CHAPTER 33

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The match between Jiraiya and the genin continued, with Jiraiya finding himself slightly at a disadvantage.

His opponent's attacks came relentlessly, forcing him to remain on the defensive, dodging and blocking wherever he could.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he narrowly avoided a roundhouse kick aimed at his side. But even though he was on the back foot, Jiraiya refused to give up. 

In his mind, the stakes were high, but not for the typical reasons of becoming a stronger ninja or passing the exam.

His motivation? *I have to win. If I don't, how will I be able to become ninja?* The thought made him smirk, even in the heat of battle, and it fueled his resolve.

He shifted his stance, planting his feet more firmly on the ground. His expression grew serious, and he finally launched a counterattack, aiming several punches and kicks at his opponent.

Yet, his blows didn't quite land with the precision he wanted. The genin blocked each one with ease, but Jiraiya remained unfazed. 

Despite the seemingly futile attempts, Jiraiya continued to press forward. His persistence was unshakable. 

Meanwhile, his opponent, who had been smiling confidently at the beginning of the match, began to lose his composure. *How is he still standing?* the genin wondered, gritting his teeth in frustration.

He had thrown enough punches to bring down a normal fighter, but Jiraiya, clumsy and awkward though he was, remained standing. *If I don't beat him soon, I'll be the laughingstock of the academy.* 

Minutes passed as the two genin traded blows, neither one gaining a decisive advantage.

The crowd watching the match became increasingly invested, murmuring among themselves at the tenacity of the two fighters.

But in the heat of the battle, both Jiraiya and his opponent lost track of time. 

It wasn't until the chunin referee stepped in that they realized how long they had been fighting.

Grabbing both of their hands, the referee raised Jiraiya's arm and declared, "Time's up! Jiraiya passes!"

Jiraiya blinked in disbelief for a moment before his usual grin spread across his face.

He leaped high into the air, pumping his fists. "Hahaha! Did you see that? I passed! Just you wait—I'm going to become a powerful shinobi, and all the girls will love me!"

His voice echoed across the training grounds, causing a few of the other students to roll their eyes, though some couldn't help but laugh.

As Jiraiya's match concluded, the other matches were also wrapping up. Among the ten students, eight had passed, including Tsunade, Sakumo, and Uchiha Naito, all of whom had knocked out their opponents with ease.

Their performances were already becoming the talk of the village, with whispers circulating about the rise of new prodigies in the next generation of shinobi.

Shortly after, a clone of Seita, the overseeing jonin, appeared. His calm voice called out to the group, "Eight of you passed the matches. Now, we move on to the shuriken jutsu and chakra control tests. Head to the next field."

With that, the group of students, some exhausted and others excited, made their way to the next training ground.

The field was open and spacious, with large targets set up at one end, each one a hundred meters away.

Another jonin instructor stood waiting for them. His voice carried authority as he addressed the group. 

"For the shuriken jutsu test, you'll each be given ten shuriken. Your task is to hit the target at a distance of 100 meters. The minimum score to pass is 90 points."

The students nodded in understanding. One by one, they approached the table where the shuriken were laid out, picking up their ten weapons with careful hands.

Tsunade, her confidence bolstered from her earlier victory, gripped her shuriken with determination.

Sakumo, calm and collected as always, stood by her side, his eyes focused solely on the target ahead.

After all the students had taken their positions, the jonin instructor gave a nod. "Begin!"

A series of sharp, whistling sounds filled the air as the students threw their shuriken.

The weapons sliced through the air with precision, embedding themselves in the distant targets with a satisfying *thunk, thunk, thunk.*

The process repeated ten times in quick succession, and after a few moments, the jonin flickered toward the targets to inspect the results.

He moved down the line, counting each score carefully. When he returned, he faced the students and began announcing the results.

"Tsunade Senju—99 points. Hatake Sakumo—100 points. Uchiha Naito—100 points. Orochimaru—95 points. Jiraiya—92 points…" He continued down the list, revealing that eight students had passed while two had failed the shuriken jutsu exam.

"Now, we'll move on to the chakra control test," the jonin announced, leading the group to the next training field.

They arrived at a wooded area, where tall trees stretched high into the sky, their bark rough and gnarled. Another proctor was waiting for them.

"This test will be in two parts," the proctor explained. "First, you must walk up the trees using chakra to control your steps. Afterward, we'll move to the water-walking portion. Now, take your positions."

The students spread out, standing before the towering trees. They gathered chakra in their feet, preparing for the challenge ahead.

At the signal from the proctor, they began to take their first steps up the trunks.

The students concentrated intensely, using the chakra in their heels to hold themselves to the surface of the trees.

For some, like Tsunade, Sakumo, and Orochimaru, the process was smooth and natural. They scaled the trees effortlessly, their chakra control already well-developed from rigorous training.

Jiraiya, while a bit shaky at first, managed to keep up, determined not to fall behind.

Others struggled. The last five students found themselves slipping or using too much chakra, causing the bark beneath their feet to crack. But with persistence, even they managed to reach the top after a minute of effort.

"All passed!" the proctor announced. "Now, move to the lake for the water-walking portion of the test."

The group made their way to the nearby lake, the surface of the water shimmering under the sun.

The proctor gave the next set of instructions. "Focus your chakra in your feet again. This time, you'll need to walk across the water without sinking. Begin!"

The students stepped carefully onto the lake, chakra flowing through their heels to maintain balance.

The first few steps were cautious, with each student testing their control. Tsunade, Sakumo, and Orochimaru walked across the water with ease, their steps light and steady.

Jiraiya, though struggling slightly, managed to stay upright, his face scrunched in concentration.

However, some of the other students weren't so lucky. One by one, a few lost focus and plunged into the water with loud splashes, disrupting the calm surface of the lake.

The sudden splash caused two more students to lose their balance and fall in as well.

Jiraiya, determined not to join them, thought to himself, *I can't fall here. I'm going to reach the top, no matter what!*

The proctor, observing their progress, smiled to himself. *This generation is stronger than mine was at their age. They've come a long way in just one year.*

Just as the students were starting to regain their footing, the proctor decided to test their limits further.

He made a series of hand seals and called out, "Water Style: Water Wave!" The surface of the lake began to churn, creating rippling waves that threatened to unbalance the students once more.

Jiraiya, Naito, and Orochimaru were the first to falter, falling into the water as the waves disrupted their chakra control.

But Tsunade and Sakumo held firm, their focus unwavering as they rode the waves, though even they showed signs of strain.

Wave after wave came, and by the sixth, Sakumo finally lost his footing and fell into the lake.

Only Tsunade remained standing, though she was visibly exhausted.

Seeing that the test had reached its conclusion, the proctor canceled the jutsu and brought the students back to the shore.

He addressed the group, "Five of you passed the chakra control test. Congratulations, you are now genin. Report to the classroom, and your sensei will arrive shortly. As for the rest of you, you'll have another chance to take the exam in six months. Dismissed!"

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