One and a half months had passed in the blink of an eye, and just like that, it was time for the final exams of the second year.
The format remained largely the same as the previous year, though this time, there was a stronger emphasis on taijutsu and shuriken throwing. Also, any student who hadn't learned the Transformation Technique was failed immediately. Five students couldn't perform it and were disqualified, The looks on their faces—shock, disbelief, and frustration—burned into Kazeo's memory. Even though they were allowed to complete the remaining exams to meet basic standards to move up to the third year in the regular classes their fate in the elite class was sealed for this year.
The shuriken test had been split into two phases — hitting stationary targets, followed by moving ones. Apart from that, there were the usual written theory exam, calligraphy, and the leaf concentration test. There was one new addition this year.
"If any of you have learned an E-rank jutsu, you may demonstrate it for bonus points," the instructor announced.
Kazeo hadn't planned on using any. He didn't want the attention. But when nearly a dozen students boldly showcased their E-rank techniques some with flair, some barely passable. He sighed.
'Guess I might as well.'
So he demonstrated his Wind Levitation Jutsu by making a few pebbles float in the air, it was simple, but it got the evaluators to nod in approval. The exams passed by without any drama. No cheating, no unexpected breakdowns.
Now it was the result day.
Kazeo arrived at the academy a few minutes early and waited near the notice board. A teacher finally arrived and posted the results.
The crowd rushed in. Once the commotion died down, he walked up and scanned the list.
Fourth.
Hyuga Kaito had taken the top spot, followed by Uchiha Ishikawa in second. Third was another Hyuga girl and then him. He wasn't shocked. But he wasn't exactly okay, either.
It stings, he admitted inwardly. 'Even though I saw it coming.'
He thought, eyes lingering on the board longer than necessary. Guess it makes sense. I've always been behind them in taijutsu, and I only really started taking it seriously in the last few weeks this year. Most of my time this year went into learning and practicing ninjutsu and genjutsu. And it's not like I'm the only one training hard. Honestly, if I wasn't working on my body every single day, I probably wouldn't even be in the top ten. These clan kids… their training is insane.
Over the past two years, Kazeo had observed and talked with his classmates. Most Clan kids of this class had tutors waiting for them after academy hours. Their schedules were packed, barely any time for games or even just breathing. And because of that, the civilian students had to work twice as hard to keep up. And then seeing civilian training hard, clans increases their kids training. It had become a brutal cycle of competition.
Though not even every clan kid had a private tutor, only the prodigies did, especially those from elite families.
But still, everyone desperately tried to stay in the elite class. Why, you ask? Because by their second year, they were learning things that wouldn't even be introduced in the normal classes until the fifth or sixth year. The difference in progress was night and day.
'No point crying about it now.' Kazeo told himself, shaking off the bitter thoughts. 'Next year, I'll aim for the top spot. Then I'll get something worthwhile from the Hokage.'
As he turned away from the board, he noticed Ishikawa staring at the results too. His brow was furrowed in frustration, clearly not happy with being second. Then, their eyes met.
Ishikawa's expression shifted into a smirk, and he began walking slowly toward Kazeo. But Kazeo just looked away. As expected, Ishikawa tried to show off, throwing a few jabs at Kazeo's rank with that smug tone of his. Kazeo didn't rise to it. Eventually, Okabe-sensei arrived and called everyone to the training grounds.
Just like the year before, the Hokage appeared to give a motivational speech, all about protecting the village, unity, the Will of Fire — the usual. Kazeo listened, but only half-heartedly. Then came the praise for Hyūga Kaito's performance.
"As the top performer, you have earned the right to choose a reward," the Hokage said.
Kaito gave a polite bow. "Hokage-sama, I would like some time to think about it."
"Very well. Choose wisely."
With that, the Hokage smiled, exchanged brief words with the top students and left.
Okabe's voice rose next. "As per custom, you all now have a one-and-a-half-month holiday. Enjoy it well because next year, things are going to get much harder."
The training ground exploded with cheers.
------
Kazeo spent his break the way he always did, training every day and rest only on Sundays.
But there was a small but new meaningful change: Kazeo's body, which used to crave twelve hours of sleep like a drug, began to adapt. Now, he woke naturally after eleven hours, feeling less tired and more alive.A small improvement, but to Kazeo, it felt like a win. He'd always felt a little awkward going to bed at 6 PM and waking up at 6 AM, like his life didn't match the rest of the world.
And then, the holiday ended.
