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**Chapter 02: Admission to UA**
Gabimaru stood alone, a silent figure against the sprawling backdrop of UA High School's grand entrance. His attire, an intricate ninja uniform tailored in muted dark fabrics, bore the wear of countless training sessions, fitting him like a second skin. The fabric flowed just enough to give him freedom of movement yet clung close enough to avoid betraying any trace of weakness or lack of discipline. His pale, almost ethereal white hair fell slightly over his brow, catching the light from the morning sun as it peeked through drifting clouds. Each breeze stirred his hair gently, adding to his aura of intensity. Around his neck, a chain held his exam ID, a thin metal card etched with his real name, lineage, and a small portrait—cold and expressionless. The card's text shimmered faintly, marking the examination halls and locations where he'd face both written and practical tests.
He glanced up at the towering, state-of-the-art building ahead. Its reflective glass, sleek modern design, and massive structure loomed with a sense of overwhelming pride and tradition. Beneath his calm demeanor, Gabimaru's eyes betrayed a spark of intrigue, tinged with faint disdain.
"So… this is UA?" he muttered under his breath. "Quite an extravagant place."
Around him, the once-quiet walkway leading into UA was gradually coming alive with movement and chatter. Dozens of students, a mixture of nerves and excitement visible in their expressions, filed through the entrance. Some walked with purpose, their eyes fixed firmly on the doors ahead, while others fidgeted with anxious energy, casting glances at each other, unsure of what awaited them within the academy's walls. Many clutched documents or ID badges similar to Gabimaru's, eyes flickering with hope and uncertainty. Gabimaru blended seamlessly into this crowd, though his aura remained untouched by the nervous energy swirling around him.
The next few days passed in a blur of exams and commutes back to his secluded home in the countryside. His performance in the written exams was average at best. The topics—heroes, regulations, and tactical theory—were unfamiliar and disinteresting to him. But he knew well enough that these tests meant little in the long run; every candidate here understood that their admission into UA hinged primarily on the practical exam.
And so, Gabimaru stood once again before UA, but this time at the entrance to testing ground E. His golden eyes were sharp, unyielding, focusing on the gates that lay ahead. Around him, other candidates gathered, each assigned to this sector, all buzzing with nervous anticipation. Though he appeared calm, his thoughts were razor-focused. The explanations given about the practical test echoed in his mind. This exam, as laid out by the proctors, required them to face mechanical opponents of varying difficulty levels. Points were awarded based on the type of robot defeated, and only those who excelled would secure their place at UA.
Among the candidates near him, several faces stood out. To his left, a boy with purple hair and a small stature glanced nervously at the others, his eyes darting between competitors and shifting from anxiety to outright dread. Further along, a blond boy with a laid-back posture seemed relaxed at first glance, yet his gaze flickered with a concealed apprehension as he observed the testing grounds. Next to him, a girl with earbuds dangling around her neck tapped her foot impatiently, while a tall, muscular student with crimson hair clenched his fists, his expression one of determined resolve. Though they did not know each other, each bore an expression of tension, as if readying themselves for battle.
As the final seconds of the countdown began to flash on the digital timer, Gabimaru's expression hardened. The practical test demanded precision and speed; he would need to accumulate the highest possible score to ensure his acceptance and, by extension, his mission's success.
*Three… Two… One… Begin!*
The arena erupted into chaos as each student surged forward. Gabimaru moved swiftly, his form a blur as he dove into the throng of metal adversaries. The robots' metal bodies glistened under the floodlights, each one moving with calculated hostility as they closed in on the candidates. But Gabimaru's movements were fluid, almost predatory. In a single, seamless motion, he evaded the first wave of attacks, weaving between robotic limbs and crushing metal bodies with explosive bursts of speed and power. Every strike was precise; every dodge, effortless.
Time passed in an unmarked haze of destruction. By the end of the ten-minute period, a deadly silence replaced the chaotic hum of clashing metal. Dust settled across the field, revealing the wreckage of dismantled robots piled high. And atop this metallic ruin stood Gabimaru, calm and unruffled, his golden eyes narrowing as he took in the scene he had created.
A stunned hush fell over the remaining students, who had stopped their battles to stare in disbelief. Among them, the blond boy, Kaminari, gaped, muttering in awe, "Is… is that even possible?"
The small, purple-haired boy, Mineta, stood frozen, blinking at the sheer devastation left in Gabimaru's wake. "He barely left anything for the rest of us!" he squeaked, half in amazement, half in frustration.
Beside them, the girl with the earbuds, Jiro, shook her head, unable to hide her surprise. "So… this is what it means to be a UA applicant?" she murmured, her voice filled with disbelief.
The red-haired boy, Kirishima, looked up at Gabimaru with something close to admiration. "Now that," he said with conviction, "was manly."
As the breeze swept through the arena, it lifted Gabimaru's white hair slightly, letting the sunlight catch on the streaks of silver. He raised his head to the sky, a quiet confidence etched onto his face. He had amassed more than enough points, he knew, to ensure his place within UA—and the mission that awaited.
With slow, deliberate steps, Gabimaru began to walk away from the towering heap of fallen robots, his footsteps echoing through the silent arena. In his wake, questions swirled among the other students, whispers that followed him like shadows. Even the proctors monitoring the test from their observation room shared looks of disbelief, each one noting Gabimaru's extraordinary, almost surgical precision in dismantling his opponents.
As he disappeared through the gates, Gabimaru's thoughts turned inward, silent and cold, the weight of his mission heavy within him. He was here for a purpose, nothing more.