Chapter 126: Exams?

Another month had passed. The atmosphere at the Kirigakure Academy had grown heavier, more tense. Even the most carefree students seemed to feel the pressure lingering within the school walls.

That day, Fujimoto-sensei stood before the class, crossing his arms. His expression was stern, his tone devoid of any trace of lightness.

"In less than a month, the exams to become Genin will take place."

A wave of tension swept through the classroom. The whispers ceased, every face turned toward their teacher.

"Many of you have been here for three years and know well what it means to become a ninja. But allow me to remind you once again."

Fujimoto let his gaze drift across the students, his eyes as cold as steel.

"Being a ninja is not a game. It is not a title earned through a written test and a few well-executed techniques. It means joining Kirigakure's military forces. It means putting your life on the line every day. It means killing, if necessary."

An unnatural silence settled over the class. Some students lowered their gazes, others visibly swallowed hard.

"And the exams reflect this reality," Fujimoto continued. "Every year, during the third-year exam, there are always students who do not make it. It's a certainty. Someone fails. Someone... dies."

His words landed like stones.

Ren noticed that Misaki remained impassive, arms crossed, eyes cold. Not a single reaction.

But the rest of the class told a different story.

Some students exchanged uneasy glances, others seemed unsure of what to think. Even those who usually acted confidently now appeared less certain.

Ren felt a familiar sensation tightening in his chest.

"It's beginning."

The Genin exam... the first step toward the Bloody Mist. He had always been aware of what awaited him, but now that the moment was approaching, he couldn't help but feel tense.

His thoughts were interrupted by a light tug on his sleeve.

He turned and found Jun'ko, her face more serious than usual. Her eyes were a mix of concern and determination.

"We need to train harder," she whispered.

Ren remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Let's train together this week."

He turned to Aoi, who looked thoughtful.

"What do you say, Kaito?"

Aoi adjusted his glasses with a mechanical gesture.

"Logically, training together will improve our physical endurance, coordination, and chakra control."

Then he added with a tired smile, "So yes, I agree."

On the other side of the classroom, Yukiko listened to the conversation out of the corner of her ear.

She said nothing. She didn't turn. But Ren could feel that she was paying attention.

Meanwhile...

Shinji Karatachi seemed completely indifferent to the tension in the air. Leaning against his desk with a semi-bored expression, he looked almost apathetic.

Ren glanced at him briefly.

"Maybe his Hōzuki blood allows him to stay so calm?" Or perhaps he simply didn't grasp the gravity of the situation.

A little further away, Shin Kaguya sat with his back rigid, hands clenched on his knees. Ren noticed that he seemed to want to say something. He hesitated. As if he wanted to propose training together, but something held him back.

Ren knew exactly what it was.

The Kaguya Clan was proud, strict, and viewed training with "outsiders" as a sign of weakness.

But Ren did not ignore him.

He turned toward him, openly inviting:

"Shin, do you want to train with us?"

A brief moment of silence.

Shin's eyes moved quickly, scanning Ren and the rest of the group. The boy slightly opened his mouth but then stopped. His gaze became even more rigid.

"I don't need to."

His voice was controlled, almost cold.

Ren immediately recognized the forced pride in his words. Shin wanted to join them. But his bloodline and the weight of his clan's expectations prevented him from accepting.

Ren did not insist. He simply gave a slight nod. But deep down, he knew that the restrained expression on Shin's face spoke volumes more than his words.

The Academy was silent. The announcement of the exam had left its mark on everyone.

As the day went on, Ren observed his classmates more carefully.

Some pretended nothing was wrong, trying to appear confident. Others were visibly shaken, as if they were realizing for the first time just how real the risk was.

But one thing was certain.

The Genin exam would not be a simple test of skill. It was a ruthless, unforgiving selection. And not everyone would make it out alive.

- - -

That afternoon, Ren met Utakata in one of the most secluded areas of the Eastern Training Grounds. It was a tranquil place, surrounded by towering trees reflecting in the still waters of the scattered ponds. The air was crisp, and the rustling leaves in the wind created an illusion of peace.

But the stillness was shattered by the sharp sound of a clash.

CLANG!

