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Murakami's POV
I stepped through the academy gates, hands tucked into my sleeves like a wandering monk, though the only enlightenment I sought was how to survive today's test without falling asleep.
The morning air was fresh, the sky clear, and yet, nothing could lighten the heavy sigh that left my lips.
Test day. Again.
I strolled through the courtyard at my own pace, dodging the occasional panicked kids who almost barreled into me.
Why rush?
No amount of running was going to save them from the inevitable.
As I walked into the academy building, I marveled at how, even after a year, I still found this place unnecessarily big.
The halls stretched endlessly, students huddled in corners, whispering conspiracies about trick questions and impossible problems their sensei might throw at them.
Poor kids.
I reached my classroom and slid the door open, stepping inside just in time to witness someone whispering to their desk like it would grant them divine wisdom.
Another kid had his head down, probably accepting his fate. A girl in the back rapidly tapped her foot, a nervous tic that made me wonder if she was about to sprint out the window.
Some mumbling under their breath, others desperately flipping through their notes like they could absorb information through sheer willpower.
Ah, yes. The beautiful chaos of academic suffering.
I took my seat near the window, resting my chin on my hand as I gazed outside.
My thoughts drifted to the academy requirement for promotion Matsuda-sensei had mentioned earlier in the term.
A perfect score meant skipping a year.
Not a reward. Not an honor.
It was the last thing I wanted.
Why? Because I wasn't an idiot.
Other than the obvious result being graduating earlier and being pulled into some war, I knew that If I moved up, I'd be surrounded by older kids who'd either expect me to be some genius or try to make my life miserable for daring to exist in their space.
I liked my current setup just fine, thank you. Besides, what was the rush? Wasn't childhood supposed to be long and painful?
Lost in thought, I barely noticed the door sliding open again.
Matsuda-sensei entered, his sharp gaze sweeping over the class like a hawk looking for prey.
"Take your seats and prepare," he said, his voice calm but carrying that underlying tone of "I will not tolerate nonsense."
I straightened up, stretching my arms with an exaggerated yawn.
The moment Matsuda-sensei uttered those words, a collective hush fell over the class.
The shuffling of papers, the whispered last-minute revision spells, and even the frantic scribbling of desperate students came to an abrupt halt.
Test time.
I exhaled slowly, stretching my arms behind my head before lowering them onto my desk.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed a few students glancing at me—not with admiration, but with that peculiar mix of awe and wariness.
I was used to it by now. Some probably expected me to breeze through this like I always did. Others just wanted to see if I'd finally trip up.
Matsuda-sensei began handing out the test papers. When the paper landed on my desk, I glanced at it, then tilted my head as the first question came into view.
Question One: Explain the fundamental differences between Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, using examples.
Ah, an easy warm-up.
"Alright then. You may begin." Matsuda-sensei's voice rang out and everyone immediately began their tests.
I picked and twirled my pencil between my fingers before scribbling down the answer I'd already come to in the moment since I looked at the question.
[Genjutsu messes with your mind, Ninjutsu messes with your body. One makes you think you're on fire, the other actually sets you on fire. Simple.]
…Okay, maybe not the most elegant phrasing. I sighed and rewrote it in proper academy language before moving on.
Question Two: Describe the proper method for performing Leaf Concentration Practice and its purpose.
Okay, this one's a bit tricky, The Leaf Exercise is all about balancing a leaf on your forehead using chakra.
To some, it's meditation, to others it could be punishment if not torture.
I'd already mastered it ages ago. These days, I used it to nap without the leaf falling.
I scribbled down the "expected" answer:
It Focus chakra evenly to a single point preferably the forehead, and maintain a steady flow to keep the leaf in place. The exercise improves chakra control and concentration.
Question Three: Describe the difference between the Clone Technique (Bunshin no Jutsu) and the Transformation Technique (Henge no Jutsu).
I resisted the urge to yawn.
[Clone Technique creates an illusionary copy using light and chakra displacement. Transformation Technique alters the user's appearance using chakra modulation to manipulate visual and tactile perception.]
I added, for my own amusement: [One fools the enemy's eyes, the other fools their judgment. Both fail if your control is trash.]
Question Four: Explain why chakra exhaustion can lead to physical collapse even if the body appears uninjured.
Now we're getting interesting.
[Because chakra isn't just spiritual, it's physical energy drawn from cells. Overuse drains the body's life force directly, like bleeding out without a wound. You can't fight if your body's batteries are empty.]
