Bab 6: The Monthly Exam
In September, Konoha Village was bathed in golden sunlight. On the grounds of the Ninja Academy, maple leaves spun and drifted down through the air, yet they couldn't dispel the tension that filled the field.
Morino Ibiki stood atop the platform. The dark brown knife scars on his face looked even more striking under the sunlight.
His hands were clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the neatly lined students below, while his heavy voice rumbled out like stone wheels grinding over gravel.
"This month's exam is divided into five main modules: the Written Test, the General Ninjutsu Test, the Ninja Tool Throwing Test, the Trap Setup Test, and the Real Combat Application Test. Every part will decide whether you are worthy of being a ninja—and whether you can survive on the battlefield!"
Below the platform, the students unconsciously held their breath.
Izumo stood in the line, his fingers quietly clenching into fists. The hem of his light cream school uniform fluttered gently in the breeze.
He could clearly feel Kotetsu's shoulder beside him stiffen, and in the distance, he could see Might Guy's fist clenched so tightly it had turned pale.
Stage One: The Written Test
The written test was held in a large classroom in the western teaching building. The wooden desks and chairs had been polished until they gleamed. Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting diamond-shaped patches of light across the exam papers.
The proctor was a middle-aged ninja wearing round glasses. He slammed the stack of test papers onto the teacher's desk with a sharp "thump."
"The exam lasts one hour. Cheating is strictly forbidden. Anyone caught will be immediately disqualified!"
Izumo accepted his test paper. When his fingertips touched the slightly rough surface of the paper, the original body's memories suddenly surged like a rising tide.
The Ninjutsu formulas he had memorized late at night under a dim lamp. The tactical hand signal diagrams he had copied over and over again. Even the first aid notes marked with the word "important." All of it felt as clear as if it had happened just yesterday.
His hand holding the pen paused for a brief moment, then smoothly wrote his name:
"Izumo Kamizuki."
The soft scratch of the pen against the paper echoed clearly in the silent classroom.
"Question three: When extracting chakra, what is the fusion ratio between physical energy and spiritual energy?"
"1:1."
The following questions—from "Interpreting Konoha's Secret Codes," to "Analyzing the Weaknesses of Sunagakure's Puppet Techniques," to "Tactical Coordination When a Small Team Is Ambushed by a Larger Force"—he answered with ease. His handwriting was neat and orderly, almost as if it had been printed.
When he handed in his paper, the proctor took it. His glasses slid down to the bridge of his nose as he glanced over it.
He saw that even the most difficult question, "Tactical Layout Analysis," had been filled in with a clear, systematic explanation.
He looked up at Izumo. On his previously stiff face, a trace of approval appeared. He gave a small nod.
Stage Two: The General Ninjutsu Test
The General Ninjutsu Test was held on the eastern training field. Three wooden posts stood in the center, surrounded by watching students.
The examiner was a short-haired female ninja holding a scoring board. Her voice was crisp and firm.
"The Clone Technique will be graded on number and level of similarity. The Transformation Technique will be graded on detail of replication. The Substitution Technique will be graded on timing accuracy. Begin!"
Ebisu went first. His Clone Technique produced only two faint shadows. Before three seconds passed, both of them vanished. The examiner frowned slightly and wrote down a score of sixty.
When it was Izumo's turn, he took a deep breath and evenly circulated his chakra throughout his body. On the panel, the words "Clone Technique: Beginner (Proficiency: 68/100)" flickered faintly.
Although his main focus lately had been Basic Taijutsu, regular class training had still pushed his mastery of the Three Basic Techniques up another level.
"Clone Technique!"
Izumo formed hand seals quickly. With two soft puffs of smoke, two clones identical to him appeared on his left and right.
The folds of their school uniforms, the fine curve of hair at their foreheads, even the light in their eyes—there wasn't the slightest difference from the original.
Three "Izumo Kamizuki" took a ready stance at the same time. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, like mirror reflections.
The watching students let out amazed gasps.
"These clones look just like real people! There's no way to tell which one is the real one!"
The examiner nodded as she wrote on her scoring board, then said,
"Next, the Transformation Technique. Target—Morino Ibiki."
Izumo closed his eyes. He recalled the placement of the scars on Ibiki's face, the tight curve of his lips, even the habit of furrowing his brow when he spoke.
When he opened his eyes again, chakra flowed over the surface of his body. His figure instantly grew taller. His light uniform turned into Ibiki's signature dark outfit, and the iconic scars appeared on his cheek.
He even mimicked Ibiki's heavy tone and said,
"Everyone, be a little more serious. Don't waste time!"
"Whoa! Even his voice is the same!" Mitarashi Anko's eyes went wide in the crowd. She grabbed Yūhi Kurenai's arm and shook it. "Kurenai, can you even tell the difference?"
Yūhi Kurenai shook her head, her eyes full of shock.
"The details are too accurate. Even the pauses in the way sensei speaks are copied…"
Last came the Substitution Technique.
The examiner threw a kunai straight toward Izumo's chest.
Just as the tip of the kunai was about to touch him, a puff of white smoke burst out beneath his feet. His figure vanished, and in his place stood a wooden log with the kunai embedded in it.
The timing of the Substitution Technique was so precise it was almost impossible to measure the difference.
"Three Basic Techniques, total score: ninety!" the examiner announced with clear appreciation in her voice. "Your Ninjutsu foundation is very solid, and your level of detail replication is extremely high. The only shortcoming is that the duration of your Transformation Technique can still be optimized."
As Izumo bowed and stepped back from the field, his eyes met Might Guy's.
Guy raised a fist in a gesture of encouragement, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"Kamizuki! Your Ninjutsu has improved so fast! When it's time for real combat, let me feel your Taijutsu!"
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