Following the initial round of examinations, Tatsuma and Minato found themselves in a favorable position, courtesy of the bonus points earned through their adept Senbon throwing skills. Unfortunately, their optimism waned when they realized the second round involved a practical test, leaving them regretful for not opting for an afternoon examination.
During the practical test, two classmates were chosen at random for evaluation. Each participant had to undergo three practical tests, engaging with different classmates in order to garner a comprehensive score.
Tatsuma hit the jackpot in the draw for the practical test, landing Nara Shikaku as his opponent. A shared glance and knowing smiles passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of their mutual understanding. On the flip side, Minato found himself facing off against Akimichi Choza.
The initial bout unfolded between Minato and Choza. The clash was intense, lasting a full five minutes, and culminating with Choza's potato chips scattered beyond the ring's boundaries. As he hurried to retrieve them, Minato clinched a narrow victory in the opening round.
Subsequently, it was Tatsuma's turn to face Shikaku. Stepping into the arena, Shikaku maintained a serious demeanor, declaring, "Sakamoto Tatsuma, I shall unveil the ancestral ultimate technique of the Nara Clan!"
Tatsuma nodded affirmatively, remarking, "The Nara Clan's ultimate technique, huh? I'm genuinely eager to see it in action. Nevertheless, even if you've mastered a formidable ultimate technique, I am confident I will still emerge victorious!"
Sarutobi Atoma observed the two students, both poised and tense in anticipation of the impending confrontation. With excitement, he declared, "Commence the Seal of Confrontation!"
"I concede!"
The moment Sarutobi Atoma uttered those words, Shikaku voiced his surrender with a hint of reluctance. Supporting his knees with both hands, he mumbled, "Too strong. I actually lost."
Tatsuma, also catching his breath, chimed in, "Indeed, the Nara Clan's ultimate technique. Even I could only secure the win by a stroke of luck."
"Ding~ [Wisdom+5]"
"Sakumo Hatake! Take a look! Witness the inheritor of the Nara Clan, so astute and generous!" Tatsuma exclaimed with such excitement that he nearly shed tears. In this poignant moment, the two stood as heroes who shared a profound understanding and respect.
Sarutobi Atoma, initially brimming with anticipation for a fierce battle, now wore a completely darkened expression. Gritting his teeth, he directed his frustration at the pair:
"The Nara Clan's ultimate technique, huh? Winning by a stroke of luck, huh? Get out of here!"
Observing the furious Sarutobi Atoma merely yelling at them without escalating the situation, the two breathed sighs of relief. They then strolled casually, shoulder to shoulder, towards the waiting area.
Back at the waiting area, they caught sight of Minato's resentful gaze. He was embroiled in a heated battle with Choza, and had Choza not prioritized snacks over victory, Minato might have lost the first round.
And what about our two protagonists? With exchanged glances and a subtle understanding reflected in their eyes, they schemed the potential outcome of their match. It was truly unbelievable!
In the second round of practical tests, whether by coincidence or Sarutobi Atoma seeking revenge, Shikaku and Inuzuka Tsume found themselves in the same group. Tatsuma was paired with Uchiha Tenko, and Minato Namikaze was grouped with Hyuga Sento.
Minato muttered, '??? Can I not catch a break!'
Shikaku donned an expression of despair, his eyes reflecting the cruel reality of exams. Assigned to be the first to step forward, he reluctantly dragged his weakened body to the center.
As the Seal of Confrontation was initiated, Sarutobi Atoma exchanged a meaningful glance with Inuzuka Tsume. Tsume nodded, sporting a "cruel" smile. Only then did Sarutobi Atoma satisfactorily declare, "Begin!"
"I conc...!"
Observing Inuzuka Tsume rushing towards him, Shikaku hurriedly attempted to concede, but Inuzuka Tsume paid no attention. She shoved a handful of dog treats into Shikaku's mouth, rendering him speechless.
In a swift move, Shikaku found himself caught in a leg lock, instantly mounted by Inuzuka Tsume. With her left hand suppressing Shikaku's attempt to spit out the dog treats, the other hand delivered merciless punches.