I underlined bleeding without a wound.
Matsuda-sensei hated poetic analogies, but I wasn't here to please him.
Quesuon five: Provide two examples of how chakra flow is used outside of combat.
Hmm, this was rather basic.
[1. Medical application: precise chakra flow accelerates tissue regeneration.]
[2. Artisanal or craftwork enhancement: chakra used to strengthen materials or tools, like in blacksmithing.]
I added in smaller writing:
[Also used to warm your hands in winter, but I assume that's not worth extra credit.]
Question Six: Describe how the Transformation Technique (Henge no Jutsu) works and one of its limitations.
I couldn't help but smile. This one brought back memories of my earliest… experiments.
"Ah, yes. The noble art of turning into random civilians for fun," I whispered.
I wrote neatly:
[Henge no Jutsu alters the appearance of the caster through chakra-based illusion, disguising their form. Its limitation is that it does not change physical mass, so experienced shinobi can detect flaws in movement or sound.]
My real thought though? Useful for pranks, infiltration, and pretending to be different people for the fun of it.
Useless if your chakra flickers when you laugh.
Question Seven: During the Warring States era, what was the primary reason for the formation of shinobi clans?
I sighed. History. My least favorite battlefield.
Still, I knew this one.
Even if I wanted to fail this one, I couldn't as that would raise questions. Ones I wasn't willing to answer and risk drawing attentiokn to myself.
Shinobi clans formed as families banded together for survival, combining strength and shared bloodline techniques to protect themselves and gain power.
And quietly added under my breath: "And because humans are predictable. When the world burns, they seek names, symbols, and banners to hide their fear."
Matsuda-sensei would probably just underline "Good insight" and move on.
Question Eight: Define the function of a Fūinjutsu containment seal and describe one limitation.
Finally. Something that wasn't completely dull and could still be failed.
[Containment seals stabilize and restrict chakra or physical energy within a defined space. Their function depends on maintaining a stable chakra matrix.]
I paused, tapping the pencil against the desk. This is my opportunity to not get a full mark, and since ive written thr function…
I added a smaller line beneath it,.
[Limitation: over-saturation. If the seal absorbs too much chakra, it begins to convert excess energy into heat, eventually melting the formula.]
It looked brilliant on paper. Very science-y. But complete nonsense, of course. Seals didn't melt.
They ruptured, dispersed, or detonated, depending on how badly you messed up the inscription.
Still, it sounded right, hopefully an observant teacher would notice and not mark it as a pass.
At this point, I spared a glance around the room. A few students looked like they were thriving, confident in their answers. Others, however…
A boy in the front row had his head in his hands, eyes hollow with despair. Another student tapped his pencil against the desk so fast I thought he was performing a drum solo.
Then there was my personal favorite, the kid who'd turned his test upside down, as if looking at it from a different angle would suddenly make the answers appear.
A soft chuckle almost escaped me, but I swallowed it down and refocused.
Question Ten: If a shinobi is ambushed by a superior enemy force, list three possible escape strategies and explain their effectiveness.
Hmm.
[Option one: Smoke bombs and run like hell.]
[Option two: Substitute with a log, then run like hell.]
[Option three: Cry loudly, distract them, then run like hell.]
…I should not be trusted with an open-ended question.
I erased the nonsense and wrote proper answers. Not that my original strategies weren't technically valid.
The test dragged on, but I never felt rushed. I worked through the questions at my own pace, occasionally stretching my arms or rolling my shoulders.
Others though, looked like they were physically battling their papers. One girl chewed on her funger so intensely I was starting to worry for her dental health.
Final Question: In your own words, explain what it means to be a shinobi.
Ah. That one again.
They always threw this question in somewhere, and it always made people pause. It wasn't something that had a single correct answer.
I tapped my pencil against my chin, considering.
Being a shinobi… was it about strength? Loyalty? Sacrifice?
I wrote down my thoughts, keeping them brief but honest.
[A shinobi is someone who walks the path of shadows, but never lets the darkness consume them.]
Deep? Maybe. But it was the best I had.
Just as I finished, Matsuda-sensei clapped his hands once.
"Time's up. Pens down."
A collective groan swept through the class as students slumped over their desks, either relieved or utterly defeated. I simply leaned back, exhaling.
Another exam down. Another step forward. Now, all that was left was to see the results.