I became obsessed with work and pushing myself for the next two weeks. Each day was a steady mix of teamwork, training, reading, and learning. Time moved quickly as every single moment was allocated to something, meaning there was virtually no time for a break or to take it easy. I couldn't allow that. This was my chance to make something of my life and to be better than I had been in my last life. I felt myself drawn more connected to this present life as my memories of the past life faded bit by bit. The days moved along, and my hard work and determination pushed me forward in preparing for the upcoming exam.
I remembered somehow that this exam was insanely hard and challenging. If I wasn't ready, I could either get killed or suffer a lot. I knew that I had to push myself to my limits every single day and hope that I hit enough breakthroughs to stand on my own against the others who would be arriving and fighting in the exam as well.
As the day of departure came, I was up early, packing my things together. I figured I would be leaving with the main caravan that was departing from Sungakure for Konohagakure. The leader and his children had gone ahead first, which was most likely a good thing, as even I had heard of the dangerous and scary nature of one Gaara. I finished packing my travel bag with my clothes and the essentials that I would need. I looked up to find my mother waiting for me and smiled.
"I will make you proud, I promise," I said with a smile as I looked at her. The memories of this body and mine were so mixed that to me, she really was already my mom, having forgotten my family in my past life completely at this point.
Nashi, my mom, pulled me into a tight hug. She was very proud of the growth she had seen since my return from the desert. It was like the trail had caused me to grow into a young man. She smiled as she kissed my forehead.
"Be careful, and don't get into any dangerous situations that might get you killed, got it? Stay with Amara-chan and Arumajiro-kun, and listen to Maki-san," she said firmly to me, proud but obviously a bit worried as well.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied as I nodded my head. I walked past her and saw my father. There were no words spoken, but the look and the moment were one of connection where words weren't needed. I could see in the look he gave me that he was proud of what I had done and was looking forward to hearing about my adventures when I got back.
As I walked out of the house, I felt the resolve within me grow, and the desire to find a way to be successful spiked as well.
Soon, I find my teammates Amara and Arumajiro already at the caravan gathering spot. Glancing around, I search for my teacher for a moment as well.
Spotting my teacher, Maki-sensei, I make my way over to her. She stands tall and composed, her bright blue eyes scanning the surroundings with a calm demeanor. As I approach, she nods in acknowledgment, a faint smile touching her lips.
"Good to see you're ready, Miraju-kun," she says, her voice steady and reassuring. "We have a long journey ahead of us, but I have no doubt you'll handle it well."
"We are ready for the adventure, Maki-sensei," Amara adds in her positive and kind voice as she walks next to me. Arumajiro nods in agreement as the more stoic member of the team expresses his assent too.
"Alright, we are here to keep an eye out for trouble, but don't stray far from the caravan; that would be far too dangerous. Getting trapped out in the desert is extremely deadly, and often that is how young ninja can die or get into grave situations, right, Miraju-kun?" she said, her eyes focused on me.
I nod my head as I remember that, recalling the hellish experience and how I will never do something so dumb ever again. I had learned my lesson. Granted, I had no choice; that was where I woke up, where fate had decided to start my new run at life, as it were.
"Good, you're an important member of Sunagakure, Miraju-kun. Don't do stupid things; we are depending on you to become a pillar of the future, the same with you two as well, Amara-chan, Arumajiro-kun," she said firmly, her belief in them and their future evident. As their teacher, this only made sense, but it filled me with pride and even more determination to not let her down.
I take up my place in the caravan, and as we set off, the desert feels just as hot as I remember from my introduction to this world. However, being with a caravan and having others around makes this journey much more bearable. Having the ability to talk, listen, and take breaks without the fear of dying from dehydration is way better than the alternative. I walk with my team, staying close to them as we traverse the dense desert landscape. It has a certain charm to it, but it also serves as a natural defense for Sunagakure, allowing it to maintain its status despite being the weakest of the major villages.
As we travel towards the Land of Fire, the landscape begins to change. The deserts fade away, replaced by grasslands, then hills and valleys, and finally, a dense forest that is all new and beautiful to me. I mostly listen, taking in my sensei's advice and using the time to recover from the intense training of the past two weeks. While my body rests, my mind focuses on learning new tactics and approaches to various situations. We discuss potential challenges and problems that may arise during the exam, mentally preparing ourselves for the dangers that lie ahead.
As we walk, we have plenty of time to talk and work through various scenarios, devising strategies to overcome them and mentally preparing for the hazards that await us in the exam itself.
I also spend time getting to know my teammates as individuals. I am impressed by Amara's angelic singing voice, a talent she possesses naturally. I am also intrigued by Arumajiro's hobby of polishing and shaping rocks into beautiful items, which he occasionally sells to earn extra money. He collects rocks during our travels and works on them at night before going to bed. I notice this one night but decide to leave him alone to pursue his hobby.
