Training Ground
"So, you two are already here."
A light voice drifted across the clearing as Minato stepped forward.
"Good morning, Sensei."
"Good morning, Sensei."
Ken and Kakashi spoke in unison.
The short break from structured training was finally ending. It was time to return to missions.
"So," Minato asked with a faint smile, "was the training successful?"
Kakashi gave a quiet nod.
"Yes!", Ken replied.
For Ken, the week had been transformative.
Previously, he could fight chūnin-level opponents—but those battles often left him in poor condition. Now that he had properly integrated his ninjutsu with his taijutsu, things were different.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say he could defeat an average chūnin with relative ease.
And if pushed, he could likely stall even a special jōnin for a while.
Minato glanced at Ken and raised an eyebrow.
"But when did you train?" he asked teasingly. "From what I heard, you were chasing a girl the entire time."
Ken froze for a brief second.
Then his expression flattened.
What is this? High school gossip?
He stared at Minato in silence.
Minato coughed lightly, realizing he might have overstepped.
"In any case," he continued, regaining composure, "I have good news for you two."
His expression turned serious.
"It's time for you to become chūnin."
Ken's deadpan expression shifted slightly as he glanced at Kakashi.
…So the time has come.
A little later than expected.
"You both have sufficient experience and strength," Minato continued. "I have little doubt about your combat ability."
Then his gaze settled on Ken.
"Ken, how is your theoretical knowledge?"
Ken blinked.
For a moment, he didn't understand.
Then it hit.
…Shit, I am screwed.
He had transmigrated after becoming a genin.
At that time, survival and combat had taken priority over everything else. There had been no room for theory.
And expecting anything from his original self was foolish.
If that version of him had possessed strong academic fundamentals, he wouldn't have remained ended up in genin corps.
In short—
If he did nothing, he would bomb the written exam.
Minato noticed the subtle change in Ken's expression but chose not to comment.
"The exam will consist of two stages," he continued. "A written test, followed by a tournament."
Ken's stomach dropped further.
"You have three days before it begins," Minato added calmly.
His eyes flicked toward Ken.
"Consider your break extended. Prepare well."
With that, he vanished.
Silence lingered in the clearing.
Ken stared at the empty space where Minato had stood.
In the original timeline, cheating had been part of the written exam's structure.
But there was no guarantee this version would follow that format.
And even if it did—
He had no reliable method prepared.
Ken felt something long forgotten.
Academic despair.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kakashi turning to leave.
Like a drowning man spotting driftwood, Ken immediately rushed after him.
"Kakashi—wait."
Kakashi paused mid-step and turned around, his expression as unreadable as ever.
Though they couldn't be called close friends, they were at least beyond mere teammates.
Kakashi no longer ignored him.
"Could you please help me?" Ken asked without hesitation.
He truly didn't want to lose his promotion over a written exam.
"With what?" Kakashi asked.
"Help me with theory. I'll handle the rest."
There was a reason for his desperation.
The written test wouldn't just cover mathematics or basic knowledge. It would include history, geography, politics, village structure—things a future chūnin needed to understand.
A chūnin could become a team leader.
That meant knowing not only your own village's history but also the political inclinations of potential clients.
Those weren't things you could cram the night before a mission.
Kakashi stared at him for a few seconds.
Then turned away.
"Find someone else."
Ken didn't retreat. He matched Kakashi's pace.
"But I don't know anyone else as capable as you."
Kakashi stopped again and looked at him with a strange expression.
Ken returned the look—completely sincere.
Pride could go to hell.
Any middle bencher who forgot everything after exams would understand.
"How bad?" Kakashi asked finally, rubbing his forehead.
"Everything," Ken replied honestly. "Except things directly related to combat."
Kakashi studied him for a few seconds.
Then he turned around.
"Follow me."
Ken blinked.
He hadn't expected it to be that easy.
Is it because he only lost his father? Didn't he need that lecture before changing?
Ken shrugged,
As long as it works for me, who cares why.
With that he followed his mind relaxed.
After all if he could cram a day before semesters then how hard it would be when he has three days and help.