22 - 22 - Meeting the Hokage Again

Izuna's gaze swept over the group of 50, his eyes sharp. He noticed that there were only a couple of non-ninja clan civilians among them.

The vast majority, however, bore the unmistakable mark of their lineage.

Those unable to meet the demanding pace found themselves redirected to the second waiting line, joining the others who had a similar fate. Of the 50 who started the final run, only 30 were able to complete the last 3 laps.

Now, the training grounds were separated into three groups: the first was filled with roughly 1,050 kids, the second with roughly 420, and the last line was filled with 30 kids who, like Izuna, were able to finish the entire run. This line was filled mostly with clan kids and 3 orphans and civilians, including Minato and Fugaku.

It was during the fifth lap, as the crowd began to thin out a little, that Izuna had first noticed a familiar figure—Minato. Even from a distance, there was no mistaking him; he was the spitting image of his portrayal in the show, in the brief glimpse of his childhood.

As the day wore on, the intensity of their training did not cease. Push-ups, sit-ups, and squats followed each exercise more ruthlessly to some of these kids who clearly had never worked out a day in their lives, where another 400 were removed from the group of 1,050, leaving it with only around 650 kids.

After the rigorous morning exercises, the academy decided to reward the young kids with a hearty breakfast. It was a brief but needed respite for most of the young kids.

Then, as they came back outside, a couple of Hyuga clan members stepped forward and said, "If you have unlocked your chakra, step forward."

In the first group of 650, only 10 kids stepped forward. In the second group with 420, around half stepped forward. And in the last group, all 30 stepped forward.

Izuna, observing from the side, noticed that all the kids from ninja clans had their chakra unlocked. He paused and mused internally, 'They must have already had their chakra unlocked naturally, like me, or by their clans.'

The three Hyuga examiners then proceeded with their task, activating their Byakugans. The veins around their temples bulged slightly as their eyes took on a penetrating gaze to examine the chakra of those who stepped forward.

The process was thorough and unyielding; they had to check for the amount of chakra and its quality in all the kids.

All 30 from Izuna's group passed, and roughly one-third of the other 200-plus kids passed. That left roughly 70 kids eliminated, almost all of them from civilian backgrounds.

Then, a few chunins moved around and helped all the remaining students unlock their chakra. Around 850 had their chakra unlocked, and a little more than a quarter of them passed. That put the total number of kids passing at a little more than 400, while the rest failed.

Now, in the wake of this pivotal moment, the air buzzed with an electric sense of anticipation. The students who had passed, now grouped together, shared excited whispers and proud glances over to their parents who watched from the side. Then the Hokage made his entrance.

Izuna noticed Hiruzen immediately. He looked very similar to the first time they had met when he was just a newborn, a young man in his 30s, a stark contrast to the old man from the Naruto show.

Izuna knew this was the time for Hiruzen to come, give his 'Will of Fire' speech, and start trying to 'brainwash' the kids of the village.

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