Passing the Graduation Exam

Konoha's Ninja Academy gave the impression of being spacious, with beautiful, comfortable surroundings. It was truly a fine place to cultivate within the six gates of officialdom.

Yet the school, once so lively, seemed a little lonely now.

The survival exercise a year ago had claimed more than two-thirds of the students in Shunren's class. Today was the day of the early graduation exam.

Fewer students had gathered in the hall than in previous years, but a closer look revealed that quite a few of them could pass this year's early graduation exam.

That was only natural. The students who couldn't pass had already been eliminated in the baptism of blood Danzo had orchestrated a year ago.

Thus, the vast majority of the remaining students were already strong enough to graduate early.

"Kurenai, how did the exam go?"

Outside the exam room, Shizune waited for Kurenai. Though she phrased it as a question, the smile on her face showed that she was quite confident in Kurenai's results. It also showed that Shizune had already passed her own exam.

Kurenai waved her brand-new Forehead Protector and said with a smile, "Of course I passed!"

Having shared hardships together, the two had become good friends despite being in different classes. Shunren was also one of their friends, of course.

"Ah, I wonder how Shunren did on his exam." Unlike her confidence in Kurenai, a trace of worry appeared on Shizune's brow when she spoke of Shunren.

Kurenai's brows also knitted tightly, and she said gravely, "Shunren is undoubtedly as strong as a Genin, or even stronger than an ordinary one, but when it comes to the exam, things really don't look good."

"Right. The Three Basic Techniques are a mandatory part of the graduation exam, and Shunren really can't use Ninjutsu at all."

"The exam rules are so rigid! The whole point is to train outstanding ninja, so how can they turn a genius away at the door?" Kurenai gritted her teeth. "Hmph, if he still can't pass, I'll ask Father and see if there's a way to get Shunren through."

"Huh? Is that what Shunren always means by going through the back door?" Shizune said with a wry smile.

"Next, Shunren."

"Yes. Teacher, actually, I can't..."

Inside the exam room, it was finally Shunren's turn. He didn't know the first thing about Ninjutsu, so he told the truth.

"Oh, right, Shunren, the school already knows about your situation." The Konoha Ninja proctoring the exam looked at him with some surprise, then continued, "The test is the Clone Technique. As long as you can create two or more clones, it doesn't matter whether you use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu."

Shunren couldn't help narrowing his eyes when he heard that.

He wasn't concerned about this exam at all. It wouldn't matter if he failed—or rather, in a sense, failing would be more advantageous for him. No matter how deranged Konoha became, it wouldn't send students who hadn't graduated to the battlefield. Shunren thought it would be perfect if he could use this opportunity to avoid the war.

But the facts showed that Shunren's idea wouldn't work.

Shunren thought there was something seriously wrong here. First, the school couldn't have made an exception just for one student. Second, the proctor had mentioned that he could use Genjutsu, which meant he knew Shunren was skilled in it. Without a doubt, someone higher up had given the school instructions in advance.

So I've been marked after all?

Shunren murmured to himself.

Killing four Root Anbu with a single strike was enough to draw Danzo's attention. Meanwhile, there had been no movement at all from the Third's side, presumably because Danzo had deliberately concealed the information about him.

Now that he had been marked, the other party couldn't possibly let something like Shunren failing the exam happen.

Then should I avoid it?

For example, by deliberately holding back,

and failing the exam. Yet it took Shunren only a second to reject that naive idea.

Even if he avoided it, Danzo would surely use other methods to force him. Rather than confront Danzo here, he might as well pretend not to know and lie low.

With that thought, Shunren put on a look of pleasant surprise and stepped onto the exam platform.

He deftly formed hand seals.

Dragon: thumbs overlapped, left thumb on top.

Rooster: six fingers pressed together, ring and middle fingers bent.

Ram: thumbs extended upward and overlapped, left thumb on top.

"Genjutsu: Mirage Technique!"

The proctor saw a blur before his eyes, and Shunren's figure split into three.

Two of the figures were identical to Shunren, while the other was a young man with red hair and brown eyes.

"Nicely done!" The proctor's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. "Not a flaw in sight. It has exactly the same effect as the Clone Technique. And this one—you've even reproduced the effect of the Transformation Technique."

He didn't find the somewhat unusual-looking young man strange, taking it simply as Shunren using Genjutsu to reproduce the effects of both the Clone Technique and the Transformation Technique.

"Let me guess which one is the real you." The proctor keenly noticed that one of the two Shunren figures was slightly dimmer. He thought, Just an inexperienced kid after all. Still, being able to use Genjutsu this well at such a young age is already impressive. He immediately smiled and said, "This one's real, isn't it?"

"Release!"

To his surprise, both figures that looked like Shunren faded into illusion and vanished, while the young man before him shrank, his hair and eyes returning to their original colors.

The proctor's mouth fell wide open. "You even reproduced the effect of the Substitution Technique. You're quite something, kid!"

"You flatter me, teacher. Since I have no talent for Ninjutsu, I could only focus on training in Genjutsu." That said, what Shunren had truly focused on was Yin Release; Genjutsu was merely incidental. The increase in spiritual energy that came with mastering the power of Yin Release had also greatly improved his Genjutsu.

The proctor nodded, then said approvingly, "That's quite good too. Genjutsu-type ninja are scarce, after all. Maybe you'll even become an excellent Genjutsu instructor someday. Congratulations, Shunren, you've passed the graduation exam. Here, this is your Genin certificate and ninja Forehead Protector."

"Yes, teacher." Shunren accepted the certificate and Forehead Protector. Then, the moment he lowered his head, he saw in the protector's reflection a figure dressed in Anbu attire staring intently at him from a short distance behind him.

His eyes shifted, and he turned around without betraying anything.

But when he glanced at that spot out of the corner of his eye, the person was nowhere to be seen.

Shunren couldn't help sighing inwardly. He had stayed out of troublesome territory as much as possible, so why did trouble insist on coming to find him?