Information Gathering Before the Practical Exam

Ever since flipping through the Genjutsu Handbook that day, Chiga had developed a slight interest in genjutsu.

The tapping sounds these past few days had also been practice for sound-based genjutsu.

So far, his progress was good. He could already preliminarily interfere with the minds of Ninja Academy Students.

Next, he only needed to practice more and add more variation to the rhythm of his tapping. He should be able to perfect this genjutsu.

"All right, that's all for today's lesson."

At that moment, the class bell rang. Ryōichi-sensei did not hurry to leave the classroom. Instead, he pressed down with both hands on the many students who wanted to stand up.

"Next, I'm going to announce something."

After drawing everyone's attention, Ryōichi-sensei said, "This semester is coming to an end, and the content of the Final Exam has been decided. It will be a Practical Exam."

"Haha, this is my specialty! Looks like first place is mine this time!"

As soon as he heard that it was a Practical Exam, Uchiha Obito could no longer sit still. As a chuuni teenager, he had no self-awareness whatsoever. He stood up, slapped the desk, and made a bold declaration.

"Hmph, first place is yours? Did you ask me, dead last?"

Sarutobi Asuma, another chuuni teenager, had long been displeased with Uchiha Obito. Seeing this, he immediately mocked him.

"Asuma, just you wait. I'm looking forward to being paired with you!"

"Don't wait. I'll teach you a lesson right now!"

Sarutobi Asuma shot back.

"Hmph, you think I'm afraid of you? To the training ground!"

Uchiha Obito refused to back down.

Bang! Bang!

"You two, if you keep fooling around, I'll cancel your eligibility and put you at the very bottom!"

Before the two could even leave the classroom, Ryōichi-sensei had already reached the limits of his patience. He punched Uchiha Obito and Sarutobi Asuma on the head once each.

As for why the bump on Sarutobi Asuma's head was smaller than Obito's—

Did that even need to be said? Asuma's father was the Third Hokage, his direct superior. Did they really think Ryōichi did not want to continue living in Konoha?

Under Ryōichi-sensei's violent suppression, the classroom fell silent once more.

"This exam concerns not only your rankings at the Ninja Academy. The top three will also receive certificates personally written by the Third Hokage!"

"Personally written by the Third Hokage?"

"My goodness, I must work hard this time! The Third Hokage is my idol!"

"Mm-hmm! If I can get that certificate, my parents will be over the moon!"

Hearing that there would be a certificate personally written by the Hokage, the students' enthusiasm was completely ignited.

"Hmph, the Old Man's handwriting isn't even as nice as mine. Only you lot would care so much about this certificate."

Of course, where there was happiness, there was also dissatisfaction—Sarutobi Asuma, for example.

As the Third Hokage's biological son, a certificate personally written by the Third Hokage was no different from something mass-produced. He could have as many as he wanted.

"All right, students, quiet down and let me finish."

Faced with the students' enthusiasm, Ryōichi-sensei had to raise his voice to suppress the commotion. Once the classroom had quieted down again, he continued, "The Practical Exam will begin two mornings from now. I'll be assigning you to groups now."

"Shimura Nori versus Yamanaka Shinji!"

"Uchiha Obito versus Hyuga Toji!"

"Rin Nohara versus Inuzuka Taku!"

As Ryōichi-sensei assigned the groups, sparks flew between the Ninja Academy Students who had become opponents.

Clearly, in this Konohagakure, where everyone idolized the Hokage, a certificate personally written by the Third Hokage greatly satisfied their vanity.

This also indirectly demonstrated how successful the Ninja Academy's indoctrination was. They did not need any material rewards; a mere certificate was enough.

It really saved both time and effort.

"Uchiha Chiga versus Yuhi Kurenai!"

What a coincidence.

Chiga froze. He had been interested in genjutsu these past few days, and he had not expected his opponent to be Yuhi Kurenai, who would later specialize in genjutsu.

He looked to the front left and happened to meet Yuhi Kurenai's eyes.

The two nodded slightly in greeting.

"All right, you should all know who your opponents are now, right?"

After finishing the assignments, Ryōichi-sensei said with a mysterious smile, "Rest well over the next two days and adjust yourselves. Try to achieve good results in the Practical Exam."

"Yay! We're getting two days off in advance!"

"Ryōichi-sensei, you're really thoughtful!"

Looking at the excited Ninja Academy Students once more, Chiga shook his head. These two days were not for them to rest at all. They were clearly for gathering intelligence.

The groups had been assigned in advance, and they had been given two days off so that they could find out what kinds of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and so on their opponents knew.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

That saying was especially applicable in the world of Naruto.

Although they had been classmates for over a year, there had not been many practical exams. Besides, at their age, their abilities changed from day to day. Without knowing each other well, it was genuinely difficult to say what special abilities their opponents possessed.

Moreover, they were all students in the elite class, most of them from ninja clans. Who knew when one of them might have learned a secret family technique?

"Chiga."

Chiga turned his head and found that it was Sarutobi Asuma.

Although Sarutobi Asuma was only seven years old, he was already covered in thick hair and had a toothpick between his lips. He looked far too mature for his age.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, really doesn't need to worry about whether he's been cuckolded.

With the way Sarutobi Asuma looks, he's definitely his biological son.

Chiga asked, "Oh, it's Asuma. Did you come to gather intelligence about me for Kurenai?"

"Haha, so you realized the purpose of Ryōichi-sensei giving us two days off as well? As expected of an elite of the Uchiha clan. You're far better than a certain dead last."

Sarutobi Asuma laughed heartily. While flattering Chiga, he also took the opportunity to look down on Uchiha Obito, who was still circling around Rin Nohara and shamelessly fawning over her.

Then his expression turned serious, and he said, "Chiga, I know that even if Kurenai gathers all your information, she still won't be your opponent."

So Sarutobi Asuma was basically right.

Judging from their past practical battles, Chiga's strength ranked among the top five in the class, while Kurenai's best result had only been around the middle.

Knowing yourself and your enemy only worked when the gap between the two sides was not too large.

Before absolute strength, intelligence gathering merely let you know what had killed you when you died.

Chiga looked directly into Sarutobi Asuma's eyes. Seeing no change in his expression, he nodded in agreement and asked, "So why did you come here?"

"Well, I just hope you'll go a little easy on her during the exam. Just don't make Kurenai lose too badly."

Chiga rolled his eyes at Sarutobi Asuma. This kid was really going to great lengths to pursue a girl.

Seeing that Chiga did not respond, Sarutobi Asuma continued, "You know, Kurenai is so delicate she can't even take care of herself. If I didn't ask you to go easy on her, I'm afraid you'd end up doing her!"

"Watch what you say. Although I really want to do that, my physical condition doesn't allow it!"