Final Chapter of the Graduation Exam is up, I hope that people have enjoyed my version of the examinations, I decided that the ones in the manga and anime were a little lacklustre so I tried to make some of my own, I hope that I didn't do too bad.
Anyways thing chapter took a little long because the final test segment needed more imagination then the practical and theoretical one, I hope that any readers like it.
Anyways after this chapter it'll be the end of the Graduation arc, oh and the next one will be told almost entirely from Naruto/Nariko's view with maybe a few small segments with my OC character, all will be explained when it comes out, which might be a while.
Somewhat recently I've put up a poll on my Authors page so if any of my readers (if any) are interested in it please check it.
Disclaimer: I do not profit from this story and the rights to Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
Naruto: Tale of Yin and Yang
Chapter 4: Examination: Final Test
"And pens down" Iruka called out. Kiro released the sigh he'd been holding and put down his pen, the extended response question was harder then he thought and he had scrawled over most of the paper before finally finishing it.
"I hope they can read it" Kiro thought tiredly, he had crossed out and rewrote a lot of information and would likely take some time to decipher all of it, "lucky you don't get marked on neatness" he thought.
As Iruka and Mizuki moved up to take the papers Kiro looked around towards the other students, quite a number of them looked rather uneasy about how they went, while others looked quite pleased with themselves, still others looked positively sick with worry.
"They should worry more over the final test" Kiro thought grimly. Because of the ambiguity of what the final test would entail, and because it was a surprise, chances are no one studied for it. Suddenly at that thought several things clicked. Groaning mentally, he would have smacked himself if not for the fact that the action would draw unwanted attention to him.
"Of course" Kiro thought while mentally going over the facts he realized.
Firstly, this was a graduation for ninja's and the students would thus be expected to learn not to take things at face value.
Secondly, because of the above point, there should be some sort of hidden meaning in what the exams would need to qualify them as ninja, skill in and seeing through deception is an integral part of being a ninja.
Finally, ninja must adapt if they are to survive. By thrusting an unexpected examination, they could separate the abilities of the ninja candidates.
A grimace appeared at Kiro's mouth, unfortunately he still had no idea what the final test was, and given his lack of ability in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu…
"Alright now", Iruka began, "please wait until your name is called, each of you will be taking this final test individually, you many talk amongst yourselves quietly". With that, Iruka and Mizuki walked into the next room presumably to prepare the test.
With a sigh Kiro leaned back in his chair. There was no use worrying about what the final test was, he would just have to do as well as he can.
A shuffling sound to his right caught his attention, looking towards the source of the noise he was surprised to find a nervous looking Hinata. As a result of his appearance and past Kiro had no friends or even any acquaintances and was used to solitude with nothing but his thoughts for company, having someone approach him upset that status quo and so he was wary.
Looking at Hinata now, his hard gaze softened slightly, if it was Hinata then at least he could be sure that whatever intent she has it wouldn't be malignant in any way. Regardless, given her lack of self-confidence, he doubted that she would actually express what she wanted verbally, she already flinched when he looked directly at her and was starting to fidget.
Sighing Kiro decided to put her out of her misery, partly out of pity and mostly because she was starting to draw attention. "What do you want" he asked bluntly, he never was one for verbal gymnastics.
Hinata "eeped" and looked like she was going to faint in a minute but managed to remain conscious. After mumbling a few times Hinata managed to answer, "um I j-just wanted to th-th-thank you f-for helping me with the exam".
Kiro had an unreadable expression on his face, his thoughts though were working furiously, trying to wonder how she knew. He made sure that he left before she saw… "Ah, the Byakugan" he realized,with the telescopic vision and 360 degree's field of vision granted by her clan's unique Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline limit) she could easily see anything in a circumference around her.
Mentally sighing at his mistake he wondered how to answer. "Don't mention it" he tried, "I really didn't do much". Hinata shook her head, "no, it d-doesn't matter how m-much you do, it was you intent th-that mattered".
It was a surprisingly deep answer and despite himself Kiro felt momentarily touched. Before he could answer Iruka called Hinata down. Hinata quickly gave a low bow and hurriedly followed Iruka to the next room.
Propping his legs on the table Kiro pondered this development. For the first time someone had approached him without apprehension, he had long given up hope of making a friend and this unexpected event had renewed his secret desire for friendship… and this made him uneasy.
