Your Shinobi Career Starts Here [Genin Exam]

[Minamoto Daisuke]

A thunderous crack ruptured the air in the middle of Kitsune Park, disturbing the peace on this otherwise perfectly quiet and sunny day. The park had been empty only seconds ago, yet now, stood in the centre of the coliseum was a tall and broad shouldered man. His tree trunk-like arms sat folded over his chest and revealed the contours of his well-muscled limbs. A smile played on his face, above the brown goatee and well below the emerald irises that punctuated his weathered yet handsome face. Long blue ribbons of fabric flowed down from the leaf headband that glistened proudly across the man’s forehead; the sun glinted from its surface and further played through the etched symbol of Konohagakure that was emblazoned on the metal. For a few seconds after his arrival, the wind whipped around his form carrying the air of confidence that this man radiated out from his station.

Deguchi Shinzo had returned.

The summons had been sent out, notes had been placed upon the academy notice board, and each class of students had been informed that an exam would be taking place for those who felt ready to progress in their shinobi careers. All Shinzo had to do now was wait. It was interesting for him, he had never been a particularly patient child, yet as he grew older his patience seemed to grow with him. Life had been rather unpredictable in that regard. Each class of students he had seen and taught were radically different from one and other in many ways, it would be quite the experience to see what the few who felt brave enough to take his test would bring with them in terms of skill and expertise.

His uniform wasn’t particularly different from many of the main branch shinobi of the village, of course it had some personal flairs, but this time he had a little extra piece of red ribbon tied in a bow just below his left shoulder – clearly this would play a part in the exam to come, and he looked forward to how the students would react to a ninja wearing a bright red bow on his arm.

The wind grew still again as the environment finally accepted the sudden and almost violent arrival of the Jounin. For now he was the only one there, but it would only be a matter of time until the new prospects showed their faces.

[Topic entered as NPC Shinzo]
[Summoning Shoma and Toshi]

 

[Uchima Shoma]

There was an emotion welling up inside Uchima Shoma. It wasn't the come-and-go melancholy he'd become accustomed to over his 13 years, nor was it the quiet optimism that visited on his better days. It wasn't embarrassment, frustration, or even the budding confidence that he'd come to feel in combat. No, this emotion was a relatively new acquaintance, one he'd met in Konoha and seemed to encounter more frequently the longer he stayed in the hidden village. Shoma was feeling excited for the future, and it showed in the noticeable bounce in his step, the tuneless whistle that preceded him.

Better late than never, Shoma! You might be older than most of your class, you might not be as experienced, but damn it you're going to do it! You're going to pass this test and become a Genin!

Positive self-talk was a strategy he'd learned from a shinobi psychology book in the academy library. He didn't know for sure if it would work, but it did a good enough job of keeping the darkness away.

Shoma was a fairly tall boy, lanky in proportions that hinted at a growth spurt that hadn't yet picked up momentum. He took after his father, after all, so those familiar with the family knew it was only a matter of time before the junior Uchima began to tower over his peers. His short-cropped dark hair and dark eyes were perhaps the only facets of his appearance that didn't particularly stand out. Today, he'd forgone his usual white short-sleeve shirt in favor of a Konoha-green sleeveless shirt, though he'd kept his signature black cargo pants. He figured he'd switch those out for something more ninja-like eventually. Whatever he switched to would have to have a lot of pockets, though.

Coming up on Hokage Rock, Shoma's excitement grew until it felt his heart might escape his chest at any moment. A grin fought its way to his lips, and his eyes widened in wonder. He'd never been this close to the monument before, and the majesty of it was just now fully dawning on him. This was where he would take his exam, below the cliff in an arena called Kitsune Park. He'd heard tell of it in hushed whispers among his classmates. The mystery of the place had elevated to almost legendary status in Shoma's mind, and to finally lay eyes on it felt as though he'd been transported to one of the ninja novels he'd consumed in the years before coming to the ninja academy.

The gate was watched over by The Famed Uchiha, with the tombs of fallen shinobi just outside the coliseum. Shoma bowed toward the graveyard, and again toward the statue before continuing. He didn't know if that was standard practice, but it seemed appropriate. This was where legends came to be made and where they were laid to rest.

I hope to make you all proud. Please watch over me in this exam, and guide me to become a shinobi worthy of the Konoha name.

He hoped someone would hear his prayer, though as he passed the graveyard and started through the gate, a thought came unbidden to his mind, echoes of a conversation he'd had with the medical Senin almost a year back.

Dark Sages can raise the dead. They could force us to fight our own heroes, to kill them a second time.

Shoma's previously cheery expression turned just a bit harder as he was reminded of his purpose, the overarching goal of his ninja journey - the elimination of those that utilize cursed chakra to do evil.

I won't let their rest be disturbed. Not if I can help it.

Upon passing through the gates, Shoma was met by a man who frankly could have been his uncle in another life. He looked very much like a younger version of his father, one who had decided to spend his time lifting weights rather than drinking tea. Where his father was known for a belly larger than most small children, this man had arms the size of Shoma's head. Shoma couldn't make out many details at this distance but could feel the man's imposing presence, an intangible pressure that grew with every step he took toward the center of the coliseum. One detail was clear though, there was a bright red ribbon tied in a bow around his arm.

Is that a fashion statement or part of the test?

He'd heard his classmates talk about genin exams taken by their older siblings, family friends, and the like. It seemed they sometimes involved a capture-the-flag component. Maybe the ribbon was an objective of sorts.

Nearing the center of the coliseum, Shoma got a better look at the exam proctor and noticed another, eye-catching detail. There were wraps around the man's hands. That didn't always mean anything, he knew, but the absence of any other obvious weapons hinted at a Taijutsu specialist. That piqued Shoma's interest almost as much as the ribbon. When he reached an appropriate distance, Shoma bowed to the older shinobi and introduced himself.

Good morning, Sensei. My name is Uchima Shoma and I'm here for the Genin exam. I will be fourteen years old in a couple of months and I've been a student at the academy for one year. I hope to leave the arena a full member of Konoha's shinobi force.

He had no idea if that was the proper way to introduce himself for an exam or not, but he hoped it at least struck the right balance between confident and formal.

[Topic Entered]

 

[Toshi]

Leaving the Clan House, Toshi closed the front door. Today he'd leave a student of the shinobi world, and come back a full fledged shinobi of the village. He said that he'd tell Nao of his examination, and how he conquered his way to his promotion. He only hoped he wouldn't fail, otherwise the story he'd come back with wouldn't be so great to tell. "I won't let you down Nao Sensei." The words echoed through the boy's mind as he started towards where the examination would commence. He didn't want to be late, as time was dwindling before the appointed time of the start of the exam.

