Reborn into Naruto World with Tenseigan

“Thank you, Guy-san, for their introduction…” nodded Itachi and said, “As previously mentioned, the graduation exam will be mainly focused on one-on-one duels, however, it won’t be a straightforward one-on-one battle. Specific criteria will govern the evaluation process.”

“With the exception of Giant Summons,” he glanced at Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji, “most other Ninja Arts are allowed. This includes Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Shurikenjutsu, Kenjutsu, Genjutsu, Fuinjutsu, Secret Jutsu, Kinjutsu, and so on.”

“At the commencement of the exam, each trainee will be assigned a certain number of points, representing their blood count.

Losing a battle will result in a decrease in your blood count while winning a battle will increase it.

Once your Blood Count falls below a specified value, disqualification will follow, barring you from graduation. Conversely, if your blood count surpasses a specified value, you will be permitted to graduate.

Another crucial aspect that influences how you earn Blood Count is your approach to defeating your opponent. The efficiency and speed with which the outcome of a fight is determined directly impact the Blood Count distribution.

The quicker and more efficient the victory or defeat, the more Blood Count the winner gains and the loser loses. Conversely, if the determination of victory or defeat takes longer and is less efficient, the winner will receive fewer points, and the loser will lose fewer points.

Lastly, there will be a clock count when a battle commences.

If the battle concludes within 60 seconds, everything proceeds as normal. However, if the battle extends beyond the 60-second mark, the winner will lose a specified number of points for each second that passes, while the loser will receive half the number of points that the winner loses.

That wraps up the rules. If anyone has any doubts, they are encouraged to seek clarification from their respective instructors.”

As soon as Itachi finished explaining the rules, the field erupted in noise. While many children had anticipated that the graduation exam wouldn’t be a walk in the park, hearing the detailed rules made them realize that it was far from simple.

Particularly sharp-minded individuals like Sasuke, Shikamaru, Neji, Kiyomi, Mika, and Sai grasped that the introduced point system would significantly intensify the difficulty of the graduation exam.

“What a drag,” Shikamaru muttered with a sigh. The realization dawned on him that now, on the battlefield, he would have to consider a myriad of factors, adding a layer of complexity to the proceedings.

Sasuke and Neji looked at each other with doubtful expressions. Both of them understood that if they wanted to secure the top position, then they must not only defeat their opponent, but they must also decide the victory and defeat as quickly as possible, there can be no waste of time because time is an important factor here as the clock will continue to tick.

The dynamics had shifted; it was no longer just about winning and losing. Now, success hinged on how swiftly, efficiently, and cleanly one could secure victory. On the flip side, if defeat seemed inevitable, the strategy shifted to prolonging and complicating the battle to minimize point loss.

Yet, there was more to consider. With multiple battles in the offing, the trainees needed to be mindful of not expending all their energy and chakra in a single skirmish, lest they be left drained for subsequent engagements. Every aspect had to be taken into account, transforming what was once a simple graduation exam into something resembling a war.

The difficulty level soared, especially when considering the ‘Class – A’ trainees, often referred to as the ‘Monsters’ of their year.

Even Kakashi, Shisui, and Kuroto found themselves taken aback by the rules announced by Itachi. Turning to Kuroto, Shisui inquired, “Kuroto-san, were you the one who designed these rules?”

Kuroto shook his head. “It had nothing to do with me. The entire Graduation Exam was prepared by Itachi. I had left everything to him since he was the principal. This is the first time I’ve heard the rules,” he added with a smile. “And I must say, he has created an interesting set of rules, huh?”

Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. “This Graduation exam this time is really not as simple as many might have thought. It’s not just a test of a trainee’s strength; it’s also a measure of their planning, tactics, and critical thinking. Instead of merely winning, what matters here more is survival. As long as you manage to survive, you can graduate. You have to understand when to show your fangs and when not to, when it’s better to simply give up and accept defeat to preserve Blood Count, and when it’s not.”

The significance of the Graduation Exam had shifted. It wasn’t just about showcasing strength; it was a holistic assessment of a ninja’s strategic and survival instincts. This sentiment was shared not only by the three judges but also by the three elders and the entire audience, including the Patriarchs of various Shinobi Clans. They all eagerly anticipated the unique challenges and outcomes that this Graduation Exam would unveil.

The general populace, unable to discern the subtleties of the exam’s implications, remained uncertain about what made the rules special. However, those who grasped the underlying nuances realized that this Graduation would differ significantly from any they had witnessed before.

Observing the mix of doubt, excitement, and nervousness on everyone’s faces, Itachi smiled lightly and continued, “Given the one-on-one battles and the absence of restrictions on Jutsu types, there’s a high probability of accidental injuries and even death. The Iryō-nin are on standby to address injuries, but for matters of death, everyone is required to sign the life-and-death agreement before undertaking the graduation exam.”

As Itachi concluded his statement, the academy instructors, one by one, presented the life-and-death agreement to the trainees, urging them to step forward individually and sign.

Recognizing the nature of their future roles as ninjas, where killing and being killed for the sake of missions was an inherent reality, this symbolic act served as a reminder. Upon officially becoming Genin after graduation, they would be regularly engaged in life-threatening missions, demanding a preparedness for such situations.

Naturally, the children already possessed such consciousness due to the Ninja Academy’s propaganda. Consequently, neither the trainees nor their family members raised any objections to signing the life-and-death undertaking.

With the rules clarified and the agreements signed, Itachi wasted no time and promptly declared the official commencement of the Graduation Exam.

Without delay, duels unfolded on the field.

The caliber of the battles surpassed everyone’s expectations.

It could be asserted that each student exhibited performance surpassing that of ordinary Genin, with some of the outstanding ones even reaching the level of Chunin and Special Jonin.

As the names of the next participants were revealed, the referee Asuma declared, “Next battle is between Hyuga Neji and Uzumaki Naruto!”

Neji was taken aback upon realizing that Naruto would be his opponent. His expression momentarily darkened, but he composed himself with a deep breath and quietly approached the field.

Naruto’s spirits soared; his performance thus far had been exceptional. With minimal effort and a focus on Taijutsu, he swiftly defeated all his opponents in less than a minute. Now, facing Neji, he looked forward to the challenge, exclaiming, “Hahaha… Finally, I will have the opportunity to show the results of my training!”

Sasuke snorted dismissively. “Baka… you’re going to be fighting Neji. Don’t try to lose too horribly!” Sasuke harbored no illusions about Naruto’s chances against Neji without resorting to Senjutsu. Since Naruto wasn’t using Senjutsu, Sasuke considered victory impossible.

Moreover, from the beginning, Sasuke recognized Neji as his most challenging opponent, solidifying his belief that there was no way Neji would lose to Naruto.

Naruto, undeterred by Sasuke’s remark, responded, “Don’t worry, Sasuke. Until I defeat you, I’m not going to lose to anyone, not even Neji! After all, I am going to become the number one!”