Just as Lihuo was still working hard to prepare for the graduation exam, a discussion about it was also underway in the Hokage Office.
There were only a few people present: the Third Hokage, Teacher Oshima, and Orochimaru. But they knew Lihuo and Kakashi better than anyone.
"I called you both here for one reason: to discuss who should examine them during the practical test."
"Heh heh heh. With their abilities, it really won't be easy to find someone suitable," Orochimaru said with a chuckle.
"Lord Hokage, why don't I be their opponent?" Teacher Oshima asked, his expression solemn. He clearly hadn't managed to shake off his Anbu habits.
"Hahaha, Ryunosuke, I reassigned you as a teacher because you were injured on a mission. How could I put you to work now?"
"Konoha is full of talented people. We don't need a retired Anbu going back into action."
The Third Hokage raised a hand slightly, signaling for Teacher Oshima to relax.
A long silence fell over the office as everyone seemed to search for a suitable candidate.
The Third Hokage said, "Ah! I have an idea."
"Isn't there a former genius, all the rage in his day, who just returned?"
At this, Teacher Oshima looked utterly confused. In his current position, he had no way of keeping track of the village's personnel.
Orochimaru, however, seemed lost in thought.
"If it's him, this fight should be very interesting."
Seeing his student agree with him made the Third Hokage even happier.
"Good! Sakumo has taken over his patrol duty along the Kumogakure border, so he finally has some free time."
"He can be our mysterious guest examiner!"
With that, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head toward a shadowy corner of the office.
"Go invite... the Jonin."
Meanwhile, Lihuo was still digesting the bountiful rewards he'd received from that "mass head-patting."
"Man, if those hadn't been a hundred-odd children, but a hundred-odd Kage Level powerhouses..."
"Wouldn't I have become ridiculously strong?"
You couldn't blame Lihuo for thinking that way. The system had given him far too much this time.
The money alone was enough to keep Lihuo comfortable for the rest of his life.
He'd also received three enhancement rewards, including "Minor Physical Enhancement."
Given Lihuo's current physique, even a slight improvement took tremendous effort to achieve.
That was why he was so happy. Somehow, he'd gotten hold of the exam papers from previous graduating classes.
Lihuo had never studied the material, but the questions were ridiculously easy for him.
"Advanced Knowledge Mastery" really lived up to its name!
And every day, Lihuo followed Orochimaru's training plan to the letter.
To his surprise, training according to Orochimaru's method made his improvement both more comprehensive and faster. It only strengthened Lihuo's resolve to ask him to become his master.
Though he knew it was a double-edged sword, Lihuo was confident he could wield it well!
Half a month flew by. During that time, Lihuo and Kakashi didn't even send their Shadow Clones to school.
Some classmates with well-connected families learned through various channels that the two were going to graduate early. The ones with powerful clans behind them, like Lu Miao and Aotian, were especially quick to hear the news.
But they all refrained from disturbing them. Even Obito, who'd been shouting about restoring Lihuo's reputation, kept his distance.
At last, the highly anticipated final exams arrived, and Lihuo and Kakashi faced the "graduation exam" reserved for geniuses.
Usually, Teacher Oshima personally proctored the final exams. This time, however, he broke with tradition and never showed up in the classroom.
He had somewhere more important to be.
The teachers' office was empty; all the teachers had gone to proctor their classes.
At that moment, the Third Hokage led Orochimaru and Teacher Oshima, along with Lihuo and Kakashi, through the office door.
"This is where you'll take the written exam," the Third Hokage said.
"You have 120 minutes. No cheating. Start when you're ready."
Lihuo and Kakashi exchanged glances, each seeing the other's confidence.
"Let's begin, Lord Hokage," they said in unison.
Then they began writing at a furious pace.
Normally, someone of Orochimaru and the Third Hokage's stature wouldn't need to come watch, no matter how talented the students were.
Yet this time, both of them had shown up in person.
That put a lot of pressure on Teacher Oshima, since he was the one who'd written the exam.
He looked as steady as a rock on the outside, but was panicking inside. He'd made the test far too difficult!
