I've been writing so many things lately! I just love writing and the fact that people enjoy what I'm writing makes me feel so happy!
I hope you guys enjoy this one too :D
Chapter 19: Finals
"Here! That's the jutsu section!"
"Shhh!"
Everyone in the library hushed me. I put both my hands in front of my mouth and mumble an apology. Gaara chuckles at the situation. Yukari and Ikki try to contain their laughter. At least they're subtle about it…
"Not funny, Gaara…"
I playfully pout at him. He pinches my cheek, which end up deflating them.
"Anyway, you should try to find a jutsu that interests you."
Gaara whispers to me. He then lets go of my cheek and gently rubs it to soothe the redness a bit. His hand feels so nice… I feel my blood starting to rush up to my cheeks.
"Are you alright, Kiu? Your cheeks are all red."
Gaara looks at me with a tiny bit of concern.
"I-I'm fine! No worries!"
"Shhhhh!"
"Dang it…"
I put my hands on my mouth again. I then see Yukari coming to me with a scroll in her hand.
"Hey, Kiu, I think this will be a good jutsu for you."
She hands me the scroll and I open it right away. Genjutsu? I never tried doing that. I don't even think that Yashamaru knew how to do that either, because I can't seem to know anything about it except for what we all learned in class. That would be interesting. I always wanted to try to learn new things. Up until now, every skill was just all within me from Yashamaru's body.
"Thanks for that, Yukari."
She smiles at me and nods. She then goes off in the search of more scrolls. I spot her trying to get one that's up too high for her. I should go help her. Before I can even reach, I see Ikki reaching up from behind her and giving the scroll to her. She blushes and flashes him one of her brightest smiles. There's definitely something going on between these two. They're both too shy to admit it, though. It's so obvious that they like each other. They've been so fond of each other since back when we first became friends with Ikki. I hope it goes well for them. I go sit on a nearby table, while still looking at both of them.
Lost in my thoughts, I feel someone sit next to me. I snap out of it and look to that person.
"Oh, Gaara, it's just you."
Gaara frowns a bit.
"What do you mean 'just me'?"
"Hehe, nothing. I'm glad it's just you. Anyway, look at what Yukari got me."
He takes the scroll from me and opens it.
"Genjutsu… You think you'll be able to do it?"
"I won't know unless I try, right?"
I start reading the contents of the scroll. Doesn't sound too complicated, in theory. Now all that's left is practice.
After finishing up in the library, all four of us go to the training grounds. I can't wait to try learning Genjutsu.
"Why is this so hard?"
I've been training for almost a whole week! I can't even cast the smallest of Genjutsu! I even tried learning some other jutsu that I didn't know, but it was no use. I can't learn anything at all. Even Gaara is surprised. He comes over and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"I think you should just stick to one of the jutsu you already know for the finals."
"That's probably what I'll do, but it's so frustrating."
Finals are tomorrow. I can't afford to waste any more time. Yukari was able to learn how to use a Genjutsu in like two days of training. It feels like she has a lot of affinity when it comes to chakra control. She might become even better than Yashamaru in the future. If she can just add strength and stamina into the mix, she'd be amazing. I can't believe I wasn't able to even learn it a little bit, though. I couldn't even create any chakra flow. Does this mean that my Kekkei Genkai prevents me from learning jutsu in any other ways than absorbing them from the dead? It's like my skills as a ninja depend on how many skilled ninja die around me.
"We should go back, it's getting dark."
I drop my head low. I guess such a powerful Kekkei Genkai has to have some kind of consequence. If I think about it, such a drawback is nothing much compared to the power that I get. I just hope that's the only thing. I guess I'll just show a basic wind jutsu. Wind bullets will do the trick.
"Next up, Yukari."
I nudge Yukari, who's sitting next to me, with my elbow.
"You can do it Yukari!"
I whisper to her so that she feels less nervous. She's been stressing about this all week. We even made a training plan just for her in the past week. Since I was a little busy with my own training, I wasn't really able to help out. It was mainly Ikki who trained with her, while Gaara was silently supporting me. Even after all this training, Yukari is still extremely stressed…
"I-I'll try…"
Ikki, who's sitting on her other side, pats her on the head. It's become some kind of a habit for him to do that, considering how tall he is. He only does that to Yukari. She never seems to mind it; in fact, she looks like she really likes it when he does that.
She smiles at him and relaxes a bit.
"You practiced enough to pass this."
I look at Gaara who's sitting next to me.
"If Gaara says so, then it's true, Yukari."
Gaara smiles at me. Yukari then gets up and goes to the front of the class after saying a quick "thank you" to us. All three of us watch intently as sensei starts to explain what Yukari is expected to do.
"First up, I want to see your transformation jutsu."
I wonder who she's planning on transforming into. She does the hand signs and prepares herself.
"Transformation jutsu!"
