"Alright brats. Today is the day of the Pre-Graduation exams to see where you stand. There will be three tests. Ninjutsu, Kenjutsu, and Assassination. No this doesn't mean you are killing anyone, we don't have anyone to spare," Okay that was go- Wait they normally did this? "The written exams have been discarded as niceties like that aren't needed to be tested right now. You all have fifteen minutes before we begin. I'd wish you luck but that won't help you if you fail," Sensei then walked away.

I saw Choujuro, Sanemi, and Himiko scramble to think of something. I didn't blame them. If the tests were going to be as harsh as Sensei had just made it sound, we'd need a strategy. Kenjutsu likely involved sparring with someone. And if you failed you were almost guaranteed to have something bad happen to you... And I had to fight the one person who was almost guaranteed to beat me. 'Well fuck me then.'

I didn't want to lose. But I also didn't want to fuck Choujuro over. I'd be a bad friend if I did that. 'Maybe, just maybe I'll get lucky and we'll fight sensei instead.' That was another possibility in my mind. It just wasn't likely. It was more likely than me having to fight someone else. 'A pity too. I'd love to screw over Kaina.' Kaina was just a bitch. If I could screw her over than I'd be happy.

I sighed. 'Stats.'

[Name: Kukui Tanku

Age: 10

Title: Academy student of Kiri

Chakra: 100/100

Stamina: 100/100

Strength: 16

Dexterity: 17

Constitution: 20

Chakra: 8

Chakra control: C]

Seeing my stats made me smile. I had come a long way from the kid I used to be. I was weak before but now I'm stronger than most in the academy. I also probably had the highest Constitution as well. Also I finally, Finally had reached 100 chakra and Stamina. I was finally in the triple digits. Just barely though.

I looked up and saw Sensei coming back. It was time apparently.

"You can all shut up right now brats. The first test is the Ninjutsu test. You all better have mastered the first stage of your elemental affinity or there will be consequences," Sensei blatantly looked at me and I gulped. I was glad I mad mastered it... I hope, " Then after will be a test to see how well you can use the Hidden Mist Jutsu. Subpar quality will not be tolerated,"

[Hidden Mist Jutsu lvl 12:

Creates thick mist using users chakra and water in the air.

Cost: Ten chakra points]

I was confident that I could pull of f the hidden mist jutsu.

"I will call up your name. And when I do you are going to do what I ask of you. Is that clear?" We all nodded and Sensei smirked, "Now, lets begin,"

"Kukui Tanku. Demonstrate lightning release," I heard Sensei call my name and I straighted up right away, "If you fail to do so you will go under remedial training effective immediately," I gulped. That wouldn't be pleasant.

'Okay, lets do this.' Lightning crackled in between my fingers and I showed them to sensei, I then grabbed a leaf and channeled lightning chakra into it. It crumpled into a ball and it was perfectly fine. 'Oh thank god it didn't fail me.' I sighed a sigh of relief at that.

Sensei chuckled, "You pass this one Tanku, Glad to see it. Now show me your hidden mist jutsu," Oh this was relieving as hell to hear. Now I wouldn't have to deal with the pressure of failing because I sucked at lightning release...

I smiled and went through a hand seal, " Hidden mist jutsu!" A thick mist rolled in. 'I put extra chakra into this one.' I needed to make sure it was passable.

Sensei made a pleased hum, "Impressive for your chakra compacity. You pass, Go wait for the next test."

I nodded and left quickly.

I felt my heartbeat slow down significantly. I was safe for now, "Now I need to fight Choujuro," I honestly wished I looked at what was planned for these tests when I snuck into the academy the last time. I was probably an idiot for not getting the file.

'Maybe I could have changed it so I wouldn't have to fight Choujuro," I would have loved to Fight Kaina just to beat the shit out of her with Sensei's blessing. That was a dream of mine already... Seriously though, Fuck Kaina.

I heard and saw said bitch walk up to me, "Your lucky that your not fighting me today. I'd love to chop you up into little pieces with sensei's blessing," Oh yeah... we could kill each other any time... Sensei probably wouldn't care as it was done in sparring.

'Psychopath.' I narrowed my eyes, "I think your the lucky one," Kaina was also an idiot, "I'm better than you at Kenjutsu," I feel like it should be known that Kenjutsu was my best subject. The only person whom was better than me at it in this academy was Choujuro. Sensei didn't count, "If anything it'd be me chopping you up into fish food,"

Kaina glared at me, "Oh we both know that's just a fluke. I can beat you any day of the week with a sword and only a sword. Probably don't need my hands or legs either. Just the sword. Thats how pathetic you are," Bitch please.

