It took three weeks for the five children to master tree climbing.
Ando Kaze was first. He climbed the tree on his first day, and within the week, he was able to do it consistently, and whilst being distracted both mentally and physically too.
Sen Aburame and Natsuko Sarutobi finished next. The two Clan kids successfully walked up their trees by the second and third days respectively, and like Ando, within the first week, they were able to do it consistently.
Mori Fūma came in third, right behind the two genetic cheaters. She made it to the top of her tree by the evening of her fourth day's attempts. It also took Mori slightly longer to stabilize herself and to grow accustomed to the flow of chakra throughout her lower half.
Then, there was Okuda Tomomori. After three weeks of going to Training Grounds 33 every day, Okuda finally made it to the top of his chosen tree. His control was still wobbly; he had only made it up the tree the one time thus far, but by hell was he trying.
Once all the others completed tree climbing, however, they quickly moved on to water walking. It took them a couple of days to find a good stream of water near their preferred forest corner, but once they managed that the kids easily slipped back into a comfortable routine.
The Ninja Academy held classes Monday through Friday and they had the weekends off.
The five reincarnates attended school, then trained after school until post-dusk. They did this day after day. During the weekend, the five children sporadically arrived near their little stream of water at whichever time pleased them. Mori usually arrived first, with Ando and Natsuko not too far behind. Sen had "bug responsibilities," or so he said, and Okuda usually slept in until 11:00a.m.
Sunday. By the Forest Stream.
Ando and Natsuko were running on the water. Natsuko was chasing Ando.
The blue-eyed boy spun on his heels and whipped past Natsuko. She slid, meanwhile, her ankles tangled, and her knee plunged into the water.
"Gaahh!!!" She screamed. "I'm gonna get you one of these times!!!!"
Behind them, near the shore, Sen sat criss-cross upon the water's surface. He sat near the reeds, where the bugs laid their eggs and where the ants built their hills. He worked simultaneously; he maintained enough chakra flow to stay afloat above the water whilst also pushing his chakra onto the local fauna. He was curious. That was all.
Behind the grey-hooded boy, Mori stood on the shore with sweat glistening from her forehead. Two scrolls were unfurled on the ground beside her, pinned down by rocks and twigs. She mumbled to herself. The words echoing both within her brain and within her ears.
"Tiger → Bird → Boar → Ram…" She recited the signs zealously.
At the same time, her fingers mirrored the signs. Then, she slammed her palms on the ground.
The earth in front of her writhed in form and shape. It pulled upwards, to about the same height as Mori, and then it froze; and Mori started shaking, and then the earth construct started shaking. After a few seconds of tug'o-war, the two collapsed simultaneously. The earth returned to the ground and Mori returned to her buttocks.
Then–
"AHHH!!!"
Okuda fell from a tree. He landed in the stream. His crash sent waves and ripples throughout the water; it was even more training for the others.
In the next moment, the pink-haired boy pulled himself from the water and wrung out his shirt. Then, he returned to the base of the tree, where he started all over again.
Like that, another week had passed. It was the end of September.
Monthly Exam's had arrived.
Unlike spars, which occurred weekly, exams occurred on a monthly basis. They were a qualitative assessment–testing both a student's academic and practical knowledge, in addition to a class-wide, tournament-style martial arts competition. In other words, the students now had to fight for ranks.
These rankings would likely be heavily considered when determining the make-up of all of their future ninja squads. The monthly exams were, in essence, an opportunity for the village's higher-ups to witness the talents of the soonest graduating class; it was also an opportunity for Konoha Jōnin and Chūnin to find disciples, and it provided the village with much needed stats geared towards the future of their shinobi.
Friday. Exam Day.
At the Ninja Academy.
Classroom 2A was quiet. Tageki Sensei had just passed out their exams: fifty multiple choice questions, five essay responses. Pencils furiously scribbled immediately.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows. Takegi stood at the front of the classroom with his arms crossed, his eyes, meanwhile, sharply scanned the room. Every shift of a chair, every nervous cough, drew a flicker of his attention.
Some students worked quickly, confidence evident in the way their pencils moved without hesitation. Diagrams of chakra pathways were decoded with clean lines. Definitions of basic chakra principles were written and explained with steady hands.
Others unfortunately struggled.
Okuda Tomomori stared at the page with sweat beading at his brow. He had already re-read the question for the fifth time. Another girl near the window chewed at the ends of her hair, her eyes darted between the paper and the ceiling as she desperately tried to recall transformation theory.
A faint tap echoed softly as Takegi Sensei moved around the room. A student in the back straightened instantly, erasing something a little too fast to look innocent.
Pages turned softly. Pencils paused, then resumed. Time moved forward with quiet pressure, as each passing minute began to weigh more heavily.
"Time." Takegi suddenly announced.
When the call finally came, a collective sigh swept through the room.
Pencils were set down. Hands rose to collect papers. Okuda slumped back in his chair, exhausted but relieved. Natsuko Sarutobi sat tall, a small smile still on her face despite the exam's conclusion.
After that, the students were released for an early lunch. On Exam Day, they were given two hours to roam around–enough time for the Academy to prepare for the upcoming competition.
"So what are we doing?" Mori Fūma asked first.
"What do you mean?" Ando asked.
"Right now? For lunch? Idiot." Mori said.
"Oh."
"I don't have any money." Okuda added.
"Me neither." Ando agreed.
"Did everyone do well on the exam?" Natsuko asked.
"Yeah."
"Yeah."
"Yes."
"Not even close."
"..."
All eyes turned towards Okuda, then, they collectively looked away. Not much could be done on that front, anyway.
"Who do you think will win the Top of our class?" Ando asked Natsuko.
"Me?" Natsuko pointed at herself. "I think Taro's guaranteed to win."
Ando Kaze chuckled. "You don't think I stand a chance?"
"Not one bit. No." She said.
Ouch. Brutal. It was written all over Ando's face.
Natsuko sighed. Boys were so annoying.
"You know, you're not gonna beat Jun or Nana either." Now she was just rubbing it in.
"I could definitely beat Jun Shimura!" Ando rebuked.
"I don't believe so." A new voice spoke just behind Ando Kaze's ear.
"AHHHHH!!" The blonde-haired boy jumped. "Who the hell–"
It was Taro Hyuga.
"W-What did you say?"
"You cannot beat Jun Shimura." Taro Hyuga said with a straight face.
In the back, Mori snickered to herself.
"HA!!" Okuda shouted. "He just called you a loser, Ando! HAHAHA!"
Taro raised his brow at Okuda's behavior. "Had he always been like this?" He thought. Then shook it off.
"I also came here to tell you that I will beat you again. So prepare to taste defeat." Then, Taro Hyuga gave a slight bow, and left.
"..." Ando Kaze stared at the Hyuga's back as he walked away.
"HAHAHAHA!!!!" Okuda Tomomori clutched his stomach. He was rolling on the ground now. Crying. Laughing hysterically.
Ando, meanwhile, shot a glance towards the others. "What was that about??"
"A shinobi pride thing, maybe?" Mori offered.
"He was right, though, you know." Natsuko butt in.
"No, he wasn't!" Ando fired back.
The two girls looked at each other. They nodded in unison.
"Okay."
"You're right."
"I'm gonna go find Nana. Maybe she knows a cheap place to eat." Mori said, then left.
The other four, meanwhile, lingered by the Ninja Academy entrance. Ando rocked in the school's swing. Okuda pushed him. And Sen showed Natsuko the trail of ants he had found climbing up the tree's trunk.
It was calm for now, but soon, the five young shinobi would enter the combat arena again.