"Kiro". Hearing his named called, he abruptly looked up before standing up, evidently it was his turn to do the final test.
Idly walking into the next room Kiro casually looked around. Mizuki and Iruka were both seated behind a table, a few papers were in front of them, presumably a report on the students and on a small table next to them were a large number of forehead protectors.
Kiro's eyes narrowed, there didn't seem to be anything resembling a test or examination in this room practical or theoretical and he wasn't sure what that left, "alright now", he glanced towards the voice, Iruka had stood up. "When your ready please stand over there and look at the picture", looking around he suddenly noticed a small picture frame hanging from a wall. Shrugging he walked towards him until he could clearly see the image inside it. It wasn't like any picture he'd ever seen before. The image could be considered some sort of abstract drawing, but not a very imaginative one, it was basically just a big swirl with some minute characters written around it. He couldn't see how this poor artistic image could be a test in any way.
Kiro squinted a little at the image, "Is it just me or is something happening to that picture", he thought. He wasn't sure what was happening but it looked like the air in front of him was starting to swirl around as well as if it was a whirlpool.
Kiro's eyes widened, the distortion was starting to expand and it looked like something was starting to appear from it. What appeared to be a vaguely person shaped figure began to manifest itself, then the figure seemed to colour. Blackish grey seemed to leak into the figure as if an invisible hand poured paint onto it, at the same time, it seemed to solidify, and features began to grow.
Eventually it seemed fully formed. Kiro stared in horrified fascination, it looked like a human shaped person clad in a strange substance so skin-tight that he couldn't tell whether it was a suit or its actual skin, the head was likewise devoid of anything aside from two white slits that could be eye-holes or even its eyes. It was either a person with very bizarre taste in clothing, or some sort of mannequin.
Kiro spun around, practically bursting with questions for Iruka and Mizuki. To his horror they seemed to have disappeared along with the chairs they sat on, the tables and the headbands were also gone. The room had been completely stripped bare, another look revealed that even the door was gone.
Kiro wildly looking around trying to discern what had happened, he couldn't find any solution, all the while the mannequin stood there, the only thing in the room with him. Forcing himself to calm down Kiro glanced back at the mannequin, it was obvious enough that is related to what happened, and this was evidently what the test was.
Unfortunately no matter how hard he tried to bend his mind around this situation he couldn't come up with a solution. A movement caught his attention, looking towards the mannequin, he noted that it was still inanimate like a statue, but all his senses were practically screaming at him that something was wrong.
That was when he saw the mannequin's head jerk upwards and seemed to stare at him with its eyes. Kiro took a measured step backwards, he wasn't sure why but he was getting a distinctly bad feeling about the mannequin. That was when he saw the mannequin, swing its arms… and two viciously curved blades burst out of them. He took another step back, "definitely a bad feeling" he thought drawing his sword.
The mannequin crouched down slightly as thought it was about to pounce, Kiro took a basic stance and steeling himself for the confrontation. Suddenly it darted forward with astounding speed, Kiro barely blocked that strike but was still forced backwards several inches, "It's Strong" he thought while managing to force the mannequin back, it just flipped around and leapt at him again swinging its arm-blade towards him. Kiro gritted his teeth and blocked again, this time however the mannequin released a savage kick which caught him in the torso and sent him sprawling onto the ground.
"Focus", Kiro thought while rolling as he landed on the ground, managing to get back on his feet. The mannequin easily rushed forward, easily managing to get under his guard. Kiro leapt backwards just as its attack cleaved the air he stood a second ago.
Kiro kept moving backwards, warily keeping his eye on the mannequin. From that brief scuffle, it was obvious that the mannequin was physically superior to him and was evidently more skilled in Taijutsu (Body Techniques) as well, the only thing that left Kiro with was strategy.
The mannequin stood up and rushed towards Kiro again. This time he forced chakra into his arms and legs and moved forward too, "time for me to get some moves in" he thought before his sword met its arm-blades. Dodging the next swipe he swung at the mannequins arm, intending to sever the blade connected to it, the mannequin neatly jumped up, avoiding the sword and made its own attack which Kiro's chakra enhanced reflexes only barely managed to dodge.
