A month since my enrollment in the Ninja Academy passed very quickly, and now I was standing by the entrance to the academy. With just ten days left before the exam, a lot of work had already been done.
A week before the exam, details of the trials appeared on the bulletin board. There would be three stages: the first — a theoretical test, the second — a physical test, and the third — a meeting with the teachers. The specifics were not disclosed, but I had a general idea of what awaited us.
A week ago
— Kohoshi-sensei, — I turned to my mentor who was standing nearby, watching me as I ran through the training course. — You still haven't told me what kind of test I'll be facing.
He smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.
— Do you think I'll give you an advantage? — There was a spark of excitement in his eyes. — Everything you've done so far has just been preparation. The real test starts now. — Although… — he paused for a moment and then continued, — I can tell you a little secret.
I immediately tensed up, sensing he was about to say something important.
— I'll tell you a secret, — Kohoshi paused. — How you perform on this exam will determine your future progress.
These words made me tense up even more. I needed to know more!
— What does that mean? — I asked, trying to keep my composure.
Kohoshi looked at me with a slight smile and shook his head.
— I won't tell you. It would be unfair to the other students. You just have to go through the trial yourself, — he said, tilting his head slightly. — But if you can't handle this test, what will you do next?
— But what should I do? — I asked, stopping and looking at Kohoshi. — How can I catch up with those who have been training longer than me? I just started…
Kohoshi straightened up and, noticing my anxiety, answered gently.
— Not everyone starts training at your age, so you don't have to worry, — he said, shrugging. — You still have time.
— But the clan children start earlier. I need to catch up with them, and even better, surpass them, — I said, feeling insecurity creeping in.
Kohoshi looked at me, and his gaze grew more serious.
— Well, that's true, — he replied. — But there is one way that might help you. Come here, I'll show you…
Fast forward
Now I was sitting in class, and before me was the very exam I had been thinking about so much. Our examiner was Kiharu Satoru, a teacher we knew from many lessons. He handed out the sheets and said:
— You may begin.
I opened my sheet and quickly skimmed through the questions. They were basic tasks: mathematics, geography, and the history of Konoha. The questions were standard for the first stage of the exam, and I felt a sense of relaxation. Everything I had been taught was already mastered, and it seemed like I would have no trouble.
We were given about an hour for all the tasks, but I finished in 20 minutes. I tried to complete each task carefully and didn't rush my answers. I checked everything a few times before handing the sheet to the teacher.
I gave him my work, and he unexpectedly handed me a second sheet. Returning to my seat, I looked at the new questions —
— Now we'll begin the second part, — Kiharu Satoru said, watching my gaze. — Read the questions and answer them the way you understand them.
I sighed, noticing his serious expression and realizing that this would be more difficult...
Back at my desk, I looked at the sheet. There were two questions:
During a mission, you learn that one of your teammates is secretly planning to leave the village, believing that Konoha undervalues him. If you report this to the teacher, your friend will be punished. If you stay silent, he could become an enemy of the village. What will you do and why?
You and your partner are on a mission. Suddenly, you're attacked by a squad of enemy ninjas. Your partner is wounded and can't fight. The enemy outnumbers you (three against one), but you have good knowledge of the terrain. You have two kunai, five shuriken, and an explosive tag in your arsenal. Your goal is to save your partner and retreat from the battlefield. What actions will you take?
I quickly scanned the questions. They weren't just testing knowledge, but strategic thinking and moral decision-making. This was a whole new level of the exam; it made sense — the village had to protect itself and its information…
I took a deep breath and grabbed my pencil. I needed to focus.
The first question…
A friend planning to leave the village. This is a serious matter. If I report it, he could be seen as a traitor, but if I stay silent — he could really become an enemy.
As a ninja of Konoha, I must prioritize the village's interests over personal relationships. But maybe it's worth talking to him first? To understand his reasoning, try to convince him. Maybe he's not a traitor, just confused? If he's already made up his mind to leave… then it's my duty to report it.
I carefully began writing my answer, trying to justify each decision.
The second question…
Three against one, a wounded partner… An open fight is impossible, I'd be destroyed. So, I need to use the terrain and resources.
The first step — hide my partner in a safe place or create a diversion. For example, attach the explosive tag to a rock and throw it to the side, distracting the enemies with the explosion. Then — use kunai and shuriken to create the illusion that we're attacking from different directions.
If the enemies scatter or weaken their control, I can quickly pull my partner out, using a smoke screen or quick maneuvers. The main goal — leave unnoticed.
I wrote down my plan, carefully describing the logic of my actions.
I quickly folded my hands on the desk, trying to reflect on the answers I just wrote. But before I could finish thinking, I heard a voice!
— Time's up! — Kiharu called in a firm voice, walking down the aisles and collecting the last papers.
Some students looked tense, others more confident. Some were biting their lips, silently moving their mouths as if repeating their answers, some nervously tapping their fingers on the desk in the rhythm of their own anxiety, while others looked relaxed, as if all this was nothing for them, like they had already known all the questions and just filled out the form automatically.
I inadvertently looked at my classmates, but no one met my gaze. Perhaps everyone was too lost in their thoughts, wondering how well they did. Some furtively glanced at the teacher, hoping to read something from his face, but Kiharu remained impassive, focusing on collecting the answer sheets.
The guy sitting next to me looked particularly tense. Since the morning, he had been nervously fidgeting his legs, locking and unlocking his fingers, trying to look calm, but his behavior betrayed his anxiety. At the beginning of the exam, he had intentionally smirked, trying to show that there was nothing difficult for him, but as soon as he opened the sheet with the questions, his confidence began to crumble. Now, he sat with a stone face, but I noticed his fingers trembling when he slowly pushed the sheet away and exhaled. The image he had been trying to create for the entire month was destroyed instantly during the exam.Kiharu stacked the sheets and raised his eyes.
— Now line up, — he ordered. — We are moving on to the second part of the exam.
A wave of tension spread through the class. Everyone knew that the physical test was coming next. Theory was one thing, but the real test began now.