Chapter 105: Successfully Passing the Written Exam
The first test was the written exam, which assessed the knowledge of the Ninja Academy students. The second was the practical Ninjutsu exam, meant to evaluate their Ninjutsu skills. And then came the third exam, the practical combat test, which measured everything the students of the Ninja Academy had learned up to that point.
Although there was a final stage—a personal interview—the first three tests were what truly decided everything. The interview merely added a slight bonus to the overall score.
Therefore, the schedule was as follows: the first and second days would be the written exams; the third and fourth days would be the practical Ninjutsu exams; the fifth and sixth days would be the practical combat exams; and the seventh day would be reserved for the interview.
Why were there two days allocated for each of the three exams? The reason was simple—if a student failed on the first day, they would have a second chance on the following day. If their score on the second attempt was better than the first, the higher score would be taken. However, if their score still fell short, that score would be combined with the other two exam scores, and during the interview, the total would be tallied to determine whether they passed or failed.
Since it was the first day, Souta wanted to arrive early, ensuring he wouldn't feel rushed or pressured when the exam began. That was why, after finishing his breakfast, Souta immediately left his apartment room.
At that exact moment, Pakura stepped out as well. Their eyes met, and they exchanged a short but warm greeting. There was a mutual understanding between them—that today marked an important beginning.
They descended the stairs together, their footsteps echoing lightly in the quiet building. The morning air of Sunagakure was crisp and refreshing, biting faintly at their noses, while the sunlight began to spill golden reflections across the sand-colored walls of the buildings.
Walking side by side toward the Ninja Academy, they encountered Makima midway, striding quickly with a satchel slung over her back. Makima's expression was bright, though her eyes carried a sharp, alert glint. Without many words, the three of them naturally fell into step together. The road leading to the academy was already filled with other students, the mingled sounds of chatter and hurried footsteps filling the air.
Souta's thoughts began to drift—to the Second Great Ninja War, the Third, and even the Fourth. The weight of those future events pressed against his chest, for he knew the future was not solely about passing today's graduation exam.
The Second Great Ninja War felt the most immediate, as it was likely to break out just a few short years after he graduated from the Ninja Academy. Certainly, with several years of real-world experience by then, Souta would have built up considerable skill. Yet, war was still something terrifying—something never to be underestimated. All he could do was exhale slowly, letting that heavy feeling escape with his breath.
Before long, Souta and the others arrived before the tall entrance gates of the Sunagakure City Ninja Academy. The grand building stood solid and imposing, its high walls a testament to strength. Above them, the flag bearing the symbol of Sunagakure fluttered in the wind.
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Time passed. The written exam turned out to be surprisingly easy for Souta. After all, he was someone who was now living his second life, and in his previous life, he had already completed the demanding graduation examinations of a prestigious university. Compared to that, the written exam in the world of Naruto—the ninja world—was child's play for him, especially since he had been diligently studying all this time.
Once the exam was over, Souta and the other students headed to the cafeteria to eat while waiting for the results. The cafeteria buzzed with noise; the aroma of food drifted through the air, mingling with the constant chatter about the exam questions.
After several hours of waiting, the results for the first day's written exam were finally announced.
Souta, Pakura, and Makima had all passed. Their faces lit up with relief. The three of them, along with the other successful students, left the Ninja Academy together. As for tomorrow, it would be the second day of the written exam—reserved for those who had failed today's attempt.
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Chapter 106: Successfully Passing the Ninjutsu Practice Exam and the Combat Practice Exam
Time passed, and the third day of the graduation exam arrived. On that morning, Souta, Pakura, and Makima walked together toward the Ninja Academy. Their steps were steady and synchronized, yet beneath the rhythm of their pace, there lingered a faint tension that pressed upon them like an unseen weight.
That day the air was slightly windy, carrying with it the dry, familiar scent of the desert. Grains of sand danced lightly across the road, carried by the breeze, swirling in the air before vanishing into the rush of the wind. The dim morning sunlight reflected softly against the golden specks of dust that clung stubbornly to their hair and the fabric of their clothes.