At the time, Teacher Oshima had been dealing with complaints from students and teachers across the school because of Lihuo.
Some had complained about Aotian, others about Obito, and there was even someone who'd complained about Might Guy.
But Teacher Oshima had personally seen Lihuo burst through the door and pat all the teachers on the head.
He'd only escaped the same fate by moving fast.
That had made Teacher Oshima furious.
"Fine, Uchiha Lihuo! So this is the graduation present you left your teacher? Then how about I make sure you don't graduate?"
And so, as he wrote the exam, he'd made it the hardest one in the history of the school.
Now Teacher Oshima's anger had faded, but there was no taking the test back.
Teacher Oshima thought, "I'm doomed, I'm doomed! If those two children can't graduate because I let my petty feelings get the better of me, I'll never forgive myself. (ToT)/~~~"
"And now I've made enemies of both the Hatake Clan and the Uchiha Clan. I'm doomed! How am I supposed to live in Konoha now?"
"Oh no, Lihuo raised his hand. Is he going to report me?"
Thinking of this, Teacher Oshima regretted everything.
"Grandpa Third, I'm done. These questions were too easy."
Teacher Oshima went pale.
"See? I told you. Lihuo said the questions were too easy."
"What? Easy?!"
Teacher Oshima: (･_･;
"Do you hear yourself? I poured my heart and soul into writing this exam!"
"From a purely theoretical standpoint, it's the hardest test in the school's history."
Unable to believe it, Teacher Oshima hurried forward and took Lihuo's paper.
Seeing how worked up Teacher Oshima was, the Third Hokage and Orochimaru came over too and carefully examined Lihuo's paper.
"Hmm... hmm..."
The Third Hokage stared at the paper, momentarily stunned.
"My future student really knows how to surprise me," Orochimaru remarked.
Only Teacher Oshima pointed out the truth.
"Lihuo, your handwriting is... something else."
"It looks just like a Ninja Dog wrote it."
Lihuo felt a little embarrassed. Ever since he'd transmigrated, he'd been so busy training that he hadn't practiced writing even once.
But once they looked past his atrocious handwriting, the three men were astonished to find that Lihuo had answered every question correctly!
"Is this what a true genius looks like?" Teacher Oshima exclaimed.
"Hahaha, wonderful! Little Lihuo, you've really opened Grandpa Third's eyes," Sarutobi Hiruzen praised him repeatedly.
Even Orochimaru patted Lihuo on the shoulder and said, "Not bad."
There was no doubt about it: Lihuo had passed the knowledge test with flying colors, earning unanimous approval from all three examiners.
Before long, Kakashi had finished too, and passed the exam with ease.
They had even finished faster than Aotian and the others, who had started at the same time.
"Good. Congratulations on passing the first round, the knowledge test."
"You have two hours to rest before the next round."
Teacher Oshima checked his watch and spoke to them.
"No need, Teacher Oshima. We're in great shape."
"Yeah, the sooner we take it, the sooner it's over."
The three examiners exchanged smiles.
"Oh my, they're looking down on our exam."
"They really are a pair of young heroes."
After the two confirmed they were ready, Teacher Oshima announced that the practical exam was beginning!
A training ground in Konoha.
"To avoid disturbing the other students, your practical exam will take place here."
Teacher Oshima once again explained the rules.
"The rules are simple: take the bell. Your examiner will carry one bell on him. If you manage to take it, you pass!"
At that, Lihuo's mind filled with complaints. How many generations had this bell-grabbing exam been around for?
They'd been using it since Sarutobi Hiruzen trained his students, and they were still using it when Kakashi trained his students. Now they were even using it for graduation exams.
Did they really have no interest in trying anything new?
But none of the three examiners noticed Lihuo's silent grumbling. They continued:
"And today, your examiner is..."
"This!"
At that, Lihuo immediately looked around. He was curious about who his examiner would be, too.
But even standing on tiptoe, Lihuo couldn't spot a single ninja.
Just as he was about to use "Sense," he noticed the Third Hokage slowly crouching down.
He then planted a specially made Trident Kunai in the ground.
A golden light flashed!
"Am I late?"
Before you continue