"You don't say..." mused Kiba out loud, jerking a thumb towards where Akamaru was being scratched behind the ears by a dragon-girl.
"He just wants to make sure I know that he's an ally and not a snack," said Ryuuko. "And yes, Akamaru, I am quite aware of such."
"The traditional genin test consists of you showing off the Academy Three techniques," said Suzume, deciding to ignore the exchange. "Henge, Bunshin, and Kawarimi. Or some workable variant of the three. There is also a written test. Well, things are going to be a bit different this year."
"Like they could be any other way," said Tobio. "Everything's different this year."
"Indeed," said Suzume. "There will be the three demonstrations and written test, as in previous years. There will also be a general skills evaluation. Those of you who pass all of these will graduate technically as genin."
"Meaning that we still won't be considered genin in fact, how bothersome," summed up Shikamaru.
"Is there anything in your life which is not bothersome?" asked a dark elf.
"I find the idea of not answering that slightly less bothersome than it would be if I answered it," answered Shikamaru.
"What happens to those who make technical genin but fail to make full genin?" asked a mi'qote as she absently scratched Akamaru behind the ears.
Kiba looked over at his dog, noted that he'd been making the rounds, and shook his head. Akamaru has become SUCH an attention hound.
"Classified. You'll find out when and if you reach that stage," said Suzume.
"What?! That's not fair!" indicated Sakura.
"You're getting ready to become ninja," pointed out Suzume. "If you want 'fair' - you might want to consider another career choice. This isn't unlike certain missions, in that you might well only get partial instructions until certain other mission objectives are given."
There were still a few grumbles about the whole thing, but that point DID keep them down for the most part.
"So the rumor that we have more potential graduates than can reasonably be fielded?" asked Shiroko.
"Due to the unusual circumstances, some genin may get placement tests and not put on field teams," admitted Suzume. "There have been indications of interest from certain other areas of the village."
"Ah," said a drow. "You mean like 'Torture and Interrogation'?"
"Figures she'd be into that," muttered a lighter skinned elf, though only those with enhanced hearing were able to pick up the comment over background noise. Which meant that Kiba, most of the catgirls, all of the elves, and a few others DID hear.
"Now," said Suzume, holding up a sheaf of papers. "Pass these around. Take one each, face down on your desk, do not turn over until I give the word to begin. This will be a timed test."
"Byakugan," whispered Hinata, doing the handseals out of sight.
Various others around the room also began readying techniques for cheating.
It had been pointed out to the members of Naruto's group that Ninja Rule Thirty Seven applied to such things as testing for the rank of ninja as it was a ninja test. "Any advantage you can cheat, steal, or appropriate is fair game unless it has been specifically forbidden."
"Suzume-sensei!" announced one girl, sticking her hand up. "I think Ryuuko is trying to cheat by using her 'divine gaze' technique!"
"Okay, and so?" asked Suzume, adjusting her glasses.
"B-But... she's cheating by using an unnatural advantage," said the girl, her smirk vanishing as she realized the teacher wasn't following her expectations.
"Why would I need to cheat on such a test anyway?" demanded Ryuuko, partially uncoiling. "Stupid fangirl!"
"'Fangirl'?" shrieked Ami. "You're the fangirl, you freaky fangirl of that freak!"
"So you believe that having a bloodline ability makes you a 'freak'?" asked Ryuuko, taking a sheet from the stack clumsily and placing it on her desk.
"Yes!" declared Ami.
Suzume facepalmed. No wonder Iruka had begged off to deal with a headache.
"So you're giving up on Sasuke?" asked Shiroko.
"What?! I'm never giving up on Sasuke!" said Ami.
"Idiot fangirl," said Sasuke, clearly.
Ami looked stricken. "What?"
"You don't even KNOW Sasuke Uchiha, and you fangirl on him," said Shiroko, sniffing.
"Who are you calling a 'fangirl'?!" asked Ami. "Like I said, you and your lot fangirl over a freak and loser!"
"We're hardly the fangirliest fangirls here," said Shiroko with a loud sniff.
"Would everyone stop fangirling?!" complained Suzume.
"I'm not fangirling," protested Kiba.
"I'm about to fail everyone who isn't ready to take the test," said Suzume, sounding quite appropriate testy. "Any more interruptions? From fangirls, fanboys, fanning fans, or otherwise?"
Silence answered her.
"Good," said Suzume, waiting until the last student had received the four page test. "Turn your papers over now and begin. You have fifteen minutes."
Ryuuko Shukyo sighed as she considered her clumsy claw-hands and then simply used her telekinetic abilities to move the pencil along the paper.
The first page seemed to have easy beginner questions, things covered within classes. "Who was the First Hokage? What was his wife's name?" That was the first question.
The seventh question was a bit more difficult. "List the main export of Grass Country and its chief import." Again, not too difficult for one of her own refinement. The answer was obviously grain for the first part and manufactured goods for the second, particularly metal as the country had no mines to speak of.
Ryuuko raised an elegant eyebrow at the second page. The first page had been primarily current events and history. The second page was more practical, dealing with common ninja supplies and survival tactics.
Ah, number seventeen was tricky. Well, she was especially good at math.
Number eighteen was ridiculous in its simplicity. Dividing two apples to three people?
Ryuuko smirked until she got to the third and final page. Cryptography? Well, she could do it, but she had doubts about the rest of the class. Including Naruto.
Ino let her mind drift.
Contact.
Another reason for joining the "fanclub" - there were two minor telepaths in the group. Working with them was an opportunity to work on her family's talents and refine them to an extent that had never been done before. Maybe raise their talent for the techniques to a full kekkei genkai clan.
Answer one. Mito Uzumaki was the name of the First Hokage's wife.
Any relation?
Not directly at any rate.
Time's ticking, ladies. Focus. Answer number two...
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(Posted Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:16)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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