Immortals in Countless Ranks

Mikami Yu and Nohara Rin entered the classroom.

Before long, Might Guy, Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Ebisu...

Familiar faces appeared one after another.

Among them, Might Guy got along well with Mikami Yu. They often trained together. The moment he saw him, he punched the air a few times, then gave a thumbs-up and flashed a broad, toothy grin. "Morning, Yu! It's the final exam today. Are you ready to set your youth ablaze?!"

"Can't get it burning. It's already burned out. You go ahead and burn yours."

Mikami Yu gave a perfunctory laugh and brushed Guy off.

Sarutobi Asuma was currently playing Sasuke's role. Despite his young age, his hair was impeccably groomed. With both hands in his pockets, he wore the air of a little cool guy. Ebisu and Aoba Yamashiro, both wearing sunglasses, stood beside him.

Yuhi Kurenai was also part of this little group. She chatted and laughed with Asuma along the way, and when she saw Mikami Yu upon entering the classroom, she raised a small hand in greeting and softly said hello.

Once everyone had taken their seats,

the class bell rang. Oki-sensei, their homeroom teacher, entered with lesson plans tucked under his arm and began explaining the key points and precautions for the assessment.

Just as he was speaking,

the classroom door slammed open, and Obito appeared in the doorway, panting. "R-Report!"

"...Obito, why is it you again?! How many times has this been this month?"

Oki-sensei frowned.

Obito scratched his head, trying to explain. "Sorry, Sensei. On my way to school, I met a lost old granny. I was late because I had to take her home..."

"It's always an excuse like this! Stand in the back for this class!"

"Got it."

Obito secretly glanced at Rin, then dejectedly headed to the back of the classroom.

Oki-sensei knocked on the blackboard, drawing everyone's attention back. "Ahem, let's continue.

"This final exam will be comprehensive. It includes academic subjects, the Three Techniques, combat sparring... The scores from every category will count toward your annual total and serve as an important reference for next year's graduation exam.

"The test begins at ten in the morning. Aside from combat sparring, all other events will proceed according to the previous rankings. Make sure to stay safe..."

After giving them a round of reminders,

Oki-sensei left to arrange the testing grounds.

At that moment, a tall, burly boy turned around and looked at Obito, who was being punished in the back. He teased, "Hey, Obito, why are you late every day? And why do you always use such lame excuses to fool the teacher? You really respect your elders and teachers, huh!"

"Fool him? Everything I said was true! How can you slander me out of thin air?!"

Obito's eyes widened as he argued loudly.

"What truth? This is already the third time this week you've helped an old granny cross the street. Does Konoha really have that many old grannies who need your help?"

"Exactly! Last time, your excuse was even more ridiculous. You said you ran into a lost black cat!"

"Hey, every time you're late, the teacher spends a whole minute scolding you. One minute per person, with over twenty people in class, that's half an hour. As they say, 'Time is money.' You should compensate each of us with a piece of gold!"

"?"

As more and more people started chiming in and egging them on,

Obito's face turned red, veins bulging on his forehead. Then came claims like, "I know every old person in the entire village," and, "Uncle Murata can testify for me," which set everyone around him roaring with laughter. The classroom was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Hmph, how boring."

Sarutobi Asuma, seated by the window, curled his lip. "The test is about to begin, and you're still fooling around here. Are you all that confident in yourselves? I heard that anyone who ranks at the bottom in this test may have to repeat the year!"

"Repeat the year? Is that true?"

Several students were startled.

"Hmph, have you forgotten Asuma's identity? How could anything Big Brother Asuma says be false?"

Ebisu pushed up his glasses and was the first to speak up, clinging tightly to the Hokage's son.

With that sort of social awareness, it was no wonder he would later become Konohamaru's personal tutor.

On the other side,

Kaimon Hyuga said coldly, "There's no need to wait until next year's exam. In today's combat test, I, Kaimon Hyuga, will prove to all of you that the Hyuga Clan is the strongest! First place in this test is mine!"

"Bullshit! The Uchiha are the strongest!"

Obito no longer bothered arguing over whether the old grannies existed. He sprang upright. "I, Uchiha Obito, will defeat every one of you, then teach that stuck-up Kakashi a lesson too! I'll earn the Third Hokage's attention and become the future Hokage!"

"Ah! This is youth!"

Might Guy leaped onto a desk, fiercely pumping his fists and sending gusts of wind whistling through the air. "I can feel the passion burning within every one of you! Starting now, burn your youth with me! First, run five hundred laps around the field!"

Before he even finished speaking, Might Guy burst through the door with a bang and actually ran out to the field.

"..."

Mikami Yu rubbed his forehead.

Truly, immortals stood in countless ranks.

If he had to face a group of students like this every day, being a teacher at the Ninja Academy probably wasn't an easy job either...

The argument over Obito's tardiness was merely a brief interlude.

The time came to ten in the morning.

All the students left the classroom and headed out to the field in twos and threes.

The arena had already been set up.

Oki-sensei, the teacher of Mikami Yu's class, and Himura-sensei, the homeroom teacher of the neighboring class, stood together beside the platform.

The former clapped his hands sharply, signaling everyone to quiet down. "Everyone's here, right?"

"I've already explained the relevant precautions to you beforehand, so I hereby announce... the exam officially begins! The first event is the Three Techniques! Those whose names I call, come forward one by one and perform the designated ninjutsu. Everyone else, stay where you are and prepare!"

"Sarutobi Asuma, Kaimon Hyuga, Nara Zhenyuan... Mikami Yu..."

As Oki-sensei began calling names,

some of the students below were delighted, while others were worried.

Naturally, those who had mastered the Three Techniques were pleased. They wanted to use this opportunity to show themselves off and catch the eye of someone they liked. If their test results could bring them to the attention of the school—or even the Third Hokage—and earn them special training, that would be even better.

Those of average ability, meanwhile, were quietly nervous, afraid that they would embarrass themselves again.

Very soon,

the students stepped onto the platform one after another.

Sarutobi Asuma was the first.

Ever since Kakashi had graduated early and left the Ninja Academy, Asuma, as the Hokage's son, had consistently held the top spot in combat classes. He possessed an extremely solid foundation in the Three Techniques, shuriken throwing, combat sparring, and other subjects. His performance this time was likewise outstanding.

After a while,

it was Mikami Yu's turn to take the stage.