25 Mightier than the Sword?

The First Test of Skill, Tougher than it Seems.

Ten minutes had passed since the official beginning of the examination, when the students had finally been given permission to turn their papers over and answer the questions. I'm sunk, Kotori mused darkly as she worked through the first question, a complicated-looking cryptogram. Most of my knowledge is good for out in the field, on a mission, fighting and spilling blood. But a paper test? What's even worse is that if we're caught cheating, we'll be docked points. I'll do my best, but Naeko and Taiki will have to do better. If they can carry me through this part, I'll carry them through anything else.

The waves of frustration emanating from his teammate were almost impossible for Taiki to miss, and he gave a sympathetic glance from where he sat in the middle of the room to the hunched figure of Kotori in the first row. They've really got you nailed on this one, don't they? he thought as he briskly scratched out an answer to the second question. Bookwork isn't your strong suit at all. Scanning the third question, he then blanched as he realized its difficulty. Then again, it really isn't mine either. Don't let us down, Naeko.

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Naeko could feel the gazes of the proctors on her from her seat in the very back row, causing her nervousness to ratchet up yet another notch. Now I can see why my mother had me do all that extra studying in my spare time. This is pretty tough stuff, but I think I can handle most of it. If not, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve to help... Forty minutes had passed since the beginning of the exam, and the girl let out a tense sigh. I've got most of the answers, now let's see if they're somewhere even close to right.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Naeko had fallen into a period of exceptionally deep thought, mumbling to herself as she finished a set of complicated mathematical sequences and drumming her fingers quietly on the table. "Secret reconnaissance art – fly-on-the-wall technique!" At these words of conjuration, a small fly buzzed in through one of the open classroom windows and circled around the girl's head, where she swatted it away in mock irritation. The insect then wandered off on a lazy path through the room, hovering above one individual for a few seconds and then going to another. I'd almost forgotten about this until today, Naeko thought, comparing the sights passed to her mind's eye through the conjured fly with the answers on her paper. Looks pretty good to me. At an inaudible command, the fly looped its way back to her and once again buzzed around her head. Feeling a focused look from one of the proctors, Naeko reached up one of her hands and swatted the pest down onto the desk, resulting in an all-too-real splat which she then wiped off on her pant leg.

Nine down, one more to go. Green eyes then went wide in alarm as Naeko read through the tenth question – or lack thereof – and the nervousness returned in full force. Sweat trickled in a tangible rivulet down her spine as she looked up at the clock, counting down the minutes until the last question would be posed by the chief proctor. Don't let me down now, brain. If all of these answers are right, then that should help the other two pass also... but it all depends on this last question.

So intense was her agitation that she almost missed Ibiki's next words. We've got to choose whether to accept or reject the question before we even hear what it is? That's not fair! Naeko wiped a palm across her forehead to get rid of the anxious perspiration that misted there, listening to the continuing instructions with dread creeping through her. If we reject the question, we fail and both of our teammates with us. So what if we accept the question and then get it wrong?

The answer came seconds later, but it was even less reassuring than the previous news: "You will never be permitted to apply for the journeyman ninja exams again. Not ever." Protests rippled through the applicants, only to be crushed by the cool words of the chief proctor. "Anyone who has doubts would be smart to reject the tenth question right now," Ibiki continued, shooting a sidelong glance into the mass of uneasy genin. Naeko gulped once in a dry throat, unconsciously seeking out Kotori and Taiki in the group to see what their reactions were. We've been through so much, but do we really want to risk it? Tai-kun and Tori-chan would kill me if I screwed up their chances... "Those who choose not to accept should raise their hands. Once their number has been confirmed, they will leave the room." I can't put them through this. I won't hold them back because of my failure.

Kotori shuddered as first one student raised their hand, then another. It can't be that bad. Why are all of them running out now?

Silence fell over the room as the last trio was ushered out by the proctors. A few more minutes passed without any activity, and Ibiki made as if to move on with the exam. He stopped, however, as one more voice sounded from the back of the classroom: "I choose... to reject the question."

Naeko! Why you? Kotori whipped around in her seat to stare at her teammate, who had risen tremblingly from her seat and lifted her hand. "You don't seem so sure," Ibiki was saying, a faint smile playing at the edges of his mouth as he looked at the unnaturally pale Naeko. "You're taking your team with you if you choose this. Don't feel like there's any pressure..."

Tears could be seen beading in the corners of Naeko's eyes as she nodded once in acknowledgement. "I won't have them be grounded permanently because of me."

"Very well."

Kotori couldn't believe her ears as her number was read aloud, as well as that of Taiki and Naeko. Pinching herself once to make sure she wasn't dreaming, she then composed herself and rose from her seat, anger humming through her in a fiery pulse. Taiki joined her in the aisle, and she could see the tension of the muscles in his jaw as he ground his teeth together. Trading a look, they met Naeko at the door and in a show of solidarity each gripped the shivering girl by the arm and led her out of the classroom.

Naeko waited until the doors had closed behind them before giving in to her tears, muffling them as best as she could in spite of her deep shame. "I – I'm sorry, both of you. Like I said, I didn't want you to be stuck as genin for the rest of your lives! Please, say you understand."

"Oh, we understand," Taiki grated, once again trading looks with Kotori.

"We understand you just fine." Kotori tightened her grip on Naeko's arm. "And I'll forgive you this one time. Next time, I'll kill you." She gave her teammate's arm one last tug, Naeko hearing a telltale pop along with feeling crushing pain as her arm was dislocated from its socket.

"That is, if I don't get there first," added Taiki, likewise giving Naeko one last squeeze before walking off.

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"They should almost be done with the first part," announced Takeshi, glancing up at the clock as he finished up another cup of tea. "Man, I remember when it was me taking this. I was a wreck, but in the end I did just fine."

"I'll bet." Ayame refilled the jounin's cup with fresh tea and then briefly ducked into the kitchen to fetch his order. "How do you think they'll do?" she asked, setting the tray down on the counter in front of Takeshi.

Takeshi shook his head. "I hope they'll pass. I just remembered who's proctoring this test – Morino Ibiki, a known expert in messing with people's heads – so as long as they keep a cool mind they should do all right." He murmured thanks for the food, split his chopsticks apart, and took in a mouthful of hot noodles, which he almost spit out again when the scream tore through the otherwise serene afternoon air. "Did you hear that?"

Ayame frowned and nodded. "I did. It sounded like a wild animal, almost..."

The jounin shook his head again and continued eating, muttering, "I have a very bad feeling about this."