[Chakra ×508 Quest : Entrance]
Heh. Nailed it.
There are indeed other means to gain multiplier beside the Daily. Even better, not only I can get more than one multiplier a day, looks like I can also have more than one mission a day. Because I did check at breakfast, and I remember the quest listed was Daily like usual.
I guess it was correct to push myself so I can finish the Daily all in the morning.
Did I regret not finishing today's Daily? Eh, not really.
Priorities, okay? Getting into Iruka's class was far more important than one multiplier. Even this Entrance quest would be okay to put aside for that.
I mean, I don’t even know what’s the completion criteria for it. So I better just focus on the exam itself. Though, I wonder what’s next?
“Hey, Aburame-san. Do you know what’s the next test are about?”
Shino looked at me. “I do.” Then he tilted his head. “But, did no one tell you?”
I shrugged. “One of my orphanage’s staff just told me that the exam will all be physical test.”
He straightened up. “My condolence.”
I smiled a bit. “Thanks. So?”
He adjusted his sunglasses before explaining. “From what I was told, the next test are still physical. There will be push-ups, sit-ups, squats, burpees, and kunai throwing. Only after that will they be testing our chakra. As for how they would test it, I’m told to not worry about it and just follow the examiner’s instruction.”
That’s rich. You’re a clan heir, of course you don’t have to worry about getting accepted into the academy. But, hold on.
“Wait, you say kunai throwing? I thought that was what we gonna learn after we enrolled, not before that.”
“Correct.” He nodded sagely. “My father said that kunai throwing test for today will only checking your learning capability. If you asked why, that’s to avoid wasting time by further learning to be a ninja. Because if someone can’t even pick up a basic skill quickly enough, they better stop right now.”
… Damn. Was Shino’s speaking habit have already formed so early in his life?
But this is bad, I’ve never practiced burpees. That’s not part of Saitama’s training and never required for the Daily. Worse, I’ve actually forgotten what a burpee is.
... Should I be grateful that it’s not a fartee instead?
“The instructor should also first demostrate how to do each of other physical tests.” Shino suddenly continued, probably seeing me looking a bit more nervous, even when I’m wearing a sunglasses.
Well, that’s reassuring. At least thats one problem down.
But there’s still kunai throwing, which my parent specifically forbids me to practice on my own in their book. Then there’s chakra test with zero detail.
Sigh... Turns out getting into Iruka’s class would not be easy at all, isn’t it?
At the very least I should still get accepted, even with this new detail. I mean, Lee made it, right? Or has he been recommended by Guy since early on?
... Well, whatever. Can only do my best for now.
Though, now I am glad to have skipped today’s Daily. Otherwise, I will be knackered halfway through these tests.
I nodded to Shino after a couple more seconds of worrying. “Thanks for the info, Aburame-san.” To which he nodded back.
The wait afterward was not long, as no one from the fourth group attempted the fourth set of 10 laps. It was then announced that there will be a lunch breaks and even food provided for examinee if you asked.
Which of course I asked. Yay free food~
Though Shino didn’t, apparently. He already gone unnoticed by the time I was about to go and take the provided food. Pretty stealthy, isn’t he?
I quickly devoured the meal given, which was a piece of delectable jelly-filled donu- ahem, I mean, onigiri with katsuobushi filling. I also didn’t forget to ask for water refill using the cup I was given earlier.
Not long after that, the announcer was back along with the 8 other staff, bringing a crate and what looked like several target for throwing practice.
“Alright, listen up! You have 30 more minutes until the next part of exam. For the next 15, these 8 instructors will show you how to do the exercises that you have to do later, as well as how to throw a kunai.”
The announcer paused for a second while sweeping his gaze. “After that, you can ask your group’s instructor if you want to do some throwing practice. Now, come closer to each of your group’s instructors and pay attention to this lesson.”
First on the menu was of course the exercises. I still paid attention on how to do push-ups, squats, and sit-ups just in case. And when the 8 instructors started to do burpees, I finally remembered what kind of exercise it was.