It was only a matter of time before the boy made it to the colosseum. He wondered why this location was chosen out of all places. Then again, Toshi hadn't been out to explore the village since he was allowed into it. Once there, he first noticed Shoma. A grin stretched across Toshi's face as he approached his fellow student. "Aye, glad to see you make it Shoma." Toshi would say, standing a few feet away from his friend. As the wind blew, his tan shroud swayed with the breeze, keeping what was underneath concealed. It had been a while since he'd last seen Shoma while out shopping. They conversed about a few things and had a spar. The boy enjoyed when the memory when it crossed his mind. It reminded him that he had a few things that he still needed to work on. Maybe this exam would push him to his limits, maybe even further if need be.

He then noticed the guy with the forehead protector. He was obviously the proctor over the exam. Toshi didn't know what it was, but he felt great about taking this exam. The ribbons the guy wore were out of the norm, however, what caught Toshi's eye was the forehead protector. The prize of being a shinobi of the village. It was what Toshi was after, to be called a guardian of Konohagakure. After all this time, Toshi's plans of progression seemed to be within reach.

"Yuki Toshi, student and protector of the village reporting in." He looked his proctor in the eyes while introducing himself. With his hands behind his back, Toshi stood at attention, awaiting the proctor's instructions.

[ Topic Entered ]

 

[Minamoto Daisuke]

Waiting didn’t appear to be on the cards for the day, Shinzo thought to himself as one by one the two students arrived in the coliseum and introduced themselves. The first to arrive was Shoma, a relatively thin and tall boy who showed what would be the initial stages of growing strong. Of course, Shinzo recognised this point in development, he had been there himself what seemed like a millennia ago – even though it was probably only about twenty or twenty-five years ago. He internally shuddered at the thought of his age for a moment before returning his attention to the first of the arrivals. His build suggested Taijustu, either that or an interest in fitness in general. An interesting prospect to say the least, something he would keep an eye on for the time being.

The boy named Toshi arrived soon after, he appeared to hold a much smaller figure than Shoma – but Shinzo knew that was no indication of strength and capability. After all they were both here to partake in the exams, so they must have had an element of skill that made them feel confident. But now Shinzo wondered what Toshi’s skills would be. An element of blankness was apparent on the boy’s face, but it wasn’t quite enough to mask the keen green of Shinzo’s eyes as he caught the ever so slight shimmering that played across the smaller of the two student’s skin. Another interesting element. It appeared that these two would each have something to offer – but of course Shizno already knew a little bit about each after reading their files.

There seemed to be positivity radiating out from them as they arrived, their youthful spirits teemed with energy and promise. The former Head Jounin looked down his nose at the pair, doing his best to seem unimpressed and generally disinterested; he wanted to make them feel slightly uncomfortable, to hold a very serious examination that would test their mettle. This lasted for all of thirty seconds before Shinzo’s frown cracked into a smirk, then a smile, and then finally he swung his head back to release a boisterous laugh. Oh, how he had missed the energy that young people held - a lot of shinobi lost their energy as they aged, but it was always important to find a balance. He had learnt that throughout his years.

“Welcome to Kitsune Park!” Shinzo called out to them, a confident smile present on his face now. “And more importantly, welcome to your Genin examination.” He paused. “I will be your proctor for today, my name is Deguchi Shinzo, former Head Jounin, current examiner, and your future obstacle.” A chuckle escaped his lips before he continued. “You are here today to demonstrate why it is that you should be considered as capable shinobi, capable enough to officially join the ranks of the protectors of Konohagakure. A ninja of the hidden leaf.” He scanned their expressions as he spoke. “Now, this will not be easy, if it were then we’d be going about this all wrong. But I’m sure you will both be up for the challenge, I can see the fire burning in your eyes, I can feel your determination in your words – and next I want you to show me why you are worthy of wearing one of these.”

Shinzo brought his right hand up to tap his forehead protector with the tip of his thumb. He held that pose for a few moments and smiled.

“Your task is simple. By now I’m sure you’ve taken note of my dainty bow, it is your job to get it from me. I’m sure you both think it is an excellent fashion accessory, but it does stick out quite a bit considering the rest of my ensemble. All it takes is a simple pull at one end and the bow will come undone. You will have three hours to give your all and show me what you’ve got up your sleeves.”

Shinzo paused again to draw breath and then slammed his right palm onto the red bow below his left shoulder.

“Whoever has this ribbon by the end of the three hours will graduate, if you do not then it’s back to the academy for you.” He gave a nod before thrusting his right hand out to give the two boys a thumbs up. “Good luck, and don’t hold back!”

From his left hand there radiated a small click a second before Shinzo threw a small stopwatch to the duo.

“Begin!”

2:59:59​

 

[Uchima Shoma]

Shoma was glad to see Toshi had decided to participate in the exam. He'd known from their first meeting that the boy was planning to take the exam soon, but Shoma had always assumed that his friend would take it, and pass, well before Shoma himself was eligible. The fact that they would be taking the exam, and potentially graduating together was enough to bring a smile to his face.

This is perfect. Toshi is really good, and I've gotten a lot better. We should be able to do this no problem!

His cheer faded a bit, however, as the instructor, Shinzo-sensei, introduced himself and the objective of the exam. Particularly concerning were the words, “Whoever has this ribbon by the end of the three hours will graduate, if you do not then it’s back to the academy for you.”

Does that mean that only one of us can pass?

His eyes grew wide at the thought, his heart beating a bit faster. Toshi was well ahead of Shoma in terms of shinobi skill. He had always been very clear on that point. If the exam was a competition not just between the students and their seasoned instructor, but between the students themselves, then Shoma was quite certain he'd be returning to the academy.

No, they say there's always a trick to these things. We just need to find the trick. What's the trick?

Just as Shoma's mind had begun the race to find the catch, Shinzo-sensei had finished his introduction and there was a stopwatch on the ground at Shoma's feet. It read just under 3 hours. Shoma looked up from the watch, his eyes locking on the ribbon around Shinzo-sensei's arm. All he had to do was pull one end. That was it, just pull one end.

