Naruto: The Medical God

A week had passed, and the long-awaited day of the graduation exam had finally arrived. Standing in front of the Academy, Shin took a deep breath, letting his gaze sweep over the familiar building. The early morning sun reflected off the windows, and the soft murmur of students arriving filled the air. This place had been his second home for years, and now he was on the verge of leaving it behind to step into the world as a true ninja.

There was an odd feeling in his chest—part nostalgia, part determination. This moment was monumental, yet it felt strangely serene. The anticipation that had been building all week now settled into a calm readiness.

Just as he turned to enter, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"Shin!"

He recognized the voice instantly and turned, spotting Ayaka approaching him. Her auburn hair caught the sunlight as she hurried over. Her usual confident demeanor was present, but there was something else—an edge of nervousness she couldn't quite hide. She slowed as she neared him, as though gathering her composure.

"Good morning," she said, her voice a touch quieter than usual. "Ready for the big day?"

Shin smiled faintly, noting the slight flush on her cheeks and the way her gaze flickered away from his. "Good morning, Ayaka. Ready as I'll ever be."

Her lips curled into a small, almost shy smile as she glanced at him. "That's… good. I mean, of course you are," she said, her words rushing together. "You've been working really hard for this. More than anyone else."

Shin tilted his head slightly, watching her. Ayaka had been unusually reserved around him lately. It had been two weeks since he had revealed that he knew about her crush on him, and while she still acted like her usual self in front of others, moments like these had become more frequent—moments where she seemed unsure of how to act around him.

"You've been working hard too," Shin said, his voice even. "Today's your big day as well."

Ayaka's blush deepened, and she glanced down. "Yeah, well… I just hope it all goes smoothly. For both of us." Her tone was softer now, almost vulnerable.

Shin nodded, his expression calm but warm. "It will. You're ready, Ayaka."

Her eyes flickered up to meet his, and for a moment, her usual confident facade slipped entirely. "Thanks, Shin," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

The silence between them stretched, charged with an unspoken tension. Ayaka shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her hand gripping the strap of her bag tightly. Shin was about to say something to ease the mood when Ayaka abruptly broke the silence.

"Well, we shouldn't just stand here," she said quickly, her voice rising slightly as if to cover her embarrassment. "We'll be late if we don't go in now."

Shin smirked faintly but didn't press her. "You're right. Let's—"

"Hey, you two lovebirds! Move or you'll be late for the exam!"

Shin and Ayaka both turned to see Naruto grinning widely as he jogged toward them, his trademark orange outfit as bright and obnoxious as ever.

Ayaka's face turned a shade of red so intense it was as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her cheeks at once. She stammered something unintelligible, her gaze dropping to the ground.

But what surprised Ayaka most wasn't her own reaction—it was Shin's.

For a brief moment, his usually composed expression faltered. His ears tinged faintly pink, and his lips pressed together as though he were trying to suppress something. Was he embarrassed? Before Ayaka could be sure, Shin's reaction shifted.

His brow furrowed, and a faint scowl appeared on his face. "Naruto, you idiot!" he barked, his tone sharper than usual. "We're not—"

But Naruto had already darted past them, laughing loudly.

"I'll race you to the classroom, Shin!" Naruto called over his shoulder, clearly enjoying the chaos he had just caused.

Shin growled, his usual calm demeanor cracking under the strain of annoyance—and, perhaps, something else. "Get back here, you loudmouth!" he shouted, dashing after Naruto with uncharacteristic urgency.

Ayaka stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the scene unfold. She could still feel the heat in her cheeks, but now her mind was occupied with something else.

"Did… Shin just get embarrassed?" she thought, her eyes narrowing slightly as she replayed the moment in her mind. The hint of pink on his ears, the slight hesitation before he lashed out—it was subtle, but it was there.

A small smile crept onto her lips despite her lingering flustered state.

"Hehe…" she chuckled softly before shaking her head and following after them, her steps quickening as she headed toward the classroom.

...

The classroom buzzed with excitement and nervous energy as the students filed in, taking their seats. Shin stepped in after his little chase with Naruto, a slight frown on his face but no sign of lingering embarrassment. He quickly spotted Naruto, already seated and grinning widely as if nothing had happened. Shin muttered something under his breath and moved to sit a few rows back, choosing a spot that gave him a clear view of the front. Ayaka took a seat nearby, her gaze occasionally flickering toward Shin, though she said nothing.

At the front of the classroom stood Iruka, the familiar figure of their teacher, his expression a mix of sternness and encouragement. Beside him, Mizuki stood with his arms crossed, offering a faint, almost smug smile as he surveyed the students.

"Good morning, everyone," Iruka began, his voice carrying easily over the chatter in the room. The students quieted down quickly, their attention drawn to the man who would decide their fate as ninja.

"Today is the day you've all been waiting for: the graduation exam," Iruka continued. "This exam is your final test at the Academy, and passing it will mark the beginning of your journey as a true ninja."

Mizuki nodded, stepping forward to add, "You've been trained in the basics for years. Today, you'll have the chance to prove that you've mastered them. We're looking for confidence, precision, and an understanding of the fundamentals."

Iruka gestured toward the chalkboard, where three words were written in bold, clear script: Transformation, Substitution, and Clone.

"This exam will test three specific skills," Iruka said. "Each of you will perform the Transformation Jutsu, the Substitution Jutsu, and the Clone Jutsu in front of us. You must demonstrate proficiency in all three to pass."

A low murmur ran through the room as students exchanged glances.

"For most of you, this should be straightforward," Mizuki added, his tone light but with a hint of challenge. "But remember, this isn't just about doing the jutsu. It's about doing them right. Half-hearted efforts won't cut it."

Shin leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. He knew he could perform all three jutsu, but that wasn't what worried him. His gaze flickered to Naruto, who looked uncharacteristically serious for once: he knew that he could do it, he had practiced the entire week the three basic jutsus with Shin and, thanks to his ingenuos methods, he had been somewhat able to do them.

Iruka clapped his hands together, regaining the class's full attention. "The exam will begin shortly. We'll call you in one by one to perform the jutsu. Until then, remain seated and prepare yourselves."

Mizuki smirked, his eyes briefly scanning the room before he leaned closer to Iruka, whispering something Shin couldn't hear.

As Iruka moved to the back of the room to check the list of names, Shin tightened his fists under the desk. This was it—the moment he had worked so hard for. His future as a ninja would be decided in a matter of minutes.

To be continued...

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How was this chapter, guys? Liked it? Is the pace alright or am I going too slow?

Also, be sure to check out my original novel, Hyperborea!