I immediately grew suspicious when, directly after the taijutsu exam, I was brought into a classroom and was accosted by a wide range of delicious scents. A veritable banquet had been laid out for us, with everything from fruit to Okonomiyaki, and even dishes usually reserved for special occasions and holidays.
"A reward for your hard work so far," a friendly attendant explained. "Eat up! I was told your next exam—conditioning—begins at noon. Since you finished so quickly, you have a full hour to enjoy."
My eyes sharpened. A full hour? Before conditioning? My body would need every second of it.
I made a plate, selecting a wide variety of simple carbs like fruits and granolas, and took a heaping portion of buckwheat noodles out of a pot of soba, leaving behind all the other toppings. I also took a single piece of Okonomiyaki for a bit of protein, but I made sure to eat that first so it could begin digesting.
Shortly after I took my food, the dishes were fully replenished to make them look untouched, which seemed to confirm my suspicions. There was a hidden proctor—most likely the attendant themselves—judging us on what we took.
As the years passed in the academy, we began to have fewer and fewer conditioning and calisthenics classes. What began as a daily thing became a weekly thing, as more and more classes were added and Yoshiro-sensei decided that we were both educated and responsible enough to exercise properly outside of class.
But that meant the few conditioning classes that we did have as a batch were all the more brutal. I could only imagine what horrors await us in our final exam.
I wasn't the first to finish taijutsu, actually. Katsuo and Katsume were already digging into their meals, which looked similar to mine. I didn't sit next to them, choosing instead a table near the window. I did share a nod with Katsume, in top kunoichi solidarity.
Hayato and Iwao came in shortly after me, talking softly to one another. After helping themself to lunch, Hayato made a beeline to my table, with Iwao, hesitating for a moment, joining him out of politeness. I liked Hayato and the feeling was mutual; he tended to gravitate towards me, even though we rarely talked. He rarely talked in general, actually, and it spoke to Iwao's uncommon magnetism that he could get more than a stilted sentence out of him.
By the time I was halfway done with my plate, the rest of my batchmates began to flood in. The remaining members of the top fifteen came next, not necessarily in order, with Daigo rounding out the list. He plopped down right next to me with a sigh.
"You're late," I prodded.
"I beat most of the class here," he said pointedly around a mouth full of oatmeal.
"You say that like it's an achievement to be proud of."
"Buzz off," he said. "You know taijutsu isn't my strong suit. All things considered, I think I did a good job."
"Let's hope the graders agree."
I was closer with Daigo than any of my other classmates, bar Aimi who didn't really count. He was the only one I spent a considerable amount of time with outside of mandated school hours, and that was my metric for friendship. The dude was an asshole, but I was too so it worked. And through him, I learned a lot.
"Conditioning's next," I stated mildly.
"Don't remind me." He gave me the side eye. "Genjutsu's after."
The gaze of everyone at the table flickered to us briefly.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"It's a reasonable deduction," he said. "Keeping in mind all there is left to test. We can't have any of the ninjutsu exams today, if we're doing conditioning now. I can't imagine the mission and survival tests taking less than an entire day each. Specialization exams will be at different times for all of us, so it's possible one or both of yours could be today as well, but for most of us, this is the only block that they can fit a genjutsu test into."
This is why I liked Daigo. He was smart and analytical in a way I wasn't. He added a valuable perspective to whatever challenge we encountered together.
But that doesn't mean I can't be intuitive either.
Covering my mouth to feign politeness while talking and eating, I lowered my voice.
"Conditioning will take us out of the village."
Daigo hummed, his own mouth barely moving as he spoke. Ventriloquism was a niche talent of his that I was trying to replicate. "How do you figure?"
"The sensei already know our limits in any standard exercise," I said. "It would be superfluous to replicate anything we've experienced in class." And we've experienced a lot. "They will want to test us in an unfamiliar environment, as we perform a strenuous, relevant task that we are unaccustomed to. What can we do in the village to fulfill that criteria?"
"Just because we can't think of anything, doesn't mean they can't," he pointed out.
"True. But tell me, too and from the Sekitsui, did you notice the increased shinobi watch presence?"
"I assumed they were additional proctors," he said with a frown.