They were scheduled for the Ninjutsu practice exam, where every single movement needed to be sharp, precise, and efficient, leaving no room for even the slightest mistake. Each student directed their focus inward, steadying their breath, and watching every instruction from their teachers with unwavering eyes. Concentration ruled the atmosphere—one misplaced step could mean failure.
Inside the training arena, the occasional clash of weapons rang out sharply, breaking the otherwise tense silence, followed by the heavy exhalations of students pushing their bodies to their limits. Souta once again succeeded in passing the exam, his movements clean and decisive, each strike carrying the weight of certainty. There was no hesitation in him, only conviction.
The same could be said of Pakura, who moved with nimbleness and grace, her hair streaming behind her in lively arcs with every swift step she took. And Makima—her cheerful expression never wavered, though her eyes remained sharp, gleaming with an edge that betrayed her seriousness.
Because the three of them had passed the Ninjutsu practice exam, they were excused from attending on the fourth day. That victory granted them a full day of rest—a much-needed pause to restore their strength and prepare their minds for the battle that awaited them in the next stage of the exam.
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Time did not slow; it pressed ever onward, and soon the fifth day of the graduation exam arrived. The morning felt different that day—heavier, more intense, as though the very desert air bore down on their chests with invisible pressure. Souta, along with the rest of the Ninja Academy students, gathered in the courtyard, preparing themselves for the combat practice exam.
The open training ground was already filled with students waiting for their turn. Some stood firm with unwavering posture, their eyes steady, while others closed their eyes briefly, forcing slow, deep breaths in an attempt to calm the nervousness bubbling in their hearts.
Each student would face a teacher in one-on-one combat. The instructors stood relaxed, yet their calmness carried an undeniable authority that demanded respect. Beneath their feet, the sand was dry and scorching, the heat seeping through their sandals and biting at the soles of their feet. The desert sun had not even fully risen, yet already the warmth of the day pressed against their skin, coaxing beads of sweat to gather at their brows.
When Souta's name was called, he stepped forward, his expression composed and unreadable. Yet within his chest, his heartbeat thudded slowly, rhythmically, like the steady beat of a war drum calling him into battle. His gaze locked upon his instructor, who stood as his opponent. Souta's eyes did not falter, not even as the desert wind swept sharply across the arena, whipping strands of hair into the air.
The gathered students fixed their attention on him. Some held their breath, captivated, while others whispered softly among themselves, speaking of Souta's fighting style—a style they had already witnessed countless times, one that was both disciplined and unyielding. The desert wind returned once more, sweeping across the arena and carrying with it tiny grains of sand, which rose into a fleeting spiral before falling gently back to the earth.
The battle that followed was brief yet intense. The sound of feet scraping against sand, the sharp impact of sudden steps, and the hiss of jutsu being unleashed filled the air. In this test as well, Souta succeeded, keeping his rhythm steady and his strikes relentless, never offering an opening.
Pakura, too, triumphed—her fighting style relying on agility and bursts of scorching heat that forced her opponent back step by step. And Makima—her attacks were quick and precise, like blades that knew their exact target, stabbing forward without an ounce of hesitation. With their victories secured, the three of them now needed only to prepare for the final interview on the seventh day of the graduation exams.
Later, Souta and the others returned to their homes, relief mingling with the lingering awareness that the challenge was not yet over. Every step on the way home was accompanied by thoughts of strategies and carefully rehearsed answers for the questions that would await them. The evening sky deepened into shades of crimson, and the desert wind rose once again, as if whispering a reminder: the true test had not yet fully ended.
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That night, at his home, Souta lay down with a serious expression carved across his face. His eyes were fixed upon the night sky through the window, as though he sought answers hidden among the scatter of stars that stretched endlessly above.
Not long after, he finally closed his eyes, surrendering to rest. Tomorrow would be the sixth day—a day of respite, another pause in the exams. All he needed to do was wait until the seventh day arrived. With that thought lingering faintly in his mind, his consciousness slowly slipped away, carried into the quiet depths of sleep.
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