Shinji and Kimimaro quickly got back to their feet.
Glancing at the wound on Kimimaro's arm, which had nearly healed, Shinji apologized. "Sorry, I hurt you."
"It's fine."
Kimimaro shook his head, unconcerned.
A minor wound like this was nothing to him. His body would heal it on its own before long.
As for who had won, he didn't care much. Without another word, he turned and left.
Shinji smiled faintly and called Haku and Karin back from the field to their class.
Taking advantage of the thick mist that had obscured everyone's vision, he had quietly slipped the kunai, still bearing a small piece of Kimimaro's flesh, back into his weapon pouch.
In fact, it was precisely because Kimimaro didn't care about minor injuries that Shinji had managed to pull it off.
Otherwise, even Shinji would have had a hard time cutting Kimimaro.
Just then, his classmates crowded around to congratulate him.
Neji came up to Shinji. "I lost!"
Shinji patted Neji on the shoulder and said casually, "It was only a final exam. You don't need to take it too seriously."
Neji shook his head. "No. Even if it was only an exam, it showed me where I fall short. You beat Sasuke and Kimimaro without even awakening the Sharingan, while all I got was defeat. That proves I'm not as good as you!"
Counting the pair I can control, I have two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan! Shinji thought. If you ask me, I won by unfair means!
"But..." Neji suddenly continued, his tone growing more emphatic. "I won't give up just like that. I'll be stronger next time!"
Seeing how serious Neji was, Shinji didn't try to comfort him. Instead, he simply said, "I'll be waiting."
Beside the water tank on the roof.
Kakashi closed the copy