Shoma's expression hardened, his brow furrowing in determination. He felt chakra surging toward his legs and feet, a technique he'd learned to speed up his first step and take his opponent off-guard. His Taijutsu instructor had called it "Step-In Flash". If he timed it right, he'd be in quickly and retreat just before Shinzo-sensei could respond.

If he'd had time to think, he might have realized that trying an intermediate-at-best taijutsu technique against the former head Jounin, a Taijutsu specialist by the looks of him, was an exercise in futility, but he didn't have time to think. His was to act before his target disappeared and he had to rely on Toshi to track him.

Shoma exhaled, clearing his mind, and then released the chakra built up in his feet as he took a large stride forward. The chakra would propel him forward, getting him in range to make a couple of swipes at the ribbon, and just as the chakra was beginning to run out, he would reverse the step and return to his original position, hopefully with ribbon in hand.

Hopefully.

[MFT]

 

[Toshi]

"Pass the exam at the sacrifice of a teammate?" The words slipped from Toshi's mouth as Shoma had already begun. And though their Genin Exam had already started, Toshi couldn't help but feel a pain tugging at his heart. He knew the village was more about teamwork rather than working as an individual to get the mission done. Competition was always great, it helped push those around you to do better, but is this what it really took to become a Genin? To serve the village? He couldn't help but feel that something was wrong, but the setting of the exam said otherwise. A coliseum, a place where competition was all too known. It would only make sense for the two to compete, but this wasn't enough to convince Toshi that this exam was to pit the two students against one another. That's when the boy had made it up in his mind.

"I was invited here to become a shinobi, to uphold the laws of the village, and serve protecting the village as best as I could." To him, that meant he would sacrifice himself for his teammate. If it meant that Shoma would become a Genin before him, he'd be fine with that. He trained hard to become something better than just a student, but what mattered most were the ones around him. He probably wouldn't pass this exam, and would probably go home to Nao with a story of failure, but he'd show this proctor guy that he had what it takes be a great.

With Shoma going for a direct approach, Toshi knew the proctor would more than likely have his hands full dodging Shoma's chase. This would be the perfect opening for the boy to prepare his own plan.

Toshi entered a style that he inherited from his bloodline abilities. The Silent Mist, chakra style. He would take the stance of a Yuki that was able to wield their ice techniques like one of the best. Afterwards, Toshi would use his Ice Mirrors technique twice. He would create a total of 4 ice mirrors. One north of the examination area, one south of the examination area, one east of the examination area, and one to the west of the examination area. He knew this would allow him to move a bit more quickly while attempting to catch the proctor. While using the ice mirror technique, a single clone appear, immediately giving chase to the proctor.

It was only a distraction as Toshi then finished his hand seals to create a barrier for their examiner to crash into while evading chase. If successful, it would give enough time for either Shoma, or Toshi's clone to pull the ribbon of success, as he now called it, from the examiner.


---
[ MFT | WC: +250 ]

Silent Mist - Bloodline Style
This ancestral technique emphasizes the Yuki’s natural abilities to create a frozen mist around them, blending in seamlessly with the environment. Focused on silently tracking down their foes and finding the right moment to strike from the mist. With this technique a skilled Yuki can end a fight before it even begins.

Rank 1/2/3: When the user casts an Ice Technique, the user generates a "Clone" with HP equal to 10% of the CP used and -4 of their secondaries. If the “Clone” is destroyed, the remaining damage from the attack targets the user at -0/-1/-2 accuracy. The user may also enter any active Ice Mirror when a Ice Technique is cast.

Cost: 0.5 AP

---

Ice Mirrors - Ice Ninjutsu
The signature technique of the Yuki, conjuring a beautiful mirror of ice that can only reflect themselves while within it, allowing them to move between mirrors for a deadly surprise attack. The ice mirror also provides protection for the Yuki, concealing them within this defensive layer of ice.

Rank 1/2/3: The user generates two Ice Mirrors that each have HP equal to 5% of the user’s Max CP. The user may have a maximum of 2/3/4 Ice Mirrors. While inside an Ice Mirror, the user gains the following benefits:

Cost: 2 AP and 400 CP, 200 CP/rnd

---

Barrier

A defensive jutsu that allows the user to create a sphere of chakra that protects them from all harm, so long as their energy is able to hold out. This barrier blocks out all forms of physical harm whether they be literal physical weapons, or the chakra infused art of Ninjutsu to include illusionary techniques. However, while one is protected on the inside, they cannot attack.

Master: Creates a Barrier that has 1,685 Damage. This has a 24% chance of activating the 'Non-Elemental' effect. Must be used with a special action.

Special Action - Energy Wall: Gains DR against Physical and Elemental Damage equal to 110% of the Base Damage against a single attack.

Master Cost: 560 Cp, 280 Cp/Rnd

 

[Minamoto Daisuke]

Shinzo watched on with the smile playing on his lips seemingly ever-present, though as he saw the initial preparation for movement from both students the smile shifted into a smirk. It seemed as though they felt ready to take him on, a good sign. Shoma was first to advance forwards with a rather swift taijutsu technique, one Shinzo knew quite well; the boy was quick but not quite quick enough to close the gap between himself and Shinzo who had begun to hop backwards, making sure to stay reasonably out of range. Speed seemed to be what Shoma was going for, getting it over and done with as soon as possible. Shinzo ducked and weaved, bobbing from side to side in order to avoid the continual strikes that were aimed his way. He allowed for himself to be driven backwards, creating space between their starting point and where Toshi was now formulating handseals. Even with the advancing of Shoma, Shinzo’s attention wasn’t fully drawn away from the other student who remained behind.

A clone of the smaller boy popped up and rushed to join the fray, but the real Toshi was still hanging back. Shinzo caught the light shift at the far edges of the coliseum, the air seemed to condense and then crystalise – ice mirrors, a technique he had only heard about and not actually faced. It seemed as though there was some learning for everyone to have on this day. Shinzo clenched his teeth, still smirking in approval as he skipped to one side, avoiding another strike from Shoma. He glanced behind him, catching the subtle shimmer of chakra in the air – an inventive approach for sure, Shinzo didn’t anticipate the two of them to initiate the exam with tactics such as these; maybe he’d have to take them both more seriously.

Shinzo didn’t particularly have the time to change his momentum, Shoma had done a good enough job at keeping the jounin on the retreat, and Toshi had adequately anticipated where Shinzo’s trajectory would take him. Good, very good, but the pair were still yet to properly coordinate with one and other – this wasn’t going to be enough to pass, but they were surely on the right track.