Thankfully, it looks like something I can manage with all the training I’ve done.
After that, there the kunai throwing lesson that a bit more like “basic kunai usage”, as they started with how to properly hold a kunai depending on whether you wanna throw it or use it in melee.
Only then they showed sequence in throwing it. How to move and twist your wrist, your forearm, your elbow, your upper arm, even your shoulder. It was a pretty comprehensive lesson despite the short time it took.
After the lesson ended, I rushed to the instructor for a chance to practice. One of ‘em gave me a couple kunai then pointed me to a practice target. She told me to go back to queue after I throw my two kunais and picked them from the target.
I rushed, again, to said practice target, took a couple deep breaths, and internally simulate how the instructor threw the kunai earlier. Then I ready one kunai in my right hand, and with my best effort I throwed it by mimicking how the instructor did it.
And what do you know, the kunai actually hit the target!
… The one to the right of mine, that is.
Well, that’s embarrassing. Pretty sure I heard some snickers from behind.
But, hey, at least I got the power down. I mean, geometrically, the target other than mine should be a bit further away compared to my intended target, right? If it hit there, then it should hit my target. Now I just have to address my aim.
Man, must be nice if I could have an aimbot or something.
Anyway, I ready my second kunai. Took another deep breath, and again try my bestest to mimic how the instructors thrown their kunai earlier. With a swoosh, my kunai barely missed the target. MY target. So that’s an immediate improvement.
I picked up my second kunai and then my first kunai after making sure no one would throw another at the neighbouring target where it’s at, then I went to the back of queue that has formed on my assigned target.
It was then that I take a better feel at the kunai in my hand.
It felt heavy, physically and psychologically.
A touch heavier than the knife I used at kitchen back home despite a tad bit smaller in dimension. But unlike that knife, which CAN be used as weapon, this kunai IS a weapon. It is designed to be used primarily for killing.
For the past 22 months, I refused to entertain any thought about ending another human’s life. I was able to kept myself distracted by the fear of the future threats, the wonders of a second life and a different world, and the training that I did every single day in the necessity to not just survive, but to thrive.
Every ninja art that I’ve learn, I treated it just like the name imply, an art. Every magical thing I have attempted, courtesy of chakra, was just that, a magic trick. It also helped that the most weapon-y thing I’ve held was either a kitchen utensil or a wooden imitation of one.
But holding and throwing a real kunai right now was really bringing home the fact that I was basically signing up to be a hired mercenary.
Thankfully, I still have six years of academy. I just hope whatever shenanigan they pull over here to make 99 percent graduate loyal to Konoha can also help me with this mindset.
I was just one queue away to have another try at kunai throwing when I was done with my musing. I was then able to get 4 more tries before I call it enough when I was able to make both kunai hit the intended practice target. After that, I decided to take another rest to prepare for the actual test.
Sometimes before resting time ended, I noticed Shino coming back from you know where. I mean, I know from meta knowledge that he surely has been trained in kunai and even shuriken throwing that he can skip the impromptu lesson.
But Nobu Takeshi shouldn’t have known that.
Tsk, time for another mind game, huh?
I waved a bit at Shino. “Hey, Aburame-san! Where have you been?! You missed the kunai throwing lesson!”
Shino noticed, and he starts walking toward me before taking a seat nearby. “I was having lunch somewhere else. Also, I have been taught how to throw a kunai, so I saw no need to attend that impromptu lesson.”
I shrugged. “Well, that’s good if you’re okay with it.” And ended the conversation.
Time ticked by and rest time ended when the announcer loudly declared the start of exam’s second stage. First item to test: kunai throwing. I guess the academy want to give us the best chance at it before our hands get tired from other physical exercise.
Unlike the practice where we queue, for the test they called for our name instead. As I was not among the first to be called, I tried to observe the performance of others.
It was a mixed bag, really. Which is to be expected.
There were some that failed to land even a single hit, fewer was able to land all ten kunai on their intended target, and the most was anywhere in between those two results. Oh, isn’t that Sasuke who just bulls-eyed all ten kunai? As expected of an Uchiha, I guess.
