Chapter 3: Entrance Examination

"Where the leaves dance, the fire thrives endlessly. The flickering flames shall cast a glow upon the village, ushering in a season of new growth!"

Within the hallowed halls of Konoha Academy, successive waves of eager students hung on every word of Lord Third, the venerable Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen. A sea of faces displayed admiration and unabashed excitement, as the prospect of a new chapter in their lives unfolded before them.

Amidst the throng of fresh faces, Minato Namikaze, sporting an infectious smile, turned to his companion Tatsuma. With emotions now settled, he inquired, "Tatsuma, do you reckon we'll find ourselves in the same class?"

Tatsuma shook his head and responded, "How would I know? Yet, if we excel, we might find ourselves placed in an exclusive class."

"Exclusive class? Is that even a thing?"

Minato was perplexed; the concept of an exclusive class had never crossed his ears before. Hokage-sama had made no mention of it either. Tatsuma merely shrugged, offering no further explanation.

While there officially was no "Exclusive class" within the academy, Tatsuma had keenly observed a cohort of children adorned with clan emblems meticulously drawn on their attire. They occupied seats nearest to Lord Third.

Further away, another group of youngsters, distinguished by both clan symbols and well-appointed gear, stood out. Though not necessarily affiliated with prominent ninja clans, their parents were likely serving as active-duty ninjas.

In the third stratum, civilians occupied the space. Their attire bore no clan emblems, and while their equipment may not have been entirely comprehensive, their ninja tools, pouches, clothes, and shoes were notably pristine and new. Their evident prosperity suggested favorable financial circumstances.

Tatsuma and Minato found themselves on the outermost perimeter, surrounded by peers who exhibited signs of hardship—emaciated figures clad in faded or ill-fitting garments. The wear and tear on their ninja tool pouches hinted at a second-hand acquisition, and like Tatsuma, many were likely orphans.

Despite sharing the status of war orphans, Tatsuma and Minato stood apart from their counterparts. Unlike the malnourished children around them, it wasn't a matter of preferential treatment from the village; all war orphans received identical financial assistance. The distinction lay in the fact that the duo had formulated clear and purposeful plans for every monthly stipend they received.

Tatsuma, having navigated the intricacies of two distinct worlds, possessed a keen understanding of income distribution and the art of financial management. In contrast, Minato's maturity seemed precocious, suggesting a depth of understanding beyond his years.

The meticulously arranged seating plan left Tatsuma skeptical about the randomness of the Academy's class assignments. While Minato, perhaps viewing it through the lens of childhood innocence, might have believed in the arbitrary decisions of the Academy senseis, Tatsuma couldn't afford such nonchalance.

"Follow me; we're about to conduct an entrance test for you."

Shortly after Sarutobi Hiruzen concluded his address, several Konoha Ninjas, adorned in Chunin vests, ushered the new students toward the training ground.

Tatsuma cast his gaze across the landscape and observed a series of targets in the distance. Positioned five meters away from these targets, a lengthy table sprawled with meticulously arranged Kunais, Shurikens, Senbons, and various other standard ninja tools.

Taking in the scene, Tatsuma instinctively turned to Minato. In that shared glance, a tacit understanding passed between them, and a grateful smile adorned their faces. The impromptu training from the previous day had equipped Minato with improved proficiency in throwing ninja tools.

While Minato's skills remained at an average level, he had absorbed the techniques well. Precision in hitting the target was now a given, with no concerns about insufficient strength or misdirection leading to the tools missing their mark.

Tatsuma grinned and remarked, "Come on, with your talent, yesterday's training is bound to yield impressive results. How about we make it interesting and compare our scores?"

Confronting this friend, whose competitive spirit seemed insatiable, Minato didn't reveal the subtle frustration from the previous day's repeated defeats. Instead, he nodded decisively.

