The Hokage's Summons

After the Physical Fitness Test ended, the students of First Year Class A all sat on the ground to rest, heedless of their appearances.

But their gazes were unanimously fixed on Beizawa and Umino Iruka, because they were ranking everyone on the spot.

"I wonder how many points I got."

Sakura Haruno glanced at the rather calm Sasuke Uchiha, a smitten grin appearing on her face. "It'd be best if I could end up next to Sasuke-kun."

"Just do your best."

Ino Yamanaka brushed back her golden hair and said with an easygoing attitude, "This is only an ordinary Monthly Exam."

"Yeah."

Choji Akimichi crunched loudly on his potato chips.

"Passing is victory."

Shikamaru Nara said lazily.

"Since none of you care, then I won't hold back. I'll be taking first place!"

Kiba Inuzuka said with a confident grin.

"First place will definitely be Sasuke-kun's."

Sakura Haruno retorted.

"Until the very end, any of us could take first place."

Remembering Teacher Beizawa's words, Naruto Uzumaki said, "Maybe I'll be first!"

Once he finished speaking, he realized that all his nearby friends were staring at him in astonishment.

"What are you all looking at me for?"

Naruto Uzumaki asked in confusion.

"Hearing something like that come out of your mouth is really... unexpected."

Shikamaru Nara said with a smile.

"Teacher Beizawa said it."

Naruto Uzumaki blinked and replied.

"No wonder."

Ino Yamanaka could not help nodding.

Sasuke Uchiha did not join the conversation.

Because in his view, first place was already in the bag.

Hinata Hyuga did not chat along with them either.

She was immersed in her own world and had not heard what they were saying at all.

Clenching her hands tightly, the girl prayed that she would not disappoint Beizawa.

"I'll announce the results now."

Beizawa walked over to them with the class roster in hand.

Everyone rose to their feet, staring at him expectantly.

"First place."

A smile appeared on Beizawa's face. "Hinata Hyuga."

Everyone fell silent for several seconds before a commotion broke out.

Because of her personality, Hinata Hyuga did not have much of a presence in the class.

Yet who could have expected her to suddenly make such a splash?

"How is that possible?"

Sasuke Uchiha froze in place, the calm on his face turning to shock.

His sure thing of a first place had just slipped away from him?

He unconsciously clenched his fists, unwillingness rising in his heart.

He could accept losing to Naruto Uzumaki in Physical Training, since it had not been an important part.

But losing to Hinata Hyuga in the Monthly Exam was impossible for him to believe, as though he had fallen into a dream.

"Ah, so it wasn't me after all!"

Naruto Uzumaki said, holding his head in both hands.

He had actually expected it already. Earlier, he had merely held onto a sliver of hope, but now it seemed no miracle had happened.

Still, first place was not that smug Sasuke Uchiha?

"What's going on?"

Sakura Haruno could not understand it, but she was deeply shocked.

"I really didn't expect this."

Ino Yamanaka said with a sigh.

Had the invincible Uchiha fallen?

Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and the others said nothing, but the expressions on their faces explained everything.

As everyone watched her, Hinata Hyuga's heart raced.

She suddenly felt an inexplicable sensation, like the first time she had climbed over the wall to skip class—thrilling.

"Hinata ranked first in the written exam and second in the Combat Exam, putting her first overall."

Beizawa explained, then continued, "Second place, Sasuke Uchiha."

Come to think of it, Hinata Hyuga had Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki to thank for beating Sasuke Uchiha.

Sakura Haruno had taken second place from him in the written exam, while Naruto Uzumaki had taken first in the Physical Fitness Test.

Sasuke Uchiha stood there expressionlessly, his face practically screaming unhappiness.

No one remembered second place, and the Uchiha did not need second place.

"Third place, Shino Aburame."

Beizawa paused before reading it out.

Quite a few people looked confused.

Who was that? Did our class have a student named Shino Aburame?

If Hinata Hyuga had little presence, then Shino Aburame had absolutely none.

"Fourth place, Ino Yamanaka. Fifth place, Sakura Haruno. Sixth place, Kiba Inuzuka... Tenth place, Choji Akimichi."

Beizawa read the rankings at an unhurried pace.

"Sixth place is decent enough."

Kiba Inuzuka sighed.

It was not that he was incompetent; the enemy's firepower was simply too fierce.

"Why am I not there?"

Naruto Uzumaki looked as if he had been struck by lightning.

