Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Day 330
I put down my pen and got up.
"Sensei I am done" I said as I stopped near the desk, where the examiner was sitting. I didn't know him or even his name.
"Ok, as instructed, go to track field for you physicals" he said monotonously and then went back to reading the book he was holding.
Was he related to Kakashi?
I internally wondered, as I walked out of classroom.
Theory exam was done. It went well, I was confident I had answered most questions correctly, I was not sure about just two.
Still it was done and I felt my heart getting lighter. I had not expected this habit or condition of mine to have followed me here.
This always happened to me back in my old world, on the days of exams, I would be unable to eat anything. If I ate I would immediately throw up.
I always went through my exams on an empty stomach. Even thinking about eating made my stomach uneasy.
So I was following the same here. But the issue is... Now practical exams will happen . Running, push-ups and so on leading to taijutsu fights.
It felt foolish not eating anything, but at the same time my body continues to reject even the thought of food.
Well nothing can be done now. I moved towards ground and I could see some students already there and again an unknown sensei standing among them.
We had four sections of 4th year academy students, these unknown sensei must have taught those classes.
"Satoru kun , how was your exam" I was surprised by the sudden appearance of Kaori in front of me but by now it has become normal.
She was really stealthy, and no I was not lost in my own world and this is not notice her. Done arguing with myself I finally replied.
"It was ok, I think I may have gotten two questions wrong."
"Oh was one of them, question number 31, I don't think they ever taught it in class." She replied as we started discussing the theory paper.
"Ok students gather here, we will start now, in batches of five" the examiner started explaining.
I listened attentively and soon after I was running laps of the field.
Pace your breath, one two three breathe in, one two three breathe out, I kept repeating in my head as I continued to run full speed.
Once done we moved to pull-ups, push-ups, squats and so on.
I endured through it, trying my best. My months of morning exercises and physical conditioning helped.
I found out that while doing any exhausting exercise, I just needed to concentrate on my breathing and continue its rhythm. Also to not think of anything else.
It wasn't easy, basically meditating while doing things. But not having to fight with your own thoughts was huge plus. The dark whispers that promised instant relief or instant gratification, not caring about future.
I hated myself for falling for it, I knew i shouldn't overeat, I knew I shouldn't waste time laying around, but I was almost addicted to feeling good, through these actions.
I shuddered recalling all these things. I stopped thinking about anything other than my breathing as I went through the exam.
One two three... One two three.
Finally after three hours, I was done.
I laid down on the grass and closed my eyes.
A slight breeze was blowing, good.
"Good work" I heard , I looked up to see Kenji holding water.
I extended my hand asking for water and he gave it smiling.
Cold water, nice.
"Thanks" I said as I slowly got up and handed the bottle back.
"How was your exam till now" I asked
"I just rushed out of theory as soon as I could but still I answered ten questions." He said bit proudly.
"Nice" I complimented.
We walked silently towards the ground where taijutsu exams will take place.
It was being held tournament style.
People were ranked based on their taijutsu performance through the year and then divided into groups of five with similar performance.
Then the person with second highest rank in the group will fight third highest and so will forth fight with fifth. Whoever wins will fight each other and lastly will fight the highest rank person in the group.
Also the highest rank person the group can challenge the highest person of the group above him to improve his rank.
It felt bit complicated but in total just sixteen group formed and most people didn't challenge higher groups.
Basically your taijutsu marks were already determined by your performance through the year. This exam was your chance to improve it.
I was in group one, with both Hyuuga brothers, Kenji and Kaori.
Lets do this. I hyped myself as I moved to stand against Kaori.
"Good luck" I shouted to Kenji, as he moved to stand against Hiashi Hyuuga.
I had already given both Kenji and Kaori my notes containing my observation about Hyuuga brothers.
Even If I don't win, I wanted at least one of us to defeat them. Nothing against them, I have hardly ever interacted with them. This was purely competitive.
I looked at Kaori and she had her game face on.
Soon the examiner signalled and I launched myself towards her taking initiative.
I jumped and aimed for a kick to her head, she dodged by ducking beneath the kick and then kicked me in my liver as I was turning.
But I already predicted it and grabbed her leg or tried to, the kick to liver was a bluff and she used the same leg to aim at my unguarded head.
Her kick connected but I rolled with it, lessening it's impact and moving out of her range.
Damm that didn't work. I knew I needed to do something different if I wanted to win against her. She was too used to fighting against me and winning.
This time I stayed my ground and signalled her to come but unlike my reckless aggression she slowly circled around me, throwing kicks at my leg.
Fuck, it hurt, I cursed as one of her kick hit the muscle just above my knee.
