Sato Hibiki - Genin Exam

Genin Exam

Today was the day! Hibiki held the attitude that every day was going to be a great day and more often than not this proved prophetic however this day of all days was even more important. Today he was to have his Genin exam and success would mean he had official joined the ranks of the other village shinobi and would be awarded a coveted Kumogakure headband. It was a day he had been waiting for years to arrive. He had trained hard to learn the techniques he would be tested on and the first major step towards his dreams was only hours away. It was this thought that had kept him up most of the night, allowing for only a few hours sleep. It was a also a day his mother and father had been dreading for several years since he joined as an academy student. Each year they hoped he would back out and agree to help run the family business instead of choosing the high risk high reward life of a village ninja. Each year they had been disappointed and finally the day had come that they had so long dreaded. If successful they knew Hibiki was never likely to change paths and they approached the day with false encouragement and a sense of imposing dread.

Hibiki only saw the bright smiles and best wishes from his parents and was glad that they at least feigned happiness though it stung a little that he knew they probably secretly wanted him to fail. Hibiki shook his head to clear his doubts as his nerves were already frayed. In theory the test only required the correct application and use of the clone technique and the transformation technique however there had been stories of Chunin occasionally changing the rules or criteria. Regardless Hibiki was determined to succeed. He knew he could use the techniques and only his own nerves could possibly get in his way and prevent him becoming a Genin. At least that is what he hoped. Hibiki was also surprised to see his grandpa waiting for him when he headed downstairs with what appeared to be genuine excitement. Hibiki had grown up listening to how his grandpa had wanted to be a ninja but failed the genin exam repeatedly before giving up on that path and taking over the management of the inn. Hibiki assumed that his mother took after his grandma more than his kind and doting grandpa though she had passed before he was born. He knew little about his grandma in fact, other than she was supposedly very strict but very fair and kind. Kindness and strictness seemed at odds with each other as far as Hibiki was concerned. His grandpa however had always been encouraging of his choice despite protestations from his mother.

With a final hug to each family member and a chorus of well wishes and good lucks forms several of the patrons he waved goodbye and sped off to the academy. He decided to take the long way around, which meant actually walking the roads and paths than cutting across the cliffs with surface walking. The last thing he wanted was to trip and injure himself today of all days. Hibiki had chosen his most excellent toothpicks for the day and began chewing one fervently. Spitting out the remains of no less than four before he even arrived at the academy, a sure sign of his inner tension and nervousness that lay behind a cocky smile and over exaggerated swagger.

He arrived at the academy and took his seat, his feet drumming on the ground in excitement as his passed his gaze over the other students, several of whom stuck out prominently and had seemingly chosen to become ninja later in life than himself. Hibiki hoped that everyone could pass but was acutely aware that it was not always so. What if I am like Grandpa? What if all my techniques desert me and I have to work in the inn forever? Horrific threads of potential fates were conjured in his mind before he slammed his head on the desk rather loudly to dispel them. “Are you okay in the middle? You would be… Sato Hibiki yes? I believe you are taking the Genin exam today correct?”

Hibiki looked up in horror at the examination proctor that had spoken to him and he stammered slightly and flushed crimson as he replied, hoping that his tanned skin hid the worst of his visible embarrassment. It did not however. “Ye..yes Sir! Sato Hibiki here and ready to take the exam ..uh..sir.” The proctor looked him up and down, perhaps considering his scruffy appearance including the roughly tied hair and his scar momentarily. “No need to be so nervous. Today we will be conducting the Genin exam in standard order. When I call your name you will come up to the front and demonstrate the correct application and execution of the transformation technique and the clone technique when prompted. Understood?” A chorus of agreement from the class answered the proctor and Hibiki groaned silently inward. Hibiki waited as the names were called out, student would wander down with vary degrees of nervousness and proceed to demonstrate the techniques in front of the class and proctor. The examination passed by in a blur and the tension ever increased as Hibiki knew it was getting closer and closer to his name being called. Finally, the moment came and Hibiki swallowed his nerves and headed to the front of the classroom.

As he looked out at the crowd, he was surprised by how many people were watching and it definitely felt a lot larger than usual. It also felt a little hotter for some reason. Hibiki took his position and performed the transformation technique, appearing as a passable copy of the proctor and holding it until prompted to release the technique. The proctor nodded and scribbled something down on his note pad and it took all Hibiki’s willpower not to stretch his neck and try to get a look. He was prompted the perform the clone technique and did so, hesitantly looking over towards the clone he created and expecting to see some horrible monster like creation. Instead, he was happy to see a copy of himself frowning then smiling. He released the technique and received another nod from the proctor before being directed back to his seat. A short list of  students names were called out but Hibiki barely paid much attention, instead waiting for the results to be announced. After what seemed like a short eternity the proctor completed his notes and spoke to the class. “Well done everyone, you all performed very well. If you did not pass do not be discouraged! Keep practicing and I am sure you will succeed on the next examination. Now I shall list the successful candidates and they shall be presented with one of these.” The proctor tapped his headband and gestured for the teacher to open a box on his desk lined with brand new and shiny Kumogakure forehead protectors. The Proctor began reading names and after several agonising minutes he heard is name called. Hibiki fought back tears of joy as he approached the front and received his forehead protector with a bow. At last he had become a ninja!

After the handing out of the forehead protectors he ran straight home, stopping to show off his forehead protector to anyone that paused to look or speak to him. He arrived home and paused in front of the door, uncertain of the reaction he would get when he entered. He pushed the door open and locked yes with his mother who glanced up at his forehead and smiled sadly for a moment before walking over to hug and congratulate him. Likewise, his Grandpa ran over with tears in his eyes and hugged both Hibiki and his mother. His father was nowhere to be seen but despite it all Hibiki was finally ready to take his first steps as a true shinobi and the wide world outside the village seemed suddenly much closer than before.

TWC: 1,300

Claiming mission rewards:
- 1,000 Ryo
- +5 AP
- Promotion to Genin and D Power Rank
- Kumogakure Ninja Headband

Claiming Stats:
- +3 Vigor - 300 words - 300/1300
- + 5 Chakra - 500 words - 800/1300
- + 5 speed - 500 words -1300/1300

Claiming Jutsu:
- Lightning Release: Thunderclap Arrow - 1000 words - 1000/1300
- Lightning Release: Sparks - 250 words - 1250/1300

Claiming rank-up rewards E-rank to D-rank:
+100 AP
+ 20 stats:
+10 in Chakra
+10 in speed