Reflecting on the prior night, Minato pondered the time spent with Tatsuma. He recognized that, after each agreed-upon match, he set personal goals, and this pattern fueled a newfound vigor within him, propelling him to fulfill the agreed-upon training. It dawned on him that perhaps this inclination to set up matches was rooted in Tatsuma's desire to spur motivation.

"Select the ninja tools you prefer, take aim at the target ahead, and throw five times. There's no need to feel pressured; it's just a straightforward little test."

After several batches of new students took their turns, it was finally Tatsuma and Minato's chance. The sensei from the ninja school smiled at the duo and remarked, "Please pick the ninja tools of your choice. Aim at the target in front of you and make five throws. Don't stress too much; it's just a simple assessment."

Following the test, Tatsuma courteously inquired, "Could you kindly inform us of our scores later, if that's convenient?"

Tatsuma, inclined towards using polite language, especially in requests, noticed the sensei pause as he observed the distinctive mental demeanor of these two children—a departure from the usual war orphans. Eventually, a nod of approval came from the instructor.

Witnessing this, Tatsuma exchanged a smile with Minato, who also nodded in acknowledgment. Without hesitation, they each selected a Kunai from the table.

The sensei, observing the two youngsters wielding Kunais, couldn't help but express a hint of surprise. After all, for children of five or six years, Kunai could prove somewhat heavy and large. While adult ninjas might find little difference in difficulty when throwing Kunais, Shurikens, or Senbons, the same could not be said for younger children. For those at such a tender age, Shurikens would be the more suitable choice; Kunais proved too weighty, and Senbons too light, making control a challenging feat.

However, the manner in which these two children gripped the Kunai suggested a seriousness that belied any notion of frivolity. Despite the subdued expectations the ninja school senseis may have had for war orphans, curiosity flickered in their eyes as they observed the duo poised in front of the targets.

"Thud, thud, thud~"

"Thud, thud, thud~"

With minimal mid-flight adjustments, Tatsuma and Minato seamlessly retrieved Kunais from the table, maintaining a fluid rhythm in their throws. In a remarkably brief span, they effortlessly launched five Kunai, each finding its mark on the target stationed five meters away.

For seasoned ninjas, a five-meter target typically falls within the category of proximity, a distance seldom used for training. However, for children yet to embark on formal instruction, hitting a target at such close range is commendable. The ninja school sensei blinked, reconsidered the targets, and then turned his gaze toward the duo, a tinge of astonishment coloring his expression. He inquired, "Have you undergone prior training?"

"We usually frequent the training ground for practice."

Tatsuma responded with a smile, prompting a nod of acknowledgment from the sensei. "Impressive. It appears you both have a natural aptitude for ninja skills. You, with fifty points, and you, with forty-five points, kindly present your admission letters."

The sensei swiftly traced a few strokes on their admission letters before returning them, remarking, "Very well, head over there for the next test."

With a nod, the sensei diligently recorded the scores of Tatsuma and Minato. In the same group, the absence of the telltale sound of ninja tools striking targets hinted at the challenges faced by the other students.

Following a polite salute, Tatsuma and Minato proceeded to the designated area. Tatsuma turned to Minato, offering a compliment, "Your talent is truly exceptional. If you had commenced training a month ago, akin to my start, perhaps you would have surpassed even me."

"Ding~ [Stamina+2]"

Minato absently scratched his golden hair at the temple and acknowledged, "Today's success owes much to your guidance. Even with an exceptional performance, I would only have managed to match your scores in this round. Tatsuma, if I'm not mistaken, a five-meter target hardly does justice to your true capabilities, does it?"

Tatsuma responded with a knowing smile, opting not to verbalize his agreement. Only he knew that had he not unearthed Minato's potential the day before, today would have been a reliance on sheer luck.

"Time to move on. The next test awaits us. Achieving the same class level demands more than a single standout performance. Let's persist and give it our all," Tatsuma encouraged.

"Absolutely, let's give it our all."