At the start of a new week, Junji Ito walked into the classroom carrying the report cards.
"The monthly exam results are out."
He glanced over the students, who had instantly fallen silent, and set the report cards on the lectern.
"Before I announce them, I'd like to say a few words.
Those with good grades shouldn't get complacent. Those with poor grades should learn more from those who did well."
He paused, his tone growing solemn.
"In the future, you must all become useful people and serve Konoha."
A scattering of replies rose from the classroom.
Amamiya Maki sat in the back row, his face expressionless.
Serve Konoha-translated into plain language, that meant becoming a glorious cog in Konoha's machine.
Catching cats, finding dogs, clearing waterways, escorting merchant caravans, and living out your life in obscurity in some corner of the village.
Of course, there was nothing particularly wrong with that.
After all, Konoha wasn't short of one more person to serve it. Hundreds of civilian ninja graduated from the Ninja Academy every year, and you could count those who truly made a name for themselves on one hand.
The rest were the rank and file.
The rank and file didn't need to serve. They just needed to exist.
"Now for the rankings. First place, Amamiya Maki."
Minato Namikaze's body tensed slightly.
Just as expected-
The Third had personally designated that essay, "For the strongest Hokage, look to the present," as an outstanding model essay.
Maki had outscored everyone on the theory exam and tied with Minato for first in the practical test. His first-place overall ranking had never been in doubt.
"Second place, Minato Namikaze."
Minato still wore a smile, but Amamiya Maki noticed his fingers tighten slightly around his pen.
Minato had always come first, in every respect.
Yet in his very first monthly exam after enrolling, an orphan who had previously been a nobody had snatched the top spot from him.
And he hadn't lost in combat. He'd lost on the essay.
Minato's entire essay had focused on one thing-I want to become Hokage.
Its central theme was clear, its feelings sincere. Every word told the reader that there was no need to resurrect the First Hokage!
I will surpass the First Hokage!!!
The problem was, the man currently occupying the Hokage's seat was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He was in his prime, nowhere near considering retirement.
If your whole essay said, "I want to become Hokage," wasn't the subtext basically, "Third, it's time you stepped aside"?
Then again, that might also have been why Hiruzen Sarutobi had noticed Minato Namikaze as soon as he began to distinguish himself.
Youthful spirit and the perspective to reflect on that spirit couldn't exist at the same time.
Bad luck, buddy-
Unfortunately for him, Amamiya Maki's masterpiece of flattery had set the bar.
Side by side, one said, "Lord Third, you're the strongest," while the other said, "I want to replace you."
If you were grading those papers, who would you give the higher score?
So Minato's defeat had been deeply frustrating.
He hadn't lost on ability. He'd lost on... something else.
He'd lost because he didn't know how to flatter people-or rather, because he disdained it.
And that disdain came from confidence!
Junji Ito continued reading.
"Third place, Shikaku Nara.
Fourth place, Inoichi Yamanaka.
Fifth place, Choza Akimichi."
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio had claimed third through fifth place.
The fact that they could rank that high despite their halfhearted "just toss a few" attitude that day spoke volumes about their clans' resources.
After all, Konoha didn't conceal students' names when grading.
Jiro Matsumoto's name appeared in thirteenth place.
Eight out of ten on stationary targets, three out of ten on moving targets, and an unremarkable theory score put him right there-not good, not bad, neither high nor low. A textbook example of the best of Konoha's worst.
But when he took his report card, a subtle smile appeared on his face.
That "I actually won" expression reminded Amamiya Maki of how he'd previously spun "three hits on moving targets" into "a tie with Choza Akimichi" to claim a moral victory.
The art of declaring victory really was a prestigious field of study in Konoha.
Win or get lost!
After announcing the results, Junji Ito said a few more words about passing down the Will of Fire, then began the lesson.
But Amamiya Maki noticed that one person hadn't listened for the entire class.
Minato Namikaze.
His gaze kept drifting toward Amamiya Maki, a complicated emotion in his eyes.
It wasn't hostility or jealousy. If Maki had to describe it, he looked exactly like a man who'd been cuckolded.
The comparison amused Amamiya Maki, but on second thought, it really did fit.
Still, Minato's frustration was a good thing for Amamiya Maki.
The more frustrated he was, the steadier his output of pressure points.
A perpetual-motion machine needed fuel, and Minato was the most efficient kind.
Reining in his thoughts, he began observing another target.
Shikaku Nara.
After the monthly exam results were announced, Shikaku remained as lazy as ever.
He lay slumped over his desk, his face buried in his arms, breathing evenly.
There was no telling whether he was really asleep or pretending.
Amamiya Maki sat in his seat and plotted.
The secret techniques of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans were the abilities he needed most right now.
The Yamanaka Clan's Mind Body Switch Technique could enhance perception, the Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Technique provided Yang Release-based physical enhancement, and the Nara Clan's Shadow Imitation Technique was a top-tier control skill.
Together, the three clans' secret techniques formed a complete combat system.
And of those three clans, the Nara Clan was his way in.
Why?
Because the Nara Clan's defining trait was its aversion to trouble.
Because they hated trouble, they couldn't be bothered to hold things against you.
Because they couldn't be bothered, they wouldn't immediately turn hostile when pressured.
And if they didn't turn hostile, he could keep applying pressure.
Besides, the Nara Clan had the highest average intelligence in Konoha.
Intelligent people were more sensitive to verbal barbs and yielded more pressure points.
