The next morning, the sky over Konoha was clear, and the village buzzed with energy. Kaelen walked through the village gates, sword strapped to his back, head held high. He had trained for weeks — fought monsters, learned chakra control, and studied scrolls until his eyes hurt.
Now, it was time to prove himself.
The Ninja Academy stood tall ahead of him, the place where every shinobi began. Students filled the courtyard, whispering nervously, some adjusting their headbands, others still wearing training clothes.
Kaelen walked inside calmly, though his heart beat faster than usual.
Inside the exam room, a few instructors sat behind a long wooden desk. One of them — a man with grey hair and a sharp expression — motioned him forward.
"Candidate Kaelen," the man said, flipping through a clipboard. "You're here for the Genin qualification test. First section: knowledge."
Kaelen nodded. "Understood."
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The Written Test
The first question appeared on the board:
'Who was the First Hokage?'
Kaelen smirked a little. "That's easy… Hashirama Senju."
He scribbled the answer down confidently.
Next:
'During which Hokage's era did the First Great Shinobi War take place?'
Kaelen paused for a second, recalling the history scrolls he'd read the night before. "It started during Tobirama's era," he muttered, writing quickly.
Third question:
'Who created the Ninja Academy?'
He smiled again. "Tobirama Senju."
He leaned back, letting out a quiet breath. For someone who used to live in another world, he thought, this kind of history test was strange — like learning about legends that once only existed in anime. But here, they were real.
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The Practical Test
"Good," the examiner said. "Now, show us your practical skills. Start with the Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Kaelen stood, forming the familiar hand signs. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With a soft puff of smoke, three perfect clones appeared beside him. They stood firm, not flickering or unstable. The instructors exchanged impressed glances.
"Hmm. Excellent chakra control for your age," one of them murmured.
"Next," the grey-haired instructor said. "Substitution Jutsu."
Kaelen focused again. A kunai flew toward him — a test from one of the examiners.
Just before it hit, his body vanished, replaced by a wooden log that clattered to the floor.
Kaelen reappeared behind them, calm and composed. "Is that enough?"
The examiner blinked, then smiled faintly. "More than enough."
---
After the Test
Kaelen stepped out of the room, heart still racing.
The other students stared as the instructors called his name:
"Kaelen — passed."
He smiled faintly and looked at the Konoha symbol carved above the academy gate.
"Finally," he whispered. "From swordsman… to shinobi."
The wind carried his words softly through the village streets. For the first time since reincarnation, Kaelen felt like he truly belonged in this world.
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