The day has come. Just like Reiji has expected, there is plenty of people who have decided to be promoted to official ninjas early.
The Promotion Exam is an exam that takes place in the ninja academy annually on the 11th month of the year.
The exam grants all the students in the academy to be promoted in order for them to be official Rank 1 ninjas without the need of completing the four year course the academy uses to better teach the students about ninja skills or techniques.
Though it may sound like the best opportunity for early graduation, it has one condition you must adhere to.
That being if you fail the exam you are no more allowed to take place in the exam. Due to that some students would rather wait for a couple of years before being part of the exam.
Even so, some would rather gamble on their chances to take part in it early. Similar to Reiji who is excited to even be standing here.
'It seems am not the only first year taking the exam.' He thinks to himself.
At the corner of his eyes, Reiji notice Kazuki walking in to view alongside him is Koruto. And it is not only Reiji who has eyes set on Kazuki, but Nero as well.
Who he and Tamia are standing under a tree. Beside these four Reiji can tell that some of the students are filled with anxiety in their eyes.
Well some are thrilled with excitement. The academy may use points that you accumulate throughout your time in the academy to determine weather you graduate or not.
The Promotion Exam however does not follow that principle. So for those who have not reached the required points to graduate the academy, all they need to do is to pass the Promotion Exam.
Unlike the first exam, the level of security in this exam is high. As Special Force ninjas are always watching to pick ninjas with potential to be ninjas.
Reiji turns to Kazuki who seems to be occupied discussing something with Koruto. But something is also occupying his mind.
The place his in oddly feels familiar. The silver fence that seems to act as a boundary between him and the ominous forest behind the fence.
'Was I here before?' He ask himself.
He strolls to the gate of the fence. Surprisingly a black thing flies past him. He directs his attention to where the thing fell.
And it's…
"Lia!" Reiji's eyes open wide with shock.
"You came." Reiji adds, "I was told that you were going to stop being a ninjas."
"Owww. Were you worried about me Prince?"
Reiji's face colors up. His back turns towards Lia.
"Oh come on. I would never miss you." He says shyly.
Lia jumps on Reiji's should before yelling out Kazuki's name.
Kazuki raises his head towards them and with joy he runs to them. Koruto follows behind him moseying.
After all this challenging months apart, the three have finally reconnected. No words can explain how glad they feel right now as they embrace in a hug.
"Hey Lia!" Kazuki continues, "Where were you?! And Reiji how have you been?"
They separate from their hug and Reiji looks at Kazuki.
"Don't you "how you doing" me!" His face mildly red. "You disappear for 5 months without a word. Do you know how worried Hina was."
"Sorry!" Kazuki bowing his head.
Lia's eyes scan Kazuki from head to toe.
"Well Kazuki, you've put on some muscles."
"You can tell?!" Smile on his face, "It's thanks to him!"
Pointing at Koruto who is now standing behind him.
Reiji and Lia both stare at Koruto with wonder. Lia is reminded of Zennyos discreption of Damiyo Higuma.
With out a doubt, Koruto is the son of Damiyo Higuma. His abnormal height that he looks to be as old as 19 year old and his intimidating face like he could kill the both of them right now sends chills down the spine of both of them.
"My name is Koruto."
Reiji both snap out of their trance. Responding in kind to what Koruto just said.
"I will leave you with your friends okay. Good luck, hope you make it."
Koruto walks away from the three.
"I have so many questions on how you two became friends." Lia says.
"Those questions will have to wait."
The three of them starring at the approaching two men in black. Everyone present with one question.
'Is it time?'
The two men stand at the front of the gate. The one in the right with a tousled top and the other one on the left has a faux hawk hairstyle.
"Good evening to you future Rank 1's. Our names are of no importance, but just know we will be overseeing this particular exam."
The one with the tousled top further adds.
"We have been told that you are all familiar with this place since you took your first exam here."
And there it was. The sense of familiarity he felt coming from this place was that he was once here before.
'This is the Forest of Truth.' Thinking to himself.
"Now you will be taking your final exam here. As the Shogun instructed, the Promotion Exam shall take place in the Forest of Truth."
Some students are filled with fear as memories of fighting large monsters crep into their mind. Nero on the other hand is bottled with joy.
"Do not falter." The men reassuring, "We have killed all the monsters in this forest. So you can all roam free inside the forest."
Reiji wonder's weather or not the men sensed the worry on the students had.