"That many? To watch us in transit? No, I don't think so. The Red Ogres, our ordinary internal security force consisting of stealth specialists that wouldn't be as easily noticed as their substitutes, are away on assignment."
He pursed his lips.
"Any ideas of where we'll go?"
"Two come to mind," I murmured. "The first is the Sekitsui again. The mountains provide a challenge both to our physicality and our chakra control slash capacity. It would be a difficult test. But I think this is less likely. It seems off brand for them to hold multiple tests in the same location, and the landscape isn't one that we will see much of later in our careers. No, I think it's far more likely that they'll take us west, to the Gin-gawa river."
"Why?" Iwao asked, giving up the pretense of not listening in on the conversation. I could have tried harder to keep him and the others from hearing, but I didn't see the point. They would figure it out the moment we headed in that direction, if I was correct, so keeping it to myself wasn't much of an advantage.
"During the last war, where did most of the fighting take place?" It was a rhetorical question. "Grass, Rain and River, plus some conflict with Cloud in the northern peninsula of Iron. But what's changed since then?"
"Grass has flipped," Daigo answered. "Instead of being allies with Konoha, they're allied with us."
"And Konoha will be our principal opponents when conflict breaks out," I finished. "With Kusa as an established foothold, and with Suna still nursing its wounds, it seems unlikely for our forces to be split so far south. Grass will be highly contested, and it stands to reason that fighting will spill into the Land of Fire itself. But where else?"
"Taki and Ame," Iwao realized. "And Taki is allied with Konoha."
"Exactly. And, as their names suggest, those regions have a lot of water. I think, compared to the last conflict, this war will see an emphasis on open-water conflict."
"Something we fall behind in," Hayato said quietly. "My father told me that it was a disadvantage that reared its head in River during the second war. One that he wished would be addressed."
"The academy heads must believe that too, because they changed our curriculum," I told them. "In previous years, water walking was a single unit in a single semester. But Yoshiro-sensei arranged blocks for us to practice outside of school, weekly, ever since we learned the skill."
"I hadn't realized that was abnormal," Daigo said. "You could have led with that. It's all but confirmation right there."
"How very clever of you, Imai Kasaiki-chan," a voice said from above me, and everyone at my table hid their surprise well. Some of us didn't have anything to hide. Other later arrivals, however, jumped to their feet. "And Hirose Daigo-kun too, for his own deduction."
The person, I assumed it was a proctor, dropped down from above, flipping to land on their feet. Our silverware clattered against plates as they landed square in the middle of our table.
"Yes, we will be taking a little field trip to the Gin-gawa river," they announced. "We leave in ten minutes—I suggest you make the most of them."
I substituted with a banana peel that had dropped out of the trash can by the door, eliciting some protests that I ignored. I would be first in line to the bathroom.
- - - { ワナビー } - - -
The run to the GIn-gawa was brutal. We were led by the proctor, who we were told to refer to as Karuishi, out the gates (after giving our identification to the guards) and in the direction of Waterfall at a blistering pace. They didn't seem to care that people were dropping like flies after only half an hour in, falling behind the group without a chance to rest.
Those that were keeping up all burned chakra to do so. It wasn't chakra enhancement for most—more of an active circulation of chakra to organs, rather than muscle and bone. I, who could use the skill, occasionally directed my life force to sweep away fatigue and massage the lactic acid build-up in my legs, so I had a much better time of it than most. I kept stride with the proctor the entire way, in front of every one of my batchmates.
"Unless you plan on settling as a career genin, you better get used to this pace," Karuishi…encouraged?
I wasn't really sure what to make of our proctor. Their appearance overall was confusing; they were androgynous, wore their headband upside down, and they were missing the standard red attire plus brown assault vest. Instead, they wore white and gray.
That was all secondary. What made me uneasy was their face. It displayed a wide range of emotions—seriously, I've never seen anyone so exaggeratedly expressive in real life—that changed too dramatically by the moment. None ever reached their eyes. It made every smile seem threatening and inhuman, as if they were a lifeless doll who had decided to infiltrate humanity after watching hundreds of hours of TV shows and practicing the facial expressions it observed in the mirror. I was getting major Sai vibes, and that put me on edge.
