The Shinobi Exam (Training + Academy Quest exam)

Today was the day as Shao entered the academy. He had studied, brushed up on his taijutsu and even his other jutsu and was now sitting at his usual desk space for the final. It had finally arrived and it was up to him to complete it.

The shinobi academy graduation exam. It was the time for him to finally put all his training and skill to the test. The teachers passed out the test papers and made the rules clear. No cheating, have your pens or pencils ready and be ready to use all your knowledge for the test.

Shao got his test and waited for the proctor to give the all clear to start their test. He glanced around the room and soon found his two friends. On the lower platform up front was Mari. The young brown haired girl turned around to Shao and waved at him in good luck.

Shao nodded to her, and then looked off to on his row-- to the far left. There he saw Kyle, the spiky white haired kid. He had his pencil to his teeth, biting lightly down out of nerves.

Shao, Kyle and Mari had gathered a few times during the past month and did group studying for the exam. They worked together to try and help each other. SHao, who was weak in Taijutsu, helped go over the details of the means to perform it effectively. For Mari-- and Kyle, Shao was able to help them review over Genjutsu. Kyle needed more help in the ninjutsu area of things, but he was able to cover the basics.

In the end, none of them knew how the test would fair, so they had to be prepared for anything. In the end, a written test was a written test. It wasn't like they had to perform anything. At least, as far as Shao knew.

"Okay, everyone! Listen up!" the proctor said, causing everyone to stand in attention. "You will answer the questions on the page to the best of your ability. You must answer all 10 questions on the page. If you leave one blank, you fail the exam. " he explained. "All the questions are on the page. Your score will be averaged so be sure you have 7 or more correct to pass. "

Shao took a deep breath and focused.

"There will be no questions regarding the test from this point onward. Any problem you must solve on your own. Complaints will result in immediate failure. " The proctor raised his hand. "Now... BEGIN!!"

A few whispers went through the room, but soon Shao started without complaint. He turned the page over to look at the test...

... but there was a problem.

There were only 5 questions on the page.

Shao blinked about this. He turned and saw Mari-- her head held down as she was solving the problems.

Kyle was freaking out and looked like he was about to explode. Shao couldn't blame him. Others were already voicing their complaints-- and were immediately escorted out of the classroom with an instant failure.

Even Shao felt his chest tighten at the pressure, but he knew there was a reason. The rules were very clear. All the questions were on the paper. Could it be a code? Some form of hidden question in each question. However, as he looked over the test from top to bottom, there was no indication of the codes. The questions written were simple regarding the knowledge involved.

Looking it over carefully, he answered each one easily. They were easy ones. How does Genjutsu operate? The ideal number for a squad in infiltration? Definitions and other rootamentary knowledge a person could know with proper study. Everything they had prepared for... but the real question remained about the other 5 missing questions. You needed 7 or more to pass, and they lacked it.

It was a trap with no real solution.

Shao glanced back to Kyle, and saw him looking at him. The boy had a trembling lip, to contain his outburst. It must of been killing him to control himself so much. Shao turned to Mari, who too was tapping her pencil lightly against her desk, trying to figure out what to do.

Shao reviewed the questions again, this time covering each one to see some relation to another. He thought it could be a code, but there was no key or reference from one another. Nothing like that. Even when he turned it upside down and side ways, the other questions were not clear.

"The time is now 1: 30," the proctor announced. "You all have 30 minutes left to finish your test."

Shao felt his breath quicken as the stress was baring down on him. He worked hard and studied. There was no way they could fail this, but then he also saw that some other students had been working on the questions still. Perhaps they figured it out.

Figuring to risk it, he used his Byakkugan. His eyes senses widened-- and he soon saw the students writing on what seemingly looked like blank pieces of the sheet with no real question to answer.

"Why would they be doing that..." Shao thought to himself.

And then it hit him. Could it be that simple? It was just like what he taught Mari and Kyle involving Genjutsu. A problem with no solutiosn and to use your senses to figure it out.

It was a test with a challenge-- to see through a genjutsu!

Deciding to risk it, Shao brought up his hands into a small hand sign below the desk and focused. Kyle was watching-- and Shao hoped he would figure it out. As would Mari, even though she was out of eyesight. "Release..." Shao thought, focusing his chakra to disrupt its flow.

.... and then it happened. Like wafts of smoke, the white on the other part of the sheet began to become darker. Like drifting smoke, the 5 remaining questions revealed themselves. Shao's Byakkugan faded as he returned his focus to the test and quickly began to fill in the remaining questions.

The rest of the questions were just as simple and figureable for one who studied. The real test was the ability to see through the genjutsu cast to make the paper reveal only 5 of the questions.

Shao was able to figure it out-- as were others. To Shao's delight, so was Kyle as he soon saw him writing out more on the paper. And from the look of it, so did Mari. She finished her exam as well, her pencil and paper down flat on the table till the exam was done.

Shao finished with 5 minutes to spare, and even double checked his answers. He knew he was right, and waited.

"Time's up!" the proctor said. "I'm sure most of you figured out the little trick behind this exam. You will be given your new assignments tomorrow. For those of you who pass, you will be reporting to designated classrooms for your squad reports. Those who don't-- you will return to further training. Dismissed."

It was time for Shao to face the music as he turned in his exam, followed by Kyle and Mari-- and the others.

Once out of the classroom, Shao turned to Kyle. "Please tell me you---"

Shao didn't have a chance as Kyle almost tackled him with a hug and squeezed him. Shao squeaked at the overbearing strength the kid had compared to him. "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!" he shouted.

"Can't... breathe...." Shao choked, tapping Kyle's shoulder to stop.

Mari chuckled as she saw Kyle let go of Shao.

"Dude! You saved my ass! I mean-- wow. I didn't think they had a Genjutsu on that test . I mean seriously! " Kyle boasted aloud.

SHao took a breath and wiped his brow. "Well, I'm glad you noticed. Mari, what about you?" Shao asked, more concerned if she passed or not.

Mari smiled. "Oh i did very well, thank you," She said proudly. "That was a tough trick, but I was able to figure it out easily. Though if you hadn't taught us how to spot through Genjutsu with reason, we probably would of all failed."

"Um... yeah, I knew that," Kyle fibbed, unconvincingly that caused both Shao and Mari to look at him with disbelief.

"Oh, please Kyle. OUt of all of us, Genjutsu is your worst subject." Mari pointed out.

"I just needed a reminder is all!" Kyle shouted.

Shao just shook his head, but relief flowed through him-- glad that all three of them passed and would graduate tomorrow.

Little did he know it, but that would be the true start of his journey.

End Thread.

(Training results . Byakkugan + Nexus. 4 rolls Int + 3 rolls Dex. +2 from quick learner)

The member 'Enjin' has done the following action : Dice

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'Exercise Dice' : 1, 5, 5, 4, 6, 9, 4