A poof of smoke surrounds her and quickly dissipates to reveal… me?! I'm a little surprised that she chose to transform into me. The people in the class look at me and then back at her. They're probably trying to see the resemblance. She actually really did a pretty good job.
"I see you took the easy way out by choosing to transform into Kiu, someone who's the same gender, the same age, and has a similar build to yours. Since you are practically identical, you pass this part of the graduation exams. Now, let me see your clone jutsu."
She then concentrates and produces two clones. I hold Gaara's hand out of happiness. I smile at him in excitement and he smiles back. All that's left is the personal jutsu. I squeeze Gaara's hand into both of mine.
"Ow… Kiu!"
"Haha, sorry! I'm just so nervous for her."
I release Gaara's hand. He rubs it with his other hand, trying to shake off the numbness. I look at Ikki and he seems even more nervous than I am.
"I see, so you're going to show me a Genjutsu. Just direct it at me, don't involve the other students."
"Yes, sensei."
She turns towards him and does a few hands signs. A few moments pass without any of the two of them moving. I then see sensei bring both his hands together in a jutsu sign.
"Release."
Did something happen? Was the Genjutsu successful?
"You pass with flying colours, Yukari. That Genjutsu was on a much higher level than what I expected from Academy students."
He then goes over to the table where there are a bunch of Sunagakure headbands and gives her one of them. I can't believe it! Yukari made it! I mean, of course I can believe it, it's just that I'm so happy for her.
After Yukari, there were a bunch of students who failed. Then Mari was actually able to pass. Not that I care… Koji, Mari's 'boyfriend', also passed. Then, to everyone's surprise, Yuto, the guy who always does everything in a half-assed manner and barely passes through tests, aces the finals by producing five clones and transforming perfectly into sensei. Even his personal jutsu was amazing. He was able to create a small whirlpool even though there is no water around. Everyone was impressed, even me. Then Gaara, of course, passes easily with his sand clones, making him the only one up until now who can create actual physical clones. The rest was also a piece of cake for him. His control over sand got him a perfect grade right away. Ikki was average, making two clones, just like almost everyone. The funny thing was when he transformed into Gaara. Gaara was himself pretty surprised. He looked happy, though, that Ikki thought of him. Of course, he tried to hide it. As for his personal jutsu, he showed a bunch of Taijutsu moves that were well above average.
"I'm so glad all three of you passed!"
I congratulate them when they all come sit back at their places.
"You'll do great too, I'm sure."
Yukari hugs me. I close my hands in fists, in an act of determination.
"You'll see, I'll ace this thing!"
"Then let's see what you can do, Kiu, since you're next."
Sensei heard me! This is so embarrassing… Everyone in the class chuckles at this. Oh well, I'll just have to impress all of them. I get up and go to the front of the class.
"First, your transformation jutsu."
Hehe, everyone will be impressed with this one.
"Transformation jutsu!"
A wall of smoke surrounds me and then dissipates to reveal me transformed into…
"The Kazekage? Impressive."
I know it really isn't, it's just the significance that he holds that makes people more easily impressed. I didn't just go for any older shinobi; I went for the leader of the village. Since everyone views him so highly, the shock makes them more impressed than they should and that is what I am aiming for.
"You went for the element of shock right along with an impeccable mastery of the transformation jutsu. You truly possess the mindset of a ninja."
I transform back into myself and grin. Of course sensei would see through my plan. He's a ninja for a reason.
"Next up, I want to see your clone jutsu."
"Are shadow clones okay for this test?"
I ask him, because I find that that's much more fun to do. Besides, Yashamaru was good at it, therefore I also am.
"You… You can do a shadow clone jutsu?"
Sensei looks a bit taken aback. I guess it is a pretty high skill jutsu.
"Yeah, I can."
"Then go ahead, I guess…"
I know it might be annoying to some people, but I really love to show off. I only show off when I'm confident of my abilities though.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Three shadow clones are spawned. Sensei touches one of them to make sure that it's actually real. He then clears his throat.
"Well, you pass this test for sure. I don't even think you need to show a personal jutsu."
He then goes to the table and gives me a headband. Wait, that's it? What about my personal jutsu? Not that I'm complaining that I passed or anything. I just thought it would be more of a challenge than that.
After everyone got evaluated, less than half of us passed.
"For those who passed: congratulations on becoming Genin. Come back here tomorrow to get assigned to your squad and meet the Jounin that will be in charge of you. As for those who failed, work harder if you ever want to make it as a ninja."
"I hope I end up with at least one of you guys."
I look at my friends. To be honest, I really want to be with Gaara more. It would've been so much better if the squads were formed of four people instead of just three…
"I… hope so… too…"
Ikki smiles and looks at Yukari. I'm so sure he wants to end up with Yukari. It'd be nice if they end up in the same squad. I can't wait for what tomorrow brings us.
I want to thank everyone for all the support this story is getting!
I also started another GaaraxOC story, because they're my favourite kind of story XD
If you're bored you can go check it out!
Please review and thanks everyone
