Teleportation?

"Another test?"

The students immediately wilted like frostbitten eggplants.

Iruka-sensei ignored their complaints and said, "You'll be taking the Ninja Academy's Final Examination soon. I hope every one of you can pass, so practice tests are essential!"

Seeing that the test was inevitable, Naruto sidled up to Shinki.

In the past, although Shinki had struggled with Ninjutsu training, his academic grades had been first-rate, and he had helped Naruto scrape through tests many times.

"Shinki, I'm counting on you again this time."

Naruto pleaded.

"No. Do it yourself. I can help you now, but what will you do when the final exam comes?"

Shinki flatly refused.

Helping Shinki before was something this body's original owner had done.

But now, Shinki couldn't do that sort of thing.

As a ninja, he had to learn the technical knowledge a ninja needed. Even if he could cheat his way through the exams and graduate, what would happen when he went onto the battlefield?

Shinki didn't want Naruto to die on the battlefield because he hadn't learned his Ninja Academy lessons properly.

"Shinki, my good brother, you're the only one who can help me now."

Naruto begged.

He and books were fundamentally incompatible. The sight of one made him sleepy, and he could fall asleep listening to a teacher's lecture!

Getting him to study was even harder than getting him to practice Ninjutsu!

"Just help me this one last time. Once today's over, I promise I'll study my academic subjects hard from now on."

Naruto began wheedling.

But Shinki was like a lump of iron and never gave in.

In the end, even Iruka, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand watching anymore. He scolded him, "Naruto, why do you keep pestering Shinki? You're not trying to cheat, are you?"

Startled, Naruto straightened his back and put on a righteous air.

"N-no! Why would I want to cheat?"

Shinki covered his face, unable to bear watching.

The test went ahead as scheduled.

The students hunched over desks hastily fashioned from large trees, writing furiously.

Less than twenty minutes after the papers were handed out, Shinki stood up and handed his in.

"Are you finished?"

Surprise showed in Iruka-sensei's eyes.

Shinki had always been good at academic subjects and often handed in his papers early.

But this was the first time he had handed one in less than half an hour after the test began!

"Yes, teacher. You can check it."

Shinki spoke with unusual confidence.

Iruka looked up and scanned Shinki's paper.

The more he read, the more delighted he looked!

Shinki had gotten every Ninjutsu general-knowledge question at the beginning right, and his answer to the final open-ended question was particularly brilliant!

It was not only clearly structured and concisely worded.

He had also presented his own unique views and insights!

What's more, at the best points in his answer, he cited classical works and delivered one clever turn of phrase after another, his writing far surpassing that of an ordinary student!

Iruka had taught many classes of students over the course of his career.

But Shinki was the first to produce such an excellent paper in so little time!

It was unquestionably a perfect paper!

Shinki noticed Iruka's delighted expression and felt a little pleased.

As a primary school kid raised under the Celestial Empire's exam-oriented education system, Shinki knew a thing or two about taking tests.

Besides, the original owner of this body had already had a solid foundation, so getting a high score in a short time was no difficult task.

"Shinki, nicely done."

Iruka praised him.

Then he remembered that the Third Hokage had told him not to let Shinki get too proud, so he hurriedly added something.

"However, someone in the next class handed in their paper less than fifteen minutes after the test began, and their answers were all correct for a perfect score. Don't get complacent too easily, Shinki. You still need to keep working hard."

"Don't worry, Iruka-sensei. Even though I've been training hard at Ninjutsu these past two days, I haven't let up on my academic subjects either," Shinki promised earnestly.

In fact, he had finished the paper just eleven or twelve minutes after the test began. He had waited until now to hand it in simply because he didn't want to attract too much attention.

Iruka's eyes showed his satisfaction.

This young man was handsome, talented, and willing to work hard!

He had earned the Third Hokage's favor at such a young age!

His future was bright!

"All right, there aren't any classes scheduled this afternoon. Since you've finished your paper, you can go home."

Iruka-sensei waved him off.

Shinki thanked him and happily headed out of the school.

Naruto, who was still taking the test, had it rough.

Without Shinki, his formidable wingman, the questions made his head spin.

"Discuss the origins and consequences of the Second Shinobi World War? How am I supposed to know? The teacher never covered it... (||๐_๐)"

"And this one: what special release can be created by combining Fire Style and Earth Release? How am I supposed to know? You could fire it into porcelain, I guess! ╮(๑•́ ₃•̀๑)╭"

Iruka-sensei couldn't help scolding him. "Naruto, if you talk during the test again, I'll give you a zero! (▼皿▼#)"

Naruto shrank back in fear, but he really didn't know the answers. He began to fidget, glancing left and right...

Meanwhile.

Shinki didn't hurry home. The lingering damage caused by his Deep Forest Emergence had yet to disappear.

To avoid a guilty conscience, he made clones and threw himself back into the disaster reconstruction work...

His original body remained at home, practicing Ninjutsu.

That evening.

Naruto pushed open the door with a dark look on his face.

"Shinki, after Iruka-sensei saw that I handed in a blank paper today, he gave me a zero on the spot."

After speaking, Naruto heard no answer from Shinki.

He walked into their little courtyard, curious, only to see Shinki sitting cross-legged there, practicing a peculiar Ninjutsu...

"What are you doing here?"

Naruto asked in confusion.

Hearing Naruto's question, Shinki came out of his thoughts, handed Naruto a Kunai, and explained, "While I was helping the village with the disaster reconstruction just now, I was wondering if there was a Ninjutsu that would let me move quickly, so I could transport the waste wood that had been sawed off outside the village quickly..."

"So what did you come up with?"

Naruto took the Kunai Shinki handed him and noticed a tree-shaped mark on it.

Just as Naruto was about to ask what the mark did, Shinki explained.

"With that in mind, I came up with a Ninjutsu. As long as I imprint my Chakra Formula on a place, I can transport myself there at any time."

"I just imprinted a Chakra Formula on the Kunai you're holding."

Hearing this, Naruto swallowed.

Although it all went over his head, it seemed to be something amazing!

Shinki continued, eager to try it out.

"I only just developed the formula and haven't tested it yet. Hold that Kunai, and I'll see if I can teleport over to it..."

Naruto nodded excitedly.

According to what Shinki had just said, if the Ninjutsu worked, the two of them would be able to travel to school in an instant and never have to worry about being late again!

After Naruto nodded, Shinki formed a hand seal.

Then!

Whoosh!

Shinki's body vanished from where he stood!

Just as Naruto's eyes widened in surprise,

he felt the Kunai in his hand suddenly grow heavier!

He looked over and saw that Shinki had teleported to a spot above his wrist!

Then Shinki's body fell to the ground with a thud.

It sounded painful!

Shinki, however, wore an excited expression.

"It was mostly a success, but I still need more practice controlling the exact position of the Body Flicker Technique. Otherwise, what just happened could very well happen again."

"Then does that mean we'll never have to rush to school again?!"

Naruto asked excitedly.

Sleeping until he woke up naturally was something he had always dreamed of!

Now that Shinki's Ninjutsu had worked, he really could do it from now on!