Shinzo felt his back press against the solidified air, the barrier that Toshi had conjured was sturdy. It looked as though the jounin had already been overcome; his position was unfavourable; he was backed up against a solid wall of chakra with a taijutsu specialist moving in. He assumed this was all going according to their plan, Toshi had done well to think ahead and Shoma had done well to put pressure on the bearded man. For a moment he feigned shock as he watched the taller of the two students reach out towards the ribbon, he was only millimetres away when Shinzo’s expression changed back to his playful smirk. His form flickered and disappeared without explanation.

A subtle shift in the wind could be felt originating about ten feet behind Toshi as the air dispersed to accommodate for the sudden reappearance of Shinzo. His eyes darted to see Shoma quickly return to his starting point close by. The imposing shinobi stood there with arms folded once again before speaking to the duo.

“Good attempt; well thought out, and good execution from both of you. But I’m not convinced you’re giving this your all. As a shinobi of the Leaf, you are expected to pour your heart and soul into everything you do for this village, and right now I expect you both to give your all to secure your future. When I am gone the future of this village and its inhabitants will be left to you. Show me that you have what it takes to advance. Show me your will of fire!”

Spoiler: Jutsu used

Quicksilver Step - Buffing Taijutsu
Taking their ability to ignore the boundaries of what is possible and impossible to the literal translation, the Seikon member steps through reality itself and appears somewhere else to strike while avoiding attacks with ease.

 

[Uchima Shoma]

Shoma stopped a foot short of Shinzo and made a swipe for the ribbon, but came up short as the older shinobi stepped back, just out of reach. So went the next few seconds, as Shoma pressed the attack, swinging, feinting, sweeping, round-housing, weaving swipes at the ribbon in between strikes at the test proctor himself. His shots weren't landing, but he was driving Shinzo back, apparently not giving him time to react.

Shoma caught in the corners of his vision a shimmer of light as the air in three places he could see seemed to coalesce into mirrors of ice. He knew the technique, though he'd never seen its actual combat application. Toshi had used it in their spar to offer better lighting on the battlefield, but Shoma had always suspected that they had a much more sinister application.

Just as Shoma had pressed his quarry against a shimmering bit of air that he suspected was also Toshi's doing, a barrier of some sort most likely, he saw an expression of surprise on Shinzo's face, an expression that surprised Shoma just as much. Unfortunately, just as Shoma began to grin, thinking he was about to grab the ribbon after an assault of just a few seconds, he saw the look of shock shift back to that easy grin that had preceded the assault. Then, just as Shoma was about to touch the ribbon, when he could almost feel it, the older shinobi simply...vanished.

Shoma's expression went the reverse of Shinzo's, from grin back to shock as he whipped his head around, trying to spot the man. He looked to the left - nothing, the right - nothing, and just as he could feel the chakra ebbing from his extremities, he lept back to where he'd began and whipped around to face Toshi. He was met with the sight of Shinzo standing about 10 feet behind his young partner...opponent? Well, there were two Toshis, something he wasn't unused to as Toshi had pulled a similar trick months back. Shoma still wasn't sure how he and Toshi were related in this exam, but in that instant, he decided to trust their friendship. The rest would work itself out once they had that ribbon.

The former head Jounin made a proclamation from his position behind Toshi, something about not giving their all, that once he was gone, it would be up to Shoma and Toshi to keep the village safe. As much as the sentiment resonated, this wasn't the time for philosophical pondering.

There was a ribbon to be snatched!

Toshi, remember the park! Try to keep him where he is!

Shoma didn't understand the nature of what Shinzo had done to wind up so far back in such a short time. It was almost like a Body Switch Jutsu, but he hadn't switched with anything that Shoma could see. At any rate, he had an idea, and time was running out to execute. He hoped Toshi had caught his meaning, but the boy was resourceful, even if he didn't do exactly what Shoma expected, he was sure he'd find a way to roll with it.

Shoma dashed forward once again, supercharging his steps with chakra. He wouldn't be able to maintain top speed for long, but he imagined he would need to for as long as he could manage if he was going to catch Shinzo. As he ran, he directed another pool of chakra into his stomach, mixing Wind and Fire until he felt a burn climbing to his throat, fighting to get out. He would have to release it soon, but not until he was close. He didn't want to give Shinzo a chance to see what was coming.

As Shoma passed Toshi's location, about 10 feet off from Shinzo, he leaped forward into a chakra-infused slide, hoping to ensure Toshi would have a clear shot without him in the way. As he slid, he felt the burn travel through his throat and into his mouth, ballooning his cheeks like a frog. When he reached three feet in front of the towering instructor, he would pop to his feet and exhale. If all went as planned, he would expel a cloud of Stun Vapor into Shinzo's face. That should slow him down, maybe enough for Shoma to snag that ribbon.

Spoiler: Stun Vapor

A poison technique that converts the user's chakra into another type of debilitating poison, this type effecting the reflexes and mind of the victim. This jutsu slows their reactions and body, preventing them from moving as quickly as they would like, and makes them much easier to fight with this handicap.

---

 

[Toshi]

Toshi watched as Shoma reached for the ribbon. Between Shoma and the barrier, Shinzo had no route of escape. "He's got it!" Toshi exclaimed happily, already tasting the success of overcoming the exam. But just as his grin appeared, it vanished. The proctor just seemed to... vanish. "What the-" A confused expression lay on Toshi's face as he looked around for Shinzo. He was bewildered, unable to grasp the fact that Shinzo was there and one point, and gone the next.

It was then the boy began to get that feeling that someone was approaching his position. He kept his ears open, using them as his eyes. The boy's breathing became stiff as he felt another presence near his position. As he heard the proctor's words, Toshi spun around, surprised to see Shinzo now behind him. His eyes stayed wide as he looked to the village defender in disbelief, though his shocked expression shifted to an expression of determination. A single drop of sweat rolled down from the boy's forehead. Telling the duo that holding back wasn't going to get them far in this exam, Toshi knew that it was time to up the ante.

Toshi let out a deep breath, keeping his focus as a cloud of smoke engulfed him. Arakan, his battle ready feline summon came to mind as he transformed into his Archsage form. He now held a more calm demeanor, thinking a bit more clearly as he red eyes glanced towards Shinzo. He wouldn't give Shinzo time to react. As the cloud of smoke disappeared, Toshi heard Shoma's words, reminding him of their spar in the park. The Yuki immediately knew what Shoma was hinting at, Toshi would attempt to bind Shinzo into a single ice mirror. His clone melted into ice, leaving only Shoma, and the new transformed Toshi to do their own work.

