ATTENTION!!
"All students — fall in!"
The instructor's voice thundered across the training field, slicing through the morning chatter. Within seconds, the crowd of academy students snapped to order.
"You will be separated into squads," he continued, pacing with arms behind his back. "Each team has been meticulously arranged by the higher-ups. Don't bother hoping to stay with your friends — that's not how this works."
A few groans rippled through the ranks. The instructor's glare silenced them instantly.
"Every squad is built around balance. You'll be paired with people who cover your weaknesses — and expose them. Whether you like each other or not, I advise you to adapt fast. If you can't, then failure is already waiting for you."
His words hung heavy in the air, carried by the morning wind.
"For this exam, the general class and elite students will be working together. Status doesn't matter here. Rank doesn't matter. The only thing that matters—"
He paused, scanning the rows of nervous faces.
"—is teamwork."
He let the word linger before continuing.
"Leaders have already been chosen. You can either follow them… or do your own thing and take the consequences. I don't care which. But when this exam ends, results will speak louder than excuses."
He unrolled a scroll with a sharp flick of his wrist. "Now—team assignments."
⸻
Raizen stood among the sea of students, the sunlight glinting and restless eyes. His pulse quickened despite himself.
Alright… who's it gonna be?
He hoped—no, prayed—he'd end up with someone steady. Maybe Mizue, or Daichi, or even Aika. But with how many students filled the field, the odds weren't on his side.
His gaze drifted across the formation and froze.
Reina.
She was standing near the front, arms crossed, her expression sharp as ever. The corner of her mouth curled the moment she noticed him watching.
Raizen exhaled slowly through his nose, eyes narrowing across the formation.
"Man," he muttered, barely moving his lips. "Of all people… please don't let it be her. I'd rather spar a bear."
The instructor's voice boomed across the training field, sharp enough to silence the murmurs.
"Squad One!"
The crowd tensed. Raizen straightened automatically, pulse quickening.
"Squad One will consist of…" the instructor continued, eyes sweeping the list.
"Aika — support role.
Karui — frontline bruiser.
Raizen Tsukihana — tactical support.
And your team leader…"
He paused, letting the anticipation thicken.
"…Reina."
The air seemed to drop out of Raizen's lungs. For a heartbeat, he thought he'd misheard. Then the words replayed, mocking him.
No way. No way the Sage himself could be this cruel.
He clenched his fists, knuckles whitening. His jaw tightened as heat crawled up his neck.
"Why her?" he hissed under his breath. "Out of everyone here—why her?"
Frustration surged through him like static, quick and sharp. Reina — the one person who knew exactly how to get under his skin — and Karui, whose temper burned even faster than his own.
Perfect. Just perfect.
He could already imagine Reina's smug grin, her clipped tone as she ordered him around. With her officially named leader, she'd have every excuse to needle him in front of everyone.
Raizen let out a low, resigned groan.
"The gods must really hate me today."
Reina turned her head just enough to catch his eye. A smirk curved her lips—slow, confident, and deliberately cruel.
It wasn't mocking. It was a promise.
A promise that the next few days were going to feel very, very long for him.
Raizen's shoulders slumped. "Fantastic," he muttered. "I can already hear her voice giving orders."
The instructor, oblivious to Raizen's silent suffering, rolled the scroll further open.
"Squad Two!" he called.
The crowd rustled again.
"Tetsuo Ironblood — team leader.
Daichi — frontline.
Mizue — reconnaissance.
Riku Funato — mid-range support."
A few cheers went up from the general class section. Daichi grinned proudly; Tetsuo gave a curt nod of acknowledgment.
"Squad Three!"
The instructor's gaze swept to the elite row.
"Samui — leader.
Omoi — tactical analysis.
Kaien Mabui — close-range lightning specialist.
Atsuro Kamizuru — trap and recon support."
A low whistle sounded from somewhere in the back. "Man, that team's stacked," someone muttered.
Raizen barely heard it. His eyes were still locked on Reina, who was now crossing her arms, posture proud, smirk widening just enough to say 'I told you so.'
Karui leaned toward Raizen and snorted. "Guess you and I are teammates, huh? Try not to slow me down."
Raizen pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm surrounded," he said flatly.
Aika smiled nervously between them. "Hey… it might not be so bad. If we just work together—"
"Work together?" Raizen sighed. "With her? I'll need divine intervention."
Reina tilted her head, her tone cool and cutting. "I heard that, Tsukihana."
Raizen looked away, muttering, "Good. I wasn't hiding it."