I laughed, "Oh you sure are funny Kaina," I treated her name like Voldemorts. Pure evil, " You flatter me. If you think that even your pathetic ass can beat me then your sorely mistaken," I nearly grabbed one of my Taiji blades as I saw Kaina reach for her Katana.

Kaina's glare harshened, "I think your ego needs to be trimmed a bit. Mind if I help?"

I shook my head but before I could speak, Sensei separated us, "Whilst I appreciate you two trying to do the Kenjutsu test early. Neither of you have been called up yet. But since you two seem so at odds with each other I'll offer you a deal,"

We both looked to Sensei, "Sensei?" I was the one who said it. The man was oddly calm. Either he was extremely mad or he was actually calm. This wasn't a good sign. I had running ready to be activated at a mere thought incase I needed to be faster. I could probably drop my weights quickly too.

Sensei looked at the both of us, "Originally, I had different fights set up for you two, but it seems like you need to settle your differences. Himiko and Takeshi's match is almost over clearly so you two can go next," His gaze then harshened, "I expect both of you to do your best to eliminate the other since you hate each other so much. Of course it isn't expected but fight to kill here."

I gulped and Kaina smiled widely, revealing her sharklike teeth, "Thats perfect Sensei, Thanks," She then walked away and Sensei did too. Leaving me alone.

'I don't have to kill her...' I hated her, yes. But I didn't want to kill her. Humiliate her for being a bitch? Yes. Kill her in a spar? No. Sensei was expecting us to fight to kill. That meant I probably was going to have to kill her... 'Stay calm. You'll hyperventilate and that isn't good.' I was trained for this. 'Supress your emotions. You'll be fine if you just aim a little below her vitals. If you kill her then you will be giving up al your morals.' Children were out of questioning for me. I couldn't kill a child like my current body...

I wouldn't.

"Kaina Hoshigaki and Kukui Tanku, Its your turn for the Kenjutsu test." I looked at Kaina and she glared. Her grin was still in place. I glared back as we walked to the fighting circle. Choujuro gulped. Himiko, andSanemi were shouting Fight as we made it to the ring. We stood across from each other and our hands were on our blades. Our sensei looked between the two of us, "The rules for this test are simple. Win your fight using only your kenjutsu and as many dirty tactics as your heart desires. Even jutsu is they're not for direct attack. Begin!" Sensei stepped back.

Kaina began sprinting toward me, "I'M GONNA KILL YOU KUKUI!" She raised her Katana for a downward slash. I blocked with my Taiji blades and swiftly moved to the side of Kaina and tried stab her, Her Katana moved and blocked my blades. She tried to stab me in the stomach but I blocked.

I jumped back, "NO YOU WON'T, FISH FOOD!" Kaina followed in hot pursuit I ducked under a slash and grazed her stomach with my first sword. The other one blocked another slash and I tried to thrust my first sword deeper into her stomach. Kaina pulled back and away from the sword and hissed. I grinned, "First blood," One point to me.

Kaina growled, "That was a fluke. I'll beat you here and now," The shark girl rushed toward me and swung her sword as quickly as she could, I blocked once more and I was beginning to struggle this time, "See? I'm stronger than you!" Physically. I activated running briefly and moved to the side and toward the edge of the ring.

'I'm glad I took my weights off earlier. I can move freely.' It felt like freedom. I turned off running as to not reveal all my trump cards yet and glared at Kaina, "Oh really? Maybe your just physically stronger and not as a whole? You haven't landed a single hit on me yet," This time it was my turn to attack as I ran toward my worst enemy in the academy.

Kaina growled and ran forward as well I saw her grab a kunai out of her pouch and duel wield as well I blocked her Katana strike and grunted as the weight of the attack began to strain my arms. I also blocked the Kunai she had.

Kaina grinned and spat out some water at me blinding me I felt a kick impact my sternum and I was sent away, "And that's more damage then you've done to me! Loser!" Oh you cocky little shit. I activated running again and in an instant I was upon Kaina and I poked her forehead with the back of my blades.

