Physical Test
I quickly grabbed my things and followed the teacher. Walking through the corridors, we exited into the inner part of the Academy, which led directly to the forest. This was the Third Training Ground—the largest of all the Academy's training fields.
As soon as we stepped outside, my eyes were immediately drawn to the dozens of students already gathered there and several chunin standing nearby. They were talking among themselves, ensuring all students were present.
"This is where the testing will take place," Kiharu said, turning to us.
Some students started whispering excitedly, exchanging glances with their friends.
"It's still break time—you have ten minutes before the official start of the test," Kiharu added before heading toward the other chunin.
Hearing this, I decided not to waste time and began surveying the area. The training ground was vast and quite complex: in addition to the standard training areas, there were obstacle courses, training targets, and even a small sparring arena. In the distance, a few training dummies were scattered in random order.
I shifted my gaze further—near the forest's edge, I could see narrow paths leading deep inside.
I wasn't the only one inspecting the area. A little to the side, I noticed a boy from the Nara clan—he was in my class and was also carefully studying the terrain, occasionally stopping and calculating something in his head. Judging by his thoughtful expression, he was analyzing possible movement routes and hiding spots.
As I observed the surroundings, a green jumpsuit standing out from the crowd caught my attention. But before I could take a closer look, an announcement began!
"Everyone, line up!" a loud voice cut through the chatter of the students.
The crowd instantly came to life—some quickly finished talking to friends, others pushed their way to the line, and some, as always, yawned as if this had nothing to do with them. I quickly took my place in the row, noticing from the corner of my eye that the Nara boy had leisurely taken a spot nearby, still looking deep in thought.
A middle-aged man in a chunin vest stepped forward. He had a sturdy build, short-cropped hair, and a facial expression that promised nothing good.
"My name is Takeshi, and I will be overseeing your test," he introduced himself, scanning us with a stern gaze. "Today's test is designed to assess your physical abilities: endurance, speed, strength, and reflexes. These are the basic qualities necessary for every ninja."
"The test consists of several stages," Takeshi continued. "The first is a speed test. You will run a set distance through uneven terrain. The second is an agility test: an obstacle course that requires maximum concentration. The third stage will involve weapon use."
Someone in the crowd groaned in displeasure at the mention of exercises but quickly fell silent under Takeshi's sharp glare.
"The first stage is a run through the forest. The route is marked with directional signs to guide you. You must complete five laps. The instructors will be monitoring the entire course and recording your finish times."
Takeshi gave us a long look before nodding to one of the chunin.
"And now, let's begin. The first stage starts right now!"
The chunin began dividing students into small groups, positioning them at the starting line. I ended up in a group with kids I didn't know, but I immediately noticed they were older than me—about 8-10 years old. Some chatted amongst themselves, some stretched, and others sized up their competition.
I glanced at the other groups and once again saw that same green jumpsuit. Looking closer, I realized—it was… Might Guy!
As soon as everyone lined up at the starting line, a sudden, energetic shout cut through the air:
"THE POWER OF YOUTH DRIVES ME FORWARD!"
I flinched at the unexpected outburst and quickly turned my head toward the source. Of course, it was Might Guy. He stood in his group, clenching his fists and placing one foot at the starting line as if ready to spring forward. His eyes burned with enthusiasm, and his eyebrows seemed on the verge of flying off his face from sheer intensity.
"THIS RACE WILL BE A TEST OF OUR SPIRIT! IF I DON'T FINISH WITH THE BEST TIME, I'LL DO FIVE HUNDRED PUSH-UPS!"
Several students in his group exchanged nervous glances—some chuckled, but Guy didn't seem the least bit embarrassed.
"On your marks…"
I leaned forward, tensing my muscles.
"Get ready…"
My heart pounded wildly.
"Go!"
At the signal, I sprang forward along with the other students. The wind hit my face, and my feet slid slightly over the grass.
The trail led deep into the forest, growing narrower and more winding. Around me, I heard the pounding of footsteps, heavy breathing, and occasional shouts from those who nearly tripped over exposed roots.
