Chapter 41: The Graduate show (Part 4)

Normal POV

The crowd observing the match were buzzing with excitement as the final match of the day approached. It was rare for academy students to see a proper showdown of ninjutsu between two Shinobi.

The anticipation was thick as students who had already fought sat on the sidelines, exchanging whispers and glances, waiting for the next showdown.

"Next match—Akimichi Shiro versus Nara Kaito," the proctor called.

The crowd's murmurs quickly died down as two young shinobi stepped forward to face each other.

Akimichi Shiro was built in the way his clan usually was—big, sturdy, and chubby. Not Fat. Never Fat.

His sturdy frame looked more imposing, with the hint of developing muscles beneath the loose sleeves of his clothes. His clan's techniques, known for their size manipulation and strength to match, were always impressive, but Shiro didn't exactly look like a powerhouse just yet.

Across from him stood Nara Kaito with a relaxed posture almost bored. His frame was slimmer, but his gaze was sharp and calculating.

The Nara clan was infamous for their strategic minds and ability to manipulate shadows, a power that always put them at an advantage when it came to controlling the battlefield.

But Kaito's face gave away little emotion other than that of someone a decision away from falling asleep, as always.

''Classic Nara.'' Murakami muttered to himself as he glanced at Katsuro who spotted a similar expression before shaking his head and returning his focus to the match.

Kaito flicked his eyes toward Shiro, his gaze sliding over the Akimichi, seemingly taking in every detail. He exhaled slowly, brushing a lock of his black hair behind his ear.

Shiro cracked his knuckles, his eyes narrowing as he shifted his weight. There was a tension in the air now, different from the earlier matches. This wasn't just any fight—it was one of strategy versus strength.

The crowd was curious to see how it would play out.

Considering the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, many were excited to see how this would play out. Not to mention, it was already granted that they would be on the same team upon graduating along with Yamanaka Shiori who had most to Sakumo.

"Begin!" The proctor's voice sliced through the silence.

The instant the word left the proctor's lips, Shiro was on the move.

He lunged forward, his massive frame charging toward Kaito with startling speed, considering his size. The ground shook slightly as he closed the distance between them.

Kaito's eyes narrowed but he didn't dodge.

With one swift motion, Kaito's hands flew through a familiar series of seals and his shadow lengthened and stretched, creeping toward Shiro like a dark wave.

The Nara clan's Shadow Possession Jutsu.

The shadow snaked toward Shiro, aiming to latch onto his shadow and restrict them but Shiro wasn't just going to fall victim to that.

He shifted his weight to his legs and twisted his body, barely avoiding the shadow that tried to latch onto his shadow. It brushed against him, but Shiro moved too fast for Kaito to fully control him.

The Akimichi didn't just rely on brute force—their strength granted them some level of speed as well.

"Not bad," Kaito murmured, his shadow receding, but his eyes sharpened as he began to prepare his next move.

Shiro, breathing steadily, had no intention of slowing down. With another quick movement, he performed his hand seals. "Multi-Size Technique!"

A large puff of smoke surrounded him, and when it cleared, Shiro's body had swollen to nearly three times its original size. His limbs grew thicker, and his chest expanded, making him tower over Kaito.

The crowd gasped.

"Now that's some gigantification." Murakami said in awe. "Fucking Bloodlines." He muttered quietly. He too wanted to have that kind of inbuilt gene but unfortunately…

The Akimichi were known for their size-changing jutsu, but seeing it in action was something to behold.

Shiro, unbothered by the effect of his Jutsu on some students, took advantage of his size and charged again.

Kaito's eyes followed the giant boy's movements as his shadow stretched wide, expanding in preparation for another attempt to restrict Shiro. He was going to need to be quick—Shiro's sheer weight and momentum could crush him if he wasn't careful.

As Shiro lunged forward, Kaito's hand darted through the seals. "Shadow Strangle Jutsu!" he hissed, sending his shadow toward Shiro's giant form, trying to wrap it around his limbs, restraining him.

But Shiro didn't give Kaito the time he needed.

With a swift motion, Shiro slammed his palm down toward the ground. "Great Palm Jutsu!"

The ground around Kaito cracked as the force of Shiro's palm sent shockwaves through the earth.

A large wave of dirt and stone shot upward, forcing Kaito to jump back to avoid getting crushed. The blast from the impact sent debris flying in all directions, and Kaito barely managed to dodge, feeling the edge of the stone graze his side.

Kaito landed on his feet, panting slightly. He wasn't hurt, but he was visibly more winded than he had been earlier. His eyes flickered toward Shiro, who was already charging again, his movements slow but precise despite his massive size.

Kaito's mind raced. Shiro was strong, but Kaito knew he had the advantage of strategy and control. He needed to make sure his next move counted.

With another series of hand seals, Kaito whispered, "Shadow Clones Jutsu."

In an instant, a pair of shadow clones appeared beside him, one on either side, their eyes locked onto Shiro's movements.

Shiro's eyes widened slightly as the clones approached, but he didn't falter. His fist came down with the force of a falling boulder, targeting Kaito's clone to his left.

The clone melted into the shadows before the punch could land. Kaito smirked, watching his original self step behind Shiro's massive frame.

