Chapter 2: The Graduation Exam
A warm breeze, carrying the scent of wildflowers and damp earth, wound its way through the deep forest. Branches swayed gently in the wind, their leaves whispering a soft, rustling song.
Crunch… crunch…
Akizuki Ryouma walked aimlessly, his feet sinking into the tender grass with each step. He continued his silent interrogation of the grand, solemn voice in his mind.
"Is this world an illusion, or is it real?" he asked, his thoughts focused and urgent. "And if I die here, do I go back to my old world, or is it… permanent?"
After a moment's pause, the voice replied, "The world you are in exists on the same plane of reality as your world of origin. Death here is final."
A cold dread washed over Ryouma. This was the world of Naruto, a place riddled with danger where death was a common occurrence. Fear gripped him, but he forced it down, taking a steadying breath. Panic wouldn't save him. Besides, this might just be the opportunity he'd been lacking in his old life.
"What is the purpose of bringing me here?"
Host authority level is insufficient. The question is denied.
"Authority?" Ryouma muttered, frustrated. The systems in all the stories he'd read were far more talkative. His own was annoyingly secretive. "Then how do I increase my authority level?"
"Complete missions to acquire Almighty Points. Almighty Points can be converted into Divine Power and can also be exchanged for items the host desires."
Ryouma understood. It was a simple system: with enough points, he was in charge.
"How can I return to my original world?" This was the question he most wanted answered, and he couldn't help the nervous tension that coiled in his stomach. He was terrified of being trapped here forever, or of getting another 'insufficient authority' message.
"You may return after completing the dispatch mission."
The system's answer allowed a sliver of relief to break through his anxiety. But the wording was vague. What was the standard for "completing" the dispatch mission? Was becoming a ninja enough?
When he pressed for details, the system once again denied him, citing insufficient authority. Ryouma sighed, a headache beginning to form. But just then…
"Ryouma! There you are! Still worrying about not being able to mold chakra?" A figure dropped down from a branch above.
The man had distinct, whisker-like scars on his cheeks and wore the standard Konoha flak jacket. Ryouma recognized him instantly.
"Oh, Iruka."
Iruka walked over quickly and gave Ryouma a light, familiar knock on the head. "Ryouma, you're sixteen years old now! You need to be respectful. Don't just call me 'Iruka'—it's 'Teacher Iruka'!"
"Ah? Iruka… sensei?" Ryouma's eyes widened in disbelief. He had barely processed the "sixteen-year-old" part of his new identity, but the system had made him a student? A sixteen-year-old who hadn't yet graduated from the Ninja Academy?!
"That's better. Now, come with me. The graduation exams are today. I know it's been difficult for you, but you still have to try."
Iruka gave Ryouma's shoulder an encouraging pat.
Ryouma felt utterly lost. The Genin exam? The system's mission was to become a ninja… but damn it, he'd just arrived! How was he supposed to know how to perform the Clone Technique, the standard graduation test?
"Hey, system! Can I exchange for the Clone Technique?" he pleaded internally.
The Almighty System didn't respond with words. Instead, a massive sphere of light appeared in his mind's eye, and a single, smaller orb of light shot out from it.
Ryouma focused on it and saw the words 'Skill: Clone Technique' inscribed upon it.
His heart leapt with hope. He willed a mental hand to reach for it. But instead of the knowledge flowing into him, the system's solemn voice rang out. "Skill Category: Clone Technique. Exchange Cost: 1 Almighty Point."
"This…" He glanced at his mental interface. Next to 'Almighty Points' was a stark, undeniable '0'. He couldn't even afford the most basic technique.
With a sinking feeling of resignation, Ryouma followed Iruka out of the forest. It looked like completing the mission to become a ninja was going to take more time than he'd hoped.
As they left the woods, the number of people on the path increased. Once they entered the main street, Ryouma saw villagers chatting in front of shops, their lives devoid of the TVs and phones he was used to.
He occasionally spotted a few strikingly beautiful kunoichi, which he decided was the first real perk of his transmigration.
"Look, isn't that Akizuki Ryouma?"
"Yeah, I can't believe he's still here. A lazy kid with no ninja talent, using the Academy as an excuse to loaf around. How does he still have the nerve to show his face?"
