March fifth. Graduation exam.
The classroom desks had all been pushed against the walls early that morning, clearing an exam space at the front.
A chalk line marked the floor. Inside was the exam area; outside was the queue.
A board on the lectern displayed the test: Clone Technique.
Two people sat at the examiners' table.
Iruka held the roster, calling names one by one.
Mizuki sat beside him, all smiles. When he saw a student's hands trembling, he even leaned over to roll up their sleeves.
"Don't be scared," Mizuki told the student about to take the floor. "You've been practicing for six years."
Someone in the queue whispered, "Mizuki-sensei is so nice."
"Yeah, he's better at reassuring people than Iruka-sensei."
"Keep your voice down."
Two girls near the front exchanged a few words. "I heard Mizuki-sensei taught our class for a whole semester."
"No wonder he looks familiar."
Good-natured. Good with people.
On the screens of his previous life, characters like that usually didn't survive three episodes.
Standing halfway down the queue, Kiyoshi recognized that face.
He remembered what that face had done on the screens of his previous life. None of it showed on his own.
Before his turn came, he withdrew his gaze and looked at the floor.
He counted the chalk line on the floor twice.
The queue moved forward, names crossed off the roster one after another.
"Next. Sasuke Uchiha."
Sasuke stepped up and formed hand seals, his hands moving with crisp precision.
Suddenly, four Sasukes stood in the exam area. Even the folds of their clothes matched, and each had the same fan on his back.
The classroom fell quiet for a moment.
Someone started to cheer, glanced at the examiners' table halfway through, and swallowed the rest.
All four Sasukes turned at