But they were a hell of a shinobi, that was for sure. Their movements were quick, soundless and didn't disturb the ground underfoot at all. If it wasn't in an exam, I might have asked for tips. Alas, that would have to wait for my jonin sensei.
It took us over four hours to reach our destination, which sucked because it meant it would take the same amount of time to get back. But there was no time to think about that, as we were herded onto the main branch of the Gin-gawa, which looped around the western border of Earth country before curving towards Grass and Rain. It definitely earned its designation as a great river; it was wide enough for a group five times my entire class to comfortably run side by side.
"Is there a strength portion?" Katsuo asked Karuishi, though his words came out as a gasp. I personally wouldn't have dared, but the Konkjiki boy was always bolder than me.
"What, is this not enough?" Karuishi asked, voice perfectly measured.
"No, but how I allocate chakra might depend on what happens next," he said. "On a real mission, I'd know what I was meant to do once I reached my destination."
It was a surprisingly insightful point, if a little naive.
"Not necessarily," they said. "You will know the assignment parameters, but those parameters might and often will change, depending on what situation you insert yourself into. However, for now, I suppose I can let slip that there is no strength portion. As shinobi, most of your time completing missions will be spent running. You must arrive and return to Iwagakure promptly; the mission itself, in many cases, will also entail high-speed travel. In contrast, you'll find yourself in far fewer situations in which you will rely on physical strength. Therefore, we have decided to leave that portion out of the exam this year. So give this run your all, Konjiki Katsuo-kun."
I sure as shit wasn't complaining. I was decently strong, but I would fall behind the top third of my batch—unless I used chakra enhancement. If I did that, however, my reserves would run dangerously low on the return trip.
My internal sigh of relief was short-lived. I had never run this long, and certainly not this fast. And it soon became clear that I would only be forced to run faster when, from beside me, Karuishi vanished into thin air. A couple of my batchmates stopped in confusion, but not me. If anything, I ran faster.
Then it started. The real test. From both sides of the river, we were under attack, as unseen enemies pelted us with shuriken. Cursing, I withdrew a kunai and began deflecting whatever I couldn't dodge, maintaining my pace as I did so. But not getting hit was only half the battle.
As the weapons splashed at my feet, they disturbed the water, adding a third layer of difficulty. Endo-Sexy-sensei showed me long ago how much more difficult it was to water walk on a disturbed surface than a calm one, and this was taking it to the extreme.
Endurance. Evasion. Chakra control. That was this test. And it was freaking hard.
But I persevered. Until things got even crazier.
I heard a sound from my childhood—my first childhood. It had been so long that I couldn't even place it at first. All I knew is that it made my heart ache in longing.
Then my classmates began to curse in shock, and I chanced a look back.
The once…not peaceful, but ordinarily flowing river had risen in level, the current growing much faster. It was clear why; out of nowhere, a titanic wave, rivaling those that could be found on the ocean during a storm, had reared its head. Ninjutsu.
I probably should have been afraid—the river wasn't quite deep enough to obscure the sharp rocks at its bed. This exam had just, potentially, turned deadly. But the tingle that ran up my spine was one of unadulterated excitement.
What I would later describe as pure insanity clouded my vision as a shit eating grin crept over my face.
This was going to be epic.
- - - { ワナビー } - - -
"Jeez, taicho," a man in a Red Ogre mask marveled to Karuishi, who continued to mold their Inu seal as they ran along the bank, unseen. "They're just academy kids. Isn't that too much?"
"They aren't academy kids," Karuishi said, all the exaggerated vocal and facial inflections gone. "They're soldiers. Shinobi. Some might become your future comrades, even. Their worldview needs expanding. Their egos crushed."
The Ogre hummed. "Sure. But I've seen that jutsu of yours kill before. And the boss' son is in this batch."
"I'm very aware," they said. "I've toned down the water manipulation. Even if the wave overtakes them, they won't be slashed. Merely battered."
Obviously failing this portion of the test in the process, as they would be in no condition to make the return journey in time, even with medic-nin on standby.
