Academy instructors stood in the Kurosawa Courtyard. Not the ones I had hired. But real academy instructors. They had come to test the kids on their progress on the Hokage's order. This was basically a genin graduation exam. And after this, they would be allowed to wear forehead protectors.
And I was feeling pretty confident too. After that initial boost, the Kami's had helped them all understand stuff about fuinjutsu. This was basically having your own personal 24/7 teacher cum assistant. By now, more than 60 had succeeded in making a simple paper bomb. The rest were supposed to learn by the end of the next 3 months. It was not the talent that was the problem. It was a theory. Except for the Winter Legion under Sayo and Sayuri. Nobody had learnt Fuinjutsu too much.
So we had 73 participants for the basic tag master certificate, while a full 120 for genin certification.
And with a sharp whistle. The exams began. First was an endurance test. Simple laps at a given speed for two hours.
This was followed by kunai throwing, spars and finally the three jutsu tests. They all passed. The tag-making, on the other hand, had different results. Out of 73 participants, only 54 passed.
But this came as a ridiculous shock to everyone present. Yes, it had been a public affair nd various clans had sent representatives. And there was a gaggle of civilians in all the corners, too. It looked like a festival with hawkers selling and spars happening. There was even a betting stand. Most of the stuff was near the forest because of space, so they were all on public land. I clicked my tongue. I should have thought of this.
"Hey!! Ren! So you're finally a real clan head now." Rina chirped. My team had decided to show up early and help with preparations. Which was basically them lounging about and chatting. The kids had taken care of it while I ran around like a madman. Who knew event management was such a tough job? No wonder people made a job out of it. I was really grateful to my Commanders for all of this. Or I would have gone mad. Especially Hotaru. The vice commander of Autumn under Daichi has earned his rightful place, I dare say.
I was sitting there, enjoying the fruits of my labours, when an old man with a huge ninken came over. He had a group of followers, too. I respectfully stood up and looked at Rina for an introduction. So did the elder. While she was busy inspecting something on Shiro's fur. Souta stood up and smacked her. "Oi, What was that for?" He made a nodding gesture.
"Huh, Oh Oh sorry elder. Ren, this is Elder Inuzuka Renka. And elder Renka, this is Kurosawa Ren. " It was too simple, but we both understood. Introduction by Rina was a formality to acknowledge our close relations.
I braced myself. Old foxes like him always talked in meaningful sentences that usually had alternate meanings.
"I see you have raised quite a few prodigies in Fuinjutsu."
Meaning - You have drawn so much attention. Are you ready for it?
"You give me too much credit. It is the result of the Grace and Guidance of Lord Hokage."
Meaning - Bro, if someone wants to mess with us, He can talk to the Hokage.
"Yes, Yes. The Hokage is a man with a great vision. Although I do hope you don't bother him too much. He is a busy man," he smiled lightly as if cracking a joke.
Meaning - You can never have too many friends. Clans have ways to deal with you without making it a Hokage-worthy issue.
"Yes, he is. But I have friends to don't I?"
Meaning - Yes, I know. I am open to alliances. Do you want one?
"Yes, Yes. Our Rina is your teammate, isn't she? You can come to her if you ever need anything. That's what friends are for anyway."
Meaning - Great. I accept the alliance.
"By the way, seeing as you are already good friends with Rina. I was hoping to work out an arrangement for the supply of tags. You will be producing quite a few of them I'm sure."
Meaning - No hidden meaning, this was a simple ask for a friend's discount.
"Yes, sure sure. I will give you a good rate for these."
We gave a polite bow to each other, and he left.
And right after, Hyuga Kenta appeared. Then Nara Itsue. Then Gekko Arata, and then on and on and on they came.
Even an Uchiha showed up, surprising me. It appears that although a hundred genin were grass weeds. 50 Fuinjutsu masters were not. But all hell broke loose when the Hokage showed up for the certificate and Headband distribution, Causing the civillians to go into a frenzy.
Our newly promoted genin gained an on-the-spot first mission of Crowd control. The day ended with a feast to officially celebrate our first steps into the leagues and the large amount of contract offers we had gotten.
In the evening we were all walking back for dinner.
"So that Yamigami clan. That's what we were searching for, weren't we?" Souta questioned.
"Yeah, I had all other pieces. But one was said to be worn as a trophy by a bandit leader." I repeated the spiel.
We all fell into an awkward silence.
"What's the matter, you guys?" I had been busy during the day, but I had noticed the strange silence all day. Even Rina was acting shy.
"It's nothing," Rina muttered.
"Its obviously something."
"Ren, its, its just that you are the head of a shinobi clan now."
"I was a clan head long before I met you all. So what?"
"Yes, but that was different."
"How?"
"I don't know how to describe it. But that had been simply, you knowing the Hokage and getting his favour. But seeing you dealing with so many elders. And so many genins saluting you in formation. It just drove it home. You honestly looked like our clan head at an event."
"Yeah", Rina gave a heavy nod.
Souta gave me a tight-lipped half-smile, clearly trying to keep his shoulders from sagging. "It doesn't feel… normal. Everyone I know in positions like this…" He exhaled slowly. "It's all stiff and formal. Protocol, procedure, rules. You… you don't strike me that way."
I raised an eyebrow at Souta. "You mean, because I don't act like some rigid, boring suit, you're uncomfortable?"
He blinked, clearly caught off guard. "I… well, it's different. I've never seen someone with authority act… human."
I snorted. "Human, huh? That's my biggest crime apparently." I nudged Rina, who let out a small laugh.
"Ren!" she said, mock glaring, "don't make fun of Souta. He's just worried you're going to start ordering people around like some grand elder."
I grinned, spreading my hands. "Look, just because I can talk to elders, get respect, and sign contracts, it doesn't mean I'm suddenly going to become some scary old man. I'm still me."
Souta's lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "I suppose… It's just hard to reconcile. Authority and… familiarity."
"Ah, the classic Ren problem," I said, draping an arm around his shoulders. "People never know whether to salute me or call me a goof."
Rina giggled. "I vote for goof. Always goof."
Sensei, who had been walking slightly behind us with his usual carefree sway, chimed in. "Why are you all getting so stiff now. Actually, you both should demand compensation. Technically he used you to develop his own clan."
They both paused. It was true. But it also somehow felt wrong. "Fine, Fine. I was planning to give you something anyway," I said as I took out a few storage scrolls. They were expensive gifts for Genin and even chunin. Along with a set of several kinds of tags. I meant to give them as gifts for a while now. But I always needed money for the clan. Now, finally, my pockets were free.
"Thank you Ren, you didn't have to." Even Sensei was a bit sheepish on accepting gifts from his disciple.
"Don't worry about it, you guys. I have your missions for the next 10 years right here in my head." They all paused. Then burst out laughing. And just like that the tension was gone.
"I'm not hunting bandits again." Rina smiled.
"Fine, fine," I said, laughing. "But only if Souta promises not to go all stiff on me again."
We ended up partying late into the night. Although Sensei left stating that he felt like drinking Soju. He seemed off for some reason.