a shinobi's tale

Chapter 5 : the graduation exams

Kunai's  soar through the air at incredible speeds. Their metallic surfaces gleaming in the sunlight. an array of them hit a target at the dead centre.  "Great job it's a perfect hit "

The exams were almost here and I was so nervous. I managed to get my shuriken to hit right in the target but there was still so much to do. "your turn kurai!" I called over to him. He proceeded to take out ten shuriken and simultaneously threw them at the target with a swift throw - every single one hit the centre. It was amazing to watch. " wow kurai your gonna ace the exams for sure!" I said "thanks, best of luck to you too" he replied. We went over everything we could until all that was left was the topic I dreaded most, chakra control. I watched as kurai walked easily across a river by controlling his chakra and sending it to the soles of his feet. "now you try" he said. I concentrated as hard as I could, I could feel a tingly sensation on the soles of my feet. I stepped carefully into the river and walked. At first it was going smoothly, I felt as if I could jump about and still stay afloat. However, half way through I started wobbling more and more until, with a great splash I fell in to the river! Cold and wet, I swam onto shore. "you need to stay focused and relax " said kurai impatiently "maybe we should try something easier". He led me to a tall, towering tree. "another exercise is walking up a tree by controlling chakra and sending it to the soles of your feet, it's a lot easier than walking on water" he said. "once you climb mark the tree where you got to with your kunai before falling down/ jumping of" I took a deep breathe and concentrated hard on climbing the tree. My feet started tingling. I began to walk up the tree. I only made it a short way up before losing my balance, quickly I marked tree with my kunai before falling down onto my back.I repeated the process and climbed up again, I wasn't giving up that easily. A few seconds went by and  I fell again with a thump . After several minutes of falling and re-climbing I finally made to the top. Huffing and panting from exhaustion I waved down to kurai." well done, great improvement ochimiyo, ready to try walking on water again?he called up to me " let's do this!"

I jumped down landing next to him. We walked back to the river. I took a deep breath and concentrated. "I want to walk across the river, walk across, walk across" I thought in my head. Once again my feet tingled and I started walking across. "you can do this!" I thought. Further and further. Step by step. I kept going. I was further than I ever reached before. I could see the other end. Kurai stood there watching me come closer. Closer and closer. Just a little bit more further. And...
I made it! I crossed the whole river! I felt relief and pride in my chest. I smiled a beaming smile at kurai and gave him a big hug "thanks so much kurai, your the best friend I ever had". He smiled slightly " so are you".

The week past sooner than we expected. It was time. The graduation exams had finally arrived. Akihito sensei greeted us warmly into class and said " welcome students, as you might know, today is a big day for you all, the graduation exams is taking place today, I hope your all prepared, best of luck to everyone! You may all now proceed to the examination room, line up outside in single file lines and wait for your name to be called. Oh and ochimiyo wait at the end before you go I want to have a quick word with you, well that's all good luck!" everyone stood up and went of to line up for their exams. I went to sensei. Little did I know, Kurai also hadn't left, he was listening in outside.

"sensei what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked. "I just wanted to personally wish you luck in your exams ochimiyo, I want you to pass more than ever, you have the potential of being a wonderful shinobi and you can prove that to all of us" he smiled. "yes sensei your right, from now onwards it is my goal to become a full fledged shinobi to prove to the world that I and every other shinobi out there that has a kekkei genkai is more than a monster to this world and to avenge my clan and my parents. "I replied . "thanks Akihito sensei, I mean it". He smiled and patted me on the shoulder, "run along now or your be late for your exams".