On the first morning of the new term, Kazeo stepped into the academy with a familiar rhythm—morning workout, clone practice at home for calligraphy, and then the same classroom, same last-bench seat. But the energy was different. Fresh faces dotted the room, eight of them to be exact. Some cautious, some arrogant, but all with the fire of ambition burning in their eyes. Soon, Okabe entered with the headmaster. The eight students were introduced: one Hyuga, two Senju, One Uchiha, one Nara, One Aburame and two civilian.
Now, including the new kids, there were only four civilians left from the original seven. The rest had either failed or been replaced. After a short speech, the headmaster left and Okabe addressed the class.
"You heard the headmaster" he said. "After today's demo classes, the top ten students will receive rewards. Also, like last year's requirement for the Transformation Technique, this academic year you'll need to learn the Clone Jutsu to pass."
He smiled slightly, eyes scanning the room. "Now… let's get to something exciting." He said, standing near the front desk. "Come up when I call you."
The room shifted with energy. Not excitement but tension. The kind of silence that hums between curious thoughts and unspoken fears.
Hotaru, the kid sitting on the first bench, stood up when his name was called.
Okabe handed him a thin white sheet of paper.
"This," he said, raising his voice so the entire class could hear, "is chakra paper. You might remember hearing about it in your chakra theory class. Today, you're going to see it in action."
Hotaru held the paper carefully, his eyes wide. He looked unsure, like he was holding something sacred.
"This paper reacts to your chakra," Okabe continued. "It will show your dominant nature—fire, wind, water, lightning, or earth. From now on, your training will focus mainly around that chakra nature. So don't panic. Just focus and channel your chakra into the paper."
All eyes were glued to Hotaru as he closed his eyes and did as instructed. The paper burnt.
"Fire nature," Okabe announced without missing a beat. "Next!"
And just like that, the chain began. One by one, the students lined up, each carrying different levels of nervous energy. Some whispered guesses before walking up. Some clenched their fists tightly. Some just wanted to get it over with. Minutes passed. Paper after paper revealed different natures.
Okabe kept scribbling every result onto a parchment, occasionally nodding or humming to himself.
"This will be sent to the Headmaster who'll pass it on to the Hokage," he said at one point, mostly to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Kazeo's mind wandered. 'So even the Hokage will know our chakra natures? Guess that makes sense. This determines what kind of training we'll get… what squads we might be suited for later.'
By the time everyone had gone, the results were as expected.
Out of the entire class, there were: 16 students with fire chakra, 5 with earth, 3 with lightning, 4 with water and only 2 with wind.
No one looked shocked. It was standard distribution for Konoha, the village known for its fire.
The rest of the day went on as usual, fuinjutsu theory and calligraphy, flexibility drills, taijutsu sparring, and deception classes. But the final class was something… different. They were asked to follow a teacher they barely recognized. Whispers buzzed through the group like bees in spring.
"Where are we going?"
"Did we miss something in the schedule?"
They walked past familiar classrooms and down to the ground floor. The teacher didn't say a word, just kept leading them toward the far end of the corridor. It was a part of the academy they'd never been to. Dust clung to the corners. Even the lighting felt dimmer.
Then the teacher stopped, right in front of a blank stone wall. Everyone blinked.
'Was this some kind of prank?'
But before anyone could voice it, the teacher formed a series of quick, practiced hand signs. With a soft click, the wall moved. A section of it shifted sideways, revealing a dark passageway leading downward. Stone steps spiraled into the earth, and a cold draft flowed upward.
Gasps echoed.
"There's an underground section?!"
"No way… this was under the academy the whole time?"
They descended the steps in silence, the walls echoing each of their footsteps. The air got cooler as they went down but what greeted them at the bottom wasn't what any of them expected.
A massive underground hall sprawled before them, larger than the academy itself. The place looked like a training complex with long corridors and countless sealed rooms, each one marked with strange elemental symbols.
It didn't feel like school anymore. It felt like they had stepped into the domain of real shinobi. Before they could start whispering again, Okabe-sensei appeared out of nowhere, his expression unusually stern.
He stepped forward and addressed the class, his voice carrying clearly through the stone hall.
"What you're standing in" he said, "are the Chakra Resistance Training Rooms of the academy."
Murmurs swelled instantly. Everyone's eyes flickered from room to room. Okabe raised his hand to silence them.
"These rooms" he continued, "are exclusive. No clan, not even the major ones are allowed to build or recreate them. That's how important and restricted this facility is."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"The purpose is simple, to help you build resistance to your dominant chakra nature. That means, you'll be placed in rooms that challenge your body and chakra system to adapt."
Kazeo felt his breath catch.
'Resistance training? Against our own nature?'
He'd never heard of anything like this before, not even in the fanfictions he'd read.