People like that were ideal targets.
The bell rang for the end of class.
Amamiya Maki stood up.
He didn't go straight over. First, he circled the classroom, exchanged a few words with Nonō, then went to the window to admire the view for a while.
Only after the students around Shikaku had left their seats to stretch their legs did he stroll toward the back of the classroom.
Shikaku lay slumped over his desk, his face buried in his arms.
Amamiya Maki sat in the empty seat beside him without starting a conversation. He simply sat there, as quietly as any ordinary student taking a break between classes.
Then he spoke as though talking to himself.
"Third place on the exam, yet you don't listen in class and go straight to sleep afterward."
Shikaku's shoulders shifted.
"So this is the Nara Clan's genius? Even the teacher doesn't dare complain when you slack off. And you even manage to slack off with such skill."
[Detected: host has inflicted mental pressure on "Shikaku Nara." Pressure points +35 Obtained: Shadow Imitation Technique (Shape Control) fragments ×5, Yin Release Chakra Nature Transformation fragments ×3.]
Shikaku raised his head, revealing a sleepy face.
The corners of his eyes drooped slightly, his gaze languid, as though he hadn't fully woken up.
He looked at Amamiya Maki in silence for two seconds.
"...You again."
"Me again." Amamiya Maki beamed.
"I meant to ask last time. You sleep so much during the day-can you really still sleep at night?"
[Pressure points +15 Obtained: Shadow Imitation Technique (Shape Control) fragments ×2]
Shikaku didn't answer the question.
He simply studied Amamiya Maki, his expression seeming to ask-
What exactly are you after?
Amamiya Maki continued.
"I'm different. I'm a civilian orphan with no talent, so hard work is all I have.
Not like you, breezing into third place. You really put the pressure on the rest of us."
[Pressure points +20 Obtained: Yin Release Chakra Nature Transformation fragments ×2]
The corner of Shikaku's eye twitched.
He'd been praised for his intelligence since childhood. His clan elders and schoolteachers had all said similar things.
But no one had ever praised him like this.
What does he mean, "You even manage to slack off with such skill"?
No matter how he took it, the words sounded off.
"I'm not slacking off," Shikaku said lazily.
"I just think what we're learning is too easy."
"Ohhh." Amamiya Maki drew out the sound.
"So you think the lessons are too easy. Then why couldn't you beat Minato and me on the exam?"
Shikaku opened his mouth.
"You came third, I came first, and Minato Namikaze came second." Amamiya Maki pointed at himself, then at Minato's back in the front row.
"If the lessons are so easy, why couldn't you beat either of us?"
[Detected: host has inflicted mental pressure on "Shikaku Nara." Pressure points +40 Obtained: Shadow Imitation Technique fragments ×6, tactical analysis ability fragments ×4, Nara Clan Secret Technique: Shadow Stitching fragment ×1]
Shadow Stitching.
Amamiya Maki felt a surge of delight.
An advanced form of the Shadow Imitation Technique, it was a B-rank ninjutsu that turned shadows into solid spikes to attack.
He'd already received one fragment at the Training Ground last time, and now he'd gotten another.
At this rate, sooner or later he'd piece together the complete Shadow Stitching technique.
Shikaku fell completely silent.
He'd wanted to say, "Coming first is too much trouble," but swallowed the words before they left his mouth.
Because what Amamiya Maki had said was true.
That blond Minato Namikaze came second every time, and Amamiya Maki had gone straight to first.
The two of them had swept the top two spots, while he'd only taken third.
And neither of them looked as though it took any effort at all.
That made him a little uncomfortable.
Not because he was jealous, but because...
"What a drag."
Shikaku Nara buried his face in his arms again and muttered.
[Pressure points +10 Obtained: Nara Clan Secret Technique: Shadow Stitching fragment ×1.]
Amamiya Maki stood up, satisfied.
He'd gained enough for today.
Applying too much pressure at once would only put the other person on guard.
Shikaku Nara wasn't a one-track-minded loudmouth like Jiro Matsumoto. He was smart enough to identify a pattern after being pressured a few times.
A steady trickle was the way to go.
They were in the same class, after all. There was plenty of time.
"Go back to sleep," Amamiya Maki said amiably.
"Geniuses have the privilege of slacking off, unlike us civilians. Keep at it-try to beat Minato Namikaze next time. I'm heading back for class."
[Pressure +8 Obtained: Yin Release Chakra Nature Transformation fragments ×2.]
Shikaku lay slumped over his desk without responding.
But Amamiya Maki knew that this genius of the Nara Clan definitely wouldn't be getting any sleep at noon today.
He returned to his seat, and Nonō looked at him curiously.
"What did you go do?"
"Make friends," Amamiya Maki said without batting an eye.
"I exchanged some study tips with our classmate from the Nara Clan."
Nonō's eyes were full of disbelief.
Amamiya Maki offered no explanation. He simply opened the system panel and took a look.
Newly obtained during this break: Shadow Imitation Technique Form Control fragments ×13, Yin Release Chakra Nature Transformation fragments ×7, tactical analysis ability fragments ×4, Shadow Stitching fragments ×2.
Of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, he had already secured a reliable opening with the Nara Clan.
Next came the Yamanaka Clan's Sensory Ability and the Akimichi Clan's Yang Release Secret Technique.
There was no rush. He would apply pressure slowly; pushing too hard would only send them running.
Before you continue