Obito, You Handle Might Guy!

Obito was the first to notice Kakashi. "It really is you, Kakashi! You bastard, you haven't shown your face in the village for months, have you? So what if you became a Chunin? You came back and didn't even think to greet me!"

"...Idiot."

Hatake Kakashi wore a dark green Konoha ninja vest and a black mask. With his listless, dead-fish eyes, he gave Obito a bland glance before turning his gaze toward Mikami Yu, Nohara Rin, and the others, sizing them up. "Everyone's here, right?"

"There's no need for introductions. You all know me. I'm here this time under Lord Hokage's orders to serve as the special examiner for this graduation exam..."

"An examiner?"

Hearing that, Nohara Rin, Yuhi Kurenai, and the others were all taken aback.

This...

Everyone knew Kakashi had already been promoted to Chunin. But he had enrolled in the same class as them, after all. Seeing a former classmate become their examiner felt rather strange.

Only Might Guy did not care about that. He immediately jumped out. "Oh! I get it!"

"So the test is challenging you, right? Fine, Kakashi! My Leaf Hurricane has been thirsting for a fight. Let me go first!"

"Why should you? I got here first!"

Obito refused to back down.

"...You two idiots, shut up! Let me finish!"

Kakashi shouted, glancing toward the school building in the distance. Then he opened a booklet and continued.

"This exam will use a melee format. Each class will be divided into two large groups to battle over the elevated platform in the center of the field. The time limit is fifteen minutes. Whoever occupies the platform at the end wins. Oki, Himura-sensei, and I will score you based on your performance in battle."

"You may use any methods during the match, including the ninjutsu and secret techniques you have mastered. If you encounter danger you truly cannot resist, the two teachers and I will intervene to save you, but that will also mean you lose the qualification to continue competing..."

"Now, I'll announce the group assignments..."

"..."

Mikami Yu said nothing. He merely glanced toward where Kakashi had looked earlier and vaguely spotted two figures standing atop the school building's roof. Backlit and so far away, they were impossible to make out clearly.

At a time like this, someone watching from afar... was that Hiruzen Sarutobi?

That made sense.

Hiruzen Sarutobi would personally award a prize to the top performer in this graduation exam, so naturally he had come to watch.

And Mikami Yu had already prepared himself to stand out from the crowd.

Honestly, he found this exam format rather interesting. He did not know whether it had been like this in the original story or whether his presence had caused a butterfly effect...

Very soon.

The assignments were announced.

Mikami Yu and Obito were assigned to the defending side, while Nohara Rin was on the attacking side.

Obito clearly minded not being assigned to the same group as Nohara Rin, but he still cracked his knuckles. "Rin, don't worry. I'll definitely defeat everyone, take first place in this exam, receive Lord Hokage's reward, and give it to you!"

"...Well, thank you very much."

Nohara Rin pressed her lips together, then said seriously, "Yu-kun, Obito-kun, I'll give it my all and show everything I've learned. I hope you won't go easy on me either."

"Alright."

Mikami Yu nodded.

Meanwhile.

Several defenders who knew one another fairly well had already gathered together, forming an alliance and discussing tactics for the coming fight.

"Hey, I have a great idea!"

"Fifteen minutes is a long time. If we defend tightly from the beginning, the attackers will probably wear us down quickly. So why don't we deliberately give them the platform first, let them grow complacent and become overconfident? And arrogant armies are always defeated. Then we'll have this in the bag!"

"What a brilliant strategy! But I'd like to make a small adjustment. How about we all use the Transformation Technique to turn into Lord Hokage? If they dare attack us, they'll be disrespecting Lord Hokage. If they don't attack us, that means they automatically surrender! What do you think?"

"?"

"..."

Mikami Yu was left speechless.

These Konoha geniuses really were everywhere. If he had to listen to any more of this idiotic nonsense, he would stab his own ears deaf!

At that moment.

Mikami Yu carefully observed the lineups on both sides.

It was obvious that the teams had not been divided evenly this time.

The attacking side was clearly stronger. Not only did they have Sarutobi Asuma and Kaimon Hyuga, heirs of two major clans, and Might Guy, a taijutsu expert, but they also had Nara Zhenyuan as their strategist.

As a descendant of the Nara Clan, his mind far surpassed that of ordinary students. In previous written exams, Mikami Yu had consistently ranked first, while Nara Zhenyuan had almost always taken second. Though his age meant he could not devise especially sophisticated tactics, he was more than capable of handling a situation like this.

As for the defenders...

Obito, Yuhi Kurenai, Ebisu, Tobitake Tonbo, Mizuki...

After looking them over, Mikami Yu realized he was the backbone of this group.

Strictly speaking, Obito and Yuhi Kurenai were also descendants of ninja clans, and one of them was even an Uchiha, but... was this assignment really not rigged? Or was it because he had taken first place in the previous exam, so they had matched him with a few weak teammates to balance things out?

In that case, Mikami Yu did not waste time considering any team strategy. He simply kept his eyes on Asuma and Kaimon Hyuga across from him as he silently considered his tactics.

If he wanted to win this battle, clashing with them would likely be unavoidable. He might even have to fight two against one.

If that was the case...

Then this was the perfect chance to measure these ninja clan heirs and see exactly what level he had reached.

Very soon.

Oki and Himura-sensei led the students in through several different entrances around the field.

Mikami Yu and the others arrived atop the elevated platform, surveying the terrain from above.

Asuma and the others spread out around the area.

After a brief silence.

A whistle sounded.

"The exam begins!"

"...Leaf Hurricane!!!"

Might Guy burst forward at full speed. In the blink of an eye, he covered dozens of meters. Near the dirt slope below the platform, he took a bounding step and launched himself into the air as though springs had been fitted beneath his feet, then unleashed a spinning flying kick at a student standing there!

"Ah!!"

The student had only just raised his arms to block when the kick smashed into his chest, sending him flying with a bang!

"Byakugan, activate!"

Kaimon Hyuga also broke free from the crowd. Together with two other students, he charged straight toward Mikami Yu!

"...Obito, you handle Might Guy!"

Mikami Yu spoke quickly.

"Huh? Me?"

Obito froze, his first instinct to object.

Yuhi Kurenai, however, silently drew a kunai and charged toward Might Guy. "I'll do it!"