A One-Person Ninja Academy Graduation Exam

"Substitution Technique!"

His body instantly swapped with a wooden plank, while his true self circled behind the chair, kunai in hand.

He treated the chair as Mimura Hamaki, imagining the moment a shuriken flew toward him to trigger the Substitution Technique, aiming to disrupt the opponent and seize the chance for a counterattack.

"Completing a series of Destiny Tasks has only slightly improved my speed, perception, stamina, and chakra, but it has certainly placed me in a state of daily progress."

"My abundant stamina allows me to pay closer attention to Mimura Hamaki's every move, and my enhanced perception and speed let me realize his shuriken was fake. The moment he threw it, my instincts urged me to use the Substitution Technique, but fortunately, I held back."

"We are currently in the brutal Third Shinobi World War; I must never stand out. I will lay low whenever possible—it is no shame to appear less skilled than others."

"I only seek to preserve my life in these chaotic times!"

He glanced at the clock—ten at night—washed up, lay on the bed, and rested.

A solo graduation exam for the Ninja Academy? Interesting.

Early morning.

He habitually pulled up the Heaven Rewards Diligence destiny panel to take a look.

Byakuya couldn't help but freeze.

Heaven Rewards Diligence, the persistent shall succeed.

Time limit: 2 days: Practice Substitution Technique (15/20)

Reward: Slight increase in chakra control.

Destiny Choice I: Successfully pass the Hidden Leaf Village Ninja Academy graduation exam.

Reward: Kekkei Genkai - Storm Release.

Lightning Release ninjutsu offered great destructive power but was difficult to control.

Water Release ninjutsu was flexible with diverse tactics, but its power was somewhat lacking.

Storm Release, however, was a Kekkei Genkai that combined the advantages of both: easy to control, high damage, strong penetration, and an added paralysis effect...

Looking at all the Kekkei Genkai in the shinobi world, Byakuya considered Storm Release to be in the third tier of strength.

Recalling Darui's use of Storm Release in the original work, there were too few scenes. It was powerful, like a guided laser, but it seemed as though the development of the ability was insufficient, limited to only those few moves.

But what did "Destiny Choice I" mean? Could there be a "Destiny Choice II"?

"If I don't pass the graduation exam, will the mission refresh at midnight and trigger Destiny Choice II? But my innate chakra affinities are exactly Lightning and Water; Storm Release is like it was tailor-made for me, so I choose Destiny Choice I!"

Byakuya arrived at the Ninja Academy on time and sat in his seat in the classroom.

When the bell rang, Mimura Hamaki stood outside the door and called him out.

"Follow me to the examination room."

"Yes."

Mimura Hamaki offered a rare smile: "No need to be nervous. The Hidden Leaf is in need of manpower right now; I won't make things overly difficult for you."

"Thank you, Sensei."

Having a student like this is truly troublesome, Mimura Hamaki thought to himself.

Noticing that Byakuya was introverted and unwilling to speak, he stopped probing.

Returning home yesterday, he had recalled how all the students used the Substitution Technique. The others were fine, but when he had thrown the shuriken at Byakuya, the boy's body seemed about to move, only to stop abruptly, letting the shuriken strike.

He shook his head inwardly.

Byakuya's grades over the years had been only slightly better than the dead last; he couldn't be faking it even if he wanted to. He was overthinking things.

"We'll skip the written test. As for your graduation exam, the requirement is—perform the Substitution Technique se... five times."

Mimura Hamaki led Byakuya to an empty room. He had intended to say "seven times," but considering Byakuya's poor ability, he changed it to five on the spot.

A real Ninja Academy graduation exam could never be this simple.

But yesterday's class had proven that Byakuya was truly a failure who couldn't apply the Substitution Technique in actual combat, so he could only perform it mechanically—perhaps "performing" was a more fitting term.

The task issued by the destiny panel was exactly five times short, and Byakuya's expression couldn't help but shift slightly.