The instructor's voice echoed one last time.
"All squads, report to your instructors for mission briefings. You'll be given your exam parameters and assigned a sector by sundown."
The crowd erupted into chatter — some students excited, others anxious. But Raizen barely heard any of it.
All he could see was Reina's smirk.
And all he could think was one thing:
This exam's already shaping up to be hell.
The sun had begun to sink behind the mountains, washing the training grounds in gold and shadow. A few hours had passed since Principal Kanzo and the supervising jonin—Takuma among them—had dismissed the teams to their own devices.
Some groups had started to break the ice, laughing and swapping stories. Others huddled in circles, already drafting strategies and battle plans.
Raizen's team, however, was split.
Karui and Reina sat together, their voices low but sharp, clearly deep in conversation. Across the field, Raizen leaned against a tree beside Aika, the quiet hum of cicadas filling the space between their words.
Raizen: "Aika, you don't know those two like I do. Listen—Reina and Karui will say anything to get under your skin. Just… don't bite. Our goal is to pass this exam at all costs. So whatever they tell you, just go along with it—unless it's completely ridiculous."
Aika tilted her head, her milk-chocolate hair catching the fading light. Her piercing red eyes studied him for a moment, unreadable.
Aika: "Still, shouldn't we at least try to sit together? Build some kind of team bond?"
Raizen exhaled through his nose, looking away.
Raizen: "It's pointless. Reina hates me. Probably always will. I said some things during the entrance exam I shouldn't have."
Aika blinked, then snapped her fingers as the memory returned.
Aika: "Oh wait—you called her a nobody, didn't you?"
Raizen didn't answer, but the look on his face said enough.
Aika burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
Aika: "Oh my gosh, I remember now! You insulted her—and she wrecked you!"
Her laughter grew louder, echoing across the field until even Karui glanced their way.
Raizen: "You don't have to bring up past events."
Aika: (still grinning) "You kinda deserved it. But yeah, I get why she doesn't like you. What about Karui?"
Raizen: "Those two are like twin devils. Too similar for their own good, but it makes them tighter. Trying to split them up would be suicide. Better we focus on forming our own rhythm."
Aika: "Fine by me. What's the plan?"
Raizen: "My skills are better suited for support and misdirection. I'm not built for close combat—not yet. I can take hits, stall, and throw off enemy focus. I've also got a few pre-made seals that could come in handy."
Aika crossed her arms, still smirking.
Aika: "Alright, strategist. As for me… in my Summoning elective, I made a contract with a small Scarlet Langur."
Raizen raised an eyebrow.
Raizen: "A monkey?"
Aika: "A very sarcastic one," she said with a grin. "He's small, fast, good at sneaking around and grabbing things. We've been working on a few combo attacks—nothing crazy yet, but we're getting there. My taijutsu's improved a lot, too."
Raizen nodded, eyes scanning the sky as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Raizen: "Good. Between your speed and my seals, we might stand a chance."
Aika: "Then let's make sure those two devilish sisters don't drag us down."
Raizen couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. For the first time that day, the tension in his chest eased just a little.
"ATTENTION!"
The shout cracked across the courtyard like thunder.
Every academy student instantly snapped to alertness, the chatter dying mid-sentence. Heads turned upward toward the academy roof—where Principal Kanzo stood, his coat rippling in the wind and his voice carrying like a commandment.
Kanzo: "Each squad will enter the academy one at a time to receive your mission details. Once you've acquired them, you are to depart immediately. No delays."
With that, he turned and vanished from sight, leaving the sound of his boots echoing across the tiles as the massive double doors of the academy creaked open.
A nervous murmur rolled through the students. One by one, teams began to line up, some whispering strategies, others standing in tense silence.
Raizen and Aika exchanged a glance before reluctantly making their way toward Reina and Karui. The tension between the four was thick enough to taste, and not a single word was spoken as they waited for their turn to enter.
When their squad was finally called, they stepped inside.
The interior of the academy felt strangely colder—its halls emptied for the exam, the air thick with anticipation. In a small reception room, a lone chūnin sat behind a desk piled high with mission scrolls, each one marked with crimson seals and neatly arranged in rows.
"Squad One, step forward," the chūnin said flatly, not even looking up as he grabbed one of the scrolls. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it to Reina, the designated team leader.
Chūnin: "Do not open the scroll until you've left academy grounds. Keep its contents secret at all costs. That means no peeking, no copies, no leaks. Understood?"
