Late September.
A light rain continued to fall, and the forest outside Konoha Village was lush and verdant. Towering trees and bamboo shoots were accompanied by wildflowers and old vines. Raindrops tapped against the leaves, creating a rhythmic ticking sound.
To facilitate travel, a small clearing was maintained at the entrance of Konoha Village. However, the rain had turned the dirt road into mud, and carriages transporting goods frequently got stuck. Only with the help of the Konoha ninja stationed at the gate could the wagons slowly move forward.
Inside the gates, a group of children gathered along the road. The bad weather did not deter the assessment from proceeding as scheduled.
"Everyone is here. I'll now announce the rules," the instructor began, standing before the group.
"First, check your ninja bags. Tools such as kunai, shuriken, wire, and explosive tags are permitted. Compasses and maps will be provided by the academy."
Standing in front of the children, Kudai announced the rules for the final assessment. With many children already eliminated in the first two tests, fewer than 50 participants across all three age groups remained.
As Kudai outlined the rules, the children checked their ninja bags.
"Now, maps and compasses will be distributed," he said, motioning to a nearby ninja who began handing out the items.
Raiden stood near the front of the group and immediately examined his map. It was simple, marking rivers, mountains, and other key landmarks. A red cross in the center of the map indicated the destination with the words "Assessment Point" clearly written.
"Take a good look at the map. The red cross marks the destination for this assessment—a temple located 75 kilometers outside Konoha Village. Those who reach it within the designated time will be considered excellent. Those who take more than ten days or fail to arrive will be eliminated."
"Chunin from the village will follow you throughout the assessment. They will monitor your physical condition. If they decide you cannot continue, they will bring you back to the village, and you will be disqualified."
"Do you understand?"
Kudai's face was serious as he addressed the group. This assessment, he knew, would be relatively easy for some but nearly impossible for others, particularly for the younger participants. Covering a 75-kilometer mountain trail was challenging, even for an adult, let alone children armed only with a map and compass. The dense forest outside Konoha was full of hazards, and getting lost was a real danger.
"So difficult?" Raiden muttered under his breath. His confidence wavered after hearing the details.
"This is just the entrance exam for the academy! Why is it so hard?" he thought. The test reminded him of orienteering from his previous life, though much harder, especially considering the target participants were children.
"The assessment begins now. You're free to form teams. Once your team is ready, or if you decide to go solo, you may start," Kudai announced.
Some children left immediately, brimming with confidence. Others, particularly the younger ones, began forming groups for mutual support. Raiden noticed Chunin ninjas discreetly following the departing children to monitor them.
"The Third Hokage sure is thorough, assigning so many Chunins for this assessment," Raiden thought. Excited for his first chance to leave the village, he examined the map, identified his starting point, and set off.
Unlike others who took the official path, Raiden leapt into the woods, applying chakra to his feet for enhanced movement. Confident in his chakra control, he chose to travel solo, uninterested in slowing down for others.
Raiden's speed was remarkable. Shikadai Nara, hoping to team up with him, could only watch as Raiden disappeared into the forest. Left with no choice, Shikadai joined another group. Meanwhile, Hyuga Hizashi, known for his kind demeanor and strong performance in earlier tests, quickly assembled a team of eight.
In the wilderness, most children preferred traveling in groups, finding safety in numbers.
Raiden dashed through the trees, leaving faint footprints on branches. Unbeknownst to him, Namikaze Minato trailed from a distance, observing his path. Despite being just 12 years old, Minato had already graduated from the academy and achieved the rank of Chunin. This time, he was tasked with supervising Raiden.
"Raiden is fast—unbelievably fast for a five-year-old," Minato thought, impressed by the boy's speed and skill. He relied on footprints and broken branches to track Raiden's direction.
As the rain intensified, Raiden's pace slowed. Fatigue set in, and his soaked clothes clung to his body. The cold seeped into his bones, and he decided to stop for the night.
Jumping down from a tree, Raiden surveyed his surroundings. The dense forest blocked most of the light, making it difficult to see. Spotting a massive tree with relatively dry ground beneath it, he chose it as his campsite.
"I wish I had Yamato's Wood Style jutsu. It'd be nice to build a shelter easily," Raiden mused while inspecting the area. Settling on a simple triangular shelter design, he began gathering materials. Using his super strength, he moved tree branches and constructed a sturdy shelter in under two hours.
Once the shelter was complete, Raiden collected dry leaves and firewood from under the tree. Thankfully, the dense forest provided enough dry materials despite the rain. Using a lighter from his ninja bag, he lit a fire.
"Good thing I brought this lighter. Using flint like everyone else would've been a hassle," he chuckled as the flames grew.
Raiden warmed himself by the fire, taking off his wet coat to dry. The crackling flames and the rhythmic sound of rain brought him a sense of peace. After eating half a ration pill and drinking fresh water, he set up warning seals around his shelter and fell asleep, his body warmed by the comforting glow of the fire.
(End of Chapter)
>>>>>>>
Please leave PowerStones and Reviews if you're enjoying the story
Read up to Chapter 85 ahead on [Patreon.com/ggfanfiction]
For every 100 PowerStones I'll post an extra Chapter