It seemed Shoma was already on the attack. Hopefully the bind would aid Shoma in successfully attacking the proctor. This would at least slow him down for the two to grab that ribbon. Toshi would enter the ice mirror, expecting the bound, tattered proctor to be vulnerable to him grabbing the ribbon.

---
Archsage
Training under the tutelage of an ancient animal that has long lived, these shinobi hone their ability as well as the bond that keeps their contract alive. After earning the ultimate trust and the capacity to contain an immense amount of chakra, these shinobi are given a chance to master the practice of Senjutsu they previously may have been exposed to, and are given the title of Archsage upon mastery. An Archsage is able to freely harness the Natural Energy of the world and have reached such a degree of control that Sage Mode takes but a simple breath to enter.

Frozen Isolation
While a Hiyakagami can freely move between their Ice Mirrors through their Yuki technique’s, not everyone has such freedom. A skilled Hiyakagami can use their Ice Mirrors offensively, trapping opponents within.

---Action Summary---
Activates Archsage. Moves the closest ice mirror towards Shinzo, attempting to trap him inside. Would allow time for Shoma to complete his attack. Afterwards, enters ice mirrors after Shinzo, if he is bound. Attempts to grab ribbon. If not bound, enters the ice mirror anyway.

 

[Minamoto Daisuke]

The surprise on both of the students faces gave more information to Shinzo than either of them probably realised. Firstly, it was clear that his reputation had somewhat dwindled over the years, and secondly it seemed as though neither were expecting such a swift jutsu to be used – maybe they hadn’t encountered a teleporter before, they were students after all and so it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise if they hadn’t. Though it was interesting to note that, even though their first attempt at snatching the ribbon failed, neither of them seemed to lose their drive and instead appeared to take it in their stride. In fact they were extremely quick off the mark as soon as they had revaluated their current situation and the new abilities of their opponent, they needed the element of surprise and to act quickly. The next few seconds showed that was exactly what they would do.

Shoma dashed forwards, calling out something about the park to his comrade. They were indeed in the park, but Shinzo reasoned that he wasn’t talking about the last ten seconds or so that had passed. Maybe they had a history that extended further than them being classmates, maybe they had worked together before? The man’s thick yet well maintained eyebrows furrowed in thought, something to do as he thought in the time he afforded himself. But that decision would prove to be a mistake very shortly after.

A cloud of smoke engulfed Toshi, only to then reveal a different figure. No. It was the same Toshi, just with physical changes. Shinzo had seen this many times before with his best friend and honorary brother Suyashi, an Archsage. Surely Toshi was too young for that, but yet here he was performing such an advanced technique. Maybe this was going to be a little more challenging than the proctor had anticipated. A cold surface pressed against Shinzo’s back, it was one of those mirrors, they were mobile apparently. It started to shift around him, engulfing the back half of his torso in the moments that Shoma approached at high speed. His hands seemed to weave seals almost in correlation to the speed he was approaching at, something was coming, something deeply unpleasant by the looks of things. Shinzo shifted on the spot; he was definitely trapped in place if he just tried to move with his basic strength. A smile rose on his face, even as the cloud of poison engulfed it, he did his best not to inhale but he could still feel the sulphurous cloud burning his skin. It was a strange sensation to be freezing on one half of the body while burning on the other.

Shinzo’s focus turned inwards, he could feel his swirling reality warping energy within. It was cased up inside him, restrained to only one point in his chakra network, but now was the time to unleash it. A split second later Shinzo’s form erupted in green light as the energy shot through his core, it threw open his inner gates at an almost unfathomable speed. In the next moment he ripped himself from the mirror and leapt, covering the air over both the students rather quickly – though not as quick as he was normally able. Maybe it was that jutsu that Shoma used. Very clever.

“Good!” The jounin roared. “Now this is more like it! It looks like we all have something up our sleeves!”

His hand had already begun weaving signs of his own as he soared through the sky and landed with a heavy and dusty crash on the grass.
“You are pretty fast Shoma, pretty resourceful.” He paused and looked from the taller boy to the shorter. “And those mirrors are quite something Toshi, very tricky things.” His smirk reappeared once more as his hands slammed down onto the ground.

“You both seem rather familiar with those mirrors, now it is time you become familiar with mine.”

From the ground rose an enormous amount of reflective surfaces that interlaced the battlefield and cut Shinzo off from his students. The maze continued to rise and completely engulf Kitsune Park, trapping all in the area within is bounds. Occasionally the reflective surfaces would show an image of Shinzo to each of the students, but when one would see the jounin in one mirror, the other would see him somewhere else. There would surely be some frustration to be had here, only time would tell how they would deal with this.

Spoiler: Jutsu Used

Unbound – Awakening the Dragon
Opened gates: 1, 6, and 7
Fun House

 

[Uchima Shoma]

The Stun Vapor landed, just as Toshi's mirror was making contact with Shinzo's back. Shoma was sure they had him this time. The poison would enter his system and slow his mind and body. The mirror... well, Shoma wasn't sure what the mirror would do, but knowing Toshi, it would be something tricky, presumably something to keep Shinzo from moving from that spot. Unfortunately, Shoma's hopes were once again dashed as the exam proctor erupted in green light, something Shoma had never seen before. It was as if the Jounin had unlocked something primal within him. He broke free from the mirror and in an instant was soaring overhead. Shoma whipped his head around to track his target and the all-important ribbon tied around his arm.

Binding him won't work. I can't catch him using speed alone, and now it looks like he's using some kind of buffing Taijutsu. How are we going to get that ribbon now?

Shinzo called out words of encouragement to both Shoma and Toshi, reminding Shoma for an instant that while this was a simulation of a battle, the proctor wanted them to succeed. He gritted his teeth in resolve, knowing that while Shinzo wouldn't go easy on them, he obviously had some amount of belief in the two Genin hopefuls. His next proclamation, though, worried Shoma for an instant, worries that would be confirmed a moment later. He watched as the burly man wove a series of hand seals in a pattern that made little sense to Shoma. He couldn't be preparing one of the base elements, it was too complex. Shoma recognized some Wind seals, and what looked like water, but he couldn't recall in the short time afforded him which advanced element that came out to.

He stopped wondering once the seals were done, though, as a maze of mirrors sprung from the earth. Almost as soon as the mirrors had appeared, Shoma was surrounded by Shinzos, all glowing in that same green light that now reflected around the battlefield eerily.

