Thursday.
The first monthly exam of the term.
"As expected of Kitazawa-sensei—he finished the Fang Over Fang upgrade in just one day," Inuzuka Kiba said, sounding impressed as he walked down the street toward the Academy.
"Mm." Inuzuka Hana nodded. "Shame we can't use Quadruple Fang Over Fang in this practical exam."
She'd only gotten the new technique from Kitazawa yesterday; one day wasn't enough to learn it, much less get the basics down.
"It's fine. You can blow everyone away next practical." Kiba grinned, brimming with confidence. "For this one, let me take the spotlight. Watch me work."
His three-headed hellhound still felt clumsy, but it was barely usable in a fight.
"Don't get cocky," Hana warned. "Our class is stacked."
"I know." Kiba rubbed his chin, eyes flicking with an idea. "Sis, think I could learn Quadruple Fang Over Fang too?"
"How, without three ninken?" Hana paused—then a thought hit her. "Shadow Clones?"
It felt like Kiba was stepping onto the path of forbidden shortcuts—making a choice that would make their ancestors roll in their graves.
"Exactly. That's my plan," Kiba said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"There's one problem." Hana glanced at him. "How are you going to convince your shadow clones to play the ninken?"
"…," Kiba fell silent.
Fang Over Fang and the hellhound combo worked only because his real body had humbled itself to play the "ninken." But Quadruple Fang Over Fang needed three "dogs." No way his clones would agree.
"The Shadow Clone Technique really does have big drawbacks," Kiba concluded with a shake of his head.
"Watch it—that jutsu was created by the Second Hokage. Don't talk nonsense," Hana reminded him.
"Kiba!"
A familiar voice rang out. Kiba turned to see Uzumaki Naruto in his trademark green bodysuit jogging up.
"Hana-senpai." Naruto gave her a quick greeting as he came closer.
"Feeling good about the written today?" Kiba slung an arm over Naruto's shoulder. "It's a brand-new format."
"Doesn't matter what the format is—bet your youth and go all out!" Naruto flashed a gleaming smile.
"Don't forget our bet," Kiba said, grinning. "I've got a feeling you're buying me Ichiraku this time."
"Woof woof woof!" barked the Haimaru Brothers.
"What are you three yapping about?" Kiba glared at them.
"Whoa!" Naruto stared like he'd discovered a miracle. "You can understand them?!"
"Everyone in the Inuzuka clan can." Hana translated calmly. "They just said they think you'll beat Kiba."
Ninken sense danger better than most. To them, Naruto read as far more dangerous than Kiba.
"Haha!" Naruto laughed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'll do my best!"
"Traitors, all of you," Kiba muttered.
Chatting, the three reached the Academy.
"Morning, Chōji!" Naruto called the moment he saw Akimichi Chōji mowing through a bag of chips at his desk.
"Chōji, you're not worried about the exam?" Kiba asked.
"Worrying won't help." Chōji chuckled.
"Chōji's right," Nara Shikamaru chimed in.
"You think anyone buys that from you?" Kiba shot back. "You place tenth every single time like clockwork."
"How about you?" Yamanaka Ino turned to Shikamaru. "What rank are you aiming for this time?"
"No idea." Shikamaru sighed. "I know you guys, but I don't know the new folks who joined the Advanced Class."
"Seriously?" Ino looked skeptical.
"Seriously." Hands behind his head, Shikamaru added, "Plus there's the bottom-rank challenge rule, so I'll probably aim a bit higher."
"Hold up!" Naruto suddenly caught on. "How can you just 'aim' for a rank and get it?"
"That's what top students do," Haruno Sakura said as she walked in with her bag, catching that line.
She was a top student too, so she understood Shikamaru's calm. If you can solve the whole test, your score is basically a choice. She just didn't have his control over ranking.
"Feels like you guys live in another world," Naruto scratched his head.
"It's fine," Shikamaru glanced at him. "We think the same thing during practicals."
How could someone fight like a jōnin in their first year? Even with his IQ, Shikamaru couldn't figure it out.
"True," Aburame Shino said quietly.
"Shino? When did you get here?" Naruto blinked.
"I've been here for several minutes," Shino said, adjusting his glasses.
"Naruto!" Rock Lee strode in, thumb up. "Another youthful monthly exam!"
Hyūga Neji and Tenten quietly picked up the pace… and drifted farther away from him.
