Who Still Took Exams Seriously?

After leaving the Ninja Academy, Kurenai gradually returned to her usual self and started talking more. Either she was threatening to beat up that Fatty next time, or she was complaining about Guy's bizarre behavior.

The two arrived at the entrance of Yamashiro Hot Pot Restaurant. Business was as booming as ever; even though it was not mealtime yet, half the tables were already occupied.

They entered the restaurant, casually greeted the staff, then found a secluded corner and sat down.

Aoba smiled. "Uncle Kitano, I'll have the usual."

Yuhi Kurenai said, "I'd like tomato broth today, thank you."

"Alright, please wait. It'll be right out."

Uncle Kitano smiled as he set the tableware in front of them, then went to prepare the ingredients.

Before long, plate after plate of Cloud Valley Beef was placed before Aoba.

Aoba deftly picked up several slices of beef and dropped them into the broth. After waiting out the countdown calculated by the Chip, he put them into his mouth.

Eating it this way preserved the beef's texture, and more importantly, made it easier for the stomach and intestines to digest and absorb.

It was rather funny, really. Aoba had originally opened the Hot Pot Restaurant simply because he wanted unlimited access to beef.

Cloud Valley Beef was a specialty of the Land of Lightning. Only cattle raised in that land's perpetually stormy environment could produce such a unique flavor and texture.

Although Aoba cared quite a bit about food, he was not excessively extravagant. According to the Chip's analysis, eating more beef helped the body grow faster. Cloud Valley Beef from the Land of Lightning in particular contained all sorts of proteins and amino acids that not only promoted physical development, but also strengthened the body.

If he bought it individually with his own money, he would probably eat himself into bankruptcy within a year. That was why he had come up with the idea of opening a hot pot restaurant. It allowed him to buy in bulk and reduce costs to the lowest possible level, while also granting him beef freedom.

What he had not expected was that he had still underestimated the cuisine of China from his previous life. Hot pot alone had become wildly popular, and it had incidentally exposed his hidden identity to the Third Hokage.

Night fell.

As usual, Aoba entered the ninjutsu materials from the scrolls while reviewing the events of the day.

On the first day of the new school term, the Ninja Academy teachers would certainly report the students' general situation to the Hokage.

As for his conflict with Fatty, it had definitely happened under the "watchful eyes" of the Ninja Academy teachers as well.

Compared to the endless trouble that would come later, it was better to reveal his strength proactively and establish deterrence.

Otherwise, what was the point of being "specially recruited"? Rather than passively "exposing" himself later and constantly attracting challenges, he might as well reveal himself first.

His behavioral pattern did not conflict with that, either. He had only wanted to keep a low profile before because both his parents had died as ninjas, and he had not wanted to become one himself. That had no direct relation to gaining strength.

Yet teaching himself using the Chakra Refinement Technique and Three Body Technique scrolls his parents had left behind would instead prove that he was a genius.

A more detailed file on his daily habits and behavior would certainly be delivered to the Third Hokage's desk.

Ever since awakening his memories, Aoba had never considered himself a child. He had rapidly studied the Shinobi World's etiquette and ways of dealing with people, so naturally he did not act like one.

As for why he had changed so drastically, both parents dying at once and causing a dramatic shift in personality was perfectly normal in the Shinobi World.

Becoming more mature and responsible were both positive changes.

It was far better than becoming extreme and turning against the village.

Otherwise, where did those ninjas who sought revenge against the village and defected come from?

Disguise and infiltration were required courses at the Ninja Academy, while intelligence analysis was an exam subject.

Those protagonists in transmigration novels who constantly pretended to be naive or acted like children were practically grinding everyone else's intelligence into the dirt.

He had never studied acting, so how could he possibly pretend to be childish before a group of big shots? Wasn't that ridiculous?

Even those so-called Best Actors would have to kneel. Body language and facial expressions might fool some children or Genin who had only recently graduated.

But trying to deceive a group of Jōnin who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood was simply courting death.

A native-born Konohagakure resident, the descendant of heroes, full of potential, and endorsed by a Jōnin—he was practically destined to become one of the village's future pillars.

Whatever he wanted to do, he only needed to show it openly. Hiding things would not only make him look like a clown, but even if he managed to conceal them, no one would approve of him once the truth came out. They would only think he had ulterior motives.

One month later.

Hokage's Office.

"Oh? So he used Genjutsu to cheat?"

"Yes, it has been confirmed, Lord Hokage!"

After hearing the Anbu report, Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up the smoking pipe beside him and took a puff. Smoke immediately curled through the air.

Then the Third Hokage looked at the two exam papers on his desk, whose answers were almost identical, and fell into thought.

He knew Araki's capabilities. Being able to cheat right under his nose was a skill in itself.

Successfully cheating with Genjutsu could be considered his ability, but this was a theory exam. Their explanations of the Will of Fire were almost word-for-word identical. Were they afraid that people would not realize they had cheated?

"Owl, Yuhi Shinku should have returned to the village. Have him come over."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

"I'm back... Huh, Father?"

The moment Yuhi Kurenai opened the door, she joyfully discovered that her father had returned. She took off her shoes and prepared to run over.

Aoba, who was walking behind her and had been about to greet him as he entered, suddenly sensed something unusual in the air. He immediately changed his words. "Sorry, I just remembered there's something to take care of at the restaurant. I'll be leaving first!"

Aoba swiftly turned around, but before he could take a second step, Uncle Shinku's suppressed, low voice came from behind him.

"Stop!"

At the same time, Aoba discovered that he suddenly could not move.

"Damn it!"

[Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Binding Technique]

Although the Genjutsu scroll Uncle Shinku had provided did not contain the hand seals or technique formula for this ninjutsu, it did mention the reactions and effects experienced by its victims.

Having long since analyzed the scroll, Aoba instantly realized that he had fallen under a Genjutsu.

[Demonic Illusion: Binding Technique] D-rank ninjutsu, one of the most basic techniques in Genjutsu. Its effectiveness varied depending on the caster's strength and mastery of the technique; the stronger the user, the stronger it became.

It was particularly effective when a strong person used it against someone weaker, so Aoba had jokingly called it a godly technique for crushing weaklings.

He had not expected to be hit by it before even learning it.

"System!"

Aoba rapidly issued the command in his mind. The Chip took control of part of his body and worked with Aoba's consciousness to disperse the foreign chakra.

[Genjutsu: Release]

Huh?

A startled sound came from inside the room.

Just as Aoba dispelled the Genjutsu and had not yet taken two steps, a palm landed on his shoulder, pinning him in place as though it weighed a thousand pounds.

A bead of cold sweat instantly slid down his forehead.

Aoba stiffly turned his head and forced out a smile uglier than crying.

"Uncle... Uncle Shinku, it's... it's been a long time."

"Mm, it has been quite a while. It seems Aoba did not slack off while I was away. Your Genjutsu was good, and your release was good as well."

"No, no. It was mainly because Uncle Shinku taught me so well."

"Oh? I do not recall teaching you."

Yuhi Shinku revealed a "kindly" smile.

"The scrolls, the scrolls. Uncle Shinku's experience summaries were exceptionally thorough..."

"Good. Then come inside and explain properly how you used Genjutsu to cheat on your exams!"

Yuhi Shinku sat on the sofa with a stern expression, still wearing his Jōnin vest and ninja tool pouch. He looked seriously at the two children kneeling on the floor.

After hearing their "explanations," Shinku's mouth twitched, and he nearly lost his composure.

"What do you mean, next time you'll change the wording and not copy it word for word? Is that what I'm talking about?!"