Make-Up Exam

At three o'clock, with half an hour remaining before the Ninja Academy let out, Kashima Isamu and Hiramatsu Daishi announced that the outdoor training session was over. They dismissed everyone early, and the thirty three-person teams broke up on the spot, each going their separate ways.

After saying goodbye to Hyuga Shinichi and Hyuga Itsuki, Hanfu was about to join up with Iruka and the others when Kashima Isamu called out to him. "Hanfu, Hao Ren, Tanaka, Ichiro, Shimada, the five of you, come back to the classroom with me!"

Hanfu's heart sank. Kashima Isamu had left behind exactly five people. Thinking of his excuse to skip class that morning... he realized they were going to have a make-up exam.

Iruka came over and patted Hanfu on the shoulder. "Hanfu, ganbatte!"

"But... I still have to pick up my little brother after school."

Hanfu figured he could at least try to wriggle out of this.

"Hey, Hanfu, you have a little brother?"

Anko had never heard that before. "Is your little brother cute? Want me to walk him home?"

"You've never even met him." Hanfu looked at Iruka. He was the only one here who had met Hayate.

"No problem, I'll walk him home," Iruka said.

"Thanks."

Hanfu waved, then turned and headed over to Kashima Isamu.

He returned to the classroom with the other four poor students. Kashima Isamu immediately pulled out five test papers. "I won't ask why you were absent this morning. Anyway, you're taking a make-up exam!"

When the tests were handed out, all five poor students wore gloomy expressions, sneaking glances at one another.

"What are you all looking at?"

Kashima Isamu noticed their little gestures and went straight to stand behind them. "You have one hour. Get started!"

"Yes..."

The poor students answered and had no choice but to grit their teeth and get on with it.

Hanfu looked over the questions and was surprised to find they weren't difficult: What was Chakra made of? What should you pay attention to when molding Chakra? If you threw a Kunai forward with the same force from a height of five meters, at what angle would it travel the farthest...

Uh, wait. What was that third question?

Looking at it, Hanfu couldn't help thinking of that elementary-school math problem from his Previous Life, where water was both flowing into and draining out of a swimming pool.

No matter which world you're in, elementary school students have it rough.

Hanfu sighed to himself, then continued reading the questions: If you were camping in the woods and found bird droppings nearby, what would that mean...

Uh, roast bird for dinner?

Hanfu twirled his pen, his head aching.

Forget it. No point scrutinizing the questions. He'd answer what he could. With the first question, at least, there was no way he'd get a zero.

Hanfu carefully answered the first question. For the rest, he relied entirely on his imagination and whatever wild ideas came to mind. The score didn't matter; the important thing was to fill the page!

An hour later, the five poor students handed in their tests.

Kashima Isamu gathered up the papers and left the classroom with a livid expression.

"The teacher stood behind us the whole time. He must've seen our answers."

"Should've known better than to skip class. At least we could've copied something from the others."

"Hanfu, Hanfu, how do you think you did?"

The four poor students crowded around Hanfu.

Hanfu was no longer the same as before. After taking out Ryota from Class 7, Year 5 with a single move, his reputation in the class had soared, and plenty of poor students watched his every move.

"I'm feeling exactly the same as you are."

Hanfu stood up and asked with a perfectly calm expression, "What do you think I got?"

"Great!"

"I was worried Hanfu would do too well."

"Yeah, Hanfu's so good at Ninja Tool Throwing. If he does badly on this, the teacher will definitely focus on him."

"Hanfu is the best!"

The poor students looked as if they'd been saved. They chatted happily as they left the classroom, abandoning their famous classmate without a second thought.

"You guys..."

Hanfu stared in stunned disbelief as the four poor students walked away. "You guys... You..."

How could people be so awful?!

Hanfu angrily stomped twice on Ito Ni's desk, then left the classroom. As soon as he stepped out of the School Building, he saw his little brother.

"Hayate?"

"Brother!"

Hayate dashed over with a little schoolbag on his back. "Are you feeling better?"