"This is not good", he thought grimly while his sword clashed against the mannequin's blades. Even after increasing his abilities with chakra, he was inferior to the mannequin's physical abilities, "None of this makes sense, how can this be a test". The mannequin was attacking him with the intent to kill, and he could barely hold it off, even worse its relentless assault meant that he didn't have enough to time to gather chakra for any of his other attacks.
Unfortunately, with Kiro's thinking his grip on his sword and concentration loosened slightly. The mannequin, sensing the slight weakness in his guard, rushed forward. Kiro saw the attack coming too late, and watched horrified as the mannequins blade sink into his shoulder. Searing pain shot though his arm, and in desperation swung at the mannequin.
The mannequin easily avoided his attack, but he achieved his original purpose of forcing the mannequin back and giving him some breathing space.
Gasping, he instinctively grasped his injured arm while dropping his sword, though the cut wasn't very large it was deep and he could feel blood welling from the wound and dripping down his arm. Either way, he doubted he could keep fighting, he was losing even when he had perfect use of both arms and he doubted he mannequin would give him a rest break.
Almost as if it could hear what he was saying in his mind, the mannequin rushed at him, eager to press its advantage. Kiro only had enough time to pick up his sword before he was attacked by a furious barrage of Taijutsu (Body Techniques) and Kenjutsu (The Art of the Sword).
With his damaged arm, Kiro could only try and fend of the mannequins bladed attacks while enduring the hard blows that rained against his body. "I… can't keep… this up", he thought. His crippled arm was starting to deaden and the continuous attacks were draining him of strength.
The mannequin suddenly leapt forward kicked his sword away, "Shit" thought the now defenceless Kiro. Without his sword, he couldn't defend himself at such a close range, desperately grabbing some shuriken from his hip pouch and sent them flying towards the mannequin.
The mannequin easily deflected that shuriken and continued to rush towards Kiro who drew a kunai in a last ditch effort to fight back. The mannequin easily knocked the kunai out of his hand, before slashing him across the chest. Before he could react the mannequin continued to attack, slicing Kiro relentlessly.
Kiro staggered trying to stop himself from losing consciousness, pain throbbed from every laceration and his body was practically covered with blood. He could feel that the air was thick with the scent of his blood and he recognised that he was in danger of haemorrhaging to death, an arm grabbed him around the throat. Looking towards the mannequin he saw that it was prepared the plunge its sword right into his head.
"Is this how I'm going to die", Kiro thought, "Fighting against some enemy dressed as a training dummy during my graduation exam". Suddenly, in a moment of clarity, his eyes narrowed, he reviewed that statement and realized how ludicrous that sentence and this entire situation was. Because of the danger of the situation he never really thought about anything but surviving but now he suddenly realised a few things, for one thing he wasn't the first person called to take the test and the people who went before him didn't exactly come out hacked to bits. More importantly they came out just fine, without a single wound on them.
Leaving those points aside, it was impossible for the room to be completely left bare so quickly, more ridiculous was how the door disappeared, an impossibility considering he had walked through it minutes beforehand, and how the mannequin had appeared the way, either it had an addiction for dramatic entrances or it never really happened, "after all, this are happened when I looked at that weird picture".
Kiro stared at the mannequin in suspicion, now that he figured everything out the only thing left to do was test his theory. Just as the mannequin was ready to sheathe its blade in his head his hands came together in a hand sign; Kai (Release)!
Kiro had instinctively closed his eyes when he used the standard Genjutsu cancelling. Though he knew he would have died already if everything that happened wasn't an illusion but he was still a little apprehensive about confirming it, either way it didn't hurt to keep his eyes closed.
He suddenly heard clapping. Opening his eyes Kiro saw that the room was back to normal and Iruka was the one clapping. "Very impressive, you're the first one in the class to figure everything out" Iruka said with a smile, quickly looking down Kiro saw that all the wounds his mind believed he sustained were gone; it was all an elaborate Genjutsu.
Sighing he walked up to Iruka and Mizuki and waiting for their judgement. Iruka grinned, while Mizuki was busily writing down something on his paper. "Congratulations" Iruka began, "you have passed your ninja examination and I present to you a symbol of Konoha and the rank of Genin (Low Ninja)" while holding out a headband.
Carefully taking the headband, Kiro looked at it before carefully tucking it away. Taking a deep breath Kiro asked, "Before I leave I want to ask something?". Iruka's grin broadened, "Well, that's new. Most other ninja would have bolted by now to show of their new status to their friends". "If only I had any" Kiro thought sadly before beginning, "Why would you make young ninja graduates endure something like that. The first two tests should have been ample enough to show the abilities of academy level ninja".