Mirror Ninjutsu utilizes a mixture of primarily Wind and secondarily Water chakra to produce effects that range from visual illusions to the reflection of an opponent's chakra. An unsavvy opponent may easily mistake Mirror techniques for Genjutsu. -- A Primer on Advanced Chakra Elements

Shoma was surprised he could remember the passage so well, but maybe he shouldn't have been. He did spend a large percentage of his free time in the library, after all. With understanding came a small degree of calm. Shoma's breathing slowed slightly as he took in his surroundings, including the multiple copies of the exam proctor. They didn't appear immediately dangerous, but Shoma would have to watch them for a moment to be sure. He assumed a Defensive Stance, sacrificing initiative for increased ability to dodge if an attack came. Watching the images of Shinzo, he recalled a second passage he'd read not long after his sparring match with Daisuke.

In any protracted battle, the tempo of conflict will inevitably change. The wise Shinobi knows when to push the pace and when to allow himself -and his opponent - a moment of reprieve. When information is low, or the enemy fails to push an advantage, a reduction in the pace of battle can offer an opportunity to change the tide in the favor of the losing side. -- Shinobi Warfare

Shoma was both low on information and at a tactical and tangible disadvantage. He was facing a more capable opponent, whose location he no longer knew, and whose capabilities were clearly well beyond any he had first-hand experience with. A shift in tempo was just what he needed, but he had to take proper advantage of the situation. He and Toshi would have to coordinate well if they were going to beat this phase of the exam.

Toshi, can you see where he is? I'm not sure this Jutsu is dangerous, but we won't see him coming with all those clones...I have an idea that might help.

Book passages weren't the only things Shoma had picked up since fighting Daisuke. He'd spent several weeks researching and practicing a number of Jutsu to help shore up some of the gaps in his ability that the sparring match had highlighted. He'd gone the entire fight without ever spotting Daisuke, so the first thing he'd learned was a reconnaissance Jutsu.

Shoma went through the familiar series of hand seals. There were several of them, but they didn't trend toward any of the base chakra elements. Rather, there was a little bit of everything, meaning that the Jutsu would be non-elemental. Once he'd finished, Shoma felt a trickle of his own chakra leak into the ground a foot from where he was standing, and an instant later, a crystal in the shape of an eye rose from the ground. It hovered for a moment at Shoma's eye level before shooting up into the air to search for the real Shinzo.

At the same time, Shoma began slowly gathering chakra into his lungs. This time the sensation wasn't a burn, but a cool swirling as if there was a spring breeze circulating in his chest. He wasn't sure he would need to use the build-up of Wind chakra, but he figured it would be better to be safe than sorry. If Shinzo went on the offensive, Shoma would need to defend, and he had a feeling that he wouldn't be able to dodge easily.

As his Crystal Eye searched for Shinzo, Shoma kept his own eyes on the illusions, hoping they were as harmless as they seemed. If they all attacked at once, he was sure he'd be done for. Against such a skilled opponent, even clones could be extremely dangerous. Hopefully, Toshi had something up his sleeve to even the odds a little.

Spoiler: Jutsu used

Crystal Eye
Vacuum Sphere (if attacked)

 

[Toshi]

Watching as the proctor was caught in the bind, Toshi had hope that the duo would take the ribbon this time. He had a feeling that Shinzo still had a few techniques up his sleeve however. His hunch was correct, though this time Shinzo took things up a notch. A green light began to shine as Shinzo erupted in a burst of energy. "His speed is remarkable!" Toshi grinned, it looked as though he would be pushed to his own limits during this exam. He kept in mind that he was to go for the ribbon, and that this was not an actual sparring match. Either way, the boy found himself having a bit of fun.

'So this is what it's like being a shinobi? Always being aware, and being able to think quickly under pressure.' Toshi's grin didn't disappear as he continued to watch the proctor go through a few hand seals. "A mirror technique." Toshi knew those seals from watching Nao first hand. It was the first time he ever used the Archsage technique, and after his transformation, Nao used a mirror technique to create an exact replica of the newly transformed Toshi. He expected some type of clone technique, and wasn't surprised to see a few mirrors appear. Shinzo's appearance appeared in each mirror, giving Toshi a hard time in distinguishing the true proctor.

"I can't tell them apart, but I have an idea." Toshi responded to Shoma. Acting on instinct, Toshi bit a hangnail from his right hand's index finger. After a few hand seals he slammed his hand to the ground. Arakan appeared before the duo in a puff of smoke. The large feline licked is front paw for a moment before turning around and eyeing both Toshi and Shoma. Looking to the one coming to a stand, Arakan figured this one was Toshi.

"So you're Toshi. I finally get a chance to meet the one who caught Hidega's attention. I expected more than just a kid, but I'm sure you have potential if Hidega accepted you." Toshi looked to Arakan. It was his first time Summoning this particular feline, but he expected great things from him after hearing about his past. "Yeah, yeah. Can you do anything about these mirrors?" "Arrogant as well. It shall be fun working with you." Toshi began working on another set of hand seals as Arakan prepared his own technique. A tear in the sky opened, revealing some sort of rift from another dimension. Parts of another galaxy would be revealed as a number of comet-like energy beings shot through the rift. They were aimed at the mirrors, and would hopefully tear down enough for the Genin hopefuls to distinguish who the real Shinzo was. The barrier that Shoma would activate would ensure the pairs' safety, but Arakan's aim wouldn't allow the three to get hit. Just as quickly as the feline appeared, he vanished in a cloud of smoke, but not before leaving Toshi with a few words.

"Next time I want to see the full extent of your abilities. I'm a warrior, not one to deal with child's play." Toshi kept the words in mind as he completed his next set of hand seals. Once again he placed his hands on the ground, but this time, he began poring chakra into the environment. What exactly was he planning?

---
Arakan
Stardust Nova - Mastered

Toshi
Archsage
- Unbound Loyalty
- Breathe of the Wild

 

[Minamoto Daisuke]

Shinzo had to acknowledge that the two boys were on track and doing better than quite a few potential genin that he had evaluated in the past. Both of them seemed to be taking things seriously as well as putting both thought and effort into their chosen actions. Of course, Shinzo wouldn’t tell them of their progress just yet, instead he would have to continue to test the students. Their teamwork had already been displayed, their ability as ninja had also already been demonstrated to be beyond that of what was expected of students, now all that needed to be done was to see how they would manage the final act. In truth it looked as though the stopwatch wasn’t needed; the jounin could draw the time out but it wouldn’t be necessary for these two.

