Sunshine

Eat dirt

I felt the immense pressure as hundreds of boys stood in lines. We stood with no weapons. The first trail was a trial of meditation. Almost a measure of pure will alone. At this stage, I could not see Kakashi because there were too many people. 

But there were plenty of boy's glaring at me. I was one of the few girl's. I knew they would be out for me until I was out or won. I kept my senses open but closed my eyes. I meditated with my hands clasped together like I was praying.  My eye's closed; mostly I just focused on reserving energy. I knew that this would be a long trail. But I listened for the slightest movement beside the examiners walking around in shifts.

I only opened my eyes every now and again to observe a loud noise. I didn't move, unable to see much over anyone; even at this age, I could see that the boy's had already started to outgrow me. I heard movement behind me and without turning, I caught someone's hand and shoved them backward without even moving much.

I heard the tumble and crash behind me. Then shouting as boy's got dragged off being eliminated. I went back to focusing. Kids taking stupid risks for no reason. And for what? Because I was a girl. Stupid. I heard a stifled chuckle from the crowd around me.

"Silence!" The examiners shouted. The sound died out instantly.

We stood there for almost two day's straight. I was feeling it but after Master Ren's training, I was more than able to do it for at least another 2 days. On the last day, I didn't bother to open my eyes. It wasn't until the whistle was finally blown and they announced the trial over did I finally open my eyes and look around. So many had been taken out of the area but there were still a few hundred left.

I tiredly scanned the crowd. Seeing no familiar faces.

As soon as the first trial was done, we got escorted to a new area. I looked around surprised. The next trail was the last before we got a break for a night. We ended up at a pond with a tower in the center of it. 

We got separated into groups of 20. We had 20-pound vest's put on us when it was our turn. We got told in the event that we would drown to pull a tab the vest would release, but then we would lose our spot. We had to swim 25 meters out to the tower and then climb to the top.

Anyone who made it, passed. This was something I wasn't expecting, but some of his training made sense now. I laughed nervously as we lined up at the water's edge.

I got ready and stretched, trying to focus. This was going to be hard but I knew I could do it. I just didn't like the fatigue from standing for a few days. Many had failed already. I didn't want to end up with them.

They blew the whistle and I dove forward. I knew the longer I was in the water, the harder it was going to be to keep going. I zoned in and swam toward the tower. Half way across, my muscles started to protest. I gritted my teeth as my leg got a knot in it. I hesitated for only a moment. One of the boys passed me. I pushed forward. This wasn't a race for first place; I just had to make it.

I gasped as I sank for a moment right at the bottom of the tower. No. I wanted to scream at my body. I reached up and gripped one of the ropes hanging off the tower. I yanked myself out of the water and gasped for air.

I only rest for about 4 seconds before pulling myself out of the cold water. I reached up and placed my feet on the rope, trying not to slip from the water-soaked, slim-covered ropes. I let a deep breath out as I started to slowly scale the side of it.

 A few boys lost grip and fell down into the water. I was beyond relieved to reach the top and drag myself over the edge, panting tiredly. I laid there for a moment, pretty freaking done. It took everything in me not to pass out right then.