I was blocking her kicks but her footwork was good and she kept finding an angle as she circled me.
Meanwhile my left leg started to hurt as I moved.
I thought about attacking her again but stopped myself. A plan forming in my head.
I continued to block her kicks as I moved back. We were fighting in a circle and you lost the moment you stepped out of it.
I moved close to the circle to stop her from circling me, it was risky standing this close to line but till now she had avoided direct contest of strength.
I will bank on that.
She narrowed her eyes and stepped back. I thought she was trying to pull me back in middle but she suddenly stopped and rushed at me.
Going down she tried sweeping my leg. I couldn't jump or lift my front leg as my left leg was throbbing now.
I needed to do something unexpected, so I endures through my left leg throbbing and let her kick my right leg as I moved my body further towards ground to avoid getting swept
It worked and now she was off balance with one leg extended , I moved to close the distance and grabbed and lifted her , she was light.
I tried throwing her but she held onto my head with her legs.
I was exhausted and she was choking me.
Fuck it. I simply walked out of bound while still holding her above my head.
"Match over, it's a draw" examiner called out as I was finally released from choke hold and I fell to the ground utterly exhausted.
Kaori would be mad, but I felt myself smiling a bit, relieved it was over.
I was in no shape to fight another match.
"You ok?" I heard Kaori asking.
I was still laid on the ground.
I moved to sit, everything hurt, as I moved my body.
"Yeah, you?" I asked
"Yup" I looked at her, she was looking at match between Kenji and Hiashi.
"Mad ?" I asked, I had thought about throwing away the match to help Kaori, even Kenji was on board, but the moment she found out she scolded us so hard that her voice was hoarse the next day.
It's good to have morals, I was not sure if I would have accepted such help or not in her situation.
I was still waiting for her reply, she finally said.
"No, not at this, just at the situation, I don't think I will be topping the class and my family will again tell me to quit as I failed to fulfil their condition"
"Hmm..." I had no answer for her. She was a strong person and will become excellent ninja in future if she continued. But ultimately it was between her and her family.
So we silently watched the match.
Kenji ended up defeating Hiashi but lost against Hizashi.
We congratulated him and even Hizashi came and shook his hands, as his brother Hiashi looked at us from distance.
We moved back inside academy for final part of exams.
We were called one by one and both Kenji and Kaori went ahead of me.
Finally I was called and I went inside the class room, limping.
Hito sensei smiled as he looked at me
"Satoru kun, tough fight?" he asked
"Yup, exhausting" I replied.
He nodded sympathetically at that.
"Let's start, I will call out jutsu name and you need to do it within five seconds of jutsu name being called. Understood ?"
I nodded
"Good, clone jutsu" he called and I immediately performed the seals for clone jutsu and soon with a puff three clones were standing beside me.
"Transformation jutsu" I transformed into today's examiner of theory part. I was also holding a book. My clones transformed too, each at different pose.
I heard a loud cough and Hito sensei was holding his mouth.
"Haah...good, good work Satoru kun" he said finally
"Now.. substitution jutsu" I immediately substituted with the tree log in front of me.
" well done Satoru kun, you have successfully passed all your exams, congratulations you are a genin now" Hito sensei said with a big smile and handed me forehead protector with konoha's symbol etched on it.
I was a genin now. Huh. I walked out of that room in daze. As soon as I was out I was met with Kaori and Kenji.
"Yes, all three of us passed" Kenji shouted.
"Were you expecting anything else" I asked amusedly.
"Nope never had a single doubt" h e replied confidently.
"Anyway congrats again to both of you, but I need to go now, I need to tell my family" Kenji said and rushed out, waving us goodbye.
Me and Kaori walked silently back. I knew she was worried, the ranks will be announced next week, before team assignment.
"..." I tried to say something but I hesitated. Giving any advise that's not well thought will lead to disaster.
Sometimes it's best to remain silent.
So we continued to walk in silence. We reached my house soon after but both of us just stood still.
"Satoru Kun any advice?" she asked with a smile.
"I never dealt with such situation, I am not sure what to tell you" I said honestly , still I wanted to encourage her.
"You remember what I told you the first time we met?" She nodded at that
"After meeting your family, my opinion for them only increased. They love you, talk to them sincerely. They must have seen how hard you worked these past few months. They are worried, but your actions must have shown how serious you are about this and ..." I paused before smiling.
"Whether you plan to continue as a ninja or not, we can always train together, you have yet to beat Kenji properly."
She finally smiled at that "yup."
"See you next week" I called out as she started walking away. She didn't turn but raised her hand to give a thumbs up.
Huh, need to try that sometime, it looked cool.
A/N: Please comment/review, would love to hear from readers.
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