The midterm exams at Sunagakure's Ninja Academy arrived on schedule. For most students, they were a nerve-racking test of their mastery of Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and theoretical knowledge.
For Shira, however, the written exams turned out to be the easiest part.
In the examination room, Shira calmly worked through his paper. Theoretical knowledge was no challenge for a transmigrator with the soul of a seventeen-year-old in his second year of high school.
Five words floated down from the sky: none of that was a problem.
History, geography, tactical analysis, and basic medicine-he could even write insights that went deeper than the textbooks.
This was thanks to his old habit of watching all sorts of videos. He liked long videos, and he also had a good habit of taking notes as he listened. Over time, he had developed these good habits.
Those good habits also helped him put down deeper roots in the soil of this world.
Besides, in this Shinobi World, the ideas from Shira's previous world were undoubtedly a dimensionality reduction strike.
Only when he came to subjects such as the theory of fine Chakra control and the principles behind Ninjutsu Hand Seals did he cautiously leave blanks or write down only the basic points. He really had no way around those. He simply couldn't put them into practice.
The result was no surprise. Except for questions directly tied to Ninjutsu, Shira passed every written subject with full marks.
His scores caused quite a stir in class. Those who had once mocked him looked at him again, their gazes astonished and complicated.
Come on, man. Fine, you're good at Taijutsu, but don't they say people who train their bodies are all brawn and no brains? Why are you the exception?
Body-training ninja: Why are you so selfish? Pah!
When Ameno learned of his results, Ameno gave him a faint, heartfelt smile.
The real challenge, however, was the afternoon's practical sparring assessment.
All the students would draw lots to determine their opponents, then face each other one-on-one in Taijutsu and Ninjutsu matches, stopping short of serious injury.
Shira's first opponent was a boy named Mamushi.
Mamushi looked to be about Shira's age. He had short, spiky black hair and always wore a dazed, slightly silly expression.
His most conspicuous feature was the mask covering his nose and mouth.
His eyes were large and round, and his eyeballs moved with unusual agility. From time to time, his gaze went unfocused and vacant, making him look completely harmless.
However, when the two took their places in the center of the arena and the referee announced the start, a flash of ruthlessness at odds with his appearance passed through Mamushi's eyes, though he soon looked silly again.
"Heh, heh..." Mamushi gave a somewhat peculiar laugh and formed a simple Hand Seal.
"Secret Technique: Snake Fang!"
Pfft! Pfft!
Two venomous snakes, grayish brown and about as thick as an arm, shot out of his sleeves and coiled around his arms. Their heads rose, tongues flicking, while their cold, slit pupils locked firmly onto Shira.
An ominous, ghostly light glinted on their fangs. They were clearly coated in a paralytic toxin.
A wave of hushed gasps came from the stands. Secret techniques that made use of summoning beasts were quite rare among the lower grades.
"Be careful, Shira! You'll be paralyzed if they bite you!" the referee warned. He was also warning Mamushi not to use lethal force.
Shira's expression remained calm. His opponent might possess some kind of snake-related Kekkei Genkai or inherited secret technique.
He assumed a basic Taijutsu stance and watched the snakes' heads with complete concentration.
"Hiss!" Mamushi swung both arms, and the two venomous snakes shot toward Shira like arrows loosed from a bow, striking from the left and right!
Shira didn't retreat. Instead, he abruptly stepped forward, dropped his center of gravity low, and slid through the gap between the two snakes' attacks by the narrowest of margins!
At the same time, his right foot swept out like lightning, aimed not at Mamushi's body but at the ankle of his supporting front leg!
"Whoa!"
Mamushi cried out, lost his footing, and staggered forward.
His control over the snakes faltered slightly as well, and their heads were a beat late in following up.
Now!