"Alright, alright, cough, Tsume! Tsume! You've won."
Even Sarutobi Atoma had to intervene, seeing Shikaku taking a beating until a tooth fell out, and he declared the end of the test. Inuzuka Tsume stood up, satisfied, and left.
Shikaku, now spitting out bits of dog treats, gazed towards the waiting area where Tatsuma and Minato were frantically massaging their legsto recover faster. He closed his eyes, a single teardrop glistening as it rolled down his cheek. Tilting his head, he lay on the ground and remained still.
"Tatsuma, Minato, this is as far as I can help you! You better recover quickly."
"Shikaku! Shikaku!"
Witnessing Shikaku seemingly faint, Atoma grew anxious. After a swift examination, he noticed a hint of fresh blood at the corner of Shikaku's mouth.
"Wait a moment, Sensei will take Shikaku to the medical room for a check-up."
Saying this, Atoma lifted Shikaku on his back and hurried towards the school's medical room. Unfortunately, twenty minutes later, when Shikaku was brought back by Atoma, his injuries hadn't improved. On the contrary, he now had two large bumps on his head. With his limited skills in disguise, he couldn't conceal anything from the doctor.
All that remained was to capitalize on Sarutobi Atoma's caring nature. Despite this, Shikaku skillfully managed to secure an extra twenty minutes, providing Tatsuma and Minato with the time they needed to recover from yesterday's strenuous training.
After a few more rounds of battles, attention focused on the duel between Tatsuma and Uchiha Tenko. The moment the two stepped into the arena, Uchiha Tenko arrogantly raised his head, adopting an attitude of pride as if he were Madara or the Sage of Six Paths.
"Intentionally dressing yourself up miserably to have an excuse after losing to me? Hmph! No matter how hard you try, you can never defeat me, a member of the Uchiha Clan!"
Upon hearing Uchiha Tenko's mocking tone, Tatsuma became excited. He flashed a confident smile and retorted, "Yes, facing the Uchiha Clan, famous for their abundant talent, my own skills may pale in comparison. But, I will win!"
Observing the intense atmosphere between the two, Sarutobi Atoma couldn't help but display a skeptical expression this time. After all, this was simillar to the fight between Shikaku and Tatsuma, but he still declared, "Initiate the Seal of Confrontation."
In response to the command, the two instantly formed the Seal of Confrontation. This time, Tatsuma swiftly mobilized the Chakra within his body. Compared to when he first entered the academy, he had become exceptionally proficient in refining and manipulating Chakra.
"Begin!"
After Sarutobi Atoma spoke, he warily glanced at the two. However, he observed Uchiha Tenko swiftly extracting several Shuriken and hurling them towards Tatsuma. Finally, he was assured that Tatsuma wouldn't cause any trouble.
After all, how could the Uchiha Clan be expected to cooperate with others?
Facing the incoming Shuriken, Tatsuma maintained the gathered Chakra without releasing it. Instead, he swiftly lowered his body, skillfully evading two Shuriken aimed at his forehead and throat. Then, with his left hand, which hadn't formed any seals, he effortlessly intercepted the other two Shuriken aimed at his chest and abdomen, making it look deceptively easy.
However, Tatsuma's demeanor turned serious because Uchiha Tenko displayed the ability to throw multiple Shuriken simultaneously. Although individually not overly powerful, they proved effective in diverting attention.
As expected, just as Tatsuma regained his stance, three more Shuriken flew towards him. Tatsuma responded by throwing the two he had intercepted, skillfully deflecting Uchiha Tenko's projectiles. In that moment, something unusual occurred.
Initially, there should have been only one remaining Shuriken, but Tatsuma's eyes perceived three. Witnessing this scene, Tatsuma quickly grasped the situation – Uchiha Tenko, in the instant he dodged, had not just thrown three Shuriken but likely released two sets of three, with the second set hiding behind the first. This meant Tatsuma was now facing four remaining Shuriken!
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