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đ Chapter 10 â The First Step
The sun rose lazily over Konoha, spilling golden light across the rooftops and filling the academy courtyard with a soft morning glow. For most children, today was a day of excitement, nerves, and dreams of the future. It was graduation dayâthe moment they would finally take their first steps as official shinobi of the Leaf.
For Kirito, it was just another day.
His hands were calm as he tied the black cloth around his forearm, concealing the faint marks of seal training. His eyes lingered on his reflection in the cracked mirror of his apartment. He wasn't nervous, nor was he particularly eager. Graduation was only a formality, a title that would give him the freedom he needed.
The academy grounds were buzzing with chatter when he arrived. Children laughed, some fidgeted nervously, others whispered about which team they hoped to be placed on. Kirito stood quietly at the edge of the crowd, his mind elsewhere. He wasn't interested in friends or teams. His goals were far darker and far larger than the childish ambitions around him.
Finally, the teacher appeared, carrying a box filled with freshly polished ninja headbands. Another instructor followed behind, holding a clipboard with the list of names. The crowd immediately fell into silence.
"Alright, everyone," the instructor said. "One by one, you'll come up. You'll be tested on basic ninjutsu and weapon accuracy. Pass, and you receive your headband."
The first names were called. Kirito watched silently as one by one, his classmates demonstrated the Clone Jutsu, the Transformation Jutsu, or the Substitution Jutsu. Some succeeded with ease, others stumbled awkwardly. Cheers erupted when one student scored eight out of ten shuriken on the target. Children cared for these small victories. Kirito did not.
When his name was finally called, the room grew a little quieter. He stepped forward, hands tucked behind his back, his expression unreadable.
"Kirito," the teacher said, scanning him briefly. "Perform the Clone Jutsu."
Kirito closed his eyes briefly, drawing in chakra. With almost no hand sealsâjust enough to satisfy the examinerâhe exhaled softly. A clone shimmered into existence beside him, solid and balanced, its form steady without the usual distortion that plagued beginners.
The teacher's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Hm. Acceptable."
Next came the shuriken test. A rack of ten shuriken lay before him, their metal gleaming under the sunlight. Without hesitation, Kirito picked them up, weighed their balance, and let them fly in quick succession. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Six embedded themselves cleanly into the target, while four clattered to the ground.
"Six out of ten," the teacher announced. "Not perfect, but more than enough."
The second instructor handed him a forehead protector. The polished metal reflected his sharp gaze as he took it silently. The crowd of students clapped for each graduate, but Kirito felt no need for acknowledgment. He tied the headband loosely around his neck, more as a tool than a badge of honor.
"Congratulations. You are now a genin of Konoha. Report to the Hokage building to register your ninja identification photo," the teacher said.
Kirito inclined his head politely and stepped back. His classmates beamed with pride, already whispering about what jonin sensei they might get, what kind of teams they would form. Kirito listened long enough to hear his own fate: no team. With the village short on active shinobi, only the best were being assigned to squads under a jonin. The rest would work independently on small missions until further notice.
For most children, that would have been a crushing disappointment. For Kirito, it was liberation.
No teammates to hold him back.
No sensei to watch his every move.
He could move as he pleased, accept the missions he wanted, and dedicate his time to training, experimenting, and preparing.
As he left the academy, the chatter of his classmates faded behind him. He touched the headband lightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Finally," he murmured under his breath. "I'm free to move."
That evening, in the solitude of his apartment, Kirito removed the headband and placed it on the table. A simple piece of metal and cloth, yet it marked the beginning of his true path. While others celebrated with their families, he resumed training, his shadow clones already dividing into assignments. The world thought he was just another genin.
But Kirito knew better.
This was only the first step into the shadows.
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