The people around them greeted Iruka warmly, but when their eyes fell on Ryouma, their lips curled with disdain.
Hearing the gossip made Ryouma's face grow hot with shame. He was starting to wonder if the system had given him this identity on purpose, just to make his life harder.
He was clearly a topic of conversation, and whispers followed him down the street. Even though he knew the person they were mocking wasn't really him, the humiliation was still acute.
"You just have to work hard from now on," Iruka said abruptly, turning to give Ryouma a genuinely warm and encouraging smile. "As long as you persevere and never give up, you will definitely be recognized by everyone one day."
The simple, pure kindness in Iruka's smile, completely free of condescension, struck a chord in Ryouma. In this unfamiliar world, that small gesture helped ease the fear in his heart.
Work hard. Persevere.
Following Iruka into the classroom, they were met by Mizuki, who nodded at Iruka and stood up. "The graduation exam will now begin!"
Ryouma's appearance caused a stir among the students, which was quickly followed by poorly concealed snickers. He was the oldest student there, the one who had failed the exam year after year.
Ryouma ignored their stares; they were just children in his eyes.
Scanning the room, his breath hitched. There they were: Naruto, Sasuke, and the others. His eyes then landed on a shy, incredibly cute girl with lavender hair. Hinata.
Seeing the empty seat beside her, an idea sparked in Ryouma's mind. He walked over and sat down.
Hinata started slightly as he sat next to her, a blush instantly coloring her pale cheeks. "R-Ryouma-kun…" she stammered.
Ryouma gave her his kindest smile. "I'm a little older than you," he said softly. "You can call me big brother from now on, if you'd like."
"Ah… um… okay…" Hinata nodded, lowering her head even further.
(She really is a shy one,) Ryouma thought. But then another thought struck him: if she graduated today and he didn't, she'd outrank him. The idea was more than a little distressing.
"Is there any way for me to pass this exam?" he asked the system, almost desperately.
"There is."
The reply was immediate and unexpected. Hope flared within him.
"What is it? Tell me!"
"The Divine Power within your body exists on a higher dimensional plane than the chakra of a ninja. To master an E-Rank ninjutsu, you only need to know the hand seals."
Hand seals? That was the key!
"Next, Uchiha Sasuke!"
Just as Ryouma was panicking because he didn't know the seals for the Clone Technique, Sasuke had already completed his exam with flawless, arrogant ease, earning squeals of admiration from Sakura and Ino.
With a quiet sigh, he glanced at Hinata. Swallowing his pride, he knew he had to ask.
"Hinata…" he whispered.
She jumped slightly. "Y-yes? What is it?"
"How do you form the hand seals for the Clone Technique?" he asked, bracing for her reaction.
Hinata blinked in surprise, then her expression softened into a gentle, understanding smile. "Oh… so Ryouma-nii is so nervous he forgot the seals for the exam. That's why he couldn't graduate before. Hinata gets very nervous too."
"Ah… yeah… that's it exactly…" Ryouma said, relieved by her innocent interpretation. "Can you show me? Quickly, it's almost our turn."
"O-okay. Watch carefully, Ryouma-nii." Perhaps bonded by their shared "nervousness," Hinata seemed less flustered now. She timidly raised her small hands, forming the sequence with delicate precision. "It's… Ram… Snake… Tiger…"
"I see. Thank you, Hinata." Ryouma mimicked the seals, feeling a faint, responsive thrum of Divine Power flow through his fingers as he did. He gave her a grateful, confident smile.
"You're welcome…"
Soon, it was Hinata's turn. She performed the technique perfectly, creating a solid, if slightly shimmering, clone. Then, the moment of truth arrived.
"Akizuki Ryouma!"
As Ryouma stepped forward, the whispers in the classroom erupted.
"Haha, it's that loser's turn! This should be good."
"What a disgrace. Sixteen and he still can't make a single clone."
"Hey, he's kind of handsome though… it's a shame he's so useless."
Ryouma heard the muttered insults. He shot a cold glance toward the loudest voices, snorted, and then turned his full attention forward. He ignored the crowd of brats who desperately needed a lesson in manners. He had a technique to perform.