Naruto: Ninja Academy

Chapter Fourteen - Just the Beginning

I can't believe it, I'm taking the graduation exams today! I've been training so hard for the past week, all for this day...I can feel butterflies in my stomach, I feel like I want to throw up I'm that nervous. Sitting in the classroom around me are my other classmates. Some of them look nervous (like me), others look calm and collected as if its any other usual day (Sasuke).

"I just want to say good luck to you." I say.

"Thank you, you too!" Hinata replies, she looks as apprehensive as me, if not worse. I smile at her.

"Hey why is everyone looking so nervous, it'll be a breeze!" Naruto says confidently.

"You can talk, Who's the one that has failed this two times in a row?" Sasuke says whilst folding his arms exaggerating on the word 'two'.

"Hmpt! I wasn't talking to you, and I never asked for your opinion!" Naruto snaps back blushing slightly.

"You two, I really don't understand why you always argue with each other like girls. Jeez! Can't you just ignore each other." Shikamaru complains.

"Stay out of this!" Naruto and Sasuke both shout together. Then look at each other annoyed.

"Hello class today you will be taking your graduation exams to become genin. And hopefully everyone of you will pass," Iruka informs us, "In that room over their will be Kakashi Sensei and I, and one by one we will call you in to take the exam. During that the rest of you will sit in here patiently and Guy Sensei wil-"

As if on cue Guy Sensei bursts into the classroom, "Hey there youthful children, Never fear Guy Sensei's here!"

Well that just freaked me out. "Oh Guy I was just finishing off my explanation-" Iruka starts,

"I will be looking after the rest of you whilst people are taking the exams!" Guy says. Why does Guy Sensei act like a hyperactive kid and not a grown-up Sensei? It is beyond me...

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The exam have started and here I am sitting, waiting for my name to be called out. Whilst (I can briefly hear) Guy is talking; about advise on taijutsu, and about Lee. I mean to be honest I have kind of tuned in and out of his conversation. One by one students stand up when they get their names called out and enter the room where Iruka and Kakashi are. So far Shino, Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Sakura have gone. I really hope my friends pass, but I want Sakura to so fail! The rest of us remain here, restless.

Now I've got to remember to perform the jutsu's perfectly, and make the necessary hand sign. I really don't want to fail! I think I'm over-reacting about this, I just need to relax. Deep breaths. Deep breat-"Erm...Ino, its your turn...goodluck!" Hinata taps me on the arm, smiling.

"Thank you! Sorry I didn't hear!" I say embarrassed.

"Ino come on, I already called your name twice." Kakashi opened the door for me to enter.

"Sorry." I say blushing, looking at the ground ashamed.

"Its ok." Kakashi gives me a sympathetic look.

"Right ok, Ino so when your ready one by one I want you to perform three jutsu's. Doesn't matter which ones." Iruka smiles and nods telling me to start.

Iruka and Kakashi are sitting at a desk with clipboards, ready to write.

Ok, here I go. "Transformation jutsu!" I say. A cloud of smoke appears before me, covering me. I attempt to turn into Ayame (the girl who works at Ichiraku's). At least I hope I did. Poof! I turn back into myself. The Sensei's opposite me look at me with the look of...surprise? I really wish I knew what is going on inside their minds, how do they think I'm doing? I've got no time to think.

"Shadow Clone jutsu!" I shout, two others of me appear at my sides.

And finally my last jutsu..."Tiger, Boar, Ox, Snake, Substitution jutsu!" I say when I make the hand signs. I turn into a brown log. Phew! I've done! I face Kakashi and Iruka, I see that they show each other their clipboards and nod.

Then I just wait there for what seems like forever, my heart beating faster than usual. So loud that I swear I can hear it beating.

"Ino Yamanaka," Iruka announces, "You have just become genin, congratulations! Choose a headband!" He says as he gestures to the headbands on a side table.

I'm speechless! I jump up and down in happiness! "Yay!" I scream. I walk over to the headbands, there all identical with the same leaf village sign on. They look so new and shiny, not a scratch on them. I randomly pick one up and adjust it around my waist.

"Thank you so much! You don't know how happy I am!" I say. Iruka and Kakashi smile at me pleased that I'm happy, probably reminiscing of when they passed and became genin.

"Well Ino, this is just the beginning of your life as a Ninja..." Kakashi tells me.