"And they always have the option of escaping to shore," they added. "Speaking of which…"
The wave was already overtaking some of the stragglers. Frantically, they did as Karuishi expected, jumping out of the water as the jutsu passed. They got back in afterward to continue running on the water.
"That will be a loss of points," Karuishi muttered. "For vacating the water against instruction."
"Not that it matters," the Ogre said. "Your wave is too quick, taicho. It's going to overtake everyone—only chunin could possibly be expected to outrun it. If every participant loses points, effectively, no one will."
"Perhaps," Karuishi muttered, eyes flicking to the side. "But then again…"
The Ogre followed their eyes, and twitched as if visibly taken aback. "What the hell? What is she doing?"
After the group landed in the river, none of them had strayed far from the edge simply because there was no need to. They especially had no desire to move farther away once Karuishi launched their suiton jutsu. But now, one of the students was doing exactly that.
"That's Imai Kasaiki," the Ogre stated, as if Karuishi didn't already know. "She's the one everybody has their eye on. Her chakra enhancement ability has let her maintain her lead over everyone in this test so far. Why is she squandering it?"
The girl was drifting farther away from the shore, which in itself didn't make sense. But as she strafed, the wave, which was already gaining on her despite her head start, advanced even more quickly.
"A lack of self-preservation isn't an attractive trait for a shinobi," Karuishi muttered. "Just what are you planning?"
The answer would be revealed in moments. Everyone else had briefly jumped to shore to save themselves, and the only one left was the girl. Then, just as all the watchers knew would happen, the wave crashed over her.
"Forty-seven," Karuishi addressed the Ogre. "Get Sixty-five to retrieve the girl, and Ninety-two to begin treatment. Tell them—wait."
"What the fuck?" Forty-seven said, aghast, as the girl reemerged. But not behind the wave—in front of it. Right against its face. Her arms were moving as if she was swimming away, but there was little force behind her paddles, and her arms were nearly relaxed. She wasn't outpacing Karuishi's creation—it was like the wave itself was carrying her.
Another Ogre appeared next to them. "Are you seeing this, taicho?"
"Yes," he said blandly. "And I am just as confused as you are."
It was soon clear why the genin hopeful had been making all that space. Her wave-riding technique was steadily bringing her closer to the shore, and she wouldn't have been able to travel nearly as far if she began where she started.
Karuishi was distracted momentarily when he spied a familiar tree—a landmark they had picked out when they ran this course the day prior as a rehersal. It meant the graduates were quickly approaching the turn around point. One far more quickly than the others.
He returned his attention to Kasaiki, and saw on her face, not a look of unease, focus or even strain of any kind. She was smiling. Her muscles were untensed, and she looked to be in a state of pure relaxation.
"My jutsu, meant to be an impossible obstacle to overcome and something to fear, has allowed her to both recuperate and fulfill her objective far more quickly," Karuishi surmised. "Everyone was right about her. Hitosedai ni Ichido."
"Like you?" Forty-seven guessed.
"No."
Possibly better. Time would tell, but one thing was for certain. Karuishi hadn't seen a true body of water, much less a water jutsu or wave at all, until well after he made genin. And they never would have dreamed of doing something like this. Even witnessing the feat as a veteran, they had no idea how she was doing it. Was it chakra, or some other technique?
Like him at her age, Imai Kasaiki had never left the village. Her mind must be truly special if she could see such a phenomenon and immediately devise such a perfect and wondrous solution.
As she was about to be pincered against the river bank, Kasaiki allowed herself to be taken higher up the wave, before reaching up and using her chakra to grab the crest. With finesse, she climbed over the jutsu and landed safely on the other side, behind the wave. Shortly after, Karuishi appeared to tell her to turn back, as she had reached the midpoint.
This is what she had the nerve to say to them.
"Ne, Karuishi-san," she said. "That was fun. Can we do that again?"
- - - { ワナビー } - - -
AN: Well, I fully meant to include the genjutsu portion with this chapter as well. However, when I tried to get it done in time for today, I realized it was going to be pretty long on its own. Definitely full chapter length by itself, since it will include a moderately long but important flashback.
I totally didn't intend for the conditioning portion to be this long either. But I do really like what it turned into. I hope you do too. .
See you next week!