At the edge of a Konoha forest, a wide clearing was filled with chatter as students lined up before their instructors — Shino, Anko, and Konohamaru.
Each student wore a blue target button on their chest, looking both nervous and excited.
Shino raised his hand, his voice calm and deliberate. "Now, I'll explain the rules of the practical exam in detail. First, everyone, tie on these white headbands."
He pulled out a dozen spotless white headbands and handed them out one by one.
"This headband represents your life," he continued. "If someone takes it from you, it means you've lost your qualification to graduate."
Gasps rippled through the group.
"The exam will be conducted as an actual combat test," Shino added. "The entire forest is your testing ground."
Konohamaru stepped forward with a grin.
"You'll be fighting us. The exam lasts twenty-four hours. And this—" he tapped the blue button on his chest, which immediately turned red, "—works just like your headbands. Hit it, and we're out."
"Wait, we're fighting Konohamaru-sensei and the others?" someone exclaimed.
"Konohamaru-sensei's a monster! Didn't he defeat one of the Pains when he was our age?" a student blurted out.
Konohamaru couldn't help but smirk proudly at that.
"What are you afraid of?" another student said confidently. "We've got Boruto. Even Konohamaru-sensei isn't a match for him."
Konohamaru's proud smile faltered a little at that one.
Before anyone could say more, the sound of approaching footsteps drew everyone's attention.
Kakashi, wearing his green flak jacket, emerged from the forest.
"Sixth Hokage-sama!" Iwabe called out in surprise.
All the students turned wide-eyed. None of them had expected the Sixth Hokage himself to show up.
Kakashi stopped in front of the group, his sharp gaze sweeping across the students until it landed on Boruto — who stood with his hands in his pockets, looking bored and unimpressed.
Kakashi narrowed his eye thoughtfully. Just how strong has Boruto gotten now?
"I'll be serving as your examiner," he announced.
The entire clearing erupted.
"The Sixth Hokage himself?!"
"No way!"
"This is crazy!"
Even Iwabe was nearly trembling with excitement. "The Sixth Hokage, the genius who saved the village after the war, is gonna test us?!"
Shikadai just sighed. "Troublesome. But if Boruto's here, we can just relax and coast to victory."
Boruto muttered under his breath, "He's really using the same old bell test again? How boring…"
Then, a mischievous grin crept across his face. But maybe I can make this interesting. Sorry, Kakashi-sensei.
Kakashi smirked slightly beneath his mask. These little troublemakers think they can coast through this? Not on my watch.
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small, silver bell. It chimed softly in the air.
"Listen carefully. Only those who manage to take this bell from me will pass."
Everyone froze.
Shikadai raised a brow. "Just to be clear… how many bells are there?"
"There's only one," Kakashi said firmly.
The students' eyes went wide.
"Only one?! So that means… only one of us can graduate?"
Whispers spread through the crowd. Panic began to set in.
Boruto just yawned. "Tch. Figures."
"This is impossible!"
"Then what's the point?"
Shikadai rubbed the back of his neck. "Man, this is way too troublesome. I thought we could just hang around behind Boruto, but now…"
Kakashi crossed his arms. "Anyone who doesn't want to participate can leave now. But that means failing. In the real world, no one holds your hand. A single wrong step can cost your life."
Shino nodded. "When you become shinobi, you'll face situations where retreat isn't an option."
Konohamaru added, "We're acting as the Sixth Hokage's guards today. If you want that bell, you'll have to get through us first."
Anko smirked. "So don't hold back. Come at us like you mean to kill."
"The exam begins now!" Kakashi declared — and in an instant, all four instructors vanished.
The students were left blinking, staring at empty space.
Everyone turned to Boruto.
"Boruto, what do we do?" Sarada asked.
Boruto tilted his head back and laughed. "Genin? Hahaha… I might as well not be one!"
"Boruto…" Sumire said softly, worry in her eyes.
"One bell?" Boruto grinned. "That's just them trying to mess with us."
He looked at everyone. "So, what do you think we should do?"
"They're toying with us!" someone shouted.
"Yeah! Let's make them feel Pain!" another yelled.
Boruto raised his hand and roared, "A bag of rice!"
"Carrying how many floors?!" the crowd shouted back.
"A bag of rice!"
"Carrying two floors!"
The chant rose higher and higher, everyone laughing and shouting in rhythm — even Sarada and Sumire joined in, their voices bright and teasing.
Boruto smirked. "Alright! Then let's make our teachers feel Pain!"
With a puff of smoke, he transformed into the Deva Path Pain form.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Dozens of clouds of white smoke erupted as the students followed suit — an entire army of mini-Pains stood in the clearing.
Boruto pointed dramatically toward the forest. "To the trees! Take back what's ours!"
With that, the "Pains" charged into the woods like a chaotic, chanting army.
Up in the trees, Kakashi watched through a telescope, shaking his head.
The point of this exam was to teach teamwork, he thought. But what… what the hell am I even looking at?
He zoomed in and nearly choked.
Dozens of Pains were marching through the forest in unison, shouting "Feel Pain!" as they went.
Kakashi sighed deeply. "Oh no… I've become the clown in this story."
...
Author's Note:
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