"Today's test has three parts: a written exam, a physical fitness test, and sparring within the class. I hope everyone gives it their best!"
In the classroom, Yamakawa Kiyoshi held the written exam papers and spoke with a serious expression.
Some of the students below looked excited. Uchiha Inabi and Hyuga Toda, for instance, kept glancing at Kizaru, who sat at the back of the classroom. Their thoughts were obvious.
After losing to Kizaru in the entrance test, the two of them had received specialized training from their clan elders, and their strength had improved considerably.
Their improved strength had given them more confidence. And seeing Kizaru slack off at school all the time, they both figured the guy had fallen behind and they were back in the game. This time, they were sure they could beat him!
Of course, some students were excited, while others were having a miserable time.
Nara Shikaku, sitting in front of Kizaru, gave a heavy sigh and kept muttering, "What a hassle!"
After a month together, the future Ino-Shika-Cho trio had grown much closer to Kizaru. That was exactly why they had a much clearer understanding of his strength.
They had all heard from Kizaru that every day after going home, he trained and had already mastered quite a few intermediate and advanced Wind Release Ninjutsu.
Kizaru's performance in the entrance exam had spurred many of the ninja clans into action. The children of those clans, including them, hadn't had it easy lately. Every day after school, they had to undergo specialized training.
"What are you even coming to school for? Hurry up and apply to graduate!" Nara Shikaku turned to look at Kizaru behind him and said with clear disdain.
"The place is nice, everyone's pretty fun, and the teacher's voice is great for falling asleep to. It's much more comfortable than home." Kizaru leaned back in his chair, rocking it as he spoke with a smile.
"You really are a twisted guy." Nara Shikaku grumbled, then turned around and slumped over his desk, utterly dejected.
Thinking about how Kizaru might show off his tremendous progress again during this test—and how the other students' parents would be driven into a frenzy—Shikaku felt sorry for himself and his classmates.
It was tragic, being in the same generation as a freak like Kizaru!
Written exams didn't count for much in Ninja Academy tests, so the cultural exam consisted of just one paper, and they had only an hour to complete it.
Yamakawa Kiyoshi handed the papers to his two favorite students, Namikaze Minato and Shimura Yoshihiko, and asked them to pass them out.
They each took one side of the classroom, and Shimura Yoshihiko naturally chose the side where Kizaru was sitting.
"Big bro, good luck!" Shimura Yoshihiko walked over to Kizaru with the last paper in his hand, clenched his fist, and enthusiastically cheered him on.
"You do your best too, Zen-hiko!" Kizaru replied with a smile.
"Mm-hmm!" Encouraged by Kizaru, Zen-hiko nodded happily again and again. "Big bro, I won't let you down."
After Zen-hiko left, Kizaru picked up the paper and gave it a quick look.
They had only been in school for a month, so the questions on the paper were all very simple. Even though Kizaru usually slacked off in class, none of them seemed difficult.
He took a pencil from his desk and began answering the questions in earnest.
The hour passed quickly. Yamakawa Kiyoshi had Namikaze Minato and Shimura Yoshihiko help collect the papers from the whole class.
This time, it wasn't Zen-hiko who came over to Kizaru, but the future Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato.
Young Namikaze Minato was very cheerful. He always wore a warm smile, and got along well with everyone in the class.
He walked over to Kizaru, picked up his paper, and added it to the stack, a smile still on his face.
"That's a really nice smile!" Kizaru said as he stretched after Namikaze Minato had walked away.
"Hey, hey! He's a boy!" Nara Shikaku turned around and teased him when he heard that.
"I was just stating a fact! You're the pervert. What do you usually look at?" Kizaru shot back.
"We should head to the sports field and gather!" Yamanaka Inoichi, who had been silent all this time, interrupted their banter.
"You're the real pervert, you know that?" Still grumbling, Nara Shikaku stood up along with Yamanaka Inoichi and the others.
Kizaru followed the three in front of him out of their seats, and they headed to the sports field together.
The school's sports field was fairly spacious. After the students from the first-year Elite Class arrived, they all gathered around their teacher, Yamakawa Kiyoshi, forming an irregular circle.
The physical fitness test had two parts: one tested their physical condition, and the other tested their use of ninja tools.
The first part was the physical fitness test, and it was simple: running laps.
The whole class would set off together and run twenty laps around the field. Their times would determine their scores.
"Everyone, get ready at the starting line. Wait for my command!" Yamakawa Kiyoshi stood among the students and shouted.
The students obediently ran to the starting line, excitedly waiting for their teacher's command.
"Classmate Kizaru, I won't lose to you this time!" While they waited for the teacher to give the signal, Uchiha Inabi walked right up to Kizaru.
Because of their difference in height, Uchiha Inabi had to tilt his head back to speak, his face set in the trademark arrogance of the Uchiha Clan.
"Um, there's a bit of food stuck between your teeth!"
Because Uchiha Inabi was tilting his head back, Kizaru could see his nostrils and mouth especially clearly.
"What?" Uchiha Inabi froze for a moment, then realized what Kizaru meant. His little face instantly flushed bright red.
"Hahaha!"
Kizaru hadn't spoken loudly, but he hadn't tried to keep his voice down either, so quite a few students nearby heard him and burst out laughing.
The one laughing loudest was Shimura Yoshihiko!
Zen-hiko had long been annoyed with Uchiha Inabi, who kept saying he'd beat Big Bro Kizaru.
Amid the laughter, Uchiha Inabi's face grew even redder. Even his eyes seemed on the verge of turning red, as if he were about to awaken the Sharingan.
"Y-you! Just wait until the match. I'll teach you a lesson!" Uchiha Inabi shouted furiously.
Kizaru nodded cooperatively and said, "Mm-hmm! Good luck!"
After that, Kizaru turned his back on Uchiha Inabi and walked toward Nara Shikaku, yawning as he went.
"Damn it! That's so damn infuriating!" Uchiha Inabi stomped in place as he watched Kizaru walk off without even acknowledging him.
"Hey, you're really awful, you know that?" Nara Shikaku had his hands clasped behind his head. When he saw Kizaru walking over, he immediately teased him.
"What did I do?" Kizaru asked, looking innocent.
"That guy's about to get so mad he awakens his Sharingan!" Nara Shikaku said, glancing sidelong at Uchiha Inabi.
"No need to praise me. As his classmate, it's only what I should do!" Kizaru said, looking a little bashful as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You really are something else!" Nara Shikaku was at a loss for words.