Compared to them, I find myself less interesting, but that's okay. My focus has been on preparing for the exam and ensuring I am not the weak link in our team. I know I will have time to explore my own hobbies later, when I have more free time.
After a few days of travel, we arrive at Konohagakure, the walls of the great town looming before us. The caravan of ninja and supplies is checked by the guards ahead of us, and we are slowly let in. As each section enters, I feel a bit nervous at the thought of being in this great city and the upcoming exam. I know that this will be a significant moment in my life, and that what happens here will affect not only my remaining days but also the lives of my teammates who are with me.
I look at the guards, who glance at me for a moment but take no action. They already know that I am part of the group entering the village, evidenced by my Suna protector tied to the sleeve of my tan shirt. I find myself allowed through to the village. I simply follow the caravan through the city as it starts to break apart. The group here for business heads off to make trades and deals, while the others head to their destinations. As a genin ninja, I join the other Sand ninja who are among the thirty-three Sunagakure ninja here for the exam. We are all staying in the same area, except for Gaara, who stays with his siblings apart from us. This arrangement, apparently, is for our own safety and to keep us away from the threat that even the Kazekage knows he represents to anyone who gets close to him.
I walk to the dorm-like building and find that I am assigned a roommate—Arumajiro, of course. My teammate and I share one room, while Maki-sensei and Amara are in the room next door. Walking into the room, I find it very basic, but we aren't here on vacation, and that is fine. I glance over at Arumajiro and smile.
"We're here, at least. Kind of exciting. I hear we start with the exam tomorrow morning," I say, making small talk.
"Yes, of course," Arumajiro replies stoically, his tone giving nothing away. But when I look at him, I can see a hidden underlying excitement in his eyes as he walks over and puts his things down. I take one of the small dorm beds, and he takes the other.
"I can't wait to meet more people, Arumajiro, how about yourself, looking forward to anything while here?" I ask as I think about the adventures that await us.
"I am primarily focused on the exam, Miraju," Arumajiro responds, his tone serious. "But meeting new people could provide valuable insights and opportunities."
"Yeah, I bet you're going to work on polishing your rocks this afternoon right?" I ask looking over at him.
"Yes, that's the plan," Arumajiro confirms with a nod.
"Gotcha, Arumajiro-san, I am going to go explore, see you later," I say with a smile walking towards the door.
"Alright, see you later," Arumajiro replies, acknowledging my departure with a nod.
"Sensei, I am going for a walk, be back before dinner I think," I say as I see Maki-sensei out in the hallway.
"Sure, Miraju-kun. Just make sure to be back in time," Maki-sensei replies with a nod, indicating her approval of my plan.
I head out to Konoha, strolling along the streets until I come across a store that catches my eye. Inside, I browse through various items ranging from weapons and scrolls to everyday apparel and accessories. After contemplating for a while, I decide to make a few purchases. For my mother, I choose a lovely green vase adorned with the symbol of Konohagakure. For my father, I opt for a well-balanced hammer that catches my attention with its unique design. Finally, I treat myself to an old scroll and a pair of fingerless gloves, which I try on and find to be a perfect fit. Satisfied with my selections, I explore a bit more before heading back to the base, also picking up some snacks to try along the way.
As I walk, I run into Amara, who seems to have had quite an eventful day of exploration. Her face is flushed with a blush, and her eyes seem distant, lost in her own thoughts. I can't help but wonder what could have happened to put her in such a state. Approaching my brown-haired teammate, I gently place my hand on her shoulder and ask softly, "Earth to Amara, you good?"
Amara's cheeks flush a deeper shade of red as she snaps out of her reverie, realizing I'm addressing her. With a shy smile, she nods and stammers, "Y-yeah, I'm fine, just lost in thought for a moment. I had an... interesting day, that's all." She avoids meeting my gaze, clearly flustered by whatever had transpired during her exploration.
I know I might be able to press to learn more about her adventure, and what caused her to be in this state, most likely some konoha ninja or other ninja based on the blush, but I decide not to press my friend at that moment, "Good, I got stuff for my family, Amara-san," I say with a smile, "I think we should get back, everyone is having a big meal at the dorms tonight, and we need a good night sleep the really hard stuff starts tomorrow after all."
Amara's grateful expression hints at her relief that I'm not pressing further. She nods in agreement, her blush gradually subsiding. "Sounds like a plan, Miraju-kun," she responds, falling into step beside me as we make our way back to the dorms. "I'm curious to see what you got for your family. And you're right, we should get plenty of rest for tomorrow."