"Oh? Is the exam putting too much pressure on you?" Mimura Hamaki sighed as he looked at him. "Then four times—no, three times. Three should be doable."

Byakuya spoke as if encouraging himself: "Five times is fine, I can do it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then five times. Begin."

"Sorry for the trouble."

Byakuya performed the Substitution Technique by the book, though to Mimura Hamaki, he was using far too much chakra—it was completely unnecessary. With his pathetic chakra reserves, performing the technique four times would be his limit.

Sigh, four times it is. I'll just count it as him completing five.

Sure enough, after the fourth Substitution Technique, Byakuya was drenched in sweat.

"Congratulations, Senkaku Byakuya, you..."

Before Mimura Hamaki could finish, he saw the boy grit his teeth and force himself to perform the Substitution Technique for the fifth time, immediately collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.

"Congratulations, Senkaku Byakuya, you have successfully graduated from the Ninja Academy. I have brought your graduation certificate and Hidden Leaf headband; take them. Due to the manpower shortage caused by the war, you are not required to undergo the survival test set by the jonin. From here on out, a brand-new life as a Hidden Leaf ninja awaits you! Others will be responsible for notifying you of your new assignment."

Mimura Hamaki took the graduation certificate and headband he had prepared long ago from his robes, set them down, and left without looking back.

He was far too busy to waste time on a subpar student.

However, Mimura Hamaki did not see the "tail-ender" he looked down upon suddenly reveal a subtle, relieved smile.

He had intentionally increased his chakra consumption during those five Substitution Techniques, solely to barely meet Mimura Hamaki's requirements.

As the saying goes, staying low-profile is the way to go.

In a world where one could lose their life at any moment, the worse you appear, the less people pay attention to you, and the higher your chances of survival become.

Heaven Rewards Diligence, the persistent shall succeed.
Time limit 2 days: Practice Substitution Technique (20/20)
Reward: Minor increase in chakra control

Fate Choice I: Successfully pass the Hidden Leaf Village Ninja Academy graduation exam (Completed)
Reward: Kekkei Genkai · Storm Release

The Kekkei Genkai Storm Release integrated naturally into his body, subtly altering his genes, cells, and constitution...

That innate experience was incredibly intoxicating; he gained an indescribable sense for both the nature transformation and shape transformation of lightning and water attribute chakra.

He picked up the graduation certificate and the headband.

"Byakuya."

A shadow suddenly loomed over him.

Byakuya looked up and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Principal. Good day, Principal."

"Hehe, no need for formalities," Vice Principal Hiroya said with a beaming smile, patting him on the shoulder. "Congratulations on graduating from the Ninja Academy. From this day forward, you are a Hidden Leaf genin capable of standing on your own."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I... I know my own capabilities."

"I had some friendship with your parents. They were both heroes of the Hidden Leaf, and you are the son of heroes."

"Thank you, Principal."

"We are currently in troubled times. I wonder if you have any interest in staying at the Ninja Academy to do some work within your capabilities? If you do not agree, I fear the village will send you to the battlefield. With your skills... sigh, I truly cannot bear to see the child of an old friend die in battle."

For Byakuya, this was an unexpected windfall.

The Third Shinobi World War was a meat grinder for Hidden Leaf ninjas. Aside from Namikaze Minato, who had mastered the Flying Thunder God, no one could guarantee they would survive on the battlefield.

By staying in the rear and relying on the Heaven Rewards Diligence destiny to keep a low profile, his strength would continue to grow steadily.

"I am willing."

"Good. The Ninja Academy's warehouse manager is about to retire; you shall take his place."

"Thank you for your kindness, Principal."

"I will give you three days off. Come to the school to start work in three days, and while you're at it, fill out the genin form; I will submit it to the Hokage Building for you."

The Ninja Academy warehouse stored many ninja tools, and Byakuya could finally practice his Heaven Rewards Diligence in peace.