"Huh!?"
Hearing Nagato's words, Kaito felt the familiar terror of advanced mathematics resurface.
No way...
Even after coming to the Naruto world, this damned advanced math is still chasing me???
With this thought, Kaito instinctively stepped away from Nagato, eyeing his book with fear.
In this "examination hall," failing the test could literally mean death.
They say people can do anything when desperate—except mathematics...
If you don't know it, you just don't know it.
"Is it some profound technique?"
Noticing Kaito's frightened expression, Nagato tightened his grip on the book.
Nagato had his own understanding of techniques—in some aspects, his mastery even surpassed Uchiha Kaito's.
Learning new knowledge...
Nagato wasn't particularly worried.
A god is omnipotent!
Nagato's overwhelming confidence completely stunned Kaito.He looked Nagato up and down, then after a long while, let out a deep sigh and spoke with a hint of regret.
"Nagato, why don't you just gouge out your eyes and give them to me..."
"I'll find a way to revive you when we get back."
Nagato: ?
Kaito's tone sounded like he was bidding farewell to someone on their deathbed. Nagato, who had been studying the book's contents, looked up in confusion at the boy, his face showing a trace of anger.
"Are you looking down on me?"
At this moment, the god felt he was being disrespected.
Nagato frowned deeply, glared fiercely at Kaito, snorted coldly, picked up the book in his hand, and strode directly toward Orochimaru.
"Wait a minute..." Kaito was completely stunned by Nagato's confidence. As he spoke, he almost called Nagato "Big Dumbass" by accident.
"That thing isn't something you can learn just by trying hard!"
Hearing this, Nagato not only didn't stop but even quickened his pace.
Orochimaru, sitting in the corner, lifted his eyelids to glance at the book in Nagato's hands, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.
"Interesting."
Orochimaru had been observing everyone while reading his own book.
If ranked by difficulty...
"Postpartum Care for Immortal Pigs" < "Complete Guide to Celestial Desserts" < "Second Body Tempering Technique: Eaglet Takes Flight" < "Advanced Mathematics"
But this difficulty ranking was based on normal people. For Orochimaru...
The most challenging seemed to be the book in Kaito's hands.
To be honest.
Aside from "Complete Guide to Celestial Desserts," Orochimaru wanted to learn the other three subjects...
Sitting in the corner, Orochimaru grinned widely, let out a few sinister chuckles, and then began questioning Kaito.
"The rules didn't say one person can only study one subject, right?"
"Hold on."
Kaito seemed to understand what Orochimaru was implying and focused inward to consult the artifact spirit.
"Can the books be swapped?"
Kaito could understand Nagato's confidence. If Nagato had been holding any other book, Kaito would have unconditionally believed in his Sect Leader...
But expecting a middle-aged NEET with little formal education to master advanced mathematics in seven days? Might as well hope Nagato survives a tribulation lightning strike and ascends to sainthood.
He's doomed!
"Affirmative. Examinees may change test subjects, but the initiator will simultaneously undergo two exams, and the tribulation lightning's power will increase from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment Stage."
"Please reconsider unless absolutely confident..."
It had to be said the Magical Artifact's purpose was to help users learn, not to give them a premature taste of tribulation lightning.
This rule showed some consideration.
Kaito thought to himself, unaware that attempting two subjects in seven days was practically suicidal.
This condition wasn't even within the artifact's calculations.
Kaito then explained the rules in detail to Orochimaru. After hearing them, both agreed it would be more suitable for Nagato to study "Postpartum Care for Immortal Pigs."
However, Kaito and Orochimaru had underestimated a certain god's pride...
"I refuse."
Nagato spoke coldly, feeling these two were truly looking down on him.
And besides...
Making him study livestock care was somewhat insulting to a god.
Orochimaru and Kaito exchanged glances, simultaneously revealing helpless smiles as they both raised their hands in a "be my guest" gesture, as if saying..."Alright, alright, let's see you learn one then."
Kaito naturally understood the difficulty of this thing, and Orochimaru, who had glimpsed the densely packed symbols when Nagato briefly flipped through the pages earlier, was instantly intrigued.
"Hmph!"
Nagato angrily flicked his sleeve and then sat cross-legged on the ground, turning his back to the two of them as he embarked on his journey of learning Advanced Mathematics.
Earlier, he had taken a quick glance and found that he more or less understood the content when viewed individually.
He figured it wouldn't be too hard to grasp.
Kaito and Orochimaru crouched behind Nagato, observing for about half an hour. The guy, who had initially taken several minutes to turn a page, was now flipping pages every few seconds—and as time passed, his speed only increased.
At the same time, Nagato's breathing grew heavier, and the frequency of him scratching his head gradually rose.
Just from the red hair scattered on the ground, it wasn't hard to tell that Nagato had lost quite a few brain cells in his attempt to challenge the truth…
"Maybe…"
"Switch?"
Kaito lightly poked Nagato's lower back, startling him so much that he shuddered and nearly jumped to his feet.
"No need!"
"Give me seven days! I can do it!"
Nagato declared confidently once more.
He admitted that Advanced Mathematics was indeed a bit of a challenge for him…
His earlier tone had been a bit too bold.
The moment Nagato fully opened the book and saw those densely packed symbols, he immediately fell into deep thought. By the second page, he was already pondering the three great philosophical questions.
It's fine, it's fine…
Only knowledge like this could match the status of a god like himself.
If he couldn't learn it earlier, there must have been something he missed.
After rejecting Kaito's offer, Nagato immediately mobilized his chakra and summoned three external puppets to assist in his studies.
After all…
Even with both hands and feet combined, he only had 20 fingers.
Once connected to the puppets, Nagato also formed hand seals for the Shadow Clone Technique.
But before the shadow clones could appear, the voice of the machine spirit rang out first.
"Warning to Candidate No. 2!"
"All cheating methods are strictly prohibited in this exam. The next offense will incur divine retribution. Candidates, do not bring ruin upon yourselves."
Kaito and Orochimaru stood silently behind Nagato, their expressions growing increasingly grave as they listened to the voice.
They had also considered using the Shadow Clone Technique to study earlier, but now it seemed cheating was impossible…
Realizing this, the two hurried off to start learning the material in their own hands.
Meanwhile, Nagato, who was hunched over counting on his fingers, felt like his head was about to smoke. Just glancing at the book now made his skull ache.
Roughly four hours later…
Nagato stealthily made his way to Orochimaru's spot. After standing there hesitating for a long time, he finally spoke up, stammering:
"Orochimaru… I have a question I'd like to ask you…"