Neiki stood at the mountain peak, gazing down at the forest below.
Located in the northern part of the Land of Waves, this area had once been a treacherous swamp eroded by seawater. Shrouded in dense fog year-round, it was a desolate and dangerous place rarely visited by locals.
After Neiki's transformation, everything changed.
The swamp was filled and leveled. The fog that had lingered for generations slowly dispersed, and towering trees seemed to grow almost overnight. What had once been a deadly wasteland was now a vibrant forest brimming with life.
This was the site of the newly established ninja village of the Land of Waves—the Hidden Sword Village.
To Neiki, it was nothing special.
But to the people of the Land of Waves, it was nothing short of a miracle.
A swamp transformed into a forest overnight—how could that be anything but divine?
The mountain itself was not high, yet its spirit lay within. Under such reverence, even the simple, primitive structures of the Hidden Sword Village—down to a single stone—seemed to radiate a natural, sacred charm.
From tavern owners to dockworkers, from sailors to farmers, the miraculous story of the Hidden Sword Village spread rapidly throughout the Land of Waves.
Driven by curiosity and a longing for this mysterious power, thousands gathered near the forest every day.
Because the aptitude tests were free—and because those officially accepted would receive generous subsidies—the lines stretched from morning until night. Testing only stopped when the village gates closed, resuming again at dawn.
Competition was inevitable.
From early morning, long queues formed outside the gates. Some people even brought rice bowls and blankets to wait their turn.
Fortunately, it was only July. Despite the foggy drizzle, no one fell ill.
The aptitude tests themselves were efficient, but limited. Only about a thousand people could be tested per day. Since there were no restrictions beyond aptitude, nearly everyone could participate, creating an overwhelming spectacle.
Many who finished their tests stayed behind to watch the results of others.
"Kudo Akemi, B-level aptitude."
A cold mechanical voice echoed as a girl walked out, covering her eyes.
The crowd gasped. Akemi's family fell silent in disappointment.
Although B-level aptitude was considered high, the Hidden Sword Village required A-level aptitude for direct recruitment.
"Don't worry, Akemi," her mother said softly. "If you work hard, you can still join the Hidden Sword Village."
"Mm…"
Akemi covered her face as she choked back sobs, tears mixing with blood seeping through her fingers.
Her eyes hurt—but her heart hurt more.
The Land of Waves was poor.
But even poverty had hierarchy: daimyo, nobles, and commoners.
In this world, status was inherited.So was hardship.
Commoners farmed or fished generation after generation. Changing one's fate meant starting from nothing—something most lacked the courage to attempt.
Becoming a ninja was almost the fastest—and best—path for a commoner family like hers to rise.
It was dangerous.
But a lifetime trapped in predictable hardship was even more despairing.
Now that a ninja village had finally been established in the Land of Waves…Akemi failed to meet the standard.
She didn't want to be a farmer.She didn't want to marry early.She didn't want a life buried under endless trivial worries.
Yet the opportunity stood right in front of her—and she couldn't grasp it.
"…I'll definitely train to reach the second stage!"
Half pleading, half swearing an oath, Akemi spoke to her family.
After the test, Hidden Sword Village implanted its training method directly into the tester's mind. The so-called second stage referred to reaching the level where one could see through obstacles within five meters.
Those who failed to reach A-level aptitude could only rely on independent training. Upon reaching the second stage, they could reapply to join the Hidden Sword Village as paid ninja personnel.
Unable to see clearly, Akemi missed the complicated expressions on her family's faces. But their silence told her everything.
Before the test, Akemi had already made an agreement with her family:if she failed to reach A-level, she would accept the marriage proposal from the thin boy at the east end of the village.
The reason was simple.
The rice jar at home was almost empty.
That boy was honest, came from a respected carpenter family, and treated her sincerely. Aside from his plain appearance, her parents had no reason to refuse.
It was a good match.
But hearing Akemi's words, her father instantly understood—
She didn't want to get married yet.
She wanted to try again.
The family of five looked toward him.
The once authoritative father drew deeply on his pipe. Through the drifting smoke, his voice emerged hoarse.
"…How long will it take?"
"Three—no, two months! At most two months!" Akemi said quickly."The records say most people need three months, but my aptitude is good. I can do it in two!"
Her excitement loosened the bandage over her eyes, and fresh blood seeped out.
After a long silence—
"…Then we'll wait three more months."
In the end, her B-level aptitude—so close to A-level—made him willing to gamble.
"Great!!"
Her two younger brothers and older sister hugged each other, genuinely happy that she didn't have to marry yet.
Only her mother looked at her husband with worry.
How would they survive these three months?
As the family prepared to leave amid neighbors' praise and envy, the cold mechanical voice rang out again:
"Inari, A-level aptitude."
Akemi's family froze.
On the mountainside, surrounded by nearly ten thousand people, absolute silence fell.
Then—
Drums beat. Gongs rang. Voices erupted.
"An A-level!"
"Isn't that Inari from Tazuna's family?"
Nearby, Tazuna stood stunned. He had no idea his grandson had secretly taken the test.
"This makes eleven," someone whispered."Five days of testing, and only eleven A-levels so far."
A success rate of roughly one in five hundred.
"The subsidy is ten thousand ryō a month!" someone exclaimed."Ten thousand! At his age!"
People surged forward, eager to see this lucky boy named Inari.
Akemi's family also moved closer—
Before they could see clearly, another announcement echoed:
"Hanabi Hyuga, S-level aptitude."
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