Grant Marshall, the world-changing ninja

The exam was over, but the weight of uncertainty still hung in the air. As I walked out of the testing grounds, my body still hummed with adrenaline, my mind racing through every step of the battle. There was no way to know for sure how I had performed, but I felt like I had done my best. The thoughts of my classmates—some anxious, some confident—swirled around me. We were all waiting for the same thing: the results.

Rin walked beside me, her usual calm demeanor tempered with a faint edge of anxiety. She hadn't said much during the exam, but I knew she was thinking about her performance just as much as I was about mine.

"Do you think we did enough?" I asked, breaking the silence.

She glanced at me, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "We did what we had to do. Now we wait."

Her words, simple as they were, offered a small amount of comfort. There was nothing more to do now but wait for the instructors to make their judgments. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was lingering in the back of my mind. I had done everything I could, but was it enough?

We arrived back at the academy and were ushered into the central hall, where the instructors were preparing to announce the results. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the hum of whispered conversations filled the air. Everyone was on edge, eager to hear whether they had passed or failed.

The head instructor, Master Jinzo, stepped forward, his usual stern expression softened slightly by the weight of the moment. He cleared his throat, and the room fell silent. "The results of your exam will determine your rank and your place in the academy moving forward. The time has come for you to know how you performed. I will announce each of your names in order of your results."

I stood among my classmates, my heart pounding in my chest. My palms were sweating, and my thoughts raced. What if I hadn't done enough? What if I wasn't ready?

"First," Master Jinzo began, his voice echoing in the hall, "Rin Tachibana."

Rin's name was called, and the room filled with applause. She stepped forward confidently, her posture proud. I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and envy. She was a natural. She deserved every bit of praise.

"Second, Kaito Takeda," Master Jinzo continued. Kaito's name was met with a few murmurs of approval. I had expected this—Kaito was a prodigy, and everyone knew it. Even so, the surprise on his face when his name was announced was genuine. He didn't always show it, but I could tell that even he had been a little unsure of his own performance.

The names continued to be called, and with each one, I grew more anxious. Was I going to be last? What if I hadn't done enough?

"Grant Marshall," Master Jinzo called.

I froze for a moment, the weight of the name echoing in my ears. My heart skipped a beat. I stepped forward, trying to keep my composure as I walked up to the front. The instructors studied me for a moment, and I couldn't tell if they were pleased or disappointed.

"You performed well," Master Jinzo said after a brief pause. "You demonstrated solid technique and thinking on your feet during the mission. However, your lack of experience showed at times. You need to work on applying your skills under pressure."

I nodded, the critique stinging a little but not unexpected. I had known my weaknesses, but hearing them out loud made them more real.

"You've passed the exam," Master Jinzo continued. "But you're not yet a top-tier student. There's much more to learn before you can truly claim that title."

I exhaled in relief, feeling the tension ease from my shoulders. I had passed. It wasn't a perfect result, but it was enough. I had proven myself capable, and that was all I needed.

After the announcements were finished, I returned to my seat, trying to absorb the fact that I had made it through. My classmates clapped each other on the back, offering congratulations. The relief in the air was palpable. Despite the nerves and pressure, we had all made it.

"Not bad," Rin said, a teasing smile on her face as she bumped her shoulder against mine. "You made it."

I smiled back, feeling a mix of gratitude and exhaustion. "Thanks. But there's still a lot of work to do."

She nodded, her expression serious. "We're just getting started."

I felt a renewed sense of purpose. This wasn't the end—it was just the beginning. There were still so many things I needed to learn, so many skills to master. Passing the exam was only a small part of the journey. There was so much more ahead, and I couldn't afford to let up now.

The instructors began to file out of the room, and we were dismissed to prepare for the next phase of our training. The excitement of passing the exam faded quickly, replaced by the quiet determination that had been growing inside me for days.

As I left the academy grounds that evening, I couldn't help but think back to everything that had led me here—the trials, the lessons, the mistakes, and the small victories. I wasn't the same person who had arrived at the academy all those months ago. I was stronger, smarter, more capable. But I knew I wasn't done yet.

I had passed the exam, but my journey was far from over.

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