The world of Naruto, Kirigakure, Ninja Academy.
The midday sun barely managed to disperse some of the mist on the training grounds, but it could do nothing to lift the cold and somber atmosphere there.
A group of 8- or 9-year-old children stood quietly on the training field, attentively listening to the lecture of their Chūnin instructor.
The ninja academy system, originally promoted by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, in Konohagakure, had since been widely adopted by other ninja villages.
However, the differing cultures of these villages caused significant variation in their academies.
Kirigakure's knock-off version of the ninja academy was vastly different from the original.
Since the Third Mizukage implemented the Blood Mist policy, the strict hierarchy between ranks and the utter disregard for life had become deeply ingrained in the hearts of the village's inhabitants.
This trickled down to the academy students, who had yet to graduate but already carried a shadow of gloom in their expressions.
"Midterm combat test, Group 1: Kanekawa Tachibana versus Igarashi Hito."
After the Chūnin instructor's long-winded lecture, the combat roster was finally announced, causing a slight relaxation of the tense atmosphere among the students.
"Kanekawa Tachibana somehow contracted a summoning beast. I wonder if his combat skills have improved?"
"Are you kidding me? Hito has consistently ranked in the top ten for combat tests in our class. What can Tachibana do with that tiny summoning beast that's not even as tall as his shin?"
Amidst the whispers of the students, a black-haired, black-eyed boy stepped briskly to the center of the training field.
He wore a blue short-sleeved shirt and black ninja pants with shin guards. His cheerful and sunny demeanor seemed oddly out of place in the dark atmosphere of Kirigakure.
What stood out the most, however, was the small light-blue frog perched on his shoulder.
The frog was about 30 centimeters tall, with disproportionately large eyes and a ring of bubble-like foam around its neck.
As he walked onto the field, Kanekawa Tachibana seemed to be quietly whispering to the small frog.
Seeing his opponent dawdling, Igarashi Hito grew impatient and sneered.
"Hey, Kanekawa Tachibana! Drop that fake smile. Do you really plan to send that tiny summoning beast to its death?"
Before Kanekawa could respond, the Chūnin instructor cut in, seeing that both participants were in position.
"You two, get ready!"
Kanekawa immediately dropped his smile and pulled out a kunai, his expression turning serious.
In Kirigakure, there was no such thing as a Seal of Confrontation or Seal of Reconciliation.
Hesitation or carelessness during the test could easily cost your life. In fact, the higher grades' combat tests often included fatal casualties.
"Begin!"
At the instructor's command, the two participants shot forward like arrows.
However, their approaches were slightly different.
Igarashi Hito sprinted with incredible speed, his steps light and ghost-like. He held a short blade in a reverse grip, ready to strike at any moment, displaying the characteristic combat style of Kirigakure ninja.
Kanekawa Tachibana's charge, by comparison, seemed unremarkable.
Yet as he advanced, the blue frog on his shoulder leaped backward, landing behind him.
It was clear they intended to coordinate their attack.
Kanekawa wasted no time, infusing chakra into his legs for a burst of speed. He blocked Igarashi Hito's upward slash with his kunai and used the force of the attack to sidestep the follow-up kick.
As Kanekawa evaded, the small frog hiding behind him suddenly came into view.
"Blue, Water Gun!"
"Ribbit! (｀0′)===3"
A rotating jet of water, as thick as an arm, shot straight at Igarashi Hito.
Simultaneously, Kanekawa threw his kunai, aiming directly for Hito's face.
However, Igarashi reacted swiftly. He extended his right hand, tracing a perfect arc with his short blade.
With a fluid motion, he switched his grip to a standard one and slashed downward, effortlessly dispersing the water jet.
He then instinctively raised his left hand, catching the kunai just five centimeters from his face.
Without time to think further, both participants kicked out at the same time.
"Thud!" x2
The sounds of two dull impacts rang out as both fighters kicked each other and then retreated to catch their breath.
Kanekawa Tachibana remained calm. Although his coordinated attack had failed, he wasn't surprised. He was well aware of his disadvantage in taijutsu.
Blue, his frog summon, was still new, and they weren't fully in sync yet.
Managing to put Hito on the defensive at all was already a small victory.
On the other hand, Igarashi Hito noticed his neck was covered in cold sweat after the exchange.
The truth was that his previous series of actions had been purely instinctive.
The water jet and the kunai had left him no room for error, and while he ultimately avoided harm, he had cut his right palm while catching the kunai.
Kanekawa Tachibana... that guy!
"Is that all? Your summoning beast's ninjutsu is weaker than my punches! You're just a guy with cheap tricks!"
Hito forced himself to suppress his nerves, still putting on a tough front.
Kanekawa smiled in response but said nothing. He simply pulled out another kunai from his pouch.
"Blue, let's go!"
As the battle resumed, the other students on the sidelines started to talk.
"That frog summon of Tachibana's is actually kind of useful."
"Not just the summon—don't you think Tachibana's attacks have become sharper recently?"
"Yeah, a lot of us have seen him training alone after school this past month."
While the students speculated, the fight grew more intense.
Though the battle seemed evenly matched, Kanekawa knew the truth.
Even with Blue's water jets disrupting Hito, he still couldn't land a decisive blow.
In fact, Hito's sharp short blade had already torn his clothing during a few close calls.
Looks like I'll have to stick to the plan.
Without hesitation, Kanekawa abruptly retreated, reaching into his ninja pouch as if preparing to throw shuriken.
Igarashi Hito wasn't about to let him attack freely. He threw three shuriken in a triangular pattern, sealing off Kanekawa's escape routes.
Then, with a burst of speed, he closed in to capitalize on his advantage in close combat.
Seeing the shuriken rapidly closing in, Kanekawa froze in place, as if stunned.
One shuriken hit him squarely in the chest.
But before Hito could celebrate, Kanekawa's body exploded into a puff of smoke.
The figure replaced by the shuriken was a wooden log, suspended in midair.
"A substitution jutsu?! When did he—"
Igarashi Hito's surprise left him briefly distracted.
Suddenly, a gust of wind hit him from behind.
From behind?!
Reacting on instinct, Hito pivoted on his right foot and unleashed a perfectly executed spinning slash aimed at his assailant's neck.
But his blade struck nothing.
The "attacker" was Blue, who leaped at Hito with its tiny white hand extended for a slap.
Realizing his mistake too late, Hito's attempt to adjust his attack left his defenses open.
Blue was lightly kicked away, but the opening it created was enough.
Before Hito could recover, a kunai was pressed against his neck from behind.
Holding the kunai was Kanekawa, his arm still bleeding from a shuriken embedded in it.
"First match of the midterm combat test: winner, Kanekawa Tachibana."
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