A Night Before the Exam
Three months had passed since I began practicing the Clone Jutsu. Now, I could create decent clones—good enough to confuse someone visually. It had taken me an entire month just to make a barely functional human clone. Clones were undoubtedly harder than the Transformation Jutsu, so it wasn't surprising that Naruto sucked at them while excelling in transformations.
Maybe after the exams, I should start practicing the Sexy Jutsu. If it could stun Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, then who knows? It might just save my life one day. And if nothing else, it could be my ticket to getting on Jiraiya's radar. That old pervert would probably love my knowledge of anime waifus from my past life—Hiruzen too.
But after using clones for three months, I understood why higher-level ninjas didn't rely on them. They lacked smell, weight, and even shadows. Anyone with sharp perception and battle experience could see through the flaws. However, they still had their uses—like creating distractions or masking my movements while I attacked from a blind spot. If I combined this with my ability to suppress my presence, it could be a deadly trick.
Apart from that, I had reduced my morning meditation sessions and started practicing wind levitation more. I could now make pebbles and leaves hover, a clear improvement. My chakra reserves had also increased, though not as drastically as I had hoped. I had thought my chakra would grow in bursts after a year, but I guess my body still isn't strong enough to handle a sudden boost. Increasing my training volume isn't an option either—I am already struggling with my current routine.
Since tomorrow is the exam, I skipped today's physical training. If I was going to take first place, I couldn't afford to be exhausted.
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Next Day – The Academy
Okabe-sensei stood near the blackboard, his gaze sweeping over the classroom. His usual serious expression didn't change as he spoke, "Good morning, kids. Today is the final exam of your first year."
A Nara boy snored lightly in the back, completely unbothered, while an Inuzuka kid was busy scratching his dog's ears. Okabe's eye twitched, but he didn't bother reprimanding them.
He continued, "You already know the subjects and the format, but I'll repeat it for those of you who like to live in their own world." His eyes flicked toward the Nara again.
"The exams will take place over three days. Today is the theory exam. Tomorrow, you will be tested on leaf concentration and shuriken throwing. The day after that, the taijutsu spars will take place, where two teachers will act as judges. The Hokage may also attend, so perform your best."
The moment he mentioned the Hokage, a ripple of excitement and tension spread across the room. Some students instinctively straightened up, while others clenched their fists in excitement.
Okabe smirked. "And, of course, whoever ranks first will receive a personal reward from the Hokage himself. You can ask for money, jutsus, a private instructor, or even the possibility of joining a clan—provided they accept you."
The air became tense as civilian students, in particular, perked up. For them, this was a rare chance to escape mediocrity. Clans had resources—techniques, training, protection. If they could impress the Hokage, their futures could change overnight.
Okabe continued, "Unlike other first-year classes, which only have to pass theory, you are the elite class. You are required to pass the entire set of exams to maintain your place. Failure will result in demotion, and another student from a lower-ranked class will take your spot."
Silence fell over the room. The weight of his words was clear—this wasn't just an exam, it was a battle.
"That's all. The exam sheets will be passed to the front row. Take one and pass it back. And I shouldn't have to say this, but if you're caught cheating, you will fail the entire theory exam."
Minutes later, the exam began.
Kazeo skimmed through the paper. The questions were simple. The test was divided into four sections:
1. Konoha and Shinobi World History
2. Chakra Theory
3. Basic Biology and Physics—simple questions any 10-year-old from my past world could answer.
4. Mathematics—basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
He breezed through the entire paper, leaving only one question unanswered on purpose.
'Even if kids in this world are smarter, there's no way anyone is getting a perfect score,' He thought.
Two hours later, the exam ended. Some students looked relieved, others miserable. A few grumbled about how hard it was. The moment they were dismissed, Kazeo headed straight for the library.
'If I am going to ask for a reward, I need to know my options.'
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Library –
Sitting in a quiet corner, Kazeo flipped through scrolls, absorbing as much information as possible.