Reina nodded, her expression unreadable.
Raizen gave a curt nod of his own before the team turned and exited.
Outside, the other squads were already dispersing across the training fields, vanishing one by one into the forest paths beyond the academy.
Raizen's team followed a quieter trail, eventually stopping at one of the secluded training grounds on the outskirts of the compound. The clearing was wide, ringed by tall trees and midnight mist.
The four of them sat in a loose circle on the grass, the moon's light stretching long shadows between them.
For a while, no one spoke. Only the rustle of leaves and the distant chirp of insects filled the night air.
At last, Reina broke the silence. She set the scroll across her lap, exhaled, and began to unroll it.
As the parchment unfurled, faint symbols shimmered along its surface—glowing, fluid, and shifting like ink swirling through water.
She studied it for a few seconds before her eyes narrowed.
Reina: "It's sealed. Some kind of locking formula—I can't open it."
Karui: "Seriously? What, are we supposed to know how these crazy seals work? Maybe if we force it open—"
Before Reina could stop her, Karui crouched beside the scroll, pressing her fingers against the parchment. Reina joined in, both attempting to pry it open.
Raizen: "Wait."
His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension. He stepped forward, his expression cool and focused.
Raizen: "If you handle a seal like that carelessly, it could be laced with traps—or even explosive tags. Back up."
The two quickly withdrew their hands and put distance between themselves and the scroll.
Raizen knelt beside it, studying the pattern of symbols. The seal wasn't overly complex—just deceptive. To the untrained eye, it might look impossible to remove.
Raizen: "You weren't completely wrong, though," he said, tracing one of the runes with his finger. "If you feed chakra into it slowly, the seal will start to erode on its own. Problem is, that takes time—and a lot of chakra. There's a cleaner way."
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small parchment, brush, and ink vial. His movements were steady and deliberate as he began to draw a counter-seal, each stroke clean and precise.
Aika leaned forward slightly, her crimson eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Aika: "You're awfully calm for someone playing with something that could explode."
Raizen: "Because I know how to disarm it."
The final stroke connected. For a moment, the air hummed with tension. The scroll flared with a brief white light, the original seal crackling before dissolving into mist.
With a soft click, the lock released.
Raizen exhaled slowly and passed the scroll toward Reina.
Raizen: "All yours, leader."
Reina took it carefully, her expression unreadable. She glanced at him—just for a moment—and nodded before unrolling the parchment fully.
The scroll opened with ease this time, its glowing symbols fading away to reveal the mission text beneath.
Under the pale moonlight, the exam had truly begun.
The four of them sat in a loose circle on the grass, the moonlight stretching long shadows between their bodies. For a while, no one spoke—only the soft chorus of night insects.
Reina set the scroll across her lap, drew a breath, and began to unroll it. As the parchment unfurled, faint symbols shimmered along its surface, like ink drifting in water. She studied the glowing runes for several seconds before speaking.
Reina: "It's sealed. A locking formula— I can't open it."
Karui snorted. "What the hell? Do they expect us to be seal experts now? Maybe we just pry it open."
Before anyone could stop her, Karui crouched and pressed at the edge of the scroll. Reina moved to help, tugging at the parchment.
Raizen: "Wait."
His voice cut the air. "That could be dangerous. If that seal's rigged the wrong way, you pull at it and it could trigger a trap—or an explosive tag. Back up."
Karui and Reina froze, then slid back reluctantly. Aika let out a breathy laugh and edged away; her red eyes glinted in the moonlight.
Raizen knelt, studying the runes. "You weren't completely wrong—if you feed chakra into the lock slowly it'll erode the seal. It'll work, but it takes time and chakra. There's a cleaner method." He pulled a small scrap of parchment, a brush, and a vial of ink. His strokes were calm, practiced—he sketched a counter-seal and overlaid it on the glowing lock. When he threaded chakra through the pattern, the runes flashed and dissolved with a soft crackle.
The lock clicked. Raizen tossed the scroll to Reina. She caught it and, with a half-smirk, tucked it into her pack.
Reina (snickering): "Oh my—what would we have done without you, nerd?"
Raizen scowled; Aika chuckled.
Reina unrolled the scroll and read aloud, her voice steady under the moon:
"If you are reading this, you have passed the first test—the unsealing. Mission briefings are sealed for a reason: to protect sensitive intel. A seal may be opened by running chakra through it to erode it, or by creating a key seal. A key seal allows you to lock and unlock freely; chakra erosion is quick but costly. Your team has a seal-experienced member."
