14 - The Sound of a Thousand Birds
---Ryouma's POV---
At the age of 11, I was preparing to graduate from the Ninja Academy, provided I could successfully pass the graduation assessment that day.
Graduation day.
The formal transition from student to weapon.
If one didn't pass the graduation assessment, naturally they couldn't graduate. However, even though Konoha's frontline was not particularly tense at the moment, cannon fodder was always in high demand. Even the last-ranked student in the exam could still graduate.
How lucky, right?
At this moment, Rin and I were walking to school together.
"Sigh~"
"Ryouma, what's wrong? You've been sighing since morning. Is it because you're too tired from yesterday?" Rin asked with concern, though her words carried a tone that could easily lead to misunderstandings.
She assumed this because she knew that today was the graduation assessment, and during wartime, graduation tests inevitably involved real combat.
Thus, after school yesterday, I had given her a crash course in combat training.
"Sigh, it has nothing to do with you, Rin. I was just suddenly struck by the thought that I'm already 11 years old and still not married. How disappointing."
"Married? We're children, Ryouma. Nobody our age gets married."
"But isn't it funny? We're old enough to be sent to war and kill people, but apparently too young for a wedding ceremony," I said with a dramatic sigh. "The village has strange priorities."
"Huh?"
The real reason I was sighing was that I had secretly used my Rikugan the previous day to peek at the newly assigned ninja team lists. To my dismay, I wasn't paired with Rin.
Not being on her team complicated things. I would have less direct influence over key events. I would need to develop alternative approaches.
Her team still consisted of Kakashi and Obito. Incidentally, since Sakumo had not committed suicide in this timeline, Kakashi hadn't applied for early graduation either.
Originally, I thought that with him staying back, there might be a chance I'd end up on the same team as Rin. Clearly, I had been overly optimistic.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
After greeting our classmates, Rin and I returned to our seats.
"Well, if it isn't the perfect pair. Ready to show off today, Ryouma?" Anko called out from across the room, her usual mischievous grin in place.
"I prefer the term 'demonstrate competence,' but sure," I replied casually, setting my bag down.
Kurenai, who had been reviewing a scroll at her desk, looked up. "Some of us are actually taking this seriously. Our futures depend on it."
"Some futures more than others," I said with a slight smirk.
At this moment, Obito sneakily approached, looking shifty. He moved through the classroom with all the subtlety of a drunken elephant, 'sneaking' in a way that drew everyone's attention.
"Ryouma, did you hear? That thing," he whispered conspiratorially, glancing around as if sharing state secrets.
"What thing?" I thought to myself in exasperation. How was anyone supposed to guess what this "thing" was? A thing... it could be anything.
"Ah yes, that thing. The thing we all know about. That specific thing you're referring to with absolutely no context," I said dryly.
"You don't know? Everyone's talking about it!" Obito's eyes widened in surprise.
"Idiot. Even if that person does become a jonin instructor, they won't choose you," Kakashi interrupted with his usual deadpan, dead-fish-eyed expression.
"What do you know, Bakashi? The Yellow Flash would definitely pick me!" Obito spun around, instantly forgetting his secrecy in favor of challenging Kakashi.
Hearing their words, I immediately understood. They were probably talking about the rumor that Minato might be taking on students this time.
In hindsight, Obito's mysterious tone had thrown me off. I wouldn't have guessed without Kakashi's intervention.
It seemed that the Third Hokage was already favoring Minato. Realistically speaking, Minato, with his high mobility and elite combat prowess, shouldn't be wasting time training kids. But, knowing Konoha, it was likely another move to cultivate bonds and camaraderie.
"Alright, head to Training Ground Seven. The graduation assessment will begin in fifteen minutes. Anyone late fails automatically," Kosuke announced upon entering the classroom.
"Yes, Kosuke-sensei!"
"Why didn't we just meet there in the first place?" Obito shouted in frustration.
"Because organization is important for ninjas, idiot," Kakashi remarked in a monotone voice.
"Who asked you?!" Obito fumed, his face reddening.
"For once, Obito has a point," I said with amusement as we filed out of the classroom.
This time, you really couldn't call Obito dumb.
Training Ground Seven, usually peaceful, now felt like an arena.
"First match: Sarutobi Asuma vs. Aotsuki Ryouma," Kosuke announced as he read from the grouping list.
"What? I'm fighting Ryouma? Are you serious?" Asuma widened his eyes in disbelief and pointed to himself.
"You've been training hard. Show what you can do," Kurenai said supportively, though her eyes betrayed a hint of concern.
"I was hoping for Ebisu or something," Asuma whispered to Kurenai, not quite quietly enough.
"I'm flattered by your confidence in me, Asuma," I called over, making him jump slightly.
This wasn't surprising, though. I hadn't bothered with hiding my abilities or pretending to be weak. Even while holding back a little, I had consistently ranked first in every practical combat class since the beginning of school.
On the other hand, Asuma hadn't even cracked the top three in practical classes.
Poor Asuma. Always caught between his father's legacy and his own abilities. At least in the original timeline, he grew into himself eventually.