'No mention of Forbidden Jutsu. Not that I expected it—those were probably locked away in S-rank or ANBU-exclusive archives. But I found a reference to Flying Thunder God, likely because of Minato's legacy.'
However, something strange caught his eye—there was no mention of Sage Mode.
In fanfictions from his past life, this ability
was treated like common knowledge, yet here, this was nowhere to be found. Even Jiraiya's Sage Mode wasn't documented.
'So Konoha guards Sage Mode as a secret. That makes sense. Only a handful of people could use it—Hashirama, Jiraiya, Minato, Naruto, and Kabuto—all from Konoha. It must be closely protected.'
This gave him another reason to befriend Jiraiya. 'If I could gain his trust, maybe I could gain access to Mount Myōboku.
Or better … I could find a new summoning clan willing to teach me Senjutsu.'
With that thought, Kazeo closed the scroll and returned home.
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Next Day – Leaf Concentration and Shuriken Throwing
The class gathered at the academy's training ground, each student sitting cross-legged with a leaf balanced on their forehead. The test was simple—keep the leaf stuck using only chakra for five minutes to pass. Anything beyond that would earn additional marks, with the top scorer setting the benchmark for everyone else.
For example, if the top student held the leaf for 30 minutes and the second-best lasted 25 minutes, the second-place student would receive 25 out of 30 marks. The longer they lasted, the better their final score.
Barely two minutes in, a civilian boy lost control of his chakra, and the leaf fluttered to the ground. His face paled as realization sank in. Tears welled up in his eyes, but no one comforted him. Failing here meant automatic disqualification from the exam.
Four minutes and nine seconds in, an Inuzuka student lost his focus. The moment his leaf slipped off, his dog whined, rubbing its snout against his arm in sympathy. He sighed, disappointed but not as devastated as the previous kid.
Beyond that, no one else failed.
The top-ranking clan kids lasted the longest. Uchiha Ishikawa, Senju Rin, and Uchiha Kaito all made it past the twenty-minute mark.
The Uchiha boy smirked when the Senju girl dropped out first. But his smirk vanished when he noticed Kazeo still sitting there.
Kazeo held on for thirty-five minutes, ten minutes longer than him, before letting the leaf fall intentionally. As there was no point in dragging it out.
The final rankings were recorded, and the test ended.
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As soon as the Leaf Concentration Test ended, the students were led to the academy's weapon training area. Rows of sturdy wooden targets stood at a fixed distance, their bullseyes marked in deep red.
This exam was straightforward—each student had ten attempts to throw shuriken and kunai, aiming for the bullseye. The closer their hits were to the center, the higher their score. But just like before, the top scorer would set the benchmark for others.
The sound of metal slicing through air filled the training ground as one by one, students stepped forward and took their shots.
The Uchiha dominated the test.
Their natural talent for precision and throwing techniques put them at the top, effortlessly hitting the bullseye multiple times. Senju Rin wasn't far behind, securing fourth place.
But the real surprise of the exam? Shimura Hiko.
A quiet boy who had barely stood out in any previous test, suddenly outperformed most of the class, claiming second place. Unlike the Uchiha, he wasn't flashy—his movements were controlled, measured. Every throw had minimal wasted movement, his aim cold and precise.
Most students had dismissed him before, but after today, he wouldn't be ignored so easily.
Kazeo lifted his first shuriken, rolling the cool metal between his fingers with steady grip. 'Don't clutch too tightly, or the release will be off.'
With a flick of his wrist, He sent the shuriken flying. 'Aim slightly to the right—the wind will compensate.'
Thud!
The weapon embedded itself just a few millimeters away from the bullseye.
'Not perfect, but damn close.'
He adjusted his stance and threw the next one. This time, He adjusted the angle by a fraction.
Thud!
Even closer.
Kazeo repeated the process, each throw refining his control.
By the tenth throw, He knew his score.
He glanced at Shimura Hiko as he calmly stepped away, Hiko's gaze lingering on him for a moment before he turned, as if silently acknowledging Kazeo as competition.