"Unlike your first exam, the rules are different this time around. Mainly being you now have two ways of passing."
"The first way is to take this golden key from either of us or…" The men pulls a golden key from his pocket. "You meet the requirements we have set in place for you to pass. If you have questions about those requirements, I apologize but we will not share with you."
Reiji ask himself how is he supposed to meet those requirements if he does not know them.
"No time slot has been given for this exam. However, we would appreciate if you finished quickly."
The two men disappear as of they were never there with the ground emiting smoke from where they were standing.
"What should we do?"
"I don't know."
The whispering of wonder spreads all around the area.
"Kazuki, what are we gonna do?" Reiji ask him.
"No doubt about it." Lia looking upon where the two men stood. "The exam has started."
Reiji scans the area, he notice that no one is moving an inch from their spot - until he begins walking.
Nero and Tamia both walk to the gate, pushing the gate open and after a few minutes they disappear in to the forest.
Every student begins to follow in his step all rushing inside before disappearing. The two boys and Lia are now left alone in silence.
"That's not a surprise." Reiji mummers.
"Uh, Prince. What are we gonna do?"
Reiji turns to her.
"Let's come up with a plan first." Reiji says.
"Yay! Another smart choice from the Prince."
"Mxm."
Kazuki takes a shallow breath.
"We don't need one." In a pensive tone. "All we have to do is beat Nero and Tamia, then we go pass the exam."
Reiji and Lia both chuckle. The three of them march inside. Memories of the first time being here in the Forest of Truth all come back to the two boys.
The first time they met, meeting Ion, coming across a trail of bodies Nero left, learning the truth of who Nero really is and when they gained entry to attend the academy.
What a long journey the two boys have had. They can not help themselves, but to Thank the academy for allowing them to meet friends and experience so much ups and downs.
Because now they plan on using those experiences to not only fulfil the goal they set to defeat Nero but to graduate and become ninjas.
"What are the two of you smiling about?" Lia ask the two boys.
"Nothing." The two boys respond in unison.
***
It has been a couple of minutes since entering the Forest of Truth. Reiji and Lia have just realized they are exhausted.
"How about we take a break guys." She says while punting.
Kazuki stares at the both of the for a while. He spots a nearby tree and the three of them head to it's direction.
They sit under the tree beside each other.
"I wonder why you ain't tired Kazuki?" Lia ask.
Kazuki looks at her with confusion.
"Well!" With a smile, "Koruto and I kept training our bodies to the limit everyday. Maybe that's why am able to walk long without getting tired."
"That answers the why for Kazuki, but what about you. Shouldn't you be the one with more energy than us. Since you finished the entrance exam the fastest." Reiji ask Lia.
"Maybe it was luck." She giggles.
"Um…Reiji, I hear you've been training at the park lately!"
"How did you know that? Were you keeping an eye on me all this time?"
"No, no!" His hands shaking above his head. "Someone I know told me."
Reiji stares at him intently as if a detective is looking at the suspect to figure out if his lie or not.
"Okay." His stare loosen. "Some friends of mine have been teaching me some of their skills. Thanks to them my circulation of Sei has improved."
"I bet you know a new skill now Prince."
Reiji shakes his head to add, "I know of one, but I don't know how to do it."
"What type of skill is that Prince?"
Reiji explains to her how he saw it and the power it can do and the name of the skill which is Raitoningun - as well as external Sei.
"Oh." Looks to the sky. "The best person I can think of Yoshiro. He knows a lot about Sei so I would ask him if I were you."
The image of Yoshiro come to the mind of Reiji.
"But I heard that guy is someone who is rare to see."
"Well true. He is the leader of the Special Force." Kazuki can tell Lia has lots of respect for Yoshiro.
"Then how is he going to help me learn Raitoningun?" Reiji ask.
"When you meet him you can ask him. For now I will tell what he told me."
Reiji's eyes light up with curiosity.
"Close your eyes, relax and boom. That's it."
"What?"
Kazuki let's out a loud laughter looking upon the confused expression on Reiji like a men founding out his a going to be a father.
The laughter is cut short by the sound of a huge thud on the ground in front of them. They all direct their eyes to it waiting for the dust to settle.
The wind blows the dust away and to their amazement it's the men with the tousled top hairstyle.
"Seeing you guys sitting there all calm. I presume you understand the meaning of this exam."
TBC.
NEXT CHAPTER: PRELUDE 27