Going in Blind [Genin Exam]

Noboru offered to stay with her the entire exam, but she couldn't bring herself to let that happen. A part of her felt like he'd try to rig this in her favor in some unexplained way, and she'd be let into the world not on her own merit, but the forceful hand of her loved ones. For once, she needed to rely on herself, and her own confidence. Exhilarated beyond all usual capability, she frolicked in the village until she could reach the esteemed Kumogakure Academy, followed along by the partly cloudy sky above her, a cool wind blowing through Instead of being dressed in her usual black robes, she decide to dress properly for the occasion as well; a simple kunoichi's attire, with the perfect sandals, and instead of her crown, she's wearing a black silken blindfold, which she has been told makes her look really cool, though she wouldn't know. Although wracked with anxiety, she's also equally excited, making her way to the entrance of the academy, and running her way through its various halls to the examination area.

Of course, this room is as simple as any other, the only difference being that a proctor will be waiting for her in it. Who could it be, she wondered? Ichigo was already out of the question, and she knows Ren is a Genin and not a Chunin, so there's not a whole lot of choice in her mind on the individual she'll meet today. It's why she hesitates as she lays her hand on the number of the door, feeling its braille. 'One-o-one'. Typical, it's like the world is playing games with her. Contemplation takes place, and she silently goes through her memories from the past two years, remembering every single lesson she has ever gone through, and most important of all, taking note on all that have encouraged her. The numbers were little, but it's all she needed to begin believing in herself. There's no mistake that she'll pass, as long as she does her best. With one more breath, she opens up the door, ready to greet her exam proctor.

In this unassuming classroom, she closes the door behind her, and takes a seat in one of the desk seats, as it doesn't seem like anyone is here yet. There was the possibility maybe they're hiding in the room, or she just didn't notice them yet, so while she holds her hands together and twiddles her thumbs, she lets her passive ability to sense heat take over, pairing it with her keen hearing of course. Hopefully she wasn't too early, because she didn't even bring a book to read while she waits, given this would be a brief process, she assumes. Gods, she hopes so. Being a Genin was all she could think about right now, it'd suck to make it last even longer.

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Yagi had received a summons from the shinobi office of Kumogakure stating that he was to proctor an exam for a hopeful Academy Student looking to graduate to the Genin rank and become a full fledged member of the Kumogakure Shinobi Forces. As he walked down from the clan compound the cloudy conditions became more auspicious as the rain began to come down. He did not mind the weather of Kumogakure and how it seemed to rain or snow all the time up in the mountains, but he just sped up a little bit as he was trying to get to this little event before he became any more soaked…

He arrived about thirty minutes later, and the speed he used to get there lent him a hand in drying out. He walked in and took a clipboard with him with Aura’s dossier on it, like some sort of surgeon about to begin work on his patient and read it quietly to himself as he made his way over to the desk at the front of the room. He was not trying to be critical, but he had to ensure that the strength of his village was preserved so he was not going to leave much to chance. Aura Yuki, now Yukimenoko was a member of a prestigious family and had a rather…tumultuous time at being birthed and then abandoned essentially…now she was growing stronger so that she could be a valued member in the village. He sat down and then sat the clipboard down and looked up at Aura.

“Yukimenoko, Aura…please step forward and tell me a little about yourself. My name is Yagi Raitenno…I am a Chuunin of Kumogakure and I will be your proctor today.” He said with a soft smile as he waited for her to approach.

WC:301

Why was it taking so long? She got here a few minutes early, true, but she could have sworn the academy was more punctual than this. That's how she remembered them always being, anyway, especially with how close some of her homework had come to being late, even when diligently filling it out any minute she could get. Late work was not acceptable in shinobi society, so it's just a bit of a surprise that anyone would be late for such an important test. Did her proctor get hurt along the way, maybe? That'd be really bad... she hopes that he'll be there soon, or that she isn't just going crazy, and he's been in this room the entire time, waiting for her to say something... is that what's going on? A quick scan of the room with her scent of smell did nothing for her, and the sounds of footsteps outside her classroom were all she could hear...

