The forest had grown quiet.
The ridge where Raizen's squad had fought only hours earlier now sat empty, wind moving softly through the treetops.
Students were already being escorted back toward the academy.
The war game had ended.
For many first-years—
It had been their most intense experience yet.
For some—
Their first taste of real battlefield pressure.
Return to the Academy
The gates of Kumogakure Academy opened as squads returned.
Mud-covered students filled the courtyard in exhausted groups.
Some laughed.
Others argued.
A few simply collapsed.
At the center—
Takeshi Aran stood waiting.
Arms folded.
Watching.
Behind him:
Kaito Ren
Instructor Hoshida
Two additional supervisors
The atmosphere felt different.
More formal.
Heavier.
Raizen noticed immediately.
Beside him, Daigo dropped onto a bench.
"…I'm dead."
Akari didn't look at him.
"You say that every time."
Daigo grinned weakly.
"And I'm still alive every time."
Raizen said nothing.
His attention stayed on the instructors.
Inside his mind Astra spoke:
"Instructor presence indicates formal announcement."
Raizen already knew.
The Gathering
A bell rang across the courtyard.
Students gathered.
First-years in front.
Second-years behind.
Aran stepped forward.
"The war game exercise has concluded."
Silence.
"Your performance has been evaluated."
Students straightened.
"For many of you—this was your first experience with tactical pressure."
A pause.
"And some of you handled it… better than expected."
A few smiles.
Others stiffened.
Aran's expression didn't change.
"But understand this."
His voice hardened.
"That exercise was not your final evaluation."
Murmurs spread.
Aran raised a hand.
Silence returned.
The Name
"The end of the academy year is approaching."
Every student focused.
"As tradition demands…"
"…the final evaluation begins now."
A pause.
Then—
"The Black Storm Trial."
The reaction was immediate.
Whispers.
Tension.
Even second-years shifted.
Daigo blinked.
"…Yeah, I don't like the name."
Akari folded her arms.
"I've heard of it."
Raizen remained still.
Inside his mind Astra spoke:
"Black Storm Trial — cumulative elite evaluation."
"Purpose: identify high-level shinobi candidates."
The Three Phases
Aran raised three fingers.
"Phase One."
"Battlefield survival."
Students exchanged looks.
The forest training made sense now.
"Phase Two."
"Tactical evaluation."
Akari's eyes narrowed.
She understood.
Strategy.
Leadership.
Decision-making.
Then—
"Phase Three."
Aran's voice dropped.
"Elite combat."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Daigo muttered:
"…Yeah we're cooked."
Aran continued:
"This trial determines your final ranking."
Now it hit.
Everything.
Reputation.
Placement.
Future.
All decided here.
Instructor Observation
Behind him, Ren leaned slightly.
"They performed well."
Aran didn't look away from the students.
"They performed… adequately."
Ren smirked.
"You're impossible."
Aran's gaze shifted briefly—
To Raizen.
"…He's interesting."
Ren noticed.
"…That one?"
Aran didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Raizen's Focus
Students around him whispered.
Speculating.
Planning.
Worrying.
Raizen ignored all of it.
He wasn't thinking about the exam.
He was thinking about—
Opponents.
Inside his mind Astra spoke:
"Prediction: hierarchy exposure event."
Raizen agreed.
This trial would reveal:
Who leads.
Who survives.
Who breaks.
The Storm Approaches
Aran raised his voice one final time.
"Phase One begins in three days."
Tension surged.
Three days.
Preparation time.
Or pressure.
"Prepare yourselves."
A pause.
Then—
"The Black Storm Trial does not reward hesitation."
The instructors turned and left.
The courtyard exploded into noise.
Excitement.
Fear.
Determination.
Daigo cracked his knuckles.
"…Alright."
"Now it's getting good."
Akari glanced sideways.
Raizen hadn't moved.
His eyes were steady.
Focused.
Already thinking ahead.
Inside his mind Astra spoke:
"Preparation phase initiated."
Raizen finally spoke.
"…Good."
The academy year had reached its final test.
And the storm—
Had finally arrived.