Year Six of Konoha's Founding
Kenichi Sato's Age: 10 Years
Mid-August – Day Two of the Early Graduation Exam
---
The morning wasn't bright.
Gray clouds had loomed over Konoha's sky since dawn, as if nature itself had decided to take part in the exam. Light rain began to fall over the training ground as the qualified teams gathered.
Kenichi stood beside Dai and Kagami, his body tense from the moment he woke up.
Dai scratched his neck and said, "I like the rain, but not when I have to run for a whole hour."
Kenichi gave a slight smile, then looked toward an instructor standing under a wooden canopy.
---
The head instructor announced:
> "Today is the second stage: the Endurance Test."
> "Each team will head to a designated point inside the forest. You must endure there for a set amount of time without food or water, while exposed to the natural elements and occasional surprise assessments from hidden evaluation teams."
> "This test doesn't just measure strength… but willpower, teamwork, and discipline."
Mixed expressions spread among the students—some tense, some confident… and Kenichi was analyzing them all.
---
Inside the forest, the teams were scattered across isolated checkpoints.
Each team had to set up a simple shelter using limited tools and maintain the security of their perimeter from any intrusions.
Kenichi sat cross-legged in meditation, watching the rainfall, while Dai ran around collecting dry branches.
Kagami constructed a basic alarm system using wire and kunai traps.
After three hours of relative silence, Kenichi said, "Dai… instead of moving so much, control your breathing. We need to conserve energy."
Dai, slightly shivering and voice dropping, replied, "I… I don't know how to sit still! But I'll try."
Kenichi looked at him for a moment and noticed his fingers beginning to cramp from the cold. He calmly approached and said, "Take a deep breath, Dai. You don't have to act strong all the time. Save your energy."
---
As night fell, the real challenges began.
Animal sounds echoed at the edges, leaves rustled without wind, and sudden water splashes hit the tent roof.
A shadow suddenly appeared near the perimeter.
Kenichi blinked quickly and inhaled slowly… It wasn't a real ninja, but a decoy.
He whispered to Kagami, "Test trap. Ignore it."
Kagami nodded while Dai clenched his fist, staying alert.
An hour later, a flash bomb exploded nearby.
Kenichi moved his hand subtly, releasing a wave of water chakra around the tent. The rain-enhanced moisture clung to the chakra pulses, creating a thin sensor layer surrounding them.
> "Don't crack under pressure… this is just a nerve test."
---
Eighteen hours passed.
The night grew heavier, and their bodies more exhausted.
Kagami said, "Most teams will collapse before time's up."
Kenichi replied, "That's what they're counting on… but we'll prove them wrong."
In the final moments before dawn, a real attack occurred.
A masked ninja breached their side perimeter. Dai was the first to react, shouting, "Inside the circle!"
Kenichi leapt up, yanked Dai back, then released a pressurized water blast toward the attacker.
The ninja retreated instantly and disappeared into the trees.
A supervising instructor arrived a minute later and jotted something into a scroll:
> "Reaction was timely. Team 3… passed successfully."
---
Upon returning to the academy, Tobirama sat in his office, reviewing the day's reports.
He read the line related to Kenichi:
> "His actions were logical, disciplined, and his technique was used wisely."
He continued to the other entries:
> "Kagami Uchiha: Balanced caution and response. Built an effective early warning system and remained composed under pressure."
> "Danzo Shimura: Spoke little, but faced challenges with intense focus. Showed adaptability and quick learning from mistakes."
> "Hiruzen Sarutobi: Continued the mission despite a minor injury. Demonstrated maturity beyond his age."
Tobirama muttered to himself, "Not the strongest physically… but the most stable."
He closed the scroll and looked at the team map, saying:
> "He may not be the best at everything… but he might be the most important in everything."