Wait, her prayers are answered by the arrival of her proctor, which must have been where the steps came from! Thankfully, they just walked right on in; no tricks, trials or tribulations for her to jump hoops through. That meant this would likely be a test by the books, which is very agreeable to her right at this point in time. The presence she is greeted by came with a warm, comforting voice, putting her mind at ease even further on what's about to go down. Surely, her dedication to the perfection of her techniques will be able to get her in, instead of the massive flaw she knows she has preventing it, right? This isn't the time for her to be thinking of that however, it's instead the moment where she should be introducing herself to Yagi, since he was so polite in asking her about herself. Stepping out of her seat, with a small smile on her own face, she tiptoes over to where she could hear his voice, and bows towards him respectfully, with her hand against her fist, doing it all proper like you're supposed to.

"Thank you for being my proctor today, mister Yagi. As you know, my name is Aura! I plan on being a medical specialist when I can pursue higher leveled techniques, and I really want to learn more about my past. As for my hobbies and stuff I enjoy, I love to read, I like being around nature a lot, and helping people is probably my favorite pastime when I'm not just there for myself. Uh... oh, also I'm blind! If you can't tell, or didn't know. That's okay though, I can do a lot despite that, and I'll prove that to you during our exam! So, if you wanna talk more, or if you have any questions, I'm more than willing, but if you're ready, so am I." Figuring that's all she really needed to say, and not wanting to talk his ear off, she nods and gets out of her bowing position, twiddling her fingers together in anticipation on what Yagi will say to her next.

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Yagi did not flinch when she called him by his first name and he did not get offended, but he was a little struck that she seemed chipper…then again this village had some…odd shinobi, and those that looked to want to become one. This young woman, a physically blind but seemingly pure soul gave him a small rundown and before he said anything she looked at least ready to continue. “Raitenno…the clan that oversees Kumogakure, almost as old as the village itself, and I find myself here under orders from the village to oversee your exam. I am naturally honored to watch over you as you perform the jutsu necessary. However, I have a small test of my own I wish to pass onto you. I want you to perform your transformation technique with the senses you have and imagination. You have to let me see if you truly can perform just as well as those that have no handicap, I am not playing a nice guy here and I know what I ask for is insensitive…but the world for a Kunoichi is not fair, nor is it easy…in fact you will have it harder than most shinobi in the world.” He stood up and walked towards her…he had to admit she was rather fair upon his own eyes and he could not help but wish to help her, but since this was work…that would have to wait.

“Now let us begin the test, I will be walking around the room, examining you. I will not give you any encouragement, and the fact that my gaze would terrify most means nothing to you…so silence will be the “look” I will give.” He said making air quotations. “Now please, begin Aura. I will tell you whether you pass or not in mere moments…your career is in your own hands.” He said as he began to circle around her like a predator hunting for its next meal.

WC:322
TWC:623

First name basis, despite being a bit of a cultural dichotomy, isn't really anything she thought about in this instance, given he'd not told her to address him in an specific manner. So when she notices the emphasis on his last name, she makes a mental note to refer to him as Raitenno instead, nodding silently as she listens to his story. To think, that this man's clan has been around since the very beginnings of the village. Quite intriguing, she'd say! Or at least, she'd say it if she were talking. The way he speaks, and with the importance of his family name, it ironically puts her more at ease that this is going to be a fair exam, and not rigged in any way against her. The more he talked, the more excited she had gotten, even as he threw down the bombshell of 'transform into me'. Given that she has permission to use all of her senses, that included touch, as he never omitted the possibility of such from his request. Already, her clever kunoichi brain was stirring with joy, yet at the same time walking her through the steps of what she's about to do. This world isn't fair, right? Then she'd play naughty, too. Playing by 'the rules' of life's insidious game would never get her far with how she wants to treat everyone. Time to work her magic.

