Hard.
Truly hard.
Humans in this world possessed far stronger memory retention and faster cognitive processing. Chakra didn't just enhance the body—it sharpened the mind. Conscious use of spiritual energy made thoughts clearer and retention frighteningly efficient.
Unfortunately, the expectations scaled accordingly.
The volume of theoretical knowledge required from shinobi was absurd.
If he had to compare it, then what he studied in these three days was equivalent to at least three academic semesters from his previous life.
"Well… at least it's finished," Ken muttered.
He stretched slowly. His muscles ached, not from combat, but from prolonged tension and sleep deprivation.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes.
He hadn't slept properly in three days.
Thankfully, Kakashi's notes had made the process survivable. They were precise, condensed, and efficient—stripped of unnecessary explanation and focused entirely on usable information.
Without them, he would have given up halfway through.
Ken stepped outside and began jogging.
The air was cool. Dawn had only just begun to color the sky.
It was already seven.
The exam would begin at nine.
Sleeping now was suicide. He'd miss it entirely.
And he wasn't confident Kakashi would bother waking him.
Thankfully, the tournament phase would begin tomorrow.
Ken adjusted his pace and headed toward the training ground.
Kakashi would likely be there. They didn't need to go together, but how could two bearers of the Will of Fire, whose bond was forged through blood, not stand together at a moment like this? Ken mused with a sly smile.
Unlike the exam structure in canon, this one was purely individual.
Written test.
Then tournament.
No team coordination phase.
It made sense.
The Second Shinobi War hadn't ended because anyone achieved decisive victory. It ended because the villages ran out of resources.
The peace was temporary.
Everyone knew it.
Ken reached the clearing.
Kakashi was already there.
Of course he was.
He stood in the center of the field, unmoving.
As Ken walked closer to greet him, he paused.
Kakashi's left hand was gripping his right wrist tightly.
Sparks flickered around his palm.
"The hell…" Ken muttered under his breath.
This fucker already started creating Chidori.
Kakashi noticed his presence. He raised his head expressionlessly and glanced at the stunned Ken, before returning to his work. Beneath the mask, the corner of his lips curved slightly upward.
What Ken didn't know was that he had been putting quiet pressure on Kakashi.
Until now, Kakashi had always carried himself as a genius. It wasn't arrogance—it was simply fact. But then Ken appeared, and suddenly began mastering one instant-cast jutsu after another. Not to mention his own strange, self-created techniques.
Kakashi had taken notice.
He had taken him seriously.
Ken, however, couldn't stay quiet any longer. After all, Chidori in terms of importance was no less than Rasengan. And its variations—like Chidori Senbon—were far easier to branch into later.
Kakashi continued, ignoring him.
Sparks crackled violently in his hand.
Ken watched closely.
Then frowned.
Then relaxed.
This wasn't Chidori.
It would be generous to call it a prototype.
It looked more like Kakashi had just grasped the idea and was circling around it, trying to understand its shape.
If his memory was correct, Kakashi wouldn't complete this technique for a few more years.
Even Minato had taken years to complete Rasengan.
So him starting now wasn't totally unexpected.
Ken watched Kakashi's tense posture and thought for a moment.
Without Obito's Sharingan in the future, Kakashi would have to grow stronger the traditional way.
Helping him wouldn't hurt.
"What are you trying to do?" Ken asked with a sly smile.
Kakashi glanced at him briefly but said nothing.
The sparks faded.
A few seconds passed.
Then, in a monotone voice—
"…Trying to create a jutsu."
Ken blinked.
No. It was still weird.
Still he smiled.
"Well, I'm not an expert," Ken said casually. "But if you run into problems, you can ask me."
He paused, then added lightly—
"I do have some experience."