Graduation exams! Part-3

{Academy Training ground, Konohagakure}

{11:41 AM, 18th Jan 13 Yrs ANB}

{3rd Person POV}

...

[Name: Haruka Nakamura]

[Title: Konoha Chunin]

[Level: 33]

[Chakra: 720]

[STR: 93]

[VIT: 86]

[END: 92]

[DEX: 97]

[INT: 63]

[CHA: 72]

???

???

[Titles:]

[Konoha Chunin: +10% additional EXP gains towards Fire-based Ninjutsu]

[Civilian born: +50% EXP to [Chakra Control Skills], +10% EXP.]

[???]

Description: Nakai Koichi, a Chunin from Konohagakure, was a graduate of the 16th batch from the Konoha Academy. He possesses exceptional agility, speed, and reflexes, allowing him to swiftly evade attacks while launching precise and powerful strikes. Haruka has also honed his skills in earth-style ninjutsu, which he employs to manipulate the terrain and create defensive barriers.

...

[Name: Akihiko Inuzuka]

[Title: Konoha Chunin]

[Level: 41]

[Chakra: 1860]

[STR: 123]

[VIT: 104]

[END: 99]

[DEX: 143]

[INT: 87]

[CHA: 93]

???

???

[Titles:]

[Konoha Chunin: +10% additional EXP gains towards Fire-based Ninjutsu.]

[Inuzuka Clan Member: 4x Sense of smell, +10% faster neural reflexes when using clan techniques.]

[???]

Description: Akihiko is a skilled Inuzuka clan member, specializing in the unique combat style of the clan. He has formed a strong bond with his loyal companion, a large white wolf named Kiba. Akihiko and Kiba fight together, utilizing their enhanced senses and cooperative attacks. He relies on incredibly fast and agile arracks, relying on their combined speed and ferocity to overwhelm opponents. Akihiko is also adept at using fang and claw-based techniques, further augmenting his offensive capabilities.

...

Ren used {Observe} on the two chunin as Mizuki quickly walked into the last circle and Iruka began explaining the taijutsu portion of the graduation exam, "For the last portion of the taijutsu exam each of you can select one of the three chunin in the sparring circles. The chunin would maintain their taijutsu standards at the genin level..."

As Iruka explained the rules, Ren analyzed the three chunins that he could choose, 'Most of the people in the class would go for Mizuki, I don't want to be average and I don't want to face someone who is potentially hostile so that leaves me with these two chunins...'

Nakamura was slower than him while the Inazuka was faster than him to be on the safe side he could just pick Nakamura and get a high score. He was sure Sasuke wasn't as fast as him and although he had learned the tree-walking skill and he could speed up by using chakra enhancement he was pretty sure that would not be allowed.

'And even if it does, I have a higher base speed anyway.'

Ren was hesitating a little as the first few names were called up by Iruka sensei to start the test. He observed Hiroshi who fought against Mizuki, at the start of the spar Mizuki started a little slower maintaining his speed exactly on par with Hiroshi allowing him to showcase his proficiency with the Academy Taijutsu style.

"Who are you going to challenge," Choji asked, their group of four was standing at one corner of the class.

"The Inuzuka," Ren replied getting a few raised eyebrows, the dog that was sitting beside the Inuzuka chunin yipped in his direction.

'Somehow that dog is stronger than most of our class,' Ren used another {Observe} on the dog. The fight was over soon and another student was called who also selected Mizuki as his opponent.

The class list was arranged alphabetically according to their last names, so the kids who fought first were the orphans who didn't have one. After this fight ended in another minute Mizuki increased his speed. Ren opened his inventory and removed his weights, he felt the pressure on his legs lighten.

"Ren," Iruka called and Ren walked towards the sparring circles, both of the fights just wrapped up in around 2 minutes. Ren walked up to the circle where the Inuzuka was standing, he had an arrogant smirk on his face that just widened when Ren walked into the circle.

Iruka blinked a couple of times to confirm Ren's choice before he nodded and appeared in between the two of them, he looked at Ren's legs but decided to keep quiet as he spoke, "Ready..." Seeing two mirrored nods he shouted, "Fight" and jumped back.

Ren didn't rush to attack and neither did Akihiko, the older chunin was standing in a relaxed manner looking at Ren with reserved confidence. Ren had his resistance seals activated at level 2 which meant that he had a debuff of 15 stat points on both his Str and Dex. His base speed still was though a lot faster than what Akihiko was expecting as Ren closed the small gap between them almost immediately.

Ren was focusing all his attention on Akihiko's reaction, his muscles tensed and Ren knew that he had caught the older chunin off guard. Akihiko brought up his hands into a cross-guard position blocking the kick that was aimed at him, Ren felt less resistance than he was expecting as the chunin leaned backward and used the momentum of his kick to do a quick flip and regain his footing.

A standard jab went towards Akihiko's face which he tapped away easily as the two of them sparred at almost high-chunin-level speeds. While both of them were moving at the same speed Ren was observing every movement carefully, he was waiting for any opportunity to gain a chance and drop his resistance seals to take advantage of the surprise attack and gain an advantage.

The opportunity never came as Akihiko perfectly countered his every move, all of his punches were blocked or misdirected while his kicks were avoided. Despite fighting at such a high speed all of a sudden Akihiko managed to perfectly counter his every attack as if he was anticipating his next move.

Ren kept a calm head, he knew he had one more chance and needed to take advantage at the perfect moment to gain the maximum advantage. The spar went on for a while as both of them had good enough stamina but the longer the spar went on the harder it was for Ren to launch an attack, after another couple of minutes he was just defending against Akihiko's fast blows while he managed to evade Ren's every attempt at trying to counterattack.

'This approach will not work, he is getting faster and faster countering my every attempt.'

Ren was frustrated as he looked at the Inuzuka's movements while fighting, he observed him for a few more seconds before he decided to disengage.

'Unless he was supposed to present us with an opportunity with a glaring hole in his defense to test us, I don't think I can force him to make a mistake severe enough for me to capitalize on it... I may have to drop the seal and then use pace changes to try and gain an advantage.'

...

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AN - 15 extra chapters on P.atreon at -p.atreon.com/Version_401

P.S- Team 8 - Saukra Haruno, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame.