Exam Day! Kouji's Ascension (Mission)

Mission:

Theme Music:

Kouji's palms were sweating. He was beyond nervous. Today was exam day, the day he became a Genin and, honestly, a ninja in actuality. He knew he was prepared for this. He had practiced his transformation and clone techniques relentlessly. He had drilled them over and over in anticipation the night before. Not that he hadn't plenty of other times to practice. The memory of his mission with Izu went through his head and gave him a shudder. But he then shook his head resolutely. While that lesson had been important he knew that if he let fear hold him back he would never accomplish his dream. The only direction to move was forward, even if that meant danger and higher-ranking missions. That was just life as a shinobi.

He frowned at his classmates, lined up beside him and waiting their turn at the exam. Many were obviously nervous, like he was, but didn't hide it very well. They were practicing their techniques over and over some transforming at random intervals and others creating clones of themselves, to varying degrees of success.  One girl could barely change her hair colour, let alone accomplish a fully functioning transformation. A boy kept spawning dead clones and Kouji couldn't help but wince. He'd had that problem as well, but if you couldn't manage it here under no pressure you certainly couldn't handle it under a stressful situation. He felt bad for the kid but honestly hoped he would be failed. Being a ninja was too high stakes for even a single mistake, even for a Genin.

"You're not ready for Genin, boy. Not even close. You're barely ready to even be out of the academy. You're just a milksop. Remember that."

The granny's words flashed through his mind. But, unlike Izu, she hadn't been helpful whatsoever. While her words held merit, especially back then, he couldn't stop this. Staying an Academy Student just wasn't an option. Not for any of them. Not if they wanted Kirigakure to thrive. It would be a trial by fire for each student here. Some of their lives would be lost in the flame, but that was the price of peace and upholding a village like this one. If he could accomplish his dream, fewer lives would be lost. He wanted to teach the next generation the hard lessons of being a ninja, early. So that they were prepared when their lives were on the line. He wanted them to know the lessons his father and Izu had drilled into him. He knew not all of the children here had the same opportunity to be taught as he did. And they would die because of it. That was a cost that was too high for him. He would always do his utmost to prevent it.

It was as he thought this, his nerves gradually left him and a calm took hold. He watched as student after student was called and pulled into a separate room. A few left joyously, the excitement on their faces a clear sign of the outcome, others dejected or even crying. Which was just as obvious as to what fate their exam had held for them. A few students still waiting their turn looked aghast as the latter group came out. Their efforts to keep up their last-minute technique practice doubled. But their urgency did them no favours. Transformation after transformation failed, clone after clone died, each expenditure a waste of chakra. He hoped they didn't use up all of theirs before the exam. But as their techniques began to fail at an even greater pace, their desperation became apparent and he knew his hopes were for naught. One student ran out of chakra after finishing a technique and began wailing as his efforts to start another one came to no avail. Another student simply fainted on the spot, mid-jutsu.

This called attention to them and as the proctor popped his head out to call the next student he looked at them and shook his head ruefully. He then headed back into the room and after a moment or two another ninja came out and escorted the failed students off the premises. Kouji couldn't imagine that, flunking the exam without even taking it, and he felt incredible remorse at their loss. But he wouldn't let the shenanigans of others deter him.

And it was finally his turn.

"Kouji Masaki?" The name rang out throughout the room and jolted him from his reverie.

"Here!" He called and quickly stood up and walked towards his proctor. He wiped his hands on his pants and hoped he got all the sweat off from earlier. Could they tell what he was thinking? That he was just as nervous as the rest of them?

He followed his proctor into the room and stood at the front, in front of a desk where another ninja sat and waited lazily.

"Well, at least we got a calm one this time. Hopefully he gives a better show than the majority of his peers." The man stated, clearly having no concern for Kouji's feelings.

Kouji looked straight forward and ensured the comment made no impact on him. He was determined now. Now was not the time to doubt himself.

"Please begin with a transformation technique. Hold it for at least ten seconds and then release."

Kouji nodded at the proctor and set his hands into the position for Dog. He let his chakra run through him and initiated the technique, transforming to look like the proctor himself. He counted to ten slowly in his head and held on for an extra few seconds to be sure before releasing the technique.

The examiner however gave no sign of pleasure at his success, simply nodding before continuing on. "Please initiate the clone technique and create a single copy of yourself."

Kouji swiftly adjusted his hands into the position of the Ram and executed the technique. A perfect copy of himself sprung up beside him and he let out a small breath of relief. His earlier trouble with the technique still fresh in his mind. Alongside the failure of his classmates.

"Good now, please create a second clone, and then as an added challenge transform one of them." As the man finished his sentence he leaned forward, his first sign of interest at the proceedings, however slight it was.

Kouji nodded, held his hands steady, and created another duplicate of himself. He then changed his hands to the Dog position and transformed the new clone into a copy of the proctor again. He held the technique for a few moments more before releasing it.

The man gave him a bland smile, "Well, we at least have one student who knows what he's doing. Not that that's much cause for celebration. Congratulations you've passed the exam."

Kouji let out a deep sigh of relief. He hadn't realized he had been holding his breath for the proceedings, but as the air came gratefully back into his lungs he finally noticed their slight burning sensation. He didn't want to give the instructor any excuse to rescind his findings and so he bowed to the proctor, a clear sign of his thanks, and left the room.

He thought he might be the first calm one to exit the room, as he gave no apparent sign to the last few students remaining as to his own exams fate. But as he exited the building and got outside he couldn't keep it in anymore and gave a loud whoop.

"I DID IT!"

He was officially a Genin, a ninja in more than just name. His journey had truly begun.

WC: 1,280
TWC: 1,280

Exit:

1,200 WC - 12 vigor stat points

705 WC - Summoning Wandering Oasis (The rest had been previously learned here)
500 WC - Storage Displacement
75/250 WC  - Genjutsu Messenger E-rank

Mission Completion:

+ 1,000 Ryo
+ 5 AP
1x Kirigakure ninja headband

Rank Up:

+100 AP
+ 20 vigor stat points
+ Tree Climbing/Surface Walking
+ Substituion Technique

Kouji Masaki wrote:

WC: 1,280
TWC: 1,280

Exit:

1,200 WC - 12 vigor stat points

705 WC - Summoning Wandering Oasis (The rest had been previously learned here)
500 WC - Storage Displacement
75/250 WC  - Genjutsu Messenger E-rank

Mission Completion:

+ 1,000 Ryo
+ 5 AP
1x Kirigakure ninja headband

Rank Up:

+100 AP
+ 20 vigor stat points
+ Tree Climbing/Surface Walking
+ Substituion Technique

Approved, and congrats on becoming a Genin.