Author's Note: Fixed instances of 'Shadow Clone Jutsu' when it should have been the regular 'Clone Jutsu'. Got my lore mixed up.

I'm fairly certain Kamui Sensei is speaking, but I'm far too preoccupied shaking in my seat to say for sure. I mean, his arms are moving in what look like purposeful gestures, so his mouth is probably moving under the wooden mask he always wears. If it is, there must be some kind of demon blocking the words from entering my ears.

He points to the assisting teacher, who gives him a thumbs-up. This all seems very important, but why are we here, again?

"We will now begin the graduation exam," says Sensei. "First up, Ochako Uraraka." Her name brings me back into reality. A rosy-cheeked girl two rows down rises from her seat, and I wonder if I look that nervous. Her short hair bobs as she approaches the podium, where Kamui Sensei thoughtfully regards a piece of paper clamped to a clipboard. "Perform the Clone Jutsu."

She gulps, already-visible beads of sweat forming on her forehead. I come to and perk up a little, concerned for her sake. If I've learned anything during my time at the Academy, it's that looks can be deceiving. Ochako might have a round face and a cherub-like demeanor, but her ninjutsu prowess is nothing to sniff at. That said, this particular jutsu has proven difficult for even the skilled among us. So, I don't know how this is going to turn out.

She weaves the sign of the Tiger, eyes shut tight in intense focus. What little murmuring there is ceases, and twenty eager kids camp on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Several seconds pass, and nothing. Not even a single solitary wisp. Though his expression hides behind a wooden mask, we can all feel Kamui Sensei's patience wearing thin.

Loosen up, my mind screams. Your chakra network is constricted! You'll ruin the jutsu! I'm not one to talk, really, but I'm also not incorrect. I can see her shaking, muscles wringing themselves like a towel. The beads of sweat grow larger as Ochako tightens, seemingly aware that she needs to relax but helpless under the pressure. It takes everything I have not to let the words fly.

Just as I think it's over for her, she draws a deep breath. A cool calm spreads over her face, and the rest of her body follows this example, relaxing muscle by muscle until her physical method is sustainable.

Almost immediately, there is a loud POFF accompanied by a puff of white smoke.

A perfect replica of her likeness stands a meter to her left, smiling and waving to her original's friends sitting in the middle second row. After a few seconds, Ochako releases the jutsu, causing the clone to disappear in the same plume it emerged from.

A low rumble of claps climbs to a great cheer of gratitude. To fail on the first go is to jinx the rest of the class, so it isn't exactly a coveted position. But Ochako had done well, and in doing so had slain the jinx, lifting the sour weight from everyone's shoulders.

"Very good," says Kamui Sensei. "You almost ran out of time, though. Try to improve your relaxation techniques."

"Yes, Sensei. Thank you," says the breathless girl.

"Now then…" Sensei gestures to the assisting teacher, who sits near the window. The table in front of him proudly displays exactly twenty headbands of durable cloth, bolted with a metal strip emblazoned with the spiraling leaf: The emblem of Konoha. You can't graduate – or even call yourself a true shinobi – without one.

Everyone leans in as Ochako is led by Kamui Sensei, likely aware of our expectations for this moment. It is the beginning of the rest of our lives, and now one of our own is about to take hold of that gleaming future.

Her hand hovers over the front row for a second before finally choosing one, and the assisting teacher comes around to help her tie it. A buoyant grin spreads across the disbelieving girl's face. Stepping through the door just fifteen minutes ago, she had been a poor girl with a big dream. But now, as she turns to face her classmates, forehead protected by the Will of Fire, she is a kunoichi.

The class breaks the sound barrier with roars of solidarity – the fact that the rest of us still have to perform be darned. Even I can't help but toss my own voice into the bedlam. There are dreams in this room, and we greenhorn youths are breathing them like air.

Ochako returns to her seat, and her friends try to help hold her joyful tears. Kamui Sensei wisely allows the initial high to settle naturally, and we soon find ourselves hyperventilating again.

Sensei clears his throat.

"Next: Tenya Iida."

"Yes, Sensei!" shouts a tall, angular boy from across the room. He approaches the podium, his stark-upright posture never wavering. He's gotten a handle on the drill already and takes his stance before Sensei even gets the formalities out of the way.

"Perform the Clone Jutsu."

"Absolutely!" He performs the jutsu with no visible signs of strain. It seems to come easily to him, and I'm green with envy. Upon Sensei's approval, he extinguishes the clones, and I'm relieved. Just one dose of Iida's unyielding enthusiasm is enough for a room this tense. I'm sure everyone else is thinking the same thing.

"Very good, Iida. You produced a whole three clones."

"Yes, sir!" he says, voice never dropping below an exclamation. "As a future Squad Leader and Ninja Academy teacher, I must set a good example by going the extra mile. No less than my best will do!" His arms flail robotically as he speaks; everyone made a mental note long ago not to visit any art museums with him.

He takes his headband with melodramatic display, tears streaming as he hangs the emblem at his neck.

"Return to your seat, please," says Kamui Sensei.

"Yes, sir," he sniffles proudly.

"Next, Kaminari Denki." His is executed perfectly, as well – but the clones themselves won't put their thumbs down and squeak "wheee" every few seconds. "Hmmm… It needs some work, but you made four. So…" He points his pen at the headband table without looking. Denki shoots finger-guns at everyone on the way back to his seat and high-fives the spiky-haired boy waiting for him.

"Asui Tsuyu." Another perfect execution with three clones.

"Ashido Mina." Two clones, miscolored and without her horns, but otherwise good.

"Yaoyorozu Momo."

"Jirou Kyouka."

"Kirishima Eijirou."

"Todoroki Shouto.""

I notice he isn't calling the names in syllabic order, which leads me down a familiar rabbit hole.

He could be doing this for a lot of reasons, but the most likely is that he's trying to throw us off. If we don't know who's going next, it prevents us from mentally preparing and pre-concentrating our chakra, thus producing a more genuine test result. The second most likely reason is…

Something jolts me back into reality, and my blood freezes. Twenty sets of eyes stare back at me, and I wonder how long I've been muttering to myself. From the looks I'm getting, I guess it must have been at least a full minute.

Kamui Sensei's eye twitches within the shadow of his mask, having been distracted from his writing mid-mark. The pen slowly rises from its place on the paper to rest in my direction.

"Midoriya Izuku. Let's have you, now."