It would have been one thing if he had failed to get first place, but he had not even made the top ten.

He instinctively looked at Choji Akimichi. Didn't you say you were the same? How did you fly up so high?

"Naruto."

Kiba Inuzuka noticed his expression and immediately changed his mood.

Smiles did not disappear. They only moved elsewhere.

"Hmph!"

Naruto Uzumaki said indignantly, "Next time, I'll definitely surpass you!"

"Good luck."

Kiba Inuzuka patted him on the shoulder, his face full of disbelief.

"Seventeenth place, Naruto Uzumaki... Twentieth place, Shikamaru Nara..."

Beizawa read out all the remaining rankings in one breath.

"Why am I only seventeenth? Damn it!"

Naruto Uzumaki said with a regretful look, "If I'd gotten those questions right, I definitely would've made the top ten."

"Those who didn't do well needn't be discouraged. There will be plenty of opportunities later on."

Beizawa looked around the room and said, "That's all for today, everyone. See you next Monday."

"Goodbye, Teacher."

After saying goodbye, the students streamed out of the classroom.

Holding the roster, Beizawa went with Umino Iruka to the meeting room.

The next task was the year-wide rankings and the school-wide commendation ceremony.

They were not early; quite a few teachers had already arrived.

"Beizawa, Iruka."

Mizuki's voice rang out.

Umino Iruka saw him and was about to respond when he suddenly remembered Beizawa's warning.

Was there something wrong with Mizuki?

Right, he hadn't woken me up this morning.

Had it been deliberate, or an accident?

"How did your class do?"

Mizuki got straight to the point, smiling as he asked, "Did anyone get a perfect score?"

"Your class had a perfect score?"

Umino Iruka asked with a look of surprise.

"Got lucky. We had one."

Mizuki said with feigned modesty, "The Hyuga Clan genius, Neji Hyuga."

"That's impressive."

Umino Iruka sighed. "No wonder he was last year's Outstanding Student Representative."

The Outstanding Student Representative was the student chosen to give a speech at the commendation ceremony.

Beizawa frowned slightly.

Although Hinata Hyuga had worked hard enough, she had indeed failed to get a perfect score.

The problem had been the Combat Exam.

She had lost to Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.

That made the matter of the speech somewhat uncertain.

But it was not a major issue. He had Hiruzen Sarutobi backing him, and Neji Hyuga had already given a speech once last year.

"Looks like your class didn't have any students with perfect scores. But it's fine—it was only the first Monthly Exam, after all."

Mizuki was secretly ecstatic as he spoke.

"You're right."

Beizawa replied calmly.

"..."

Mizuki's smile immediately froze.

That's not the expression I wanted to see! I wanted to see you looking jealous!

"Homeroom teachers, hand in your grade sheets."

Hisao Sarutobi entered and said directly, "Also, the top student in each grade will automatically enter the candidate list for Student Representative."

Beizawa remained seated while Umino Iruka stepped forward to submit the grade sheet.

Once he had collected them all, Hisao Sarutobi left briskly.

"Senior Beizawa, Mizuki."

Umino Iruka took the initiative and said, "I'll treat you both to a meal."

"Sure."

Mizuki said with a grin, "I want the most expensive barbecue."

"No problem."

Though Umino Iruka's heart ached a little at the thought, he still agreed.

Just as the three of them stepped out of the meeting room, a black shadow suddenly appeared before them.

"An Anbu ninja?"

The nearby teachers were startled.

"Beizawa."

The Anbu ninja said, "Lord Hokage wishes to see you."

"Alright."

Beizawa nodded, then looked at Umino Iruka. "Looks like we can't eat today. I'll treat you next time."

With that, he followed the Anbu ninja out of the Ninja Academy.

"A summons from Lord Hokage?"

Umino Iruka remained dazed for a long time.

For an ordinary chunin like him, the Hokage was simply too distant a figure.

The fact that Beizawa had been summoned felt unreal to him.

The nearby teachers also revealed looks of amazement and envy.

In Konoha, being valued by the Hokage meant promotions, raises, marrying a beautiful rich woman, and reaching the pinnacle of life—it was no dream.

Mizuki, meanwhile, could not control his emotions at all.

Clearly, the school's only student with a perfect score had been taught by him. Why was Beizawa being summoned instead of him?

This isn't fair! I hate this!

A venomous expression appeared in Mizuki's eyes.

Umino Iruka glanced at him, and his heart immediately jolted.

For a moment, he became wary.