"In my hands, huh? Alright, I'll show you just how in control of my career I really am, mister 'Raitenno'~" She'd exclaim, letting out a bit of a lighthearted giggle. Not even perturbed by him stalking her and circling like an ambush predator, she brings her hands close to one another, bringing in a deep, solitary breath, followed by a calm exhale, her breath fogging up with how cold her body is. Chakra flows through her body, completely in control of it from her rigorous training, as she forms the Ram hand seal, which will allow her to mold her energy to her will in the way she needs it. This collides with her mind, and in an instant, a puff of white smoke sways to the right side of her body, with dissipates in little more than three seconds. When it's gone, what is left is what can only be described as the nearly perfected mannequin of her image. It even had the same clothes and everything on, and were it a Shadow Clone rather than the Clone Jutsu, one wouldn't doubt the texture would be immaculate. With long, luscious white hair, her perfectly trim build, the soft, silken look of her skin, and every part of her body morphed exactly as it should be, what was really the problem? The only problem is, of course, the color. Her blindness, as expected, meant she could never even comprehend what a color really was. So, while otherwise her technique could be considered flawless, that one part of it pretty much concludes that this is as far as she can push herself when it comes to this subject.

That isn't the end of the test, though, and the both of them know it.

Before Yagi can even attempt to comment, he finds himself suddenly grabbed in the face by Aura, who steps over to him and clasps his cheeks in her palms. Swiftly, she runs her palms along the facial structure of his head, followed by a brief rustling of his hair, before she goes back to her original position, a mischievous grin formed on her lips. Right in that instance, she used her sense of touch to get a better understanding of the young Jonin's appearance, to the best of her abilities. What is really striking was how fast she actually was at doing this, but that could be talked about later. Having taken what she wanted, and now possessing what she needs, she performs the Dog hand seal, and like before, but instead on her this time, smokescreen envelops her person. In the same three seconds as before, having gone through the same procedure of managing her chakra, but to transform herself, she has successfully used the Transformation Jutsu, resulting in her making a mirror image out of Yagi, just as asked of her. Though, unlike her execution of her previous technique, this one is more flawed, though that isn't something you can really put against a student in this point of their growth. Obviously, there's no color, and for whatever reason, his hair is more spiked up than it should be. The last few notable flaws were his right middle finger being longer than it should, and his left foot was smaller than his right. 

She gives her proctor a good few seconds to take in the sight that is himself, before dispersing her transformation, as well as the clone beside her, softly exhaling once again from the pressure of what she just did. Would he be mad at her for her just touching him like that? Maybe, but other than her being able to smell him, how in the world was she supposed to make a great 'image' of him anyway? Echolocation? She wasn't a bad, and that's just kind of stupid. At least, it's stupid in the sense that she can't make it a proper skill yet. Regardless, she crosses her arms and pushes her chest out slightly, a confident smile now paired with her somewhat tilted stance. "So, what do you think? I apologize for aburptly grabbing you like that, but you said to use my senses... one of them happens to be touch~" Aura explains with another laugh, waiting for Yagi's response.

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He was not able to read her outright as he watched her contemplate what he had told her.  He had already stood up and began to circle her, but he was quiet for the most part…he did not of course expect a lot considering she was, well blind, but he was at least expecting her to have some sort of trick up her sleeve as she would need one to overcome the shortcoming of being without eyesight.  When she repeated his words in her own tone he smirked as he looked at her.  He could feel she was planning something when she called him by his last name instead of his first, and even though he was smart…Yagi had not had much contact with women besides those that lived in the compound of the clan so the next part was a little unexpected.

Her giggle caught him by surprise and he stopped in front of her, a little less than a meter away as she performed the Clone jutsu perfectly rather than just the normal easy to use technique. the original clone technique which was the object of the performance test.  She was adept with chakra, but she decided to show out instead…something he would have to leave a mark on later, but for now he watched as she cloned herself with relative ease, albeit without much color as she did not have knowledge in that department, but it was still a convincing clone.  Before he could move forward and critique her she walked forward, not a sprint, not a jog, but walked forward to him and then with her hands she caressed and grabbed at his face and then ruffled his hair as Yagi just stared at her.  His eyes were wide after she ran her hands over his face, and her scent…it was not sweet, but it was…elegant in a way that he had…not experienced.  He remained still though and once she was done she performed the transformation jutsu.

