Chapter 33: Graduation Exam, New Acknowledgment
Notes:
Clan's territories or grounds = districts (to avoid confusion with other ninja territory terms)
Ninja headband = forehead protector with village symbol
The next morning, Uchiha Tonan—who had spent most of the night tossing and turning like a freshly summoned shadow clone—woke up surprisingly early. After washing up, he slipped into fresh clothes, grabbed his ninja bag, and set off for the Academy.
Today wasn't just any day: it was the final exam and graduation day. Outside the Ninja Academy, a crowd of parents buzzed like a swarm of annoyed wasps. When Tonan showed up, whispers broke out like wildfires.
"He's the Uchiha prodigy, Uchiha Tonan. My kid says he and the other genius, Hatake Kakashi, are both going for early graduation."
"Wait, early graduation? That means they might be only second years, right?"
"Second years? Pfft. They're first-year genin, barely old enough to tie their sandals."
"How come other families' kids seem like they're training to be Hokage already?"
"I heard Tonan got his Sharingan after his parents died. Sad story, but man, I might consider a swim in the river myself if it meant my kid awakened the Sharingan."
"Better to live a normal, happy life than turn into a brooding Uchiha."
"This kid looks more refined and cultured than powerful."
"Did you hear? A few days ago, he was carrying a little girl's corpse through the streets."
"That was him?! I thought that girl was his girlfriend."
"Kids these days… falling in love before even mastering the kunai? Back in my day, you had to be at least third grade before that nonsense."
"Relax, isn't your kid a girl anyway?"
At that moment, Tonan's path was blocked by two chatting parents, so he politely said, "Excuse me, can you please let me through?"
"Oh, little guy, go ahead, go ahead."
"Do your best!"
"Thank you, uncles."
Once inside, one parent absentmindedly stroked his chin and murmured, "Honestly, if my daughter could get this kid to fall for her, I wouldn't mind."
Tonan strode to the exam center and pushed open the door. About fifty to sixty students were seated, but many hadn't arrived yet—including the early bird, Kakashi. Tonan smiled and nodded at his classmates, then took his assigned seat.
Half an hour later, the rest of the students filtered in.
"Is that white-haired kid and the glasses-wearing one the first-years applying for early graduation?"
"Yeah. Don't underestimate them. I sit by the window during combat training, and those two pack a punch even compared to the upper years."
"Quiet!" the exam proctor barked. "Test papers will be distributed now. No talking, no cheating, or your paper gets a big fat zero."
The papers arrived. Tonan glanced at his test—and smirked. It was so simple even Naruto could ace it. The entire exam was multiple-choice, apparently only useful for the chunin exams later on.
Tonan shook his head, grabbed his pen, and blasted through the questions.
Question: How is chakra produced?
A) From thin air.
B) From digested food.
C) By combining physical and spiritual energy.
Of course, the right answer was C. Either that or it was the longest option, which tends to win in multiple-choice battles.
Question: What can a clone made by Clone Technique do?
A) Help with homework.
B) Tickle you.
C) Walk.
…
There were twenty absurd questions like this. Twelve answers were "C"—meaning if you marked all "C," you'd probably still pass, even if you thought chakra was made from ramen broth.
Most students finished quickly and sat quietly.
After about half an hour, the proctor started collecting papers. At this time, Umino Naoto, who had just finished supervising the first-year exams, popped in to help with this one.
He gave Kakashi and Tonan a nod of encouragement. Tonan smiled and nodded back.
The proctor then announced, "Next up: the ninjutsu practical test. This year's topic is… Substitution Technique."
The room erupted like a wild hyena pack.
"What?!"
"The Substitution Technique has the most hand signs! My brain is already fried!"
"I can barely remember nine out of ten hand signs!"
"Last year was Transformation Technique, the simplest jutsu. This is torture."
"Nosuke-sensei swore yesterday it would be Clone Technique. What a liar."
