This throwing technique assessment gave each student 10 chances to throw projectiles, and the target distance was increased from 20 meters to 30 meters.
Since this was the final exam of the semester, all the examinees were somewhat nervous. After all, if their grades were too poor, there was a real possibility of being expelled from the Ninja Academy...
The rules of the Ninja Academy were extremely harsh, though the original series never revealed this. The higher the grade, the fewer the students.
In the original series, the class of the protagonist Uzumaki Naruto didn't have a single weak student. By the sixth grade, most students had their own strengths, and the vast majority could graduate smoothly. At the time, only Naruto became the exception due to the influence of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
"Don't be nervous. I've taught you throwing techniques for so long. You can handle this assessment easily today!"
Seeing Kushina standing silently beside him, her body trembling slightly, Ryun couldn't help but find it amusing.
"What are you talking about? Who's nervous? I'm excited, okay! It's finally my turn. Today, I'm going to get a perfect score!"
Kushina clenched her fists, her face full of excitement. After Ryun's long and patient guidance, her throwing skills had now reached the point where she could hit the target every time. Today was the day to make everyone see her in a new light!
"..."
"Number 18, Uzumaki Kushina!"
Soon, the examiner called Kushina's name.
Five kunai and five shuriken were thrown one after another from Kushina's hands.
As a series of hitting sounds rang out, the surrounding students couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"My god! How did that tomato girl improve so fast? All ten hits landed on the bullseye???"
"Kushina, ten hits total, nine directly on the bullseye, one shuriken slightly off. Total score—98 points!"
The examiner loudly announced the score.
His words caused an uproar. No one expected Kushina to achieve such a score. Even Minato looked completely stunned.
Because projectile throwing had never been Kushina's strong suit...
Why had her throwing skills improved so much? Many were puzzled by this.
"Hahaha! Are you all shocked?!"
Even though she didn't get a perfect score, hearing her classmates' surprised discussions, Kushina couldn't help but laugh triumphantly.
Especially when she saw the expressions of Satō and the other students, their faces twisted as if they had swallowed a rat.
"Well done, Kushina!!!"
A woman's cheerful shout suddenly came from the training ground.
Everyone turned to look and immediately saw three adult figures.
Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya had been watching them the whole time.
"Ah! Tsunade-nee!!!"
Running into Tsunade at the academy, Kushina was overjoyed. But since class was still in session, she couldn't go over to greet her, so she could only wave excitedly.
Ryun was aware of the Sannin's gaze. He felt slightly pressured and nervous. He didn't know who they were here for, but he had a constant feeling of being watched...
"Number 19, Uchiha Ryun!"
Hearing his name, Ryun exhaled softly and picked up the projectiles from the wooden bucket.
Ryun threw five kunai first, then held two shuriken in his left hand and three in his right, releasing all five at once.
The ten projectiles were thrown with remarkable fluidity, surprising many of the students.
"Uchiha Ryun, ten hits total, four on the bullseye... Comprehensive score—94 points!"
A very good score, and some of his classmates even applauded.
"You..."
Kushina crossed her arms, displeased.
In private, Ryun had already mastered throwing techniques to an incredible level, yet in formal assessments, he always held back...
It wasn't that he was completely hiding his skills, but he only performed slightly better than average... It was frustrating for Kushina.
"Heh..."
Orochimaru, who had been watching, suddenly chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?" Tsunade asked curiously, and Jiraiya also turned to look.
This Uchiha's performance was fairly ordinary. Compared to other Uchiha children, there wasn't much difference.
It was normal for the Uchiha clan to excel in projectile throwing.
"That kid is holding back."
"Holding back? Impossible, right? He already got 94 points. Why would he hold back?"
There wasn't much difference between 94 and 100. Why not go for a perfect score?
Besides, what kind of child would be so calculating? Jiraiya thought Orochimaru was overthinking it.
"Before this, I personally witnessed him defeat seven Uchiha kids his age alone."
Orochimaru revealed this information directly.
The other two's expressions changed instantly.
"Seriously?!" Jiraiya's face was full of shock.
Though the Uchiha clan's reputation in Konoha wasn't great, their strength was undoubtedly top-tier. Even in the Ninja Academy, children from this clan were generally stronger than others.
If that scrawny, messy-haired Uchiha really had the ability to take on seven at once—and fellow clansmen at that—then how strong was he really?
If Orochimaru wasn't lying, then this kid was definitely holding back.
Because among Uchiha students in the academy, projectile throwing was their strongest skill. If this kid truly had such ability, he shouldn't have only scored 94 points.
"So that's it. That day really wasn't a misunderstanding..." Tsunade murmured subconsciously.
"What did you say?" Orochimaru frowned.
"Nothing. I also think he's holding back. Kushina has been following him around lately. Her sudden improvement in throwing must be thanks to his guidance!"
Tsunade shared what she knew.
If Kushina, who wasn't naturally skilled in throwing, could score 98 points, how could Uchiha Ryun, who spent so much time with her, perform worse?
"Have you investigated him?" Orochimaru pressed.
"Yes. His father, Uchiha Mori, was a chunin who died heroically two years ago. His mother, Asuka, is an ordinary woman, though... she does have some blood relation to our Senju clan..."
Tsunade had thoroughly researched his background, uncovering details even Ryun himself might not know.
"A small amount of Senju blood? No wonder his hair is different. The Uchiha bloodline couldn't completely darken his hair..."
Orochimaru couldn't help but smirk.
An Uchiha man marrying a woman with Senju blood—such a thing could only happen after the Senju clan dispersed and changed their names.
From this, Tsunade could understand why Ryun's family had voluntarily moved out of the Uchiha district. Being ostracized was inevitable.
"Why did you investigate him for no reason?"
Jiraiya was now very curious why both of them were so interested in the same Uchiha kid.
"None of your business! A grown man acting like a gossip!" Tsunade glared at him fiercely.
"Hey, hey... That's not fair. When Orochimaru asks, it's fine, but when I ask, I'm a gossip?"
Jiraiya put on an exaggerated "hurt" expression, but Tsunade clearly wasn't buying it.
"I just won't tell you! What are you gonna do about it?"
"..."
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