"Hanfu." Iruka leaned against the wall. When he saw Hanfu come downstairs, he gave a Wry Smile. "Your little brother refused to leave. He insisted on waiting until you finished your exam."

"Sorry, Iruka. I kept you waiting so long."

Seeing the worried look on Hayate's face made Hanfu feel a little better. "I took some medicine, and I'm fine now. Come on, let's go home."

After parting with Iruka at the school gate, Hanfu looked around. Seeing no one nearby, he hurriedly bent down and told his little brother not to tell anyone he'd been sick.

"Huh? Why? Shouldn't we tell Aunt Keiko either?" Hayate asked, puzzled.

Hanfu nodded solemnly. "She's too busy at the hospital. I don't want her to worry. Hayate, you're all grown up now. You have to learn to keep secrets in your heart, understand?"

Hayate seemed to understand. He nodded. "I understand, Brother."

"Good. Then when we get home tonight, I'll teach you the Substitution Technique!"

Hanfu grinned.

"Brother, I haven't practiced swordsmanship in a long time." His little brother muttered, looking a bit aggrieved.

Seeing the wounded look on his face, Hanfu thought that Blockage Is Not As Good As Drainage. "Then practice swordsmanship for an hour first."

"Okay!" Hayate was thrilled.

When they got home, Keiko was already up and cleaning the house. Seeing the two brothers return, she smiled and asked, "You're back. Feng-chan, why didn't you take your lunch to school?"

Hayate turned to look at Hanfu.

Hanfu coughed awkwardly. "Well..."

"Does Feng-chan not like the lunch Mom made anymore?"

Keiko's expression changed in an instant, and she looked at him pitifully.

Hanfu gave a Forced Laugh. "No, no. I just forgot, that's all."

"Did you really forget?" Keiko turned to look at his little brother.

Hayate, who had grown up under Hanfu's guidance, immediately nodded solemnly. "Yes, yes, it's true, Aunt Keiko!"

He was someone else's child, after all. As soon as Hayate spoke, Keiko believed him.

Hanfu wasn't sure whether he should be happy or sad.

"Brother, I'm going to practice swordsmanship."

Hayate dashed excitedly toward the backyard.

"I'll come too."

Hanfu also needed somewhere quiet to think about Shennong.

"Oh, right, Feng-chan. Are you going to the hospital to see Doctor Shennong tonight?" Keiko suddenly remembered something and turned to ask.

Hanfu waved a hand. "No."

He'd just met Shennong that morning. If they ran into each other again that evening, wouldn't his skipping class be exposed?

In the backyard, his little brother immediately grabbed a wooden sword and started going at the wooden post like crazy. Maybe because he hadn't practiced properly for several days, the moment he picked up the sword, he felt as if his happiness had shot through the roof.

Hanfu went straight over and lay down on the grass, hands behind his head and legs crossed. He leisurely watched the sky, the tip of one foot bobbing up and down as his thoughts slowly drifted to Shennong.

Shennong was already close to Might Duy, and had used the excuse of treating his hidden injuries to offer him a month of back massages. So, in theory, Hanfu had a month, too!

First, I need to confirm whether Shennong has the Forbidden Body Activation Technique scroll on him!

But how could he confirm it?

Hanfu stared at the white clouds and the sun sinking in the west, his thoughts in a tangled mess.

On top of that, his little brother was going at the wooden post with such enthusiasm that Hanfu couldn't concentrate at all.

Forget it. He'd find somewhere else.

Hanfu got up and had just turned to go inside when his little brother started taking off his clothes.

It was September, but the weather was still hot. Hayate had worked at the post for a while and was already sweating profusely.

Hanfu looked down at the short sleeves he was wearing. His scalp tingled, and his eyes lit up.

I know! The scroll... it's on Shennong!

Thanks to the readers whose nicknames were already taken, No Electric Sound, What Do You Think?, and that reader from the book city whose fancy name showed off nine years of compulsory education, three years of high school, and four years of college—so much so that I couldn't even read it—for your generous support.

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