Blue veins bulged on the proctor's forehead. He slammed the podium and growled, "Shut up! If you can't keep quiet, get out."
Silence returned.
He added, "Two students applied for early graduation this year. Their exams are different and will go first."
He nodded toward Naoto, who then called loudly, "Hatake Kakashi!"
All eyes locked on Kakashi, who sauntered lazily to the front like he was heading to buy ramen.
Naoto coughed awkwardly and said, "Kakashi, quit slacking. Show us all three basic ninjutsu."
Kakashi raised his hands, which blurred out like a lightning-speed shadow clone, making his hand signs invisible to the others.
Before white smoke even puffed up, a second Kakashi appeared beside him.
Then the original Kakashi turned and watched as his clone casually walked to the door.
"What about the Substitution Technique?" Naoto asked, but before he could finish, a loud BANG echoed. The Kakashi standing still suddenly turned into a wooden log substitute.
"May I leave now?" the real Kakashi said, already twisting the doorknob.
The proctor clapped. "Excellent. Not only do you have the three basics down, you can combine them smoothly. Come back in three days to get your ninja headband and meet your lead sensei."
Kakashi shrugged, pushed the door open, and left.
"Unbelievable."
"A freshman?"
"I thought Kakashi was the weak one compared to the Uchiha genius."
"I heard Tonan already awakened his Sharingan."
"They aren't letting anyone else live."
Naoto then called, "Next, Uchiha Tonan."
Tonan bowed to both teachers, made the 'Ram' hand sign, and puffed into white smoke, transforming into Naoto himself before releasing the Clone Technique.
"Ram—Snake—Tiger!"
Two identical Tonans appeared.
"Eh? He doesn't look nearly as impressive as that white-haired guy."
"Huh, I thought Tonan was supposed to be stronger."
"Well, he's no Kakashi, but still better than me."
"Tiger—Boar—Ox—Dog—Snake."
Tonan slowly finished his hand signs in a smooth rhythm. Then he turned into a white smoke ball, dropped a wooden substitute, and reappeared to the side.
"Sensei, is this okay?" Tonan asked humbly.
After Kakashi's flashy display, Tonan's felt a bit low-key.
The proctor nodded, casually gave a good score, and said, "Not bad, but you need more practice. You've passed. Return in three days."
Tonan bowed deeply. "Thank you, proctor-sensei. Thank you, Naoto-sensei."
Naoto smiled kindly. He knew Tonan's understanding of the three basics matched Kakashi's, and he liked his modest attitude.
"This is the fruit of your hard work. Go rest now."
Tonan nodded and left.
The proctor whispered to Naoto, "You have great students. Graduating in just a year is enviable."
Naoto scratched his head, blushing, "I'm just lucky, plain dumb luck."
Ding!
Gained Umino Naoto's acknowledgment.
Tonan had barely stepped outside the hall when the system prompt popped up. He paused, narrowed his eyes, and smirked as he looked back at Naoto.
Naoto, still scratching his head, suddenly got chills up his spine.
"What's wrong?"
He looked back to the exam room and caught Tonan's smiling gaze. For some reason, that smile looked… terrifying.
Swallowing hard, Naoto stammered, "Tonan, did you need something?"
Tonan's grin widened, melting the chill away.
"Naoto-sensei, I'm a genin now. You better work hard—otherwise, I'll catch up to you soon," he said cheerfully and walked off.
Naoto chuckled awkwardly and forgot the creepy vibe instantly.
"This kid's even encouraging his sensei now."
The proctor sighed and said, "With talent like his, he'll be chunin before you know it."
"Next, Akimichi Honoka."
Naoto was stunned. After a moment, he nodded.
"Thinking about my students surpassing me makes me happy… but if they pass me too fast, how will they respect me? Looks like I better become jonin before Tonan and Kakashi hit chunin."
And then Naoto thought… didn't Tonan already kill a chunin?