The Ninja Academy training ground.
Brainwashed by the Third Hokage’s rousing speech, the third-year students arrived with palpable excitement.
The first, second, and fourth years were already there, gathered in their respective groups and sparring energetically.
Kaito swept his gaze across the field.
Fourth years: two unknown weaklings flailing at each other.
Second years: two unknown weaklings tackling each other.
First years: two known weaklings…
well, this pair was decent.
Azuki vs.
Hayate Gekko.
Kaito watched for a few extra seconds.
Barring any surprises, Azuki would win.
He then withdrew his gaze and fell into deep thought.
The Third Hokage had gotten a bit carried away with his speech earlier.
He probably never expected anyone in Kaito’s year to score perfectly across all subjects.
Mentioning Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze was likely just a casual flex about his disciple and grand-disciple.
But Kaito took it to heart.
Getting a perfect score was incredibly difficult.
Relying solely on his own studying, Kaito couldn’t do it.
The main issue was time—there was only half a year left before the third year ended, and he didn’t want to delay his graduation by another two years.
There just wasn’t enough time.
But he could add points.
Adding one attribute point to each subject would be enough.
The honor was secondary; what truly tempted him was the special reward the Third Hokage mentioned, the one that could influence a ninja’s path.
What could the reward be?
Guidance from a master?
Or perhaps…
choosing a jutsu from the Scroll of Seals!
Kaito originally thought Jiraiya had begged for the Flying Thunder God Jutsu that made the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, famous.
But looking at it now, that might not be the case.
If it really was picking a jutsu from the Scroll of Seals, Kaito was incredibly tempted.
With his attribute panel, he could learn any jutsu!
They definitely wouldn’t give him Edo Tensei, and Flying Thunder God was a stretch.
He didn’t have enough chakra for Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, and he wouldn’t learn the Reaper Death Seal even if they handed it to him…
He wondered if Jiraiya’s series of hair-based jutsu were recorded in the Scroll of Seals?
‘My hair is so nice, using those jutsu would definitely make me super strong, right?’
Wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth, Kaito opened his auxiliary attribute panel.
Auxiliary Skills (9)
Forging Level 0 (13%)
Basic Ninjutsu Level 0 (81%)
Introduction to Ninja Studies Level 0 (99%)
Introduction to the Land of Fire’s Characteristic Ninja Ideology Level 1 (4%)
Ninjutsu Research Methods Level 0 (90%)
Modern International Relations of the Five Great Nations Level 0 (91%)
Modern Ninjutsu Frontiers Level 0 (95%)
Theoretical Guidance for Independent Ninjutsu Development Level 0 (89%)
Study of Past Hokages’ Writings Level 0 (22%)
Free Attribute Points: 15
Over the past half-month, he hadn’t spent any points.
While studying hard, he had relentlessly ‘bullied’ Kakashi, saving up a full fifteen attribute points.
After passing fifty percent, the attribute points Kakashi provided had indeed doubled, becoming two points for every five percent.
So Kaito was quite wealthy right now.
Then…
should he drop a point into every subject?
A full eight subjects, though.
It pained him to spend them.
And then there was that twelve-point subject; he had to study it himself for a while first.
“Hey, what are you thinking about, Kaito?” Obito nudged him with his elbow.
“I’ll probably be up first for the combat drill later.
Cheer for me.”
“Go ask Rin,” Kaito ignored him.
Obito looked a bit sheepish.
“The Hokage is here.
Having Rin cheer for me…
wouldn’t look good.”
‘Oh my god, you actually know how to be embarrassed.’ Kaito was amazed, making Obito flush with anger.
“Fine, don’t cheer!
See if I care!
Just watch, I’m definitely going to beat Guy to a pulp this time!”
Obito stormed off in a huff.
Kaito smiled helplessly.
After burying his head in his studies for the past month, he had drifted further away from his original friends.
For some unknown reason, Tanryo had distanced himself, leaving the easily fooled Obito as his only real friend.
Because he constantly ‘bullied’ Kakashi, his popularity was currently quite poor.
In the whole class, only Obito could be called a friend.
Even Guy didn’t want to talk to him.
‘Sigh, I’m doing so poorly.
I’ve sacrificed too much for you, Kakashi.’
Kaito fixed his hair, stepped sideways, raised his arm, and slung it over Kakashi’s shoulder.
Kakashi frowned.