9:00 a.m.
Kitazawa walked into the classroom right on time. The chatter died instantly as everyone hurried back to their seats.
"I'll hand out the papers now." Pleased with the order, Kitazawa started distributing the tests in order.
The bell rang. Pens hit paper.
Kitazawa made a shadow clone; his real body headed to the artificial lake to practice Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique. He'd already broken into it; with a bit more time he'd clear his system task.
Two hours later, the written ended.
"Tomorrow at 9 a.m. on the training field, we'll hold the practical." Kitazawa returned to the Advanced Class room. "Reminder: anyone ranked below twentieth should be ready to be challenged."
Quite a few faces tightened.
They'd been in the Advanced Class for a month now and knew its perks over a regular class.
First, they had jōnin-level instructors—offhand pointers from them beat most chūnin teachers.
Second, they were allowed to learn ninjutsu beyond the Three Basic Techniques.
That second point mattered most. Konoha's ninjutsu transmission came with lots of rules. Normally you had to wait until graduation for your squad leader to teach you anything beyond the basics—and squad leaders varied wildly in ability. Most weren't on Kitazawa's, Maruboshi Kosuke's, or Hatake Kakashi's level.
"Go rest, everyone," Kitazawa said with a smile.
Pressure fuels progress. Naruto and Sasuke had the talent to breeze through, but the rest didn't. A little pressure now could push them to outperform.
Kitazawa left the room with the test stack. He stopped at the office door.
"When did you learn to tail your teacher?" he asked with a smile as he turned around.
A moment later, Hyūga Hinata timidly peeked out from behind the wall. When her eyes met Kitazawa's, she jolted and flushed scarlet.
"Did you need something?" Kitazawa reached out and lightly pinched her warm cheek.
"D-dinner," Hinata murmured.
"Give me an hour—I'll grade these first." Kitazawa sat at his desk and immediately cast Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, splitting into nine clones.
Hinata let out a small breath and settled onto the sofa to wait, lips faintly upturned.
Time ticked by. With his clones' help, Kitazawa finished grading all thirty papers in half an hour.
Compared to the last term-end exam, the rankings had shifted quite a bit—after all, Class 1-A had become a talent-packed Advanced Class. Even so, most of the top ten were familiar names.
First place shifted from Haruno Sakura to Nara Shikamaru. Kitazawa could guess why. Shikamaru hated hassle; to avoid being challenged he'd score high now, then adjust next month.
Sakura took second. Third was no longer Uchiha Sasuke, but Hyūga Neji. Sasuke slid to fourth. Hinata moved down two spots to fifth. Kurama Yakumo was sixth. Seventh stayed the same—Karin. Eighth was Aburame Shino, ninth Yamanaka Ino, tenth Tenten.
The top ten added Neji and Tenten; small changes there, but the big swings were in the back twenty.
Kiba, formerly eleventh, got replaced by his sister Hana and dropped to nineteenth. Naruto fell three spots to fifteenth. Rock Lee, unsurprisingly, landed right at thirtieth—partly because academics weren't his thing, partly because he poured everything into taijutsu.
Overall, the ones hit hardest were Naruto and Kiba; theory had never been their strong suit. Thanks to Kitazawa's prodding, they'd still improved—and crucially, stayed within the top twenty. With their practicals factored in, there was no way they'd be booted from the Advanced Class. Only the bottom ten could be challenged by other classes, after all.
"You're fifth this time," Kitazawa said, looking up into Hinata's pale eyes with a smile.
"Eh?" Hinata blinked. Why down two spots? Guilt pricked—she felt she'd let Kitazawa down.
"Shikamaru took first, Neji third." Kitazawa stood. "Your score barely changed. Don't overthink it. Come on—let's get dinner."
Hinata relaxed a little. Losing to Shikamaru and Neji was acceptable; it wasn't on her.
"Yakinuku," Kitazawa decided after a moment.
He was worth over twenty million ryō now—time to raise his living standards. Hinata swallowed reflexively at the word "Yakinuku." She'd brought a bento, but if there was Yakinuku, the bento could wait.
After they ate, Kitazawa walked Hinata home.
The next day—Friday—brought the main event: the practical.
At 9 a.m., Kitazawa stepped onto the training field right on cue—and spotted a surprise guest: Sarutobi Hiruzen. Surrounded by Advanced Class students, he was all smiles, clearly in high spirits.