The Seikon looked up as the sky sheered open, revealing a dazzling array of what was most likely stars. Ten bursts of energy shot down into the maze of mirrors just as the bearded ninja spotted the floating eye – another clever move. He unfolded his arms and gave the crystal eye a quick thumbs up as it looked down upon him. It didn’t take much longer before his mirror technique was removed from play and revealed the pair sheltered behind a barrier. So it was definitely apparent that the two could work together to ensure each other’s safety. Shinzo lowered his thumb and directed it away from the eye and towards the pair in general. They had cleared the battlefield and were ready to continue.

The green aura that had only recently been radiating from the jounin was already gone by the time all the dust cleared. He was still taking this seriously but he didn’t need to keep his inner gates open for a genin exam any longer.

It must have been a rather strange sight for the two hopefuls; Shinzo just stood there, the only movement evident was the jounin’s hair drifting side to side in the wind. His form flickered, became solid, then flickered again – this repeated itself over and over, the flickering gradually becoming constant. Over the next few seconds, the image of Shinzo began to form all around the coliseum. First it was only one or two, then ten, then twenty, and eventually the constantly appearing and disappearing forms of the jounin numbered seemingly in the hundreds. If anyone were to attempt to reach out and touch Shinzo then they would simply pass through the air that appeared to be all that made up the constant afterimages of the teleporter.

The images seemed to change as Shinzo’s voice boomed out through the arena, this time however it took on a much darker tone. “If you do not have the ribbon in the next minute then you will not be leaving this coliseum.” The voice sounded like it came from everywhere at once in that moment. “What will you do when the stakes are higher and there is only one method to ensure your survival?”

As these words continued to echo around the students, the red ribbon dropped from the sky. The images of the jounin no longer had it, instead it slowly began to float downwards, twisting and twirling in the unpredictable air. Their next moves would decide everything, and so Shinzo watched from all angles, looking to see how the two would respond.

Spoiler: Jutsu Used

Synchronised Multipresence

 

[Uchima Shoma]

Shoma watched as the sky split in two, revealing what he could only assume was a different world. The backdrop was black, but it was filled with bright lights, some white-hot, and others various dark shades of red and purple. Despite the gravity of the situation, all that was riding on the outcome of this exam, Shoma dropped his hands and stared. The cat Toshi had summoned finished the jutsu, and 10 of those bright lights dropped out of the sky at an alarming speed. In mere seconds, they collided with the mirrors Shinzo had raised from the ground. The impact was enough to shake Shoma out of his shock. He exhaled almost instinctively, just as the shockwave from the impact of the heavenly bodies was about to reach himself and Toshi. The Vaccum Sphere blocked the majority of the shockwave, only allowing enough force to ruffle the boys' hair through.

One of the skills Shoma had been working on this past year, one only tangentially related to combat, was mental compartmentalization, and it was crucial now. With a quick shake of his head, Shoma discarded the shock and disbelief of seeing the sky ripped open by a summoned cat, promising himself that he would process the event later, and focused on the task at hand: getting that riboon.

Just as Shoma was recommitting himself to the exam, he watched as Shinzo began to flicker, like a flame exposed to a breeze. It was slow at first, but in mere moments, Shinzo's form had split into 2, 4, 8, 16, more Shinzos than Shoma could count. The arena was full of him, and then his voice rang out, now devoid of the easy mirth of a few minutes ago. Now it sounded...ominous.

“If you do not have the ribbon in the next minute then you will not be leaving this coliseum. What will you do when the stakes are higher and there is only one method to ensure your survival?”

Shoma could feel his heart rate accelerate.

Does that mean whoever doesn't have the ribbon...dies? Is he going to kill the loser? I haven't heard of that before! They said if you don't pass you can just take the exam the next year.

Shoma looked around, feeling himself begin to panic. He was out of his depth. He never should have come to the exam. Toshi would be fine, but Shoma was about to die, he could feel it.

He looked up at the ribbon falling from the sky. It was meandering as if taunting the two academy students. One ribbon, two genin hopefuls.
It sounded like the beginning of a joke, and at the moment, it felt like a cruel one with Shoma at the brunt. Toshi would get the ribbon. He might try to defend Shoma, but the test proctor would beat him to it. It wouldn't take much for him to kill someone who had only been learning to be a Shinobi for a year.

Seconds stretched into hours as Shoma watched the ribbon make its way toward him. Blessedly, his mind began to protect him as it had when he'd seen Toshi's summon perform that bizarre jutsu. He began to calm, slowly at first, and turn his mind from the terror of possibility to the solution that he knew must be there. There had to be a way for both him and Toshi to leave the colosseum alive. If not both genin, then at least alive.

If you do not have the ribbon in the next minute...

Shoma's mind turned to a thought experiment he'd read about in a book. It was a philosophical question, not the kind of thing most ninja were interested in, but Shoma had spent days pondering it. The experiment was to imagine a house that is passed down through generations. Each generation adds something to the house, repairing broken boards, replacing lost shingles. After several generations, if no piece of the original house is left, is it still the same house? It was an odd thing to think of at a time like this, but after a moment, it occurred to Shoma that his mind was trying to tell him something. It had found the solution, and his conscious mind was just catching up. The answer, Shoma had decided after days of pondering, was that there was no correct answer. It both was and wasn't the same house, depending on perspective.

Let's hope Shinzo-sensei thinks it's the same house.

The boy rifled through a short hand-seal sequence. It was a basic jutsu, barely requiring hand seals to properly focus the chakra. He sliced his hand through the air in the direction of the ribbon, charging it hand with chakra which he then transferred into the air displaced by the motion. The air lashed out, meeting the ribbon in the middle and slicing it in half. Time caught up to Shoma as he watched the two halves float to the ground, faster now that they were each smaller than the original.

It's still the ribbon. It's gotta count.

I'll take one half, you take the other. Then we both have the ribbon. He turned to Toshi and smiled despite his nervousness that this might not work. If I'm wrong, you can have both. You deserve this more than I do.

Shoma's hand trembled as he bent down to pick up his half of the ribbon. He exhaled quickly, trying to calm his nerves as he held the ribbon above his head.

Sensei, we both have the ribbon!

 

[Toshi]

Just as Toshi thought his worries were over, he looked around to see Shinzo already activated another jutsu. Seeing this many images of Shinzo was alarming. Was he really moving that fast? Shoma's words were bold to Toshi. He would sacrifice his promotion for his friend. Shinzo's words did sound threatening to their shinobi lives, but the Yuki released his fears after realizing what it meant to be a shinobi.