"Mission: Infiltrate an old ceramics building in the southwest trading district. The area is lively at night—shopfronts, vendors, and crowds. Enter covertly; do not attract attention. Expect traps and possible enemy shinobi. Your objective: retrieve a scroll stored on the third basement floor. That scroll contains your next objective."
Reina rolled the parchment closed and tucked it into her pack. Karui shrugged.
Karui: "So we break into an old building in the nightlife district and grab a scroll. Sounds easy."
Aika: "It would be if the scroll didn't warn us about traps and enemy shinobi. It won't be that simple."
Raizen rose and paced once, the wheels already turning. He stopped, looked at each of them, and laid out the plan with quiet, surgical clarity.
Raizen: "Alright—quick, practical plan. Everyone has a role. We move at tonight's marketplace peak—crowds will give us cover, but that also means we must blend in and move fast. No flashy moves, no unnecessary fights. If we get noticed, it has to look like theft or street trouble that the crowd can't trace back to us."
He pointed at Reina first. "Reina—leader. You coordinate from a vantage point and call our window. You're the best at reading the environment and keeping us synchronized. If things go sideways, you pick our extraction route."
Reina's eyes narrowed but she nodded once.
Raizen: "Karui—you're our entry and heavy. You handle the door or any boarded access, break through quietly if necessary, and clear immediate close-range threats. When we need someone to deal with an enemy shinobi head-on, you do it. Keep it quick and controlled; we don't want prolonged fights."
Karui cracked a grin. "Frontline's fine by me."
Raizen: "Aika—your Langur is perfect for recon. Send it first to scout the perimeter, vents, and windows. It can retrieve small objects, trip minor traps for us, and create distractions if we need a quick opening. You stay ready to slip in and out—hit-and-run style—if we need someone fast to grab the scroll or pull a bait-and-switch."
Aika's grin widened. "My scarlet monkey loves missions. He'll poke every corner for us."
Raizen: "And me—I'll handle seals, traps, and misdirection. I'll pre-place counterseals to neutralize obvious trap triggers and carry a couple of pre-made seals for silence and dampening—things that mask our chakra signatures while we move. If anyone needs a buffer, I'll absorb or stall. I'll also have a seal ready to create a brief smoke-and-shadow zone for extraction."
He stepped closer and sketched a quick map in the dirt, marking a back alley service entrance two blocks east of the building, a rooftop access over the teahouse, and a drain route that led to the canal behind the plaza.
Raizen: "Our route—east service alley to the roof hatch above the teahouse. Aika's Langur goes up first and checks the hatch. If it's clear, Karui breaches quietly, drops down to the second floor, and checks the stairwell. Reina keeps eyes on the street—signals if patrols move, times our window. I'll slip counterseals on the hatch and stairwell traps. If we're forced through the main floor, Aika acts as a distraction—her Langur makes noise, draws attention. Karui takes the stairwell while I cut any alarm seals. Reina grabs the scroll. If the route's compromised, we exfil through the drain tunnel behind the plaza. If we're chased, Karui holds the choke point while I deploy a dampening field."
Aika's lips curved into a grin, her crimson eyes glinting.
Aika: "That's smooth. I like it."
Karui: "Yeah. Roles make sense. Nobody's doing something they can't handle."
Reina, silent until now, crouched beside the map etched into the dirt. The moonlight traced across her face, and for the briefest moment, she almost looked impressed. Then her expression shifted—confidence sliding into a smug smirk.
Reina: "No."
Raizen blinked. "Huh?"
She rose slowly, crossing her arms, her smirk deepening.
Reina: "I said no."
The wind carried a chill silence through the clearing.
Reina: "Let me remind you—Principal Kanzo appointed me as team captain. Which means I make the rules, I call the shots, and I come up with the plans."
Her tone sharpened like a blade, each word deliberate.
She took a step closer until she was standing over him, eyes gleaming with that same condescending fire Raizen remembered from the entrance exam.
Reina: "So here's rule number one."
She tilted her head, smile widening.
Reina: "As an underling—you don't make rules, and you don't talk unless spoken to."
Raizen's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Aika's smile faded, and even Karui looked between them, uneasy at the sudden drop in temperature.
Reina turned, tucking the scroll back into her pack with casual arrogance.
The corner of her mouth twitched upward.
Reina: "Let's get one thing straight before we start, Raizen—this is my team."
The night air grew heavy between them.
Raizen's eyes flickered with quiet defiance—but he stayed silent.
To be continued…