Kazeo got third place in shuriken throwing.
He narrowed his eyes at the results. He had expected better. No—I should have done better. My throws were precise, calculations solid. So, where did I fall short?
He replayed the moment in his head. His wrist movements had been fluid, his grip perfect. Yet, there had been a fraction of inconsistency in his last three throws—just enough deviation to knock him down to third.
'Damn it… I just hope this doesn't become the reason I can't aim for first place.'
When the exam concluded, the instructors recorded the scores, and the students were dismissed for the day.
After reaching home, Kazeo decided to take a break from physical training. His muscles still held some fatigue from the past days, so tonight, he focused solely on practicing jutsu.
Next day-
The sun hung high over the academy's training ground, casting long shadows over the sparring ring. The Taijutsu Exam had begun, and this time, Iruka stood as the referee, ensuring fair play. His sharp eyes watched every match, making sure no one continued attacking after their opponent had either yielded or been knocked down. The goal wasn't to injure but to test skill, endurance, and control.
But the biggest reason for the students excitement?
The Hokage himself was present.
His arrival had sent a wave of enthusiasm through the young shinobi, all eager to impress the village leader. Some stood taller, their stances firmer, while others shifted nervously, feeling the weight of his presence.
One by one, the matches played out. Clashes of fists and kicks filled the air, students testing their strength and technique against one another.
The results?
Hyūga Kaito dominated the fights, his clan's Gentle Fist technique overwhelming opponents with precision and efficiency, earning him first place.
Uchiha Ishikawa followed closely behind, his Sharingan not yet developed but his natural talent and his clan's taijutsu keeping him in second.
Third place went to a quiet Hyūga girl, who rarely spoke in class but proved her skill in combat.
Kazeo placed fourth, after managing to defeat Senju Rin in the semi-finals, only to fall against the Hyūga girl's refined techniques.
Senju Rin secured fifth place.
Shimura Hiko came in sixth.
As the final match concluded, the Hokage stepped forward, his warm, aged eyes scanning the young warriors. A smile tugged at his lips as he approached some of the students, offering a few words of encouragement and ruffling the hair of those who had impressed him.
Then, his voice rang out, calm yet commanding.
"I will return tomorrow… to personally reward the one who claimed first place."
Excitement rippled through the crowd. A reward from the Hokage himself? It was a rare honor, one that left the students buzzing with curiosity and anticipation.
With that, the Hokage turned and departed, his presence leaving an unspoken weight in the air.
The students soon followed, some discussing their fights, others quietly replaying their mistakes in their heads.
Kazeo, however, walked home in silence thinking about results.
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Next day — The Results
The morning air was crisp as Kazeo completed his daily routine—his morning workout and wind jutsu practice. Sweat clung to his skin, but his mind was sharp. After grabbing a ration bar, he locked his door and set off toward the academy, his steps steady.
By the time he arrived, a small crowd had already formed outside the training grounds, gathered in front of the result board. Every student in his class stood waiting, anticipation thick in the air.
Yet, at the moment, the board remained empty.
"The results will be posted in ten minutes," someone murmured.
Kazeo crossed his arms, as the minutes ticked by. Finally, an academy teacher approached. With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved a storage scroll, unfurling it in one swift motion. A sheet of paper appeared, which he carefully pinned onto the board before stepping away.
That was the signal.
The moment the teacher left, chaos erupted.
Students rushed forward, scrambling to find their names, their ranks—some cheering, some groaning in disappointment. The cluster around the board was too thick for Kazeo to see anything at first, so he waited, standing back with a few others until the excitement died down.
One by one, the kids left, either satisfied or sulking. When the crowd thinned, Kazeo stepped forward, his gaze scanning the sheet.
Then—he found his name.
His brows furrowed.
A sharp frown settled on his face as he absorbed the results, his mind processing the ranking and marks.
"Not what you expected?"
A voice cut through the silence, laced with amusement.
Kazeo didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
Uchiha Ishikawa stood a few steps away, smirking.