"Another test already?"
The whole class instantly wilted like frostbitten eggplants.
Ignoring their groans, Iruka-sensei said,
"The final exam of the Ninja Academy is coming up soon. I want all of you to pass, so practice tests are absolutely necessary!"
Seeing that the test was inevitable, Naruto sidled up to Shinju.
Back in the day, Shinju might have been hopeless in ninjutsu training, but his grades in academic classes were top-notch. He'd helped Naruto muddle through more than a few tests.
"Shinju, I'm counting on you again this time."
Naruto pleaded.
"No. Do it yourself. If I help you now, what will you do when the real final exam comes?"
Shinju refused flatly.
Before, it was the body's original owner who used to help Naruto.
But now? Shinju wouldn't do such a thing.
As a shinobi, you have to master both practical and theoretical knowledge. Even if you could bluff your way through the exam and graduate, what would happen when you were on the battlefield later?
Shinju didn't want Naruto to die in the field because his Ninja Academy knowledge was full of holes.
"Shinju, my good friend, you're the only one who can help me now."
Naruto begged again.
He was hopeless with books — the moment he saw one, he'd get sleepy. Listening to a lecture? Instant nap.
Getting him to study was harder than getting him to train in ninjutsu!
"Just help me this one last time. Once today's over, I swear I'll study hard from now on."
Naruto started pestering him shamelessly.
But Shinju was like an iron block — completely unmoved.
Even Iruka couldn't stand it anymore.
"Naruto, what are you pestering Shinju for? You're not trying to cheat, are you?"
Naruto straightened up in a panic, face full of righteous indignation.
"N–no way! Why would I ever want to cheat!"
Shinju facepalmed on the side, unable to watch.
...
The test began as scheduled.
The students hunched over makeshift desks carved from giant tree trunks, scribbling furiously.
Not even twenty minutes in, Shinju stood up to hand in his paper.
"Already done?"
Iruka's eyes widened in surprise.
Shinju had always been good in academic classes and often handed in his paper early.
But finishing in under half an hour? That was a first!
"All done. You can check, sensei."
Shinju said with rare confidence.
Iruka glanced down at the paper.
The more he read, the more delighted he looked.
Shinju had gotten every basic ninjutsu theory question correct. Even in the final open-ended question, his answer was brilliant.
Clear structure, concise language.
He even gave his own unique insights and perspectives.
On top of that, he cited examples at just the right moments — clever, fluent, with a flair for words far beyond the average student.
In all his years of teaching, Iruka had seen plenty of students.
But someone who could finish this beautifully, this fast? Shinju was the first!
A perfect score, no doubt about it.
Shinju noticed Iruka's pleased expression and felt a small flicker of pride.
As a product of rigorous test-oriented education, Shinju had exam skills down to an art.
And since the body's original owner had a solid foundation, finishing quickly with a high score wasn't hard at all.
"Not bad, Shinju."
Iruka praised.
Then, remembering the Third Hokage's warning not to let Shinju get too full of himself, he quickly added:
"But someone in the other class finished in under fifteen minutes with a perfect score. So don't get cocky. Keep working hard."
"Don't worry, Iruka-sensei. Even though I've been training hard in ninjutsu these past two days, I haven't slacked off in academics either," Shinju promised with conviction.
In truth, he'd finished in about eleven or twelve minutes, but delayed turning it in to avoid drawing too much attention.
Iruka's eyes shone with satisfaction.
This kid was handsome, talented, and hardworking.
At such a young age, he'd already caught the Third Hokage's attention.
A bright future ahead!
"Alright, we don't have anything scheduled for the afternoon. Since you're done, you can head home."
Iruka waved him off.
Shinju thanked him and left the school in high spirits.
...
Meanwhile, Naruto was in misery.
Without Shinju as his wingman, the questions looked twice as hard.
"'Discuss the origins and consequences of the Second Great Ninja War'? How should I know! The teacher never covered this… (||๐_๐)"
"And this one — 'When Fire Release and Earth Release combine, what special nature transformation can be produced'? I have no idea! Uh… turning clay into pottery, maybe? ╮(๑•́ ₃•̀๑)╭"
Iruka couldn't take it anymore.
"Naruto! If you keep talking during the exam, I'll give you a zero! (▼皿▼#)"
Naruto shrank his neck, but since he really didn't know the answers, he started shifting around, sneaking peeks left and right...
...
Elsewhere.
Shinju didn't go home right away. The aftereffects of his Nativity of a World of Trees still hadn't fully subsided.
Not wanting to feel guilty, he sent out a clone to continue helping with disaster relief.
Meanwhile, his real body stayed home, training in ninjutsu.
By evening.
Naruto came home with a dark face, shoving the door open.
"Shinju, today Iruka-sensei saw me hand in a blank paper and gave me a big fat zero."
When Naruto finished, Shinju didn't answer.
Curious, Naruto stepped into the courtyard — and saw Shinju sitting cross-legged, practicing some strange jutsu.
"What are you doing?"
Naruto asked, puzzled.
Shinju came out of his thoughts at the question, handed Naruto a kunai, and explained,
"While I was helping with the village's disaster relief just now, I was thinking — what if there was a way to quickly move all the cut-down logs out of the village?"
"And? What did you come up with?"
Naruto took the kunai, noticing a tree-like mark engraved on it.
Just as he was about to ask what it was for, Shinju explained:
"I came up with a jutsu. As long as I mark a location with my chakra formula, I can instantly teleport there."
"The kunai you're holding has just been marked with my chakra formula."
Naruto gulped.
He didn't really get it, but it sounded impressive!
Shinju continued, visibly eager.
"I just developed this technique, so I haven't tested it yet. Hold onto that kunai, and I'll see if I can teleport to you."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
If this worked, they could teleport straight to school every morning — no more rushing!
Once Naruto nodded, Shinju formed a hand seal.
Then—
Whoosh!
Shinju's body vanished from where he sat!
Naruto's eyes went wide in shock.
Suddenly, the kunai in his hand grew heavy.
He turned his head — and found Shinju clinging to his wrist!
A second later, Shinju fell to the ground with a thud.
It sounded painful.
But Shinju's face was alight with excitement.
"Looks like it's halfway there. I just need to train more on pinpointing the landing spot — otherwise, accidents like that might happen again."
"So from now on, we won't have to run to school in a hurry anymore?!"
Naruto asked, thrilled.
Waking up naturally without rushing — that was his dream!
Now that Shinju's jutsu worked, that dream might really come true!
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