll follow the instructions! Please!" His desperate cries echoed through the hall as he was forcibly removed, leaving the remaining students in stunned silence.
Many who had been on the verge of protesting themselves now stood frozen in place, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
Seita chuckled inwardly at their discomfort. "How naïve," he thought, "Did you really believe we wouldn't be prepared for such disruptions?"
He addressed the students again. "Now that we've settled that, let me remind you—Hokage-sama is watching this exam closely. Those of you who excel may even be chosen to train directly under him. Strive to do your best, because this is your chance to stand out."
The mention of the Hokage caused a ripple of excitement and nervousness throughout the crowd.
Seita allowed a brief pause before continuing, "Let's begin. The first stage is the basic jutsu test. Token numbers 1 through 10, step forward!"
The first group of students, including Kazuku Chouko, Asume Hiraku, and Akira Choda, stepped forward, taking their places in front of Seita. They appeared tense but determined.
"Clone jutsu first!" Seita commanded.
With a synchronized effort, the students all performed the required hand seals and shouted in unison, "Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Seita scrutinized each clone carefully, his sharp eyes noticing even the smallest flaws in their forms.
After a few moments, he nodded in approval. "Passed," he announced, and a wave of relief washed over the students.
"Next, transformation jutsu," Seita called out. Once again, the students performed the jutsu, each transforming into something or someone of their choosing.
After meticulously checking each transformation, Seita gave his approval. "Passed!"
Seita's sharp eyes scanned the group again. "Now, substitution jutsu. Begin!"
The students quickly executed the substitution jutsu, switching places with objects nearby.
Seita took his time inspecting each technique, writing down notes before finally declaring, "Passed!"
There was a slight murmur among the remaining students as they watched their peers pass each stage. Some were feeling confident, while others couldn't help but feel the pressure mounting.
One student whispered, "These tests are easier than I expected. We'll breeze through this!"
Another quickly replied, "Just wait until the body flicker jutsu. It's not going to be that easy."
In the crowd, a loud and brash voice cut through the murmuring. "Hmph! Even I can pass this. I'll be a genin in no time!"
The speaker was none other than Jiraiya, the class's self-proclaimed genius despite being notorious for being the dead last.
The students around him groaned in frustration. "Jiraiya, you're the last person who should be bragging right now," one of them said with a smirk. "You'll probably fail at the clone jutsu like you always do."
The entire class erupted into laughter, except for Jiraiya, who was fuming with embarrassment. "You'll see! I'll leave all of you in the dust, just wait! Then maybe Tsunami will finally go on a date with me!"
Jiraiya shot a hopeful glance at a girl in the class named Tsunami Koneko, but she only rolled her eyes in disgust. "Ugh, not in a million years, you perv. Don't even think about it!" she retorted.
The class broke into another fit of laughter as Jiraiya slumped in defeat. "You'll all regret this…" he muttered under his breath, sulking as the next group of students was called up.
Seita's voice interrupted the chatter. "Now, body flicker jutsu. Begin!"
The students performed the jutsu, each flickering in and out of view as they tried to perfect the advanced technique.
Seita watched them closely, his keen eyes catching every flaw. After the test, he made his judgment. "Numbers 2, 3, 6, 7, and 10, you've passed. The rest of you, failed."
A low murmur spread through the group once more. "The body flicker is so difficult," one student whispered. "I didn't think I'd fail after so much practice."
"Yeah," another agreed. "Even after all our training, it's still so hard to master."
Seita nodded to the remaining students. "Those who passed, move on to the taijutsu combat area. Next group, step forward."
As the next ten students lined up for their turn, the tension in the air continued to rise. The real test had only just begun.
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