"Now!" Kaito shouted, and his shadow reached out, aiming to latch onto Shiro's legs.

But Shiro wasn't as distracted as Kaito hoped. With a swift twist of his body, Shiro shook off the shadow trying to bind him. The clone's grasp faltered, and Kaito's eyes widened in frustration.

Shiro wasn't making this easy.

He grunted as he charged forward, this time his hand crackling with chakra as he aimed to slam Kaito into the dirt. His strength was impressive, but Kaito had the advantage of speed and cunning due to his lean body and agile mind.

Just as Shiro's hand descended, Kaito used his last clone to distract the Akimichi, sending its shadow to wrap around Shiro's legs, his chakra reserves dwindling but enough to execute the technique one last time.

The moment Shiro's foot landed on the ground, Kaito's shadow was already lashing out like a whip, tangling around Shiro's legs and yanking him to the ground with an audible crash.

Shiro's breath was labored as he tried to lift himself up, but the shadow held him in place, keeping him immobile. Kaito stood over him, his hand outstretched, his expression focused.

Shiro's massive form shook slightly, but he was stuck. His strength couldn't overcome the control of the shadow at this point.

"Match over!" the proctor called, raising his hand to signal the end.

Kaito's clones vanished, and he took a deep breath, his eyes still locked on Shiro. Despite the Akimichi's power, Kaito had managed to use his speed and strategy to outmaneuver him in the end.

The crowd was quiet for a moment before breaking into applause. Shiro let out a deep sigh, his form shrinking back down to his normal size, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Winner: Nara Kaito," the proctor declared.

Kaito nodded, stepping back as Shiro grunted and climbed to his feet.

"Nice try," Kaito said, offering Shiro a slight smile.

Shiro huffed but couldn't suppress a grin. "Yeah, you're not bad either."

...

The proctor gave the two a moment to recover before raising his hand.

"That concludes today's final match," he announced, his voice carrying over the murmuring crowd. "All academy students present, your presence here was not just to spectate. I hope you all took something valuable from these battles."

The gathered students, especially the younger ones, exchanged glances. Some had been watching purely for the spectacle, while others had studied each movement, committing tactics to memory.

"Alright, dismissed!"

With that, the crowd began to break apart, students chattering as they walked away, analyzing the fights and discussing their own training. Among them, one particular group was called back.

"Class 5-A, gather up!"

The voice belonged to Daigo-sensei, their instructor. His sharp eyes scanned his students as they hurried over, some still buzzing with excitement, while others looked more subdued.

Once they were assembled, Daigo crossed his arms, letting the moment stretch. He wanted them to feel the weight of what they had witnessed before speaking.

"Did any of you figure out why I brought you here today?" he finally asked, his tone calm but firm.

A few students hesitated before speaking.

"To show us how to fight?" one offered.

Daigo gave a small nod. "Partially."

"To show us how much we need to improve?" another guessed.

"That too," he acknowledged. His gaze flickered over the group before he continued. "But there's something more important than that. This wasn't just about watching an exam. It was about understanding what's waiting for you beyond the academy walls."

A hush fell over the students.

"You will all be graduating soon," Daigo continued, his voice steady, "and when you do, you'll be expected to take on missions. But that's not the real reason you're here."

He let his words sink in before delivering the truth.

"The village is at war."

The silence that followed was absolute.

"Many of you have heard whispers about it, but let me make it clear. This isn't a minor skirmish. This is an all-out war between the Great Nations. We are losing people—good shinobi—every day."

Some students swallowed hard. Others clenched their fists.

Many amongst them had family who were on the battlefield, some whose family were dead. Elder brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers.

"And do you know what that means for you?" Daigo asked, his gaze sharp as he looked over his students. "It means that next year, some of you will be on that battlefield. Not just as shinobi taking missions—but as soldiers fighting for your lives."

A few students looked down, the reality of his words hitting them harder than they had expected. The academy had always been a place of training, but war had felt distant.

Not anymore.

Daigo's voice softened slightly. "The Hokage and the commanders aren't just throwing people into battle. They need fresh blood, but they won't send unprepared children to die." His expression darkened. "That's why you were brought here today. To see for yourselves what it takes to stand on that battlefield. To understand that without training, without discipline, without preparation—you're just another body waiting to fall."

The weight of his words pressed down on them like a boulder.

"So, I'll ask you again," Daigo said, his voice carrying a sharp edge now. "Are you ready to take your training seriously? Are you ready to put in the work so that when the time comes, you don't die the moment you step onto the battlefield?"

The response wasn't immediate. The students weren't just answering a simple question—they were deciding their futures in that moment.

One by one, they nodded.

"Good," Daigo said. "Because starting tomorrow, your training is going to change. No more treating this like a schoolyard competition. No more half-hearted sparring. We will train like shinobi. We will fight like shinobi. Because if you don't—"

His voice turned grim.

"—then you won't live long enough to regret it."

The students stood frozen as the weight of their instructor's words settled over them. Some swallowed nervously, others clenched their fists, and a few wore determined expressions.

"Dismissed," Daigo finally said, turning on his heel and walking toward the academy building.

The students remained still for a few seconds before slowly dispersing, their usual chatter quieter than before. There was no doubt about it—things were going to change.

And whether they were ready or not, the reality of war had just been placed before them.