Neiki stood at the mountain peak, gazing at the forest below.
This land, located in the northern part of the Land of Waves island, was once a treacherous swamp due to seawater erosion. Perpetually shrouded in thick fog, it was an uninhabited, dangerous place rarely visited by locals.
However, after Neiki’s transformation, the swamp was filled and leveled. The persistent fog was dissipating, and many tall trees grew almost overnight, turning the once perilous swamp into a vibrant forest.
This is the location of the newly established ninja village in the Land of Waves—Hidden Sword Village.
Though humble, the locals of the Land of Waves saw it differently. The overnight transformation of the swamp into a forest was nothing short of a miracle.
The mountain is not high, but its spiritual essence lies within.
Under such a lens, the simple and primitive style of Hidden Sword Village, even down to a single stone, exudes a return-to-nature charm.
From bartenders in island taverns to sailors at the docks and farmers in the fields, the miraculous tale of Hidden Sword Village spread rapidly throughout the Land of Waves.
Driven by curiosity and a longing for this mysterious power, thousands of people gathered around the forest daily.
Because the tests were free, and those accepted into Hidden Sword Village as official members would receive substantial subsidies, lines for the aptitude tests stretched from morning till night. The tests stopped only because the village closed its gates at night, resuming only when the gates reopened the next morning.
But the world never lacks for competition.
From early dawn, long lines formed outside Hidden Sword Village’s gates, with many people bringing food and blankets.
Fortunately, it was only July, so despite the foggy drizzle, no one fell ill.
The aptitude tests at Hidden Sword Village were not slow, but they could only test about a thousand people a day. Since the village did not impose any other strict standards apart from aptitude, almost everyone could take the test, resulting in a lively scene.
Many people, after completing their tests, stayed to watch others’ results.
“Akemi Kudo, B-level aptitude.” As a girl walked out, covering her eyes, a cold mechanical voice announced her result.
The crowd gasped, while Akemi’s family members showed disappointment.
Although B-level was high, Hidden Sword Village’s recruitment standards were stringent, requiring at least A-level aptitude.
“Don’t worry, Akemi. If you work hard, you can still join Hidden Sword Village!” her mother encouraged.
“Mm…” Akemi, covering her face, choked back sobs, tears mingling with blood seeping through her fingers.
Her eyes hurt, but her heart hurt more.
The Land of Waves was a poor country, but even poor countries had daimyo, nobles, and commoners.
In this world, daimyo and nobles passed down their status through generations.
So did commoners.
They either farmed for generations or fished for generations. What you did depended on what your ancestors did.
Few paths were open to them, and changing direction meant starting from scratch, something they might not have the courage to do.
Becoming a ninja was almost the fastest and best way for a commoner family like hers to rise.
Though being a ninja was dangerous.
But sinking into the endless abyss of a predictable, mundane life was even more despairing.
With the establishment of a ninja village in the Land of Waves, Akemi couldn’t meet the standards.
She couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by sadness.
She didn’t want to be a farmer.
She didn’t want to marry early.
She didn’t want to live a life troubled by mundane worries.
But she had no choice.
The opportunity was right in front of her, but she couldn’t grasp it.
“…I will definitely train to the second stage!” Half pleading, half promising, Akemi said resolutely to her family.
Hidden Sword Village’s training methods were implanted in the tester’s brain after the test. The so-called second stage referred to the stage where one could use their eyes to see through obstacles within five meters.
Those who didn’t meet A-level aptitude could only join Hidden Sword Village by reaching the second stage through independent training, earning a salary and official ninja status in Hidden Sword Village.
Temporarily unable to see, Akemi didn’t notice her family’s complex expressions. But since no one responded, she could guess their thoughts.
In fact, before the test, Akemi had agreed with her family that if she didn’t achieve A-level aptitude, she would accept the proposal from the skinny boy at the east end of the village.
There was no special reason; the family’s rice jar was almost empty, and they hoped for one less mouth to feed.
Moreover, the skinny boy was honest, not bad-hearted, and came from a well-known carpenter family. He sincerely liked Akemi, and aside from his unattractive appearance, Akemi’s parents couldn’t find any reason to refuse.
It was an excellent match.
However, hearing Akemi’s words, her father instantly understood that his daughter had changed her mind.
She didn’t want to get married yet.
She still wanted to try.
The family’s five members looked at the father, waiting for his response.
The once authoritative father was now unusually silent. He took a deep drag on his pipe, and through the swirling smoke, his voice came out hoarse:
“…How long will it take?”
“Three… no, two months. At most two months. The information says it usually takes three months to advance, but my aptitude is good. I think I can reach the second stage in two months at most!” Akemi said eagerly, the loosened words from her father making her so excited that the bandage covering her bleeding eyes fell off.
After another moment of silence.
“…Then we’ll wait for you for three more months.”
In the end, her B-level aptitude, so close to A-level, made her father think it might indeed be worth waiting for Akemi.
“Great!!” Her two younger brothers and elder sister hugged each other, genuinely not wanting their sister to marry.
Only their mother looked at her husband with worried eyes.
These three months… how would their already struggling family make it through?
Regardless, amidst the neighbors’ praise and envy, the family was about to head home when the cold mechanical voice sounded again:
“Inari, A-level aptitude.”
Akemi’s family froze.
At the mountainside, surrounded by nearly ten thousand people, everyone fell into absolute silence upon hearing the broadcast.
The next moment.
Drums and gongs sounded, and voices erupted.
“Wow, A-level aptitude!”
“Isn’t this Inari from Tazuna’s family?”
A surprised Tazuna, nearby, didn’t know his grandson Inari had participated in Hidden Sword Village’s test.
“Is this the eleventh A-level aptitude? This is the fifth day of testing, and including this one, only eleven people have passed.”
The pass rate was about one in five hundred.
“The subsidy from Hidden Sword Village is ten thousand ryo a month. Ten thousand ryo! To earn that at such a young age!” someone exclaimed in envy.
Many stood up, wanting to see who this lucky kid named “Inari” was.
Akemi’s family also moved closer, but before they could see clearly, another broadcast sounded:
“Hanabi Hyuga, S-level aptitude.”
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