The training ground fell silent as we took our positions. Wind rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of earth and leaves. Perfect weather for a demonstration.
Under the direction of another teacher, Kato, who was acting as the referee, Asuma and I took our positions at opposite ends of the training ground.
"This is a graduation assessment match. Victory is achieved through knockout, surrender, or my intervention. Lethal force is prohibited," Kato announced formally.
"As if I could use lethal force against him anyway," Asuma muttered under his breath.
"Don't sell yourself short, Asuma. The Sarutobi clan has produced legends," I replied, taking a casual stance.
"Hey, Ryouma, I've been training hard recently. Don't underestimate me!" Asuma suddenly called out, attempting to maintain his confidence with some pre-battle trash talk.
"Sure, sure," I replied absentmindedly.
It wasn't that I underestimated him; it was just that this level of combat was too easy for me. My current stats far exceeded the norm for any genin, making me an overpowered anomaly in the context of the exam.
"Both sides, perform the Seal of Confrontation," Kato-sensei announced, raising a flag.
"Graduates of Konoha's 31st class, first match: Sarutobi Asuma versus Aotsuki Ryouma. Begin!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Asuma launched himself at me with surprising speed, his body low to the ground, hands already forming the first seal of a technique. He was well aware of my extraordinary skill in ninjutsu. If he didn't close the distance quickly, he wouldn't stand a chance.
I watched as he charged toward me.
Close combat? Not a bad choice against a ninjutsu specialist. If I were an ordinary genin, that might work.
But I wasn't lacking in taijutsu, and trading blows with him wouldn't pose any difficulty at all.
However, I had a better idea. With a single hand seal, I activated my jutsu.
The air erupted with the sound of a thousand chirping birds. Lightning surged from my right hand, crackling with dazzling intensity.
"What the hell is that?!" Obito shouted, his jaw dropping.
Kato's eyes widened, fixed on my right hand, which was now sparking with erratic arcs of electricity.
"Should I stop the match?" Kato asked.
"Let's see what happens. He's shown restraint before," Kosuke answered, calculating the risks.
The surrounding students, too, were stunned. They had never seen me use such a visually stunning jutsu. In previous sparring sessions, I had always relied on simple and practical Earth Release techniques.
The truth was, I had often chosen earth jutsu because they were efficient, low-cost, and minimized the risk of collateral damage. To me, it didn't matter which element I used—any jutsu would work just as well against genin-level opponents. Earth Release just happened to be the most convenient.
My natural chakra affinities were fire, wind, and lightning. Earth and water were affinities I had developed later.
While the other students marveled at the spectacle, Asuma, standing across from me and facing my Chidori, felt every cell in his body scream in alarm.
Every instinct in his body screamed danger. Not the theoretical danger we discussed in classrooms, but the primal, visceral recognition of imminent harm.
How I knew all of this? Rikugan, and deductions.
And he was literally trembling right now.
"I'm going to die."
He abruptly stopped his charge, abandoning his plan to engage me in close combat.
I, however, wasn't one to give my opponent a chance to recover. The Chidori didn't just provide offensive power—it enhanced my speed. I moved like a lightning bolt, closing the distance between us before he could fully process what was happening.
Simultaneously, I threw a kunai, quickly forming a single-handed seal. One became dozens, the air filling with the sound of cutting metal as they converged on their target.
"Kunai Shadow Clone!"
This was one of my most frequently used jutsu. I had streamlined the hand signs down to three: Ox, Boar, Tiger.
The single kunai split into dozens of duplicates, all flying toward Asuma at high speed.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Asuma quickly formed hand seals, inflating his chest and exhaling a powerful gust of wind. The wind pressure blew all of my kunai clones away.
"Not bad," I remarked, genuinely impressed.
"I'm just getting started!" he replied, his confidence building slightly.
For a moment, Asuma's eyes reflected something beyond fear—calculation. He wasn't going down without demonstrating his own growth.
Knowing that close combat would likely result in instant defeat, he poured a significant amount of chakra into his next attack.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
A combination jutsu!
The wind strengthened the fire. Even a C-rank jutsu like the Flame Bullet gained tremendous power and area of effect when combined with Great Breakthrough.
"Well, aren't you a clever strategist," I muttered, unfazed.
In hindsight, I shouldn't have bothered experimenting with Chidori. Clearly, I was better suited to playing the role of a ranged powerhouse.
That didn't stop me from securing an easy win, though.
My hands moved through the seals—Tiger, Hare, Boar, Dog. I slammed my palm against the ground, channeling chakra deep into the earth beneath us.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
The earth rumbled before erupting upward, forming a massive rock wall, standing like an impassable barrier that absorbed the brunt of Asuma's fiery assault.
As he prepared his next move, the sharp cry of a thousand birds rang out behind him. His eyes widened as he realized his tactical error—I had used the earth wall not just as defense, but as misdirection.
Spinning around, he saw my glowing hand, thrusting toward him.
---
A Yamanaka's Trait System is out!
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No: 14 + 5 from p@treon
So, there will be a Roran arc.
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