"Yo, isn't this the Second Hokage himself? What's the matter, Lord Tobirama—you planning to take a kid's test now?"
Uchiha Seiji grinned, leaning lazily on his desk as he teased the ghostly white-haired figure only he could see. Then he shook his head, mock-sympathetic."Better not, honestly. Imagine if your score ended up worse than mine. Wouldn't that be embarrassing? A Hokage who can't even outwrite a Uchiha brat. Face would be gone, dignity in tatters. And then what—blame it on your beloved disciple? If I indulge you here, isn't that just stirring up trouble?"
He sighed dramatically."Besides, you've been dead for decades. Back when you founded the Academy there weren't even written tests, right? Bet you never even drafted a template. …Forget it, no need to put yourself through this. If you really want, you can just roast my answers instead."
His tone was so polite, so reasonable—going out of his way to mention the different times and backgrounds, giving Tobirama a nice way out. On the surface, it was thoughtful. But the way he said it was pure provocation, and Tobirama's temples throbbed with each smug word.
That strange, almost respectful feeling he'd started to have for Seiji? Yeah, gone in an instant. His jaw tightened as he ground his teeth."Stop looking down on me. I'm the Second Hokage! If I couldn't even beat an Uchiha brat on the Will of Fire, that'd be the biggest joke in shinobi history."
"Templates aren't the key. The core and logic are what matter most. Enough nonsense—are you letting me answer or not? If you can't make it happen, just admit it!"
Seiji blinked. …Did he just try to use a challenge bait on me?
So the old man saw his answers, got curious, and now wanted a piece of the action? Figures.Tobirama, Tobirama… I did warn you. Times have changed. Whether it's the Will of Fire or exam-style thinking, you're out of your depth.
Shaking his head, Seiji smiled the way an adult humors a stubborn child."Fine, fine. I'll let you have your fun."
Tobirama bristled. "What's with that tone? You think I'm being unreasonable?"
Seiji shrugged. "Didn't say that. Just… wow. Sensitive much for someone your age."
"…!" Tobirama's face darkened. Why did every word out of this brat's mouth feel so wrong? Evil Uchiha spawn.
Seiji let the matter drop, glancing around the exam hall. Plenty of the younger students had already dozed off on their desks. Couldn't blame them—the questions were too advanced, clearly crafted by Sarutobi Hiruzen himself to gauge Seiji's level. For the other kids, it was like throwing a toddler into a war council. Too risky to scribble nonsense; safer to just hand in a blank sheet.
"Honestly, that's its own kind of wisdom," Seiji thought, smirking as he spotted Obito still furiously scribbling. With that brain of his, after Shisui's little pep talks, I can't wait to see what ridiculous answers he's coughing up. Watching the grading teacher's face will be gold.
He stretched, walked past a sleeping student, then crouched to gently tap the boy's shoulder."Hey, classmate. You drop this pen?"
The kid jerked awake, bleary-eyed. "T-Teacher, I… I really can't! It's not that I don't want to answer—!"
The entire room burst into laughter. But the laughter was tinged with bitterness. Who the hell had made this exam? It wasn't just hard—it was cruel.
Even on the podium, Teacher Umino Ichiro could only chuckle awkwardly, sighing to himself:Kids, don't blame me. This is all Lord Third's doing, just to test Seiji. For the sake of the village's future, you'll just have to suffer a little. I'll make it up to you with extra lessons later, I swear.
The embarrassed boy scratched his head after realizing Seiji was only teasing him. "Thanks, Seiji-kun. Not my pen." His eyes, though, carried a flash of respect.
After all, Seiji was already a legend at the Academy: the Uchiha who'd crushed Obito in combat, but also the kind upperclassman who encouraged Might Guy with heartfelt words. Strength and warmth both—rare qualities in the same person.
Seiji smiled. "Don't sell yourself short, Inada. Try answering a little. Don't be afraid to mess up—this is a rare chance to think about the Will of Fire. It'd be a shame to waste it."
He handed the boy a pen carved with the Uchiha crest, clearly expensive. Inada Kojiro trembled as he accepted it, stunned that Seiji even remembered his name.
Their eyes met. Behind Seiji's calm gaze, the tomoe of his Sharingan turned slowly, like the gears of fate itself.
"Seiji-kun… I'll do my best!"
"Good." Seiji patted his shoulder, then walked up to the front and handed his exam in. "Teacher Umino, I'm finished."
Ichiro's eyes shone as he took the paper. Watching Seiji's example stir even the slackers into picking up their pens filled him with pride. Who said teaching had no future? Look—this was his student. A good Uchiha, one of his own class. He, Umino Ichiro, had trained someone with the makings of a Hokage's disciple!
The classroom's atmosphere shifted. Obito chewed his lip, wrestling with Shisui's clan-first ideals, then scowled and doubled down, forcing himself to merge Uchiha pride with the Will of Fire in his answers. Asuma Sarutobi sat stiff, wishing he could light the cigarette burning a hole in his pocket. Rin Nohara hummed softly, smiling at the thought of visiting Seiji's home that weekend.
And Might Guy? He was openly bawling."This… this is youth itself!" he wailed.
"Guy, please be quiet." Ichiro shot him a look.
Guy immediately bent over his paper, scribbling the word youth across every single question.
[Duel target Might Guy: You have obtained Taijutsu – Leaf Great Whirlwind!]
Seiji sighed, hearing the system's chime. "Really, Guy…"
He left the room, taking a seat outside to wait for Shisui. Then he leaned back, smirking toward Tobirama's spirit."All right, Second Hokage-sama. Tell me what you want to write. I've already slipped Inada under a genjutsu—he'll write exactly what you dictate."
"Make it good, though. Don't tank the poor kid's grade."
Tobirama snorted, but didn't bicker. He closed his eyes, sinking into deep thought. A long silence passed before he finally began reciting his first answer, serious as if back in office.
No one could have guessed that hidden among hundreds of ordinary exam papers… one would bear the answers of a dead Hokage.
That night, in the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped the ashes from his pipe, smiling as he unrolled Seiji's exam. The smoke curled around him as his eyes glinted with expectation.
"Now then… let's see how the children of the village fared."