Toshi nodded, deciding that cutting the ribbon in half would be the best way to go. He moved the air around him to create a wind blade. In one fluid motion, Toshi moved his right arm. The wind blade was called to chop the red ribbon in two. The two halves would be a symbol of agreement that both of them would pass the exam. Toshi himself hoped the message would get across to Shinzo, their proctor.

The two had come to an agreement. They would finish this exam passing together.

 

[Minamoto Daisuke]

Shinzo’s consistent presence within the stadium had not gone unnoticed, and in reality he would have been gobsmacked if either of the two students hadn’t been impacted by the sudden appearance of hundreds of images of Shinzo. The wind whipped up as the Jounin continued to teleport between locations faster than many would be able to register, to the point at which he was seemingly omnipresent. His green eyes scanned the duo that stood towards the centre of the arena, each millisecond that past gave the Seikon a new perspective of each moment that they had to make a decision.

There was little hesitation and even less disparity between their actions. The two boys seemed to act almost in complete unison as the red silk flitted down through the air currents just above them. As soon as it came into reach, Shinzo watched the two boys extend their chosen hands upwards and slice through the fabric, dividing it into two separate yet equal pieces of cloth. One for each of them. His afterimages appeared to furrow their brows for a moment, but in a single second they were all gone – and there Shinzo was, stood behind the two students to tower over them.

“YOU!” He roared.

A short pause followed which gave the Jounin time to rush forwards, closing the distance between the pair and himself. They had done exactly what he had hoped they would.

“Have passed!”

A boisterous laugh radiated from the large man as he bent down, taking both boys under his arms and pulling them closer together in a congratulatory embrace that was almost too tight. The enthusiasm that radiated from the bearded man was unrivalled while he held the two boys there. Each one of them would then have felt something rather hard being pressed down onto their heads as Shinzo ruffled their hair. As he took his hands away, a headband slipped down from the crown of each boy’s head and into their eyeline. The symbol of the Konoha shinobi was theirs, they had made it. And now it was time for both of them to make an impact on the rest of the world.

Their shinobi career had started, here.

[Shoma promoted to Genin]
[Toshi promoted to Genin]
[Congratulations guys!]
[Topic left]

 

[Toshi]

Hearing the booming voice come from behind him, he knew Shinzo had maneuvered faster than the two could perceive with their eyes. Toshi knew it was their proctor that appeared behind them, the verdict of their examination now on the line. He knew he went against the rules set at the beginning of the exam. Only one of them could pull the ribbon, so only one of them could pass. But the two showered how different their mindsets were. They came to an agreement while working together as a team. They executed their plan, and the outcome seemed great to them. Hopefully, Shinzo would agree with what the two came up with.

Hearing that they passed as the Jounin rushed towards them was enough the both startle and excite the boy. A cloud of smoke engulfed the boy as he was reverted from his Archsage form, back into his original form. Shinzo pulled him in tight, Toshi braced himself through his excitement.

Toshi looked to his forehead protector, watching as the sun would gleam off of it. He looked to Shoma with a smile. "Congrats Shoma. I couldn't have made it without you. I hope you're just as excited about your future as I am about mine."

The day seemed to be coming to a close for Toshi. He didn't have anything else planned for the day. His remaining ice mirrors were melting away. He looked to the colosseum walls, wondering if this was where Shun fought in his tournament match. "This place probably has so many stories." Toshi tied his forehead protector around his eyes, blinding himself as he prepared for his next training. He rarely gave himself a break, and this promotion would only push him to do better.

"I hope this makes you a better shinobi." Toshi said as he looked to where Shoma stood. "We should go on a mission together sometime." He gave a thumbs up and a grin. "We are shinobi now. Let's step it up." Shoma wasn't a member of his clan, but he still considered him cool. The Leaf family's future looked promising.

The boy put a fist out for a fist bump. With that, he would depart, only giving Shoma a salute as he sent his way.

[ Topic Left ]
[ Thanks Daisuke, Congrats Shoma! ]
---

[ MFT | WC: +325 ]

 

[Uchima Shoma]

Sure

Shoma almost whispered at Toshi's back as the younger boy trotted off. His heart had been racing a few moments ago, lost in the rush of battle, but now he felt a strange combination of both everything and nothing at once. He held a headband in his hand, just like the ones he'd seen the other shinobi wearing around the village. It was a long, blue strip of fabric with a metallic headplate in the center, sporting the emblem of the village.

With both Shinzo and Toshi gone, Shoma was alone in the arena. He sat down, looking at the headband in one hand, and the half-strip of ribbon in the other. One was seemingly insignificant, the kind of thing that little girls would tie up in their hair. The other was the symbol of one of the most dangerous people on the planet, a shinobi, and yet, they felt equally significant to the new genin. Both represented his first true success on the way to realizing the future he'd been dreaming of.

I think I'll keep the ribbon.

Maybe it was because he'd just spent the most stressful few minutes of his life chasing the ribbon as if his life dependended on it, and indeed his future had, but he simply wasn't ready to part with it yet.

It will be a reminder. This way I won't forget how hard I fought to get here, or that I succeeded. When things get tough, I'll look at this and remember how I feel now.

Shoma's half of the ribbon was long, long enough to tie around his left wrist with some fabric to spare. He looked at it, wondering for a moment if other shinobi would think it strange, but then he thought back to some of the outfits he'd seen other shinobi wearing and realized it would be pretty low on the list of oddities in the shinobi world.

He then took the headband, and thought for a moment where he would wear it. Different shinobi had their own preferences concerning where to display the village emblem, and while he knew it wasn't terribly important how he wore it, he wasn't sure he liked the idea of having it around his head all the time. After a moment' deliberation, he tied it around his right upper arm, metal plate facing outward.

I guess I'm a genin now...

And finally, the tears came, as the nothing gave way to everything. They were tears of joy, relief, and in some ways, grief for the future that had lived in perfection in his dreams. It was no longer a dream, it was the beginning of his life, and could therefore no longer be perfect. He knew that he had started on a difficult path, one that could even end his life prematurely, but as he wiped the tears from his cheek and stood to leave the arena, he knew that he wouldn't have had it any other way. He was Uchima Shoma, and he was finally a shinobi.

[Topic left]
[Thanks so much, guys, and I'm sorry for taking so long to reply]