I knew one thing—I had to give it my all.
The first lap was easy. Adrenaline pushed me forward, and I kept pace with the older students.
Ahead, a green blur flashed—it was Guy! He was sprinting at incredible speed, swinging his arms wildly and shouting something about the "flames of youth." Even when roots and uneven terrain appeared in his path, he only sped up, leaping over obstacles with remarkable ease.
Suddenly, someone near me stumbled and, with a loud yelp, crashed into the bushes. I glanced over—it was a boy from another group. He was already getting up, brushing himself off, but he had lost valuable seconds.
The forest grew denser. The air was humid, carrying the scent of earth and leaves. Tree branches hung low, forcing us to constantly duck to avoid getting smacked in the face.
This was definitely harder than running on a cleared training ground.
By the end of the third lap, my legs began to feel the strain. My breathing grew heavier. Not yet, I told myself, watching as someone up ahead picked up speed, trying to catch up to Guy.
Of course, Guy was still in the lead, shouting:
"IF YOU CAN'T GIVE YOUR ALL EVEN IN A RACE, HOW WILL YOU BECOME A GREAT NINJA?!"
Some students looked at him in awe, others in annoyance. But no one could deny that he was the fastest and showed no signs of fatigue.
I gritted my teeth. I had to keep up. The main thing was not to fall behind.
The fourth lap.
Now it got tough. Those who had saved energy suddenly burst forward, trying to take the lead.
When I saw Guy surge ahead, I knew he would definitely be first. But I couldn't afford to lag too far behind. My energy was running low, and if I didn't act fast, I'd be overtaken.
I decided to use my trump card.
That day, Kohoshi had taught me how to truly enhance my body. My previous attempts had been close to correct but wasted too much chakra for too little speed. To improve the process, I had to focus on proper chakra circulation.
I exhaled, calming my heartbeat, and concentrated. My running slowed slightly, but I carefully directed chakra to my legs, starting from my feet and moving up to my knees. Once the energy reached the lower half of my body, I created a steady flow, circulating it up and down to maintain optimal balance.
I ran with incredible ease, catching up to the clan children. Just behind Guy, Inuzuka and Sarutobi were running, but they were starting to fall back slightly.
Then Inuzuka suddenly stopped. He dropped to all fours and performed a concentration seal—he was going to use an acceleration technique!
I increased my chakra circulation and made a powerful dash, closing the gap. Now I was neck and neck with Inuzuka, with Sarutobi slightly behind.
Guy… Guy was far ahead. He didn't even slow down.
The finish line was already close.
I could feel my legs burning from the strain, but I had no intention of stopping. I had to overtake Inuzuka!
I put everything I had left into this final sprint. My muscles were on fire, my breathing was ragged, but I knew—if I stopped now, there would be no second chance.
Inuzuka, running beside me, growled and sped up even more. His body moved low to the ground, his arms and legs working in perfect sync, like a beast on the hunt.
Sarutobi, just a step behind, tried once again to use his acceleration technique. He formed hand seals and exhaled sharply.
But at that very moment, everything went wrong.
A tree root, barely sticking out of the ground, was right in his path.
"Damn it!" he gasped, losing his balance.
I saw his body jerk to the side for a split second. He tried to regain control, but his speed was too high.
"Whoa…!" Inuzuka barely had time to turn his head before Sarutobi went tumbling down, rolling across the ground.
This was my chance.
I surged past Inuzuka, who had been momentarily distracted by our fallen competitor. Adrenaline flared in my chest—just a little more!
The finish line was right in front of me.
With one final, powerful leap, I crossed the line in second place.
My lungs were burning, my legs were trembling, but… I did it.
In front of me stood Might Guy, not even looking winded. He smiled broadly and gave me a thumbs-up.
Behind me, Inuzuka caught his breath and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"You just got lucky," he muttered, but there was no anger in his voice—only excitement.
Sarutobi sat on the ground, rubbing his bruised knee and quietly cursing.