The written examination will last three hours.
Cheating is strictly prohibited.
Anyone caught cheating will have their score invalidated!”
As he handed out the examination papers, Imai Nobuyuki emphasized the rules of the exam.
Although they were only first-year students, the environment of this world forced every child to mature early.
There was no shortage of things they had to learn.
Even the very first monthly examination covered multiple subjects, including the history of the shinobi world, chakra theory, physics, mathematics, traps, first aid for external injuries, and more.
And, of course, there was always plenty of content related to the Will of Fire.
Although Kuroda Ren had absolutely no interest in the Will of Fire classes, he had seriously studied all the other theoretical subjects, so handling the examination wasn’t much of a problem.
After spending more than an hour, he finished most of the questions on the paper.
Then Kuroda Ren looked at the final question, which alone was worth a full thirty percent of the total score.
[Please combine the Will of Fire with the deeds of the Third Hokage and explain your understanding of the “Hokage.”]
Kuroda Ren thought for a moment before picking up his pen.
“Lord Third Hokage is like the sun, illuminating all of Konoha.
The debt of gratitude we owe Lord Hokage can never be repaid…”
If something as immature as the Will of Fire could brainwash so many people…
Then if he simply borrowed the rhetoric used by that neighboring little country in his previous life to glorify its “Fat Leader,” wouldn’t he be able to flatter Sarutobi Hiruzen until the old man practically ascended to heaven?
This was a guaranteed win!
“This is disgustingly sycophantic.”
Kuroda Ren muttered inwardly.
“But it’s all for the sake of surviving and developing quietly.
What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
“Once my Ryze Emperor build is fully assembled, I won’t even need to bow my head to anyone.”
“For now, though, I’ll just keep a low profile.”
Suppressing his internal discomfort, Kuroda Ren finished writing this masterpiece of shameless flattery.
He checked the examination paper once more, confirmed that there were no mistakes, and immediately handed it in.
But Kuroda Ren wasn’t the first person to submit.
The first was Hatake Kakashi.
He wasn’t merely a genius when it came to being a shinobi.
His theoretical knowledge was excellent as well.
Although the original story hadn’t mentioned this aspect much, someone who could graduate from the Ninja Academy after studying there for only one year and become a Chūnin the following year obviously couldn’t have any serious weaknesses in theoretical knowledge.
After all, advancing as a shinobi had never been based solely on strength.
A considerable part of one’s ability to handle various situations was also covered by theoretical knowledge.
Holding his lunchbox, Kuroda Ren arrived on the rooftop.
Hatake Kakashi had already finished his lunch and was preparing to head downstairs.
When he saw Kuroda Ren, Kakashi was slightly surprised.
Apparently, he hadn’t expected Kuroda Ren, who frequently slept during class, to submit his exam early as well.
“For the practical examination this afternoon…”
“I want to challenge you.”
“Is that okay?”
“Challenge me?”
Kuroda Ren was surprised.
He had no idea what Hatake Sakumo had said to Kakashi and couldn’t understand why Kakashi had chosen him as an opponent.
However, when faced with a challenge from someone else, Kuroda Ren—who was determined to take first place—naturally wouldn’t back down.
If everyone fought different opponents and was graded solely according to their performance, Kuroda Ren couldn’t confidently say that he would definitely outperform Hatake Kakashi.
But if he defeated Kakashi head-on, the difference between them would naturally be obvious.
“There are three rounds in the practical examination this afternoon.”
Kuroda Ren said,
“If we don’t encounter each other in the first two rounds, then let’s have a spar in the third round.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Hatake Kakashi nodded.
“I look forward to fighting you.”
Kuroda Ren wanted to ask something else, but Kakashi had already walked away.
What a strange guy.
Kuroda Ren was puzzled, but he didn’t dwell on it.
He went to a corner of the rooftop, opened his lunchbox, and began eating.
Finishing lunch early would give him enough time to digest before the afternoon practical examination, ensuring that his body would be in the best possible condition for battle.
This was one of the little “tricks” Umino Ikkaku had taught him.
When carrying out shinobi missions, if one could roughly predict when a battle would take place, adjusting one’s meal times could help keep the body in peak condition.
The effect wasn’t particularly significant.
But sometimes, in an actual shinobi mission, even such a tiny difference could mean the difference between life and death.
…
Afternoon.
“The practical examination consists of three rounds.”
“You may only use Konoha-Style Taijutsu that you’ve been taught at school.
You may fight bare-handed or use wooden kunai.”
“Don’t worry about drawing an opponent who is too strong and losing because of it.
Your scores will be based on your performance during battle, not simply on whether you win or lose.”
Imai Nobuyuki reached into the draw box and pulled out two slips of paper.
He read the names written on them.
“Chōnin Tonbo and Matsui Yama.”
The first round of the examination was a clear display of the difference in strength.
Kuroda Ren, Hatake Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, and the other stronger students were all matched against relatively weak “background characters.”
Their fights were completely one-sided.
Although it appeared to be a lottery, with Imai Nobuyuki’s strength as a Chūnin, manipulating the draw a little would have been incredibly easy.
“Second round.”
“Kuroda Ren versus Mizuki.”
Imai Nobuyuki called out Kuroda Ren’s name.
A boy with short white hair stood before Kuroda Ren.
He wore a fake, hypocritical smile as he formed the Seal of Confrontation.
“Kuroda Ren, please guide me.”
Mizuki.
The first antagonist in the original story.
The entire process of stealing the Scroll of Seals had been so absurdly easy that it made people wonder whether Sarutobi Hiruzen had deliberately handed Naruto a collection of powerful ninjutsu.
Was Mizuki already this fake at this age?
Thoughts flashed through Kuroda Ren’s mind.
On the surface, however, he remained completely calm.
He formed the Seal of Confrontation and stood where he was, making no attempt to attack first.
Seeing this, Mizuki didn’t hesitate.
He charged forward.
They had been classmates for a month and attended practical combat classes together every day, so everyone had a general understanding of one another’s abilities.
Mizuki knew very well that he wasn’t Kuroda Ren’s opponent.
All he wanted was to perform as well as possible and earn a high score.
Holding a wooden kunai, Mizuki rushed forward.
The tip of the kunai stabbed toward Kuroda Ren’s chest, his movements fast and fierce.
Of course, that was judged by the standards of an ordinary first-year Ninja Academy student.
In Kuroda Ren’s eyes, however, the movement was simply far too slow.
The physical abilities of the two were on completely different levels.
Mizuki’s physical attributes were only slightly better than those of an ordinary first-year student.
Kuroda Ren’s body, on the other hand, had already reached the level of an experienced Chūnin.
Kuroda Ren casually raised his hand and precisely grabbed the arm holding the kunai.
With a twist of his wrist, Mizuki immediately lost his balance.
Thud!
Kuroda Ren drove his fist into Mizuki’s stomach.
The violent impact instantly drained the strength from Mizuki’s body, sending him sprawling onto the ground, where he retched repeatedly.
“The match is decided!”
“Winner: Kuroda Ren!”
Imai Nobuyuki immediately announced the result.
Kuroda Ren formed the Seal of Reconciliation, glanced at Mizuki, who was still lying on the ground retching, and returned to the crowd.
◇ Bonus Chapter Goals ◇