For the next two days, Kaiji's class concentrated on improving their Genjutsu skills.
During this period, Kaiji began dedicating even more time to meditation practice in hope of honing his skills in Genjutsu.
While the E-rank Genjutsu specifically related to the desert area were only two, the Academy also taught other basic E-rank Genjutsu.
These included, Genjutsu: False Attenuation Technique; Genjutsu: Fleeting Image and Genjutsu: Distorted Reflection.
All these are basic level Genjutsu specially designed to target an enemy's senses.
They aimed to help create brief openings for the user in actual battles.
While all E and D-rank Genjutsu could be countered by the standard Genjutsu Release Genjutsu Kai, they remained useful in real battles.
Even a single momentary distraction could change the scenario of a fight.
There were a few D-rank Genjutsu that Kaiji personally found interesting and might like to use in the future.
These included, Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique; Genjutsu: Phantom Pain and Genjutsu: Dancing Dust Motes.
They were considered strong Genjutsu for their rank. To counter them, a simple Genjutsu Kai alone was often not enough.
Strong self-control and a good understanding of one's own chakra were also needed to quickly escape the illusion.
Even though Genjutsu is useless against stronger opponents, but against opponents equal, they are highly useful.
The Academy schedule continued with spars between the trainees.
Following the spars days, they practiced Kunai Techniques.
Although a Kunai was just a fundamental ninja tool, it could be used in various ways.
Kunai could be used for basic throwing as a projectile for offense, defense, or distraction.
There was also Melee combat training using a Kunai for close-quarters combat, serving as a stabbing or slashing weapon.
Kunai were also used in conjunction with explosive tags, even though, in Kaiji's knowledge from the anime, only Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki, was noted as a case of death caused by explosive tags.
Kaiji briefly made a peace sign and muttered inwardly for Kawaki's unfortunate death. 'What a poor soul he was,' he thought.
Kunai could also be used in conjunction with certain jutsu, like the "Hiraishin no Jutsu" (Flying Thunder God Technique), and could act as conduits for chakra or other techniques.
While Kunai were most often used for diversion and strategy, they could certainly prove handy in dire situations.
Kaiji diligently followed the Academy's training regimen, supplementing it with his own personal training routine.
He even saw some small improvement in his Genjutsu aptitude during this time.
Then, time passed quickly. And after wait of 2 months the day of the graduation exam finally arrived.
3 weeks ago, Kaiji with Ren and Hiroshi and all other members of orphanage who were with them from their batch turns 12.
Since not all orphans has a birth date, so the day they were adopted in orphanage became their birthday.
On the day the exam commenced, other students in the villages ninja academy were given vacations, as this important exam would take place over two days.
On the first day, the trainees were required to demonstrate their skills in Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Shuriken Throwing, and Kunai usage. They also participated in one-on-one spars.
On the second day, all the graduating trainees would participate in a competition held in the desert area around the village.
Scores would be added from all these tests conducted over the two days.
And written exams has nothing to do with Genin Graduation exam in Sunagakure. So, they are not included.
Just as Kazeo Sensei had mentioned, the Third Kazekage was present.
He sat at the center of a raised platform. The principal and vice principal sat to his left and right.
Other staff members stood besides them.
The instructors who were overseeing the exam stood in front of the assembled trainees.
All the graduating trainees stood in the training field, awaiting instructions.
The first test was Shuriken throwing, an area where Kaiji felt confident he would score well now.
He looked around at the other students and the staff members present.
He also looked keenly at Satei, the Third Kazekage, who was renowned as the strongest Kazekage in Sunagakure's history.
Satei had relatively short, spiky brown hair. He wore a high-collared, dark-colored outfit.
Although it was a standard attire for a Kage in the current era, it had a distinctive design.
He wore a stern expression, his gaze sweeping over all the trainees on the ground.
Kaiji didn't look at him for long, offering a brief, inward prayer for the 'soon to be dead Strongest Kazekage.'
While Kaiji didn't particularly care about Satei personally, the Kazekage's presence made many students nervous.
Even Taichi, usually arrogant, looked quite nervous.
Satei was accompanied by his two Dune Aegis.
'Dune Aegis' was the Sunagakure equivalent term of Konoha's Guard Platoon.
One was a middle-aged man with blue hair and eyes, and was a little short.
The other was Satei's student, Yuta.
Even though Yuta had not been able to learn Magnet Release from Satei like Rasa, he was still an Elite Jonin of the village.
He was proficient in Earth and Wind Nature Chakra and could use Sand Manipulation techniques very well.
After everyone took their positions in front of the throwing boards, Shuriken in their hands, the Graduation exam officially began.