Speaking of, it’s probably better for me to stay clear of him while in the academy. Him and Naruto. At the very least until after the supposed massacre. Don’t want to put myself in the crossfire of Konoha’s politics.
After a while, it was finally my turn. I received the ten kunai, stood ready at the designated spot, then start taking a couple deep breath. One by one I threw the kunai with more care than my practice round. In the end, I was able to land 9 out of 10 with a couple bulls eye. Find the original chapter at novelping . com.
Definitely not bad. Though I don’t know if that was enough.
While waiting for others to finish, those already done with kunai throwing are immediately brought to the rest of physical exercise, starting with push-ups. The push-up test was timed; three minutes for each examinee. So, this is more like burst test rather than endurance, eh?
I observed a bit while waiting for my turn and found that immediately after push-ups, they have us do the rests of physical tests. Squats, sit-ups, and burpees, in that specific order, each on 3 minutes timer.
Hmm, thankfully there are two tests between push-ups and burpees. My arms should have recovered a bit by then.
Then came my turn. Again, did my best and just pumping reps after reps on those tests. The results? Push-ups 80 reps, squats 90, sit-ups 92, burpees 69. Nice.
But it’s not over yet. Once I was done with the physical, my examiner points me to another examiner for the last part of the test. The most important, he said. That must be the chakra-related test, right? So I dragged myself to said examiner.
Which turned out to be the legendary Umino Iruka himself.
“Nobu Takeshi?” Iruka asked while checking a paper he held.
“Yes, sir.” Again, not supposed to know him yet.
“Alright, sit cross legged in front of me.” So I did, and then he put his hand on top of my head.
Did I just get a head pat?
“Focus. I will need you to honestly describe what you feel in the next two minutes. Can you do that?” He asked as he looked me square in the eye.
“Yes, sir.”
“Alright. Let’s begin. Close your eye.”
I close my eye and immediately I feel another warmth flowing out of Iruka’s palm, entering the pathway which my own internal warmth circulated. Was the aim to make me feel my own chakra by introducing foreign one as a contrast?
Well, joke on him. Having a chakra in the first place was already a very high contrast compared to my previous life. Hmm. Just gotta tell him what I feel, right?
“I feel like there are a warmth flowing from your hand and entering the flow of my own warmth. That’s your chakra from your palm, right?”
Right after I said that, the warmth stops flowing from Iruka’s hand. Then I opened my eyes to a surprised pika- I mean, surprised face of Iruka. Immediately I put on a confused expression on my own face.
“Is there something wrong, instructor?”
Iruka then tidied up his expression, checked the paper in his hand, then looked at me. “You can already feel your own chakra? No, you said flow. Can you feel the route of your chakra flow?”
I confirmed, still with a confused expression. “Yes, instructor.”
“Can you point to me where it flows?”
So I did.
“It kinda started here.” I pointed to my heart. “Then it kinda gather here.” I tapped my stomach. “And it kinda went everywhere.” I flailed about to show my point.
“… And when did you begin to feel all of this?”
Alright, here goes nothing. “I feel it when I trained one day. I think about a year or so ago.” Didn’t lie, technically.
Iruka looked at me for a couple seconds before writing something on his paper. Then he looked at me again. “Alright. You have finished today’s exam. Make sure to attend the opening ceremony at April 1st. You can go home now, keep your name tag.”
I stood up and bowed. “Thank you very much, instructor.”
I tried and failed to look for Shino afterward, so I just went straight home after having some chat with some acquaintances along the way. Then I opened the system panel once I arrived home.
[Chakra ×511 Quest : - ]
… Not bad.
Note
The second half of the entrance exam! Again, hopefully there’s not too many canonical / factual contradiction and this rendition of entrance exam are acceptable.
And that’s 10 chapter made! Horaay! Never thought I would reach this far, tbh.
Also, I’m thinking of adding “Slice of Life” tag as a proper warning of how slow (I think) this story will be. What do you guys think?