Beside him, Rin immediately tensed up, and several other classmates who had joined the ‘Help Kakashi Cheer Up Squad’ also went on high alert.
“Kakashi, remember?
This is exactly where I knocked you down with one punch at the end of last term,” Kaito said nonchalantly, his tone nostalgic.
“Too bad our grades are so far apart this time.
We probably won’t be assigned to the same group, which means you dodged a bullet.”
“You’re the one who dodged a bullet.”
“Oh my, the defeated opponent learned how to talk back?
If the Hokage wasn’t standing right over there, I’d pin you to the ground and mop the floor with you, believe it or not?”
“Kaito, don’t go too far,” Kurenai, a member of the cheer-up squad, scolded him.
Kaito swept his eyes over her.
“Kurenai, our grades are actually quite close.”
A flash of nervousness crossed Kurenai’s face before she remembered that while Kaito had caught up in academics, in terms of combat strength…
she didn’t need to fear him!
And besides…
“Kaito, our grades are even closer,” Asuma said flatly.
The young Asuma was the handsome face of the class, and saying this made him look very cool.
He even leaned closer to Kurenai, playing the role of her protective knight.
Kaito chuckled.
Just as he was about to retort, a small figure darted between Kurenai and Asuma, separating them.
“You there, are you bullying Big Sister Kurenai?”
“Adults are talking, kids shouldn’t interrupt.
Go back to your first-year line,” Kaito laughed.
“You…”
“It’s fine, Azuki,” Kurenai pulled Azuki back.
“He can’t bully me.
Congratulations, you beat Hayate Gekko again.”
“Piece of cake,” Azuki said proudly.
Pushed a meter away, Asuma glared at Kaito’s teasing eyes, fuming with anger.
Kaito shrugged.
Turning around, he noticed several top-ranking students secretly glancing at him.
These were the ones who might be grouped with him.
Were they treating him as a soft target, hoping to show off in front of the Hokage?
They really had no idea how Hizashi Hyuga died.
On the other side, the four homeroom teachers gathered in front of the Third Hokage finished receiving their instructions and returned to their respective classes to continue the assessments.
Daiki raised his voice.
“Third-year, first-term final combat assessment.
First match: Obito Uchiha versus Might Guy.
Both students, step forward.”
Without any surprise, the bottom two students faced off like this every term.
They were both quite used to it by now.
No, Obito was actually a little nervous.
Aside from his victory at the end of the first term of their first year, he had been losing for the past two years.
And this time, the Hokage was watching…
That bastard with the thumbs-up and shiny teeth was so confident; he would definitely leave a good impression on the Hokage, wouldn’t he?
‘No, I can’t lose!’
“Obito, go for it!” Kaito shouted.
Obito’s face lit up.
Kaito was reliable after all.
He turned his head and gave Kaito a ‘don’t worry’ look.
Rin froze, her mouth opening slightly, but Kaito immediately reached over to cover it.
Kakashi silently pulled Rin back, helping her narrowly avoid Kaito’s hand.
She glared at Kaito angrily.
“What are you doing, Kaito?”
“Save your energy to cheer for Kakashi, so he doesn’t lose too miserably.”
On the field, Obito and Guy began their match.
Unlike the anime version of the Chunin Exams, where Obito was KO’d by Guy with a single kick, there was a gap in their taijutsu, but it wasn’t that massive.
They traded blows back and forth.
Having someone cheer for him for the first time, Obito felt like he had a bit more strength.
He gained the upper hand for a moment, silently thanking Kaito.
‘Looks like I can win this time!’
“Big Sister Kurenai, let’s go eat together after this is over.
I need to get back to my class line, the teacher is calling me,” Azuki whispered behind them.
Kurenai nodded gently.
“Okay, a new dango shop opened on the west street.
Let’s go…”
“I tried that one, it’s too sweet.
You know I don’t like sweets.
Let’s pick a different place.”
“Oh, alright, we’ll figure it out later.”
“Obito!
Go for…
wha?” Kaito choked on his words, turning his head to look at Azuki as she skipped away.
What did she just say?
She didn’t like sweets?
Red Bean Bun didn’t like sweets???
On the field, Obito also faltered.
Why did Kaito’s cheering stop?
Keep going, don’t stop…
Ah!
A miserable shriek rang out.
When Kaito turned back around, Obito had already been sent flying by Guy’s kick, sprawling flat on his back.
It was a tragic sight.
‘Hold it in, laughing out loud would be bad.’
‘Hahaha.’