"The situation is getting worse."
Uchiha Itama naturally turned his gaze aside.
Sensing watchers stirred an urgency in his chest.
"I have to raise my strength fast."
"Two tomoe are far from enough."
He looked ahead.
Yamabuki Yuki came into view, but he ignored her and walked past.
He entered the classroom.
Ahem.
Yamashiro Aoki cleared his throat.
"Everyone, you have been at the Academy for some time now. Today we will test your progress."
"In the morning, a culture exam."
"I will proctor."
"In the afternoon, physical fitness and shuriken tests, proctored by Mizuki and Iruka."
Reactions rippled through the room.
Some students groaned.
There were always those who hated exams.
Others brightened.
These were the ones sure of themselves, eager to show off.
Hyuga Hikaru glanced at Itama's corner.
"If you will not spar with me, I will prove in this exam that the Hyuga surpass the Uchiha."
Itama paid him no mind.
"Boring."
To him, this was indeed dull.
Competition between children meant nothing.
Take an easy example.
Naruto had been dead last for six full years, even failed multiple makeups on the graduation written, and only passed with Mizuki's so-called help.
Yet his future achievements surpassed all.
Akimichi Choji, Inuzuka Kiba and others who were unimpressive at school often outperformed the good students once they became ninja.
"It is much like university graduates stepping into society in my previous life."
"Aside from true prodigies like Sasuke."
"Or extreme strivers like Rock Lee."
"For most people, the status they gain in society depends closely on family background."
Itama had already stepped beyond that tier.
With two tomoe awakened, jutsu without seals, and chakra and physique solid even among chunin, he might not lose ground even against some special jonin.
Sparring with Hikaru would be picking on a child.
"Begin."
Test papers were handed out.
Suddenly, something tapped his back. He looked around on reflex and saw Yamabuki Yuki sliding her paper sideways.
He understood. She wanted him to copy.
He slept through lectures, refining chakra in secret, and Aoki could do little about him. With the clan's tense relations with the elders, Aoki sensed enough not to press.
So Yamabuki had decided Itama was a slacker.
"No need."
He turned back.
The questions were trivial. Compared to the basic academics of his previous world, these were preschool level.
He did not plan to score too high anyway.
He filled in about two thirds.
A middling grade was enough for the image he wanted.
He meant to shape himself as an ordinary Uchiha.
That way the elders would not look his way.
"Time."
Yamabuki came to his desk.
"Why did you not look earlier?"
"Cheating is forbidden. That was in Aoki-sensei's first lesson. Did you forget?"
Yamabuki fell silent.
"Do not do extra things. I already told you. I like someone."
He walked out.
Yamabuki stared at his back, eyes reddening.
"I will not give up."
Afternoon.
Yamashiro Aoba graded papers in the classroom while Mizuki and Iruka led the students to the training field for the practicals.
Two parts.
Physical fitness and shuriken.
"Professor Iruka and I will oversee the tests," Mizuki announced with a smile. "Choose which line you want and queue now."
His smile froze quickly.
Most students ran to Iruka.
Only a scant dozen came to him.
This result was far from what he expected.
He had thought he was doing well. He had not expected the students to choose like this.
Was he really that unlikeable?
He glanced at Iruka, jealousy and malice flickering in his eyes.
"Sensei, may we begin?"