Naruto: Seven Tools of Samsara

Chapter 3: Test

After the incident this morning, I decided to take my mind off of it by practicing the cloning technique. However, even that didn't go as planned. When I summoned my clones, they no longer had the edgy expressions from yesterday but this time, their features were collectively marred with fear from the unseen. Their eyes were wide in horror with their lower jaw hanging below their throat. 

"Alright that's it! This jutsu is officially cursed!" I groaned. Seriously, I have been training for more than a week and still, I can't get these numbskulls to mirror my expression. Did I somehow get duped and ended up with defective training material? Well, it's either that or I am crazy, and I will never admit to the latter. 

I sighed in exasperation before making my way back home. Today was the last day of the assignment. Tomorrow, Mr. Kishiyami will check our progress while simultaneously kicking off the failures who will be held back for another year.

I clasped my hand together and muttered short prayer to the gods above for more liberal checking from Mr. Kishiyami. Although, I knew that such miracles do not occur in day-to-day lives, but I prayed, nonetheless. 

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The next morning, I plodded my way to the academy. I had resigned myself to my fate and the feeling was mutual among many of my classmates as they practically mimicked my walking posture. Slowly, the entire classroom became filled with dejected souls who could only stare at their desks in depression. 

Mr. Kishiyami also entered the classroom a few moments later. He also had noticed the gloomy atmosphere of the class. Unfortunately, the face he made was the direct opposite of ours. The man was grinning ear to ear, his pearly white teeth on full display. The look in his eyes told me of the unsurmountable joy he gained from our misery. 

"Well class I hope you are ready for today's test. I am sure you all know what will happen to those who cannot succeed, right?" 

He clasped his hands together before continuing.

"Remember, this is only a mere test with only a near ninety percent chance of most of you failing and being held back for another year or two. No pressure, right?"

The amiable tone of his voice was infectious. The way he moulded such a distressing matter of our shinobi career into his disarming voice can make the majority of us drop our guards and just row with the flow. Thankfully, the prospect of our live being ruined prevented it from happening. 

Mr. Kishiyami grinned turned even more feral from the lack of reaction from our side.

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I fidgeted nervously from my seat on the ground as I watched Mr. Kishiyami crossed another name from the list of students. It had only been a minute, but the man had managed to eliminate more than half the class in the short period of time. 

Well, I would be lying if I said he was being unfair. No, the problem was that he had nothing to judge at all. Most of my classmates were unable to form even a single clone. The one's who were able to make clones were kids of the big clans while the civilians found themselves incapable of even using the proper hand seals. Don't get me wrong though, the clones made by clan kids were nothing to brag home about, in fact, they were downright awful. The term ''clone'' was wasted on their creations. Some were abnormally thin, and some were double the size of the jutsu user.

Still, I got to hand it to Tenma for his ingenuity. Making a hybrid cross between a pumpkin and a pig required some serious talent. I chuckled while Mr. Kishiyami snickered behind his checkboard. We seemed to share the opinion about Tenma being the funniest out of all of the participants. Soon, Sensei called a name that most of us were waiting to see. I watched her as she made her way towards the centre.