The next morning, after Lu Yu and Shikamaru finished breakfast, Shikaku grabbed one by each hand and led them toward the Ninja Academy.
Lu Yu felt awkward as Shikaku held his hand. He couldn't help muttering,
"Hey, Dad, I'm not a little kid anymore. Could you stop holding my hand...?"
Shikamaru nodded in agreement beside him.
"Exactly, Dad. We're all grown up now. It's so embarrassing if anyone sees us..."
Shikaku looked at the two boys and burst out laughing.
"Well, this is a rare sight. You two are actually blushing."
Along the way, the brothers passed plenty of parents taking their children to the Ninja Academy. They were probably all there for the entrance exam.
Yamanaka Inoichi was with his adorable daughter, Ino, while Akimichi Choza was with his chubby son, Choji.
The two brothers greeted them listlessly.
Ino looked at them curiously.
"Lu Yu, Shikamaru, what's wrong? You both look so down."
Lu Yu sighed helplessly.
"What else? Mom says we have to get perfect scores on the entrance exam, or we won't get any meat for a week. Sigh..."
Shikamaru added,
"What a drag."
"Hahaha! Shikaku, those two boys are as unmotivated as ever. They're just like you were as a kid."
As the four children walked ahead, the three adults fell into conversation.
Shikaku gave a helpless, wry smile.
"Inoichi, don't give me a hard time. I've got enough to worry about as it is. I wouldn't mind if just one of the boys had inherited that trait from me, but they both did. Yoshino's been on my case every day. I might have to hide out at your place in a few days..."
Soon, Lu Yu and the others reached the entrance to the Ninja Academy. Parents had gathered in groups everywhere, chatting happily.
Lu Yu glanced around and quickly spotted the prodigies of this generation.
"Haruno Sakura, Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto."
Unlike the other children, who had been brought by their parents, Sasuke and Naruto were there under unusual circumstances.
Uchiha Itachi had brought Sasuke, while Naruto was all alone...
Hyuga Hinata had been standing quietly among a group of girls when a familiar figure suddenly appeared at the edge of her vision.
"It's him!"
Seeing Lu Yu made Hinata inexplicably happy. She instinctively wanted to go over to him, but after taking one step, she pulled her foot back.
Meanwhile, Lu Yu had been leaning against his father and gazing absentmindedly at the clouds. He sensed someone watching him and glanced over without thinking.
"Ah!"
The moment Lu Yu's eyes met Hinata's, she cried out and quickly turned her blushing face away.
Seeing Hinata's bashful reaction, Lu Yu's lips curled into a knowing smile.
Half an hour later, a crowd of five- and six-year-old children had gathered at the Konoha Ninja Academy. The grounds were filled with noise.
"Uchiha Sasuke: Ninjutsu, 10 points! Shuriken, 10 points! Taijutsu, 10 points!"
The proctor announced the results, and the students around him gasped in amazement.
Sasuke walked out from the center of the field with a cold gaze and an air of arrogance.
"Next, Uzumaki Naruto!"
The proctor called again.
"Here!"
With his familiar blond hair and clothes, Naruto stepped out of the crowd, looking a little flustered. But he quickly steadied himself and cheered himself on.
"How hard can it be? Bring it on!"
Naruto shouted with burning enthusiasm and charged onto the field.
Five minutes later...
"Uzumaki Naruto: Ninjutsu, 2 points; Shuriken, 1 point; Taijutsu, 2 points."
The proctor announced coldly, as if he were a completely different person from the one who had excitedly read out Sasuke's score.
A crowd of mischievous kids burst into laughter as Naruto trudged back, looking utterly dejected.
It wasn't just a failing score. He was a classic dead-last...
Even so, the Prince's ironclad spirit forced him to swallow his disappointment, and he managed a strained smile.
"Next, Nara Lu Yu."
Wearing the Nara Clan's distinctive clothes, Lu Yu was quite handsome. Compared to Shikamaru, he seemed a little more mature, yet just as lazy, giving the impression that he had no drive at all.
Hearing his name, Lu Yu sighed reluctantly.
Seeing his older brother looking so listless, Shikamaru murmured beside him,
"Come on, big brother, just get a perfect score. If Mom's in a good mood tonight, we might get hot pot again."
At that, Lu Yu's eyes lit up. Right, he could have meat...
At this point in his life, nothing tempted Lu Yu more than meat.
His eating habits meant that without meat, he became listless and couldn't be bothered to do anything.
With that in mind, Lu Yu strode onto the field.
"Pay attention, examinee. Use your chakra and perform your strongest jutsu, or just gather your chakra. Either is fine."
The proctor explained.
Sasuke had just used a C-rank Great Fireball Technique and gotten 10 points right away.
Naruto had only managed to gather his chakra, barely earning 2 points.
Lu Yu formed Hand Seals with practiced ease and called out,
"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
Under his control, Lu Yu's shadow instantly crept over the proctor's shadow. The proctor's body jolted, and he lost the ability to resist.
Feeling his body no longer responding to his commands, the proctor blinked. Lu Yu released the Shadow Possession Jutsu.
The proctor looked at Lu Yu, the corner of his mouth twitching.
A prodigy!
Shikaku's son was incredible. He was so young, yet he could already control the Shadow Possession Jutsu with ease.
And seeing Lu Yu's completely indifferent expression only left the proctor even more astonished.
Could someone so young really be this powerful?
With that in mind, the proctor wrote on the score sheet:
"Ninjutsu: 10+"
"This guy is no ordinary kid!"
Watching Lu Yu, Sasuke was astonished.
"Pfft. Dad, is this the eldest son of Uncle Shikaku you said had gone to waste?"
Ino watched the scene with interest, looking at her father.
Inoichi shook his head, utterly bewildered.
"I have no idea. Could this kid actually be a genius?"
Ino puffed out her little cheeks in displeasure and shot her father a scornful look. Then she turned her curious gaze back to Lu Yu...
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