Iruka's smile disappeared and he sighed, "The first two examinations were at very basic level and were meant to test your skill, but they do not give you or your classmates the experience on what being a ninja is truly about. The saimin: shadō faitā (Hypnosis: Shadow Fighter) Genjutsu was designed to show them that being a ninja is not something that is meant for the light of heart or something that is to be taken lightly," before Kiro could respond Iruka continued, "I know that this seems very cold-blooded to you, but it will prevent them from actually experiencing what it is like on the field, in other words the final exam was to test you resolve."
Kiro pondered Iruka's answer, though he disapproved of using such a brutal method to accomplish this he couldn't deny the logic behind it. Words and diagrams could only convince young ninja so much, they would need to experience what it was like to fight for their lives and lose.
Mizuki looked up from his paper, "Well know, since you asked a question, may I ask one of own?". Kiro answered, "Shoot", Mizuki smiled slightly at his answer, "Well what made you realize that the test was a Genjutsu", Kiro shrugged, "When the Genjutsu began, a lot of things happened that doesn't make sense. I'm guessing that was deliberate to make it suitable for a Genin exam", at this both Iruka and Mizuki nodded, "The mannequin, by my guess, was put there to make the mind panic and in turn stop thinking logically". Iruka and Mizuki both nodded, impressed at his reasoning.
"Just one more question", Kiro added, Iruka and Mizuki acquiesced. "What would have happened if I didn't break the Genjutsu". Iruka answered, "You would have blacked out and woken up out of the Genjutsu on the floor", "and you would have either failed or barely passed the final exam" Mizuki finished.
Finishing their conversation, Kiro stood up and walked out back into the classroom. Because he had already finished the final exam and no one to talk too he found no reason to stay, so he casually walking out the door and out onto the streets.
It was perhaps a few minutes later he felt a familiar presence that had distinctly been following him for a while, glancing around he saw no one but that was to be expected, "After all she wouldn't be openly following me in broad daylight. Well I'll see if I can lose her".
After a few more minutes of cat and mouse Kiro finally decided he'd had enough, stopping and without turning, "Alright Hinata, I know you've been following me, just come out and tell me what you want", he gave it about five seconds.
After seven seconds he turned around and saw, without surprise, Hinata Hyuga standing nervously after coming out from behind a garbage can, he raised an eyebrow and repeated his statement. Hinata, after composing herself, managed to look slightly more confident then before, "Umm, I-I was just wondering, erm", Kiro nodded. "W-W-Would you be my friend" she hastily forced out while her head ducked down.
Kiro was rather stunned, this was different from when she thanked him for helping her during the practical test, and he didn't know how to respond, given the fact that no one wanted to be his friend. Inside he waged an internal battle, on one hand he had long resolved that he would be better off alone, given the discomfort he caused people. On the other hand, he had desired a friend ever since he was little and the conversation he had with Hinata earlier had renewed that desire.
Still he hesitated, the pain of rejection was still raw ever since he was child and accepting friendship was also opening potential doors to great pain, he wondered if it was worth the risk. Suddenly he remembered what Sarutobi had told him years ago, "What is life without a little risk", he had more or less ignored that remark but this event caused him to remember it and now he realized its significance.
Living was a risk, every decision, every action, everything people do has a potential to hurt them in some way but not doing anything was a kind of pain too, an emptiness that couldn't be filled, he knew that feeling all to well, "Maybe it is time to relax a little", he mused wistfully.
His decision made he walked up to Hinata who looked up in trepidation. He stopped at a respectful distance, "I think I'd like that" Kiro answered with a smile. Hinata looked stunned for a moment before her face broke out in a smile as well,
"It seems that I've gotten what I wanted at last" Kiro thought idly as he walked alongside Hinata, "Now the only thing left is to see where it leads me".
To Be Continued
Authors notes: Longest chapter yet at over three thousand and seven hundred words, anyways as you can see the Graduation arc is over now, and as I said above the next chapter will be told mostly from Naruto/Nariko's view. I hope people have enjoyed reading this story, I've certainly enjoyed writing it.
As always constructive criticism is welcome, oh and if anyone can recommend a good site where I can get translations that would be a real help