Ren's strike was deflected by Utakata's flute, which he wielded as a barrier with an almost natural grace. Ren landed lightly, immediately resuming his combat stance.

Utakata moved fluidly, letting the flute slide between his fingers before assuming a relaxed posture.

"Alright, I think we can stop here."

Ren wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, trying to steady his breath. It had been another intense sparring session.

Utakata approached with his usual calm expression, but this time there was something different in his eyes.

"You're getting stronger, Ren."

Utakata's voice was sincere, devoid of flattery. Those words struck Ren more than he cared to admit. Hearing praise from Utakata, someone he considered vastly superior, carried a different weight.

For a moment, Ren even felt embarrassed, but he masked it with humility.

"Thanks… but I think I can do better."

Utakata tilted his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips.

"Ren, at the beginning, I didn't even need to try during our sparring matches."

He turned slightly, gazing at the sky before fixing his eyes on Ren again with newfound focus.

"But in the past few months, I've had to raise my level of effort."

Ren's eyes widened slightly. It wasn't an empty compliment. It was the truth. Utakata, the ninja he had always considered out of reach, was truly saying he had to put in effort to fight him?

A strange sense of satisfaction mixed with a new awareness.

"Then I'm not that far off..."

But before he could respond, Utakata's expression darkened slightly. His usual smile vanished, replaced by something more serious.

"I know you're worried about the exams."

Ren didn't answer immediately. But his expression betrayed him.

Utakata lowered his gaze slightly, as if reflecting on something painful. Then, with a heavier voice, he added:

"Unfortunately, our village has this senseless tradition..."

The wind blew gently, carrying the distant sound of water flowing through a nearby stream.

The weight of those words settled in the air. Ren wasn't the only one who thought that way.

The Bloody Mist System was a cruel tradition, a ruthless selection that forced students to fight each other like animals to prove who was worthy of becoming a ninja.

Many died.

And in Kirigakure… it was considered normal.

Utakata remained silent for a moment, as if struggling with his own frustration.

But then, something in his eyes changed. His expression became firmer, more resolute.

"But that's exactly why we must become stronger."

Ren looked up at him.

"One day… we must change this tradition too."

Utakata's tone was not filled with anger or despair. It was a simple declaration of intent. An unshakable certainty.

Ren stood still, absorbing those words. It wasn't just about surviving. It wasn't just about becoming stronger.

It was about changing the system. So that no more children would be sent to the slaughter in the name of a tradition that was now worn and bloodstained.

Ren lowered his gaze, clenching his fists for a moment. Then, with a subtle smile, he nodded.

"Yes. We will become stronger."

Utakata watched him before letting out a small sigh and smiling again.

"Good. Now go home and rest… Tomorrow we will train again."

Ren turned, starting to walk away.

But as he walked, he felt a new spark ignite within him.

It wasn't just an exam. It wasn't just an obstacle to overcome.

It was the first step toward something greater.

And he had no intention of stopping.

[Hi There! Ito-kun here ^.^ can you help me down in the comment? I was thinking if i should keep in consideration the knowledge of Boruto too or not, from one side there are many interesting things and clarification, like the summoning technique, that does'nt work like we saw in Naruto, from the other side we can implement some interesting information.

Let me know what do you think about :)

Thanks everyone specially Jayroy_63 ,Sami_Alfoheday, BagusPardana, thefarmerboy007_7, Darkosiris_Lopez, Alexx_Sejas, Werty_9247, RyuB201, shadowborn, Yasmin_Silva_3876, RyuB201, DaoistVVm1Vi, DaoistDW5XU4, Acnol,DaoistSEsItM,bndr, RyuB201, VanHellsing6969, Daoist710883, LevinCloth, Daoist0thxiB, bndr, AKIB19,LevinCloth, DaoistAZmi17,Alexx_Sejas, Morgoph, Strandarn, Nonymous_H, Ikaro_Rodrigues, Misteriboi, AKIB19, Abdul_Salam_FASAMI, Daoist9Sa84q, Gothrog, shadowborn, DarkGambit, Miguel_024 and Meltis_Pach!

 Sincerely Thanks and remember about the Power Stones, these are the motivation for my work :) ]