As he looked her over in the transformation he noticed…many flaws, but then again…she did not have eyesight and well she did not know the measurements of his body.  So she did the best that she could.  Once she canceled the technique and dispelled the clones she smiled before talking once more, she asked for his opinion before giving her apology for grabbing his face and well…if she could see the blush on Yagi’s face, she might have laughed at him.  So he cleared his throat.  “I think you performed remarkably…the use of the clone was above what was needed, but if you can do that with that much accuracy…you can do most techniques with ease.  As for the transformation technique, I cannot say I was not taken back by what was done, but you were not wrong in judgment or execution.”  He said as he walked back to grab the paper and write a few more things on it before stamping his approval on the test sheet.  “Congrats Aura Yukimenoko and welcome to the Kumogakure shinobi forces.  I will file the paper and here is your headband.”  He said as he placed a hand  on her left shoulder before placing the headband in her right hand.  “You have earned your spot here, and I hope that I can rely on you in the future for your speed and knowledge.  Now, how about a drink?  I know of a place that this guy who fights ostriches in the valley, and a dragon slayer frequents.  What do you say?”  He said with a chuckle as he remembered his time drinking the night away with the other shinobi.


WC:600
TWC:1,223

[CLAIMS and EXIT]

ALL WC towards unlocking Seikatsugan Stage 1 (1,223/2,000)

For as much bluster as she put into all of this as she did, internally she was fighting the urge to curl up into the corner and sob. There was a pause after her performance, after all, and it ends up being the longest pause of her entire life. What was Yagi Raitenno thinking, really? Would he take her previous actions as some sort of insolence? Perhaps she didn't do well enough on her techniques, regardless of her intense attention to detail? Is everyone she cares about going to be mad at her if she fails, as punishment for all her pestering in trying to be a kunoichi? All these thoughts and more swirled through her anxiety riddled mind, yet she kept herself still and calm, smiling as if nothing was happening at all. It's really easy to do that, when your body is constantly so cold; sweat is almost never a problem for her. So what would make her attempt at keeping a positive attitude actually make sense, given her situation? The fact that she passed.

According to her generous proctor, she put on an excellent show. Her accuracy, even with a lack of color, seemed to leave a considerable mark on his impression of her, meaning that, perhaps, there might actually be a use to her clones. It's an interesting twist to the whole story for her, but that isn't the end of this chapter just yet. Meanwhile, her execution of the Transformation Jutsu ended up being what she assumes is inventive in his eyes, disregarding the rudeness. Now, instead of fear and apprehension, the waterworks that follow her acceptance into the military ranks as a Genin come not from a place of sadness, but pure, unbridled joy and relief. When her shoulder is touched, and she is handed her forehead protector, her arms whip around Yagi's neck to pull him into a very tight, much needed hug, her face buried into his chest for a moment or two, drenching his shirt in a waterfall of tears.

"O-oh my GODS... thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me, Yagi! I can finally be myself, for real, one hundred percent of the time, no holding back! I'm so glad you believe in me... I'm going to make not just Kumogakure proud, but the entire world, you can count on that." Her bliss now fully wrenched out and in the open, she pulls away from the poor examiner and greedily runs her fingers along the precious little headband she now possesses, trying to process the sheer magnitude of her accomplishments here. For the first time, she feels like she's made a huge step in her life, all on her own hard work. One step closer to being a top notch medical professional, but now? If she kept rising in the ranks, she'd eventually be able to convince the village to let her travel. There was a certain location she wanted to visit, its importance quite significant in the sense it'll reveal more of her past to her aching longing for a mother's touch. That's a tale for another time, though. Tonight, she'd celebrate with Yagi, and possibly Ichi and Noboru if they were at the bar, too. They loved going there.

"I accept your invite... thank you, Yagi Raitenno. Maybe one day, I'll repay you for what you've done for me today..."

[EXIT]

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