After the physical‑ability test ended, the first‑year Class A students flopped onto the ground to rest, no longer caring about appearances.
Yet every pair of eyes drifted to Kitazawa and Umino Iruka, who were compiling the on‑the‑spot rankings.
"I wonder how many points I got."
Haruno Sakura shot a glance at the unruffled Uchiha Sasuke, a silly smile blooming on her face.
"I just hope I get to sit right next to Sasuke‑kun."
"Just do your best,"
Yamanaka Ino said breezily, flicking her blond hair. "It's only an ordinary monthly exam."
"True enough,"
Akimichi Chōji agreed, crunching loudly on his chips.
"A passing grade is already a win," muttered Nara Shikamaru, half‑asleep.
"Since none of you mind, I'll be blunt—first place is mine!"
Inuzuka Kiba grinned confidently.
"First place definitely belongs to Sasuke‑kun,"
Sakura shot back.
"The outcome isn't set; either of us could be number one," Uzumaki Naruto echoed something Kitazawa had told him.
"Who knows, maybe I'll be first!"
The moment he finished, he noticed everyone around him staring in astonishment.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
Naruto asked blankly.
"Hearing that come out of your mouth is… unexpected," Shikamaru said with a laugh.
"That's what Kitazawa‑sensei said," Naruto blinked.
"Ah, that explains it," Ino nodded.
Uchiha Sasuke stayed silent.
In his mind, first place was already in the bag.
Hinata Hyūga also didn't join the chatter.
Lost in her own thoughts, she barely heard a word.
Clasping her hands, she prayed softly—she didn't want to disappoint Kitazawa.
…
"I will now announce the results,"
Kitazawa said, roster in hand.
Everyone leapt up, staring at him expectantly.
"First place…"
Kitazawa smiled.
"Hyūga Hinata."
A heartbeat of silence—then an uproar.
Hinata's quiet nature meant she was almost invisible in class; no one expected such a bombshell.
"Impossible!"
Sasuke stood frozen, shock replacing his usual calm.
The first place he'd thought certain had slipped away?
His fists clenched; unwillingness welled up inside him.
Losing the fitness test to Naruto he could accept—that part wasn't crucial.
But losing the monthly exam to Hinata felt unreal.
"Ah, so it really wasn't me!"
Naruto clutched his head. He'd half suspected it; the miracle hadn't come.
But first place not going to the stuck‑up Uchiha Sasuke?
"What's going on?"
Sakura was baffled—and shaken.
"Truly didn't see that coming,"
Ino breathed.
Had the invincible Uchiha fallen?
Shikamaru, Chōji, Kiba and Aburame Shino said nothing, but their faces said plenty.
Under everybody's gaze, Hinata's heart hammered.
A strange exhilaration washed over her—like the thrill of sneaking out of school for the first time.
"Hinata ranked first in the written test and second in the practical, so her composite score is first,"
Kitazawa explained, then read on:
"Second place, Uchiha Sasuke."
Hinata's victory owed a lot to Sakura and Naruto: Sakura had bumped Sasuke to third in the written test, and Naruto had taken first in physical fitness.
Sasuke's face was blank, but the unhappiness showed:
Nobody remembers second place—and an Uchiha doesn't need it.
"Third place, Aburame Shino."
Kitazawa paused.
Many looked puzzled.
Who? Do we even have an Aburame Shino in our class?
If Hinata had little presence, Shino had none at all.
"Fourth, Yamanaka Ino. Fifth, Haruno Sakura. Sixth, Inuzuka Kiba… Tenth, Akimichi Chōji."
Kitazawa continued unhurriedly.
"Sixth isn't so bad," Kiba sighed—it wasn't that he was weak, the competition was fierce.
"How come I'm not on the list?"
Naruto looked thunderstruck.
Not only had he missed first place, he wasn't even in the top ten.
Instinctively he glanced at Chōji—weren't we supposed to rank together? How'd you soar so high?
"Naruto," Kiba noticed the look and instantly switched moods:
Smiles don't disappear—they just relocate.
"Hmph!"
Naruto huffed.
"Next time I'll definitely beat you!"
"Give it your best,"
Kiba patted his shoulder, clearly unconvinced.
"Seventeenth, Uzumaki Naruto… Twentieth, Nara Shikamaru…"
Kitazawa rattled off the remaining spots.
"Only seventeenth? Darn it!"
Naruto groaned.
"If I'd answered just a few more questions right, I'd be top ten for sure."
"Anyone who didn't do well, don't be discouraged," Kitazawa looked around.
"You'll have plenty more chances. That's all for today—see you next Monday."
"Good‑bye, Sensei!"
After their farewells, the students streamed out.
Kitazawa, roster in hand, headed to the conference room with Iruka.
Next up: grade‑wide rankings and the whole‑school awards assembly.
They weren't early—many teachers were already inside.
"Kitazawa, Iruka."
A voice called—Mizuki.
Iruka was about to reply when he recalled Kitazawa's warning.
What was wrong with Mizuki again?
Right—he hadn't woken me up this morning.
Was that deliberate or an accident?
"How did your class do?"
Mizuki cut to the chase, grinning.
"Any perfect scores?"
"Your class got a perfect score?"
Iruka asked, surprised.
"Pure luck—one student,"
Mizuki feigned modesty.
"A Hyūga prodigy, Hyūga Neji."
"Amazing,"
Iruka sighed.
"No wonder he was last year's outstanding student representative."
The representative is the student chosen to give a speech at the awards ceremony.
Kitazawa frowned slightly.
Hinata had tried hard but hadn't achieved a perfect score—the practical exam cost her.
She'd lost to Sasuke and Naruto.
The speech slot was now uncertain.
Still, it wasn't a big issue: Hiruzen Sarutobi backed him, and Neji had already spoken last year.
"Looks like your class has no perfect scorer, but that's fine—it's only the first monthly exam,"
Mizuki said gleefully.
"You're right,"
Kitazawa answered evenly.
Mizuki's smile stiffened.
That's not the face I wanted—I wanted to see your jealousy!
"Homeroom teachers, hand in your score sheets," Sarutobi Hisao strode in.
"Also, each grade's top student is automatically entered as a candidate for student representative."
Kitazawa stayed seated; Iruka went up to submit their scores.
Once collected, Hisao left briskly.
"Kitazawa‑senpai, Mizuki," Iruka offered, "Dinner's on me."
"Great!"
Mizuki beamed.
"I'm having the most expensive barbecue."
"No problem."
Iruka winced inside but agreed.
The moment the three of them stepped out of the conference‑room door, a dark figure appeared.
"An Anbu?"
Nearby teachers jumped.
"Kitazawa," the masked ninja said,
"The Hokage wishes to see you."
"Understood."
Kitazawa nodded, then turned to Iruka.
"Looks like dinner's off. Next time, my treat."
With that, he followed the Anbu out of the academy.
"A summons from the Hokage…?"
Iruka stood dazed.
To an ordinary chūnin like him, the Hokage was far removed.
That Kitazawa had been summoned felt unreal.
Nearby teachers whispered in awe and envy.
In Konoha, being noticed by the Hokage could mean promotion, higher pay, a beautiful wife—reaching the pinnacle of life.
Mizuki, however, could not contain himself.
He had taught the school's only perfect‑score student—why summon Kitazawa instead of him?
Unfair! I hate this!
Malice flickered in Mizuki's eyes.
Iruka saw it and felt a chill of unease.
~~~
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