The morning sun rose slowly over the Hidden Leaf Village, casting a warm golden glow across the rooftops and dew-speckled streets. Shin adjusted the strap of his satchel as he walked side by side with Aiko and Minato toward the Academy. The village buzzed softly with the usual rhythm of early-day life, but there was a quiet tension in the air—today was the day of the six-month evaluation.
Shin's expression was calm, but beneath it, a tight coil of anticipation stirred in his chest.
Aiko stifled a yawn, rubbing his eyes as he muttered, "Why do exams always start so early? My brain's still asleep."
Minato chuckled, hands in his pockets. "Better wake it up fast. I heard Nara-sensei's got something nasty planned for the theory section."
The three boys turned the corner, the Academy building looming ahead of them with students already gathering outside, their chatter a mixture of nerves and excitement.
---
The classroom buzzed with a low hum of anticipation, every seat filled for once. Students sat straighter than usual, some nervously tapping their pencils while others whispered to each other behind cupped hands. The tension thickened as the door slid open with a sharp clack.
Nara Boku stepped into the room, hands casually tucked into the sleeves of his jonin robes. His ever-calm gaze swept across the classroom before he walked to the front, the soft thud of his sandals the only sound in the quiet room. He paused at the podium, exhaled lightly, and looked up.
"Good," he said, his voice even and quiet, yet carrying across the room with clarity. "You're all here. As you know, today is your six-month evaluation. This will determine your standings and whether you advance to the intermediate curriculum—or repeat basic foundational training."
A few gasps and gulps echoed faintly around the room.
Boku pulled a scroll from within his sleeve and unrolled it lazily across the podium. "Let me make the structure of the exam perfectly clear."
He raised three fingers. "The exam is divided into three sections. Each section holds a different weight, reflecting how we value a shinobi's growth."
He tapped his index finger. "First—Taijutsu. This section is worth 50 points. You will each face one of our assigned sparring instructors in a live evaluation. We're not grading just on strength, but also on stance, footwork, defensive movement, agility, and basic technique. Raw aggression won't score high. Control and reaction matter."
Some students straightened at that, while others paled slightly.
His middle finger joined the first. "Second—Chakra Control. Also worth 50 points. You'll be evaluated through two exercises: leaf balancing and tree-walking. Both will be judged on consistency and time. Sloppy control or uneven flow will lower your score. Precision, balance, and duration are key."
He let that sink in for a moment before raising his ring finger.
"Lastly—the Theory Exam. Worth a full 100 points." He raised an eyebrow at the collective groan that followed. "Yes, yes. It's the largest portion for a reason. A shinobi who doesn't understand tactics, jutsu theory, history, and chakra science is a danger to their own team."
Boku let the scroll roll shut on its own and leaned slightly against the podium, arms folding.
"Let me be clear—this is not just a test of power. It's a measure of how far you've come in six months. Those who fail to meet the minimum passing grade of 120 out of 200 will have to undergo remedial training and retake the evaluation in two months. No exceptions."
He gave the class a long, unreadable look. "Now then… if you're prepared, line up. We begin with chakra control."
With that, the tension in the room turned sharp and electric as students rose to their feet.
---
The students stood in the courtyard, each with a single green leaf delicately placed on their forehead. The test had begun.
"Remember," Nara Boku's calm voice rang out, "the minimum requirement is fifteen minutes. Fail to last that long, and you forfeit all chakra control points. The longer you hold it, the higher your score. The top performer receives the full 50."
A hush fell over the courtyard. The only sounds were the chirping of birds and the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.
The first ten minutes passed swiftly. Many students were already sweating, their brows scrunching in deep concentration.
"Damn it… don't fall… don't fall…" one muttered.
At the fifteen-minute mark, a collective sigh of relief echoed as the first round of students dropped their leaves, collapsing into the grass with a mix of frustration and relief.
"That was tough…" one groaned.
Only a handful remained.
Senju Toru, his arms crossed and eyes narrowed, stood still as stone. Beside him, Kira Hyuga's expression was serene, her Byakugan deactivated but her focus razor-sharp. At minute twenty-three, both of their leaves finally drifted down almost simultaneously.
"Tch," Toru clicked his tongue. "Should've lasted longer."
Kira simply exhaled. "We did fine."
Mira Inuzuka chuckled as her leaf fluttered off at the 26-minute mark, scratching her head. "Not bad for a girl with chakra as wild as mine, huh?"
Haru Shimura followed soon after, hers falling at 27. "Hmph. Next time, I'll aim for 30."
Aiko stood silently, sweat glistening on his forehead. His eyes were closed, breathing even and calm. Finally, at 33 minutes, his leaf wobbled and fell. He caught it and smiled faintly.
"Looks like my limit..."
Only two remained—Minato and Shin.
All eyes turned toward them. The two boys stood opposite each other, unmoving, both refusing to break their focus. The leaf on Minato's forehead looked almost frozen in place. Shin's was the same—perfectly centered, unmoved.
The minutes ticked by.
40 minutes. Then 50.
"Are they even human?" someone whispered.
"Just how strong is their control...?"
At the one-hour mark, even Boku glanced up from his clipboard. "Interesting."
Minato's breath grew heavier, a single droplet of sweat creeping down the side of his face.
Shin, on the other hand, looked composed—but there was a subtle tension in his jaw.
"You're good," Minato finally said, breaking the silence, voice quiet.
"You too," Shin replied. "But I'm not stopping."
Minato smirked. "Neither am I."
Time crept on.
At 1 hour and 15 minutes, a tiny twitch—barely visible—disturbed Minato's chakra flow. His leaf trembled, then drifted down like a feather on the wind.
"Damn..." Minato muttered, catching it. "Guess you win this round."
Shin exhaled slowly but didn't open his eyes.
"You held it longer than anyone," Minato added with a smile. "Respect."
Only then did Shin pluck the leaf from his forehead and lower his head with a polite nod. "Thanks."
From the sidelines, Boku gave a faint nod of approval. "Impressive. Shin—50 points. Minato—48."
The rest of the students burst into murmurs of awe and quiet admiration. The first part of the exam had ended—and a clear frontrunner had emerged.
---
The courtyard buzzed with excitement as the taijutsu tournament began. Nara Boku stood at the center with a clipboard, his voice firm.
"This portion of the exam is worth 50 points," he announced. "Your ranking in the tournament will determine your final score."
Shin stretched quietly, mentally preparing himself. He was confident—taijutsu was one of his stronger areas.
The matches progressed rapidly. Shin won his first three matches, showing speed, control, and precise strikes. But in the semifinals, he was paired against Kira Hyuga, whose Byakugan and Gentle Fist technique proved too much to overcome. Despite his efforts, he fell short.
In the finals, Minato defeated Kira in a well-fought match, claiming the top spot.
Final Rankings – Taijutsu (out of 50 points):
1. Minato – 50 points
2. Kira Hyuga – 48 points
3. Shin – 45 points
4. Mira Inuzuka – 43 points
5. Aiko Uchiha – 40 points
6. Senju Toru – 38 points
7. Haru Shimura – 36 points
Shin wiped the sweat from his brow, a hint of frustration in his eyes—but also pride.
Third place… not bad. But job is not done yet
Ps ( hello guys i couldn't release a chapter yesterday due to some personal reasons please excuse me .I'll will be releasing one more chapter....today
Please guys show me some support and please give me your power stones 🥺 🙏🏻)