Kitazawa hadn't invited him, and there'd been no advance notice. A surprise inspection, then. On reflection, it made sense: Hiruzen had pushed for the Advanced Class reform and wanted results—as did his reputation. This being the first practical, dropping by was only natural.
"Hokage-sama," Kitazawa greeted.
"Kitazawa," Hiruzen replied cheerfully. "Forgive the unannounced visit."
"It's an honor to have you here," Kitazawa said.
"It's been a month. How are things?" Hiruzen's gaze lingered on Naruto and the others.
"They won't disappoint you," Kitazawa said with a small smile.
"I'll look forward to it." Hiruzen stepped back to the sidelines as a spectator.
"The Advanced Class's first practical exam of the term starts now," Kitazawa announced from the center. "We'll do random pairings, three rounds total. Scores and ranking will be based on performance."
Umino Iruka rolled out a drawing box. This time, though, the students wouldn't draw—Kitazawa would, just like in the Student Council selection bouts.
"First match of Round One: Hyūga Neji versus Uzumaki Naruto," Kitazawa called. "Both of you, to the field."
"Those two again?" Kiba blinked. Neji and Naruto had already fought in the last term-end (Student Council selection) practical—Neji had lost to Naruto's Multiple Shadow Clones and Rasengan.
"Odds still favor Naruto," Shikamaru said offhand.
Chōji, Ino, and the others nodded—including Sasuke. Hinata was the exception. She knew Neji had learned the Shadow Clone Technique and Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm—and, most importantly, had been training under Kitazawa.
"Facing Naruto right away, huh?" Neji felt the irony. Had Kitazawa rigged it?
A second thought said no. That wasn't Kitazawa's style, and with Hiruzen on site, getting caught would be disastrous.
"Neji again?" Naruto scratched his head. He liked close combat—just not Gentle Fist. Having your tenketsu sealed made fighting miserable. Their last spar had proved it; he'd been on the back foot and almost lost.
"Naruto!" Rock Lee gave a big thumbs-up. "For youth!"
"I'm up!" Fired up, Naruto strode to the center. Neji, recalling Kitazawa's pointers, took his stance across from him.
"Please," Neji said, settling into Gentle Fist.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto went with the classic: thirty clones right off the bat. They fanned out into three staggered ranks. A heartbeat later, a storm of kunai flew at Neji—the real Naruto hidden among one of the ranks.
Neji's eyes tightened. Exactly as Kitazawa had predicted. Naruto might be reckless, but he wasn't stupid; having been burned once, he'd adapt—like not charging straight in for close quarters.
No matter.
Shadow Clone Technique!
Neji formed seals—two clones popped beside him.
Whoosh!
All three Nejis vanished from their spots, slapping aside kunai as they slipped into Naruto's three clone ranks.
"Shadow Clones?" Naruto blinked. The surest way to blunt his tool barrage. Sasuke had done the same earlier.
"Leaf Whirlwind!" As Neji closed, Naruto's clones lunged. In an instant, kicks came whipping in from every angle.
Neji didn't flinch. His palms snapped out, lightning-quick, tapping the chakra points on their right legs. Four Naruto clones staggered. Neji didn't press—he slipped past them and tagged another set of clones—always striking the leg points.
Moments later, Naruto's formation devolved into chaos. Stubborn to the core, the clones kept attacking even with hobbled right legs—but Neji simply weaved through, letting them trip over each other.
"Move! Move!" Naruto's clones crashed together.
"Isn't this the trick Sasuke used before?" Sakura felt intense déjà vu. Sasuke had used the Manipulating Shuriken Technique to similar effect.
"And more than that," Shino adjusted his glasses. "Neji's fighting style today also resembles Sasuke's."
"Kitazawa-sensei's special training," Sasuke said flatly.
"So Naruto's going to lose?" Kiba raised a brow.
"Not necessarily." Hands in his pockets, Sasuke said, "If Naruto's smart, he won't lose the same way twice."
Right then, Naruto dispelled the clones—chaos gone in an instant.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" He spat out another thirty.
But in that split second, Neji had already locked onto him and was blitzing in. Naruto had to meet him head-on. He hated getting his tenketsu sealed, but in this situation he had to trade blows—he only needed to hold out for a single second.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!