Akihoto Hiro clasped his hands together forming a cross with his fore fingers as raw chakra whipped around him. His eyes closed mustering all the could to just maintain the jutsu. Chakra built up in him starting at his feet feeling the spiritual energy about him. His eyes sprung open as the energy swelled to his temples, releasing it from his body. Chakra circled him multiple rounds leaving behind a cloudy residue then took shape. A roguish smirk crawled across his face, locking eyes with his mirror image. Hiro turned to his instructor, fixing him with the same stare, awaiting a response.
"One attractive looking doppelganger", he returned his stare to the clone, "if I do say so myself."
A Silent wave of laughter sounded from the students surrounding Hiro. He playfully tugged at his dim gray gi, then tightened the grip of a mahogany colored sash at his waist which hung around his knees. He shot a second look at his double and nodded, allowing him to disappear into a puff of white smoke. He returned face to his instructor giving him what everyone else called the Akihoto no jutsu, which was nothing more than a charmingly roguish smirk.
"Yes Hiro…" the instructor, Sensei-Takuya, marked a clipboard tucked into his arms. "…A nice example on the Art of Doppelganger, but try to focus more on your jutsu than showing off" he marked at the clipboard a second time. "Pass…"
He tugged again at his gi walking away, blending into the crowd of students. He was quickly intercepted by another student slightly shorter than he, bumping into him, Hiro instinctively absorbed information on him. He bore a long sleeve indigo tinted gi, with bandage wrapped around his knuckles. His name quickly surfaced afterward: Nagako Koji, Hiro's partner in crime.
"Hah, told you I'd pass" Hiro lightly pushed Koji, forcing him a step back.
Koji instinctively crossed his arms avoiding eye contact with his friend, "I could pass if I got a second chance."
"You would've passed if your doppelganger hadn't given Sensei-Takuya the finger" Hiro chuckled lightly, "It was funny though."
"No, hilarious…" the two broke into heavy laughter.
"Ahem!" Sensei-Takuya nabbed his student's attention with a rough grunt. "Today's exam is over, most of you did well today, and as for everyone else…"he cleared his throat, then fixed a haunting gaze which seemed to be aimed toward Koji. "There are no make-ups!" Koji kicked at the ground upon the teacher's remark, then fixed Hiro with a puzzled stare.
"On a final note, class will start two hours later than usual for tomorrow's graduation…" a menacing grin crawled across his face as his tone became severe. "…exercise, the genin selection exam: an all-out battle between your classmates." The students fell silent as the thought of their own deaths hovered over them. Hiro and Koji shot each other innocent glares of fear. Hiro clenched his fist tightly hoping to calm his anxiety.
"Not to the death of course" the instructor chuckled. "If you're unable to move or declare defeat, your out, only thirteen of you will pass this year." Hiro swallowed his tongue, he scanned the room quickly, counting how many students were present: Twenty eight. Less than half would pass tomorrow, it'd be nothing more than a test of endurance. "So I'll see you all tomorrow, class is dismissed."
Hiro and Koji both sat in a tree, both lying on the furthermost branch. Hiro, attention to the ground below, watched as the ocean of grass ran like waves in the wind. He spied a spider, building its web from somewhere in the ocean of grass, to the tree's base. The spider had nearly completed its web, when a second spider attacked from the grass, forcing the smaller first spider to vacate its home. Hiro quickly armed himself with a shuriken and snapped it down, tacking the aggressor spider to the tree.
"Nice shot…" Koji broke the ongoing silence, continuing from class. "You're a natural at shuriken throwing."
Hiro shrugged, of course he could throw shurikens, it was all he ever did. He never mastered an decent jutsus, except the Akihoto. When tomorrow came around, he would have to rely on his taijutsu and shuriken throwing more than ever. He would have to try so hard, just to lose. And what of Koji? He knew he'd never attack him, but Koji was a class clown more than anything. Did he have any skills decent enough to survive tomorrow?
Koji nudged Hiro, handing over his shuriken holster. "Hiro, I want you to take all my shurikens."
Hiro shot his friend a glassy eyed look, "Koji…"
"I can't throw to save my life, they're useless for me, plus I'm gonna need you in top form if were gonna pass tomorrow." Hiro swallowed the lump in his throat thinking. He'd never known Koji to be the serious type. And it continued to bother him, could Koji hold his own? Did he have any skills worth using? Koji winked reassuring Hiro, then shot him the Akihoto no jutsu. "Don't worry, I gots a plan."
Hiro chuckled a little, accepting Koji's holster. "Gots, huh" they chuckled together, "now that's reassuring…"
"Tomorrow…" Koji peered down at the spider Hiro tacked, then back to Hiro. "…we make like spiders…"