I then kicked off of her and went back in for another attack. Kaina recovered but I grinned and deactivated running, "Not so cocky now aren't we?" I grinned and then sheathed one of my blades and lightning crackled in my palm. 'Lets see what I can do here! I rushed toward Kaina, much slower than before, ready to slash at her but she blocked the slash with her Katana. I grabbed the blade and shocked her causing her to jump back. I then grabbed my other blade and tried to channel some lightning chakra through it. 'What a shame.' Sadly it didn't work for me then, "What a shame, I would have loved to shock you more,"

Kaina narrowed her eyes, "You got lucky. But now I'm going to kill you and enjoy it," She seemed weary now. She'd be tougher to beat

I laughed, "As if. I'll beat you with ease. Remember the last time we fought? IT'LL JUST BE A REPEAT OF THAT!" I roared and rushed in once more, grinning madly. I ducked under a punch and felt a slash graze my cheek. It stung but it made me smile. The thrill of a fight was always something to behold!

I chopped at Kaina's legs Cutting into one of her calves deeply. I felt a kunai stab into my arm at that. 'Oh shit I need to take this a bit more seriously.' I couldn't let the thrill of the battle take over me. I ducked under another katana slash, Horizontal this time and I pulled the Kunai out of my arm and activated running, "DIE ALREADY YOU PATHETIC LITTLE WORM!" Kaina tried to stab me once more.

I weaved out of the way of the sword as I jumped back. I'd need to play this smarter, "No. I don't think I will," Pissing my opponent off was an optimal strategy in my eyes. It ensured they would be stupider. Kaina tried to run toward me but she was limping. 'Good. She's not nearly as fast as before.'

Kaina seemed to notice this as she went on guard suddenly and put her other hand on her blade, discarding her Kunai, "I won't fall into your tricks,"

'Well there goes my Pocket sand.' That was going to be trick one. I still had some up my sleeve. I shrugged, "Whatever. I'll just use another one to beat you here and now," I grinned and three lightning clones appeared next to me after I made a handseal, "Your giving me ample time after all."

Kaina growled again but stood in place. My clones rushed toward her and I threw down a smoke bomb. Smoke filled the area and Lightning appeared.

I rushed toward Kaina who was dodging my clones. I found her quickly as my sword pierced flesh. 'And this is why I'm glad I waited to throw down the smoke bomb. Also fuck am I glad I stole a few of these from Katsu's room.' The Hidden mist jutsu would have benefited her more than me. So I elected to not use it. And Kaina was to stubborn to use it. And if she didn't , "Damnit!" I heard a frustrated shout of pain from where my sword was connected too and the smoke cleared. Kaina was pierced through the stomach... She'd live.

I let out a sigh of relief internally. 'Im not a child killer... Good...'

I saw sensei smile, "And the winner is Kukui,"

After that the third tests were quite simple. Stab, slash, or maim the vital points of a dummy and Sensei would judge if they were good enough to kill. I passed that test with flying colors shockingly enough and those that passed the pre grad tests were awarded a jutsu of their choice. Of any element. I was tempted to take a water jutsu as they were versatile as hell but I'd rather wait for a bit first. 'Still can't believe I actually have offensive Ninja Magic now.' Those tests were hard to prepare for but I think I aced them. The results were just coming in today for the tests. This would determine team placement along with the graduation exam results.

Idly I looked at the jutsu I had learned yesterday on the screen. 'Still, Sensei is a legend for teaching this to me. He didn't even have to offer us a jutsu yet he did...' I reminded myself he was a monster to those with Kekkei genkai then. 'I wish I could keep him live but he's just too good at his job.'

[Electromagnetic murder lvl 1:

Allows user to shoot blasts of lightning ranging from a small spark to a large blast that can tear through rock depending on how much chakra the user pours into the jutsu from their hands or sword.

Cost: Ten chakra points]

I still didn't get how this was a D-rank and not a C-rank but I'd take it.

"So who do you think got first this year?" Himiko asked suddenly.

'Good question but the answer is an easy one to me.' If Choujuro didn't have first then I'd riot, "Choujuro," Me and Sanemi said at the same time.

Choujuro looked at the both of us, "Me? Why me? I probably got last out of all the people that passed. I'd say Kurokumo got first instead," Bastard didn't know when praise was real or not. One day I'd show him he deserved the praise. One day he'd see it too.

Himiko shook her head, "Your gonna get first for sure! If that jerk got first I'd be surprised, your like the best at everything!" Himiko was a smart cookie. Thats what I liked about her. She was smarter than most of the people here and she was actually fun to talk too.

Sanemi nodded and grinned, "Yeah buddy! You are good and that's just a fact. If you didn't get anywhere near the to three we'll riot."

I smiled devilishly, "With pitchforks and Torches! And maybe a few swords!" Yes. I loved swords and pointy things in general.

Himiko perked up, "Knives too?" She looked at me with the puppy-dog eyes jutsu that all damn Kunoichi seemed to know.

I nodded and patted her head, "Yes. Knives. Lots and lots of knives."

Himiko cheered, "Yay!"

Sanemi just sighed, "Idiots." He looked at Choujuro, "What we're trying to say is that you are literally the best here and you can probably beat some of our sensei," All of them, "And we'll beat that fact into you if need be," Yeah!

Choujuro smiled, "I still don't see how I deserve this praise but I'm lucky to have such good friends," Again, Choujuro was a cinnamon roll. This is why we needed to get him out of Kiri as fast as possible. We can't let someone corrupt him.

Our sensei then came into the room and glared at us, "Quiet you little heathens." We all quieted down, "I've got the news you've all been dying to hear for the last day only," He grumbled something about impatient kids and smiled again, "Anyways the results are as followed," He placed down a whiteboard with our names on them. I saw Choujuro's name first and smiled but what I saw next surprised me

#1: Choujuro

#2: Kurokumo

#3: Kukui Tanku

[Quest complete: Place third in Pre-graduation tests!

Rewards: +1 dexterity, +3 Kenjutsu levels.]

[New skill unlocked: Intermediate Kenjutsu lvl 1]

[Intermedite Kenjutsu has leveled up x3]

I was really starting to like my system. Sure this was only the second quest I've completed but the rewards were awesome... Now onto the bigger issue, "HOLY SHIT I'M THIRD!"

[Unknown]

'So the land of water isn't doing too hot right now.' Jiraya thought as he heard a jonin talk. There were rumors of Kiri being in a civil war. What for, nobody knew yet. So Sarutobi-sensei asked him to investigate to see if they could score an alliance and help Kiri. Of course he had wanted to go home instead but this was an important mission he couldn't refuse.

What Jiraya found out honestly sickened him. 'Yagura's seriously wiping out those with Kekkei genkai...' A lot of Jiraya's friends in the last two shinobi wars had Kekkei genkai... 'That bastard.' He had heard some people mocking those with bloodlines and that wasn't even the worst part.

They were laughing about killing children.

Yes Jiraya had killed kids before. All Shinobi had at one point or another. Most genin were kids. But it was always a dark time when it happened. But these people were laughing about murdering the innocent. It made Jiraya's blood boil.

"So anyways there were these three orphaned brats. All of them had Ice release like those Yuki bastards. They were begging for food and to be trained to defend themselves after they saw me kill some guy," The man laughed and Jiraya had a flashback of times happier, "So you want to know what I did?"

The other man nodded, "You kill them?"

The first jonin nodded, "Yeah. But I tortured them a bit first. One of them was a girl so I tied the other two up and had a bit of fun with her in front of her friends," At this point Jiraya's fists were clenched, with his fingernails breaking into his skin. This man was talking about raping a kid like it was normal and okay, "Then once I was done I tied her up and began cutting her fingers off slowly, then her toes and her arms and legs, cauterizing the wounds to keep her alive a bit longer. Then I tortured her two friends the same way other than I didn't have fun with them. Once I was done I drowned them all slowly. It was hilarious! You should have seen the looks on their faces as they begged be let free,"

Jiraya felt a white hot anger bubble up inside him... He was supposed to leave Kiri in a few days... He could stay for a while longer right? He had some business to attend too suddenly.

The second man laughed uncontrollably, "Man I can't believe they were that stupid. Asking one of us pure, to teach people like them. Its disgusting. Good on you man for killing them, Next rounds on me!" The smiles on their faces sickened Jiraya even more.

'Rasengan!' Jiraya thought before rushing toward the two jonin. He could leave in an instant if need be.

Blood flew everywhere as the two men had their face turned into a fine red mist. Jiraya looked around, "And it looks like Jiraya the gallant needs to take his leave,"

Sensei would kill him once he got back.

Chapter end

And there we go! We finally get a full fight too. It felt fitting for it to be Kaina vs Kukui to be honest. And we get to see Kaina's bitchiness in full detail. Also Jiraya is in the land of water! I'm going to be honest, he won't be the MC's sensei. I have someone else planned for that job, but Jiraya will be an important player for this. Anyways, Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter!

I did enjoy writing it except for describing what the Kiri-nin did to the Yuki clan members... Yeah...

Anyways Tobi-kun out!