The monthly exam arrived as scheduled.
Ninja teacher Shuzo specially arranged for his first year students to be brought to a large auditorium, where each of them had an individual seat.
As the exam papers were distributed, Aragami Kyomu couldn't help but smirk as he glanced at the contents.
It was just too easy.
The first part consisted of general subjects, which posed no difficulty for Aragami Kyomu. He quickly put pen to paper.
The later sections covered the basic ninja knowledge taught over the month. Naturally, this posed no challenge for Aragami Kyomu either.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
The sound of pencils on paper echoed through the hall. Kakashi and Kyomu were writing at a swift pace, finding the exam effortless.
However, most students in the exam room were furrowing their brows, struggling with the questions on the paper.
Why were the questions so difficult?!
Obito was one of them. Biting his pen, he looked around, hoping to copy answers from other students in a stroke of luck.
Obito even couldn't help but think, what if he awakened his Sharingan? Would cