Chapter 6 – The Exam That Opens the Path
The next morning...
That morning, the Village of Konoha was busier than usual. Birds flew across the sky, the voices of merchants echoed in the market, and the road leading to the Academy was filled with children chatting excitedly. Today was the preliminary exam day to advance and become a genin.
Kazuki stood in front of a small mirror in his room. The Academy uniform was neatly worn on his body. On the simple wooden desk, the exam invitation scroll lay wide open.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"The genin exam… it's finally here. If I pass, my path will never be the same again. Is this a step toward my destiny, or the beginning of something darker?"
He let out a long sigh, then gave a faint smile.
"Well, if I think too much about it, I'll drive myself crazy."
Kazuki took the empty forehead protector given by the Academy. He tied it around his forehead.
Kazuki:
"If I succeed today, maybe this headband will finally have its true meaning."
---
At the Academy
The Academy courtyard was already filled with students. Other participants shouted to cheer themselves up, Sasuke sat quietly with a blank expression, Sakura was busy staring at Sasuke, and Ino was doing the same, not wanting to lose.
Akihiro walked in and was immediately greeted by a loud voice.
Kiba: "Hey! Kazuki! You're taking the exam too, right? Get ready, I'll definitely be the best genin today, and I'll surely become the number one genin in Konoha village!"
Akihiro chuckled softly.
Kazuki: "Yeah, yeah… let's hope so. But don't end up being the noisiest one in this exam."
Sakura turned her head, crossing her arms.
Sakura: "Hey Kiba! Don't act all high and mighty! Sasuke will definitely be the best in this exam!"
Kiba's face immediately turned red.
Kiba: "What?! I can be just as great as Sasuke!"
Akihiro only shook his head at the two of them.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"Their energy… always reminds me of middle school. Noisy, but warm. The difference is, in this world, children's games can turn into life-and-death battles at any time."
---
The Academy Hall
Iruka-sensei entered the large hall, carrying a list. The atmosphere instantly turned silent.
Iruka: "Alright, everyone. Today you will go through the preliminary exam to determine who is worthy of advancing to genin. The exam will be held in two stages. First, the basic technique test. Second, a team battle simulation."
Small cheers were heard among the students. Some faces looked tense, some full of confidence.
Iruka continued.
Iruka: "And remember, not only strength will be assessed. Teamwork, strategy, and attitude are just as important."
Akihiro felt his heart pounding.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"A team simulation… that means I'll be facing other students directly. This could be the moment that draws attention from those who… are watching me."
He remembered the strange gaze from the previous night.
---
First Stage – Technique Test
One by one, students were called forward. Some were asked to perform bunshin no jutsu (clone technique), some had to throw shuriken, and others were tested on chakra control.
Kiba stepped forward with full confidence—and of course, the result was a mess. His shuriken missed completely, and the other students burst into laughter.
Kiba: "W-what?! That was just a warm-up! Later I'll show my real strength!"
Sakura slapped her forehead.
Sakura: "Oh my god, such an idiot…"
Akihiro only gave a faint smile, though in his heart he recalled details from the original story.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"Yeah, that's Kiba. If the story stays the same, he'll discover his power later… something truly remarkable. But me… I must decide my own path."
When it was Akihiro's turn, the hall suddenly fell silent. He stepped forward slowly, looking straight ahead.
Iruka: "Akihiro. Show us your bunshin no jutsu."
Akihiro let out a breath. He knew the technique was simple, but he also knew the chakra in his new body wasn't completely stable. Then he closed his eyes, focusing.
Puff!
Three clones appeared beside him, nearly perfect, only slightly shaky at the edges.
Iruka nodded.
Iruka: "Quite good. Stabilize your chakra flow, and the result will be even better."
The students whispered among themselves.
Sakura: "Wow… and Akihiro isn't even a student who usually gets noticed."
Ino: "Yeah, he's kind of mysterious. But actually pretty cool."
Akihiro returned to his seat, pretending not to care about the attention focused on him.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"This is only the beginning. I can't stand out too much… but I also can't stay hidden forever."
---
Second Stage – Team Simulation
By afternoon, Iruka announced the small teams for the battle simulation.
Iruka: "First team, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kiba."
The room immediately became noisy. Kiba cheered, Sakura complained because she had to be on a team with Kiba, and Sasuke just snorted coldly.
Iruka: "Second team, Akihiro, Hinata, and Shikamaru."
Kazuki glanced at Hinata, whose face instantly turned red, while Kiba confidently raised his hand.
Kiba: "Hah! This will be easy! We'll definitely win big!"
Hinata lowered her head, whispering softly.
Hinata: "I… I'll do my best."
Akihiro gave a faint smile.
Kazuki: "Then, let's do this together."
---
The Battle Arena
The training field was filled with other students watching. Akihiro's team was paired against Shino, Ino, and Choji's team.
Iruka gave the signal.
Iruka: "Begin!"
The battle immediately started. Shino unleashed his kikaichū insects, Choji expanded with the Baika no Jutsu, while Ino prepared her mind control jutsu.
Kazuki dashed forward with his still-imperfect rasengan. Hinata activated her Byakugan, trying to read the enemy's movements.
Shikamaru stood in the back, analyzing.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"This isn't about winning or losing. It's about how they work together. If I want to survive in this world, I must learn… to trust others."
Akihiro finally advanced, helping Hinata hold off Choji with precisely aimed shuriken throws.
The battle grew more intense. Sweat dripped, dust rose, and the cheers of students echoed.
But amid the commotion, Akihiro felt something.
That gaze again.
From within the crowd of spectators, someone was watching him. A dark figure standing still, never shifting their eyes.
Akihiro tensed.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"Him again… Who exactly is watching me? Why do I feel… as if this exam is not just about becoming a genin?"
Cheers erupted as the battle ended in a draw. Iruka announced the provisional results, but Akihiro barely heard them.
That gaze was still piercing through him.
---
Nighttime
After the exam ended, students went home with relieved or disappointed faces. Akihiro walked alone down the path toward his house.
But his steps stopped.
At the end of the road, under the moonlight, a figure in a black cloak stood. His face was hidden, only his sharp eyes reflecting the pale light of the night.
Akihiro instinctively prepared a fighting stance.
Kazuki: "Who are you… really? Why do you keep following me?"
The figure did not answer. He just stood in silence, then slowly disappeared into the shadows of the trees, as if swallowed by the darkness.
Akihiro froze, cold sweat running down his temple.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"This is no coincidence. Someone knows that I… am not just an ordinary Academy student."
The moon hung high, as if witnessing that Akihiro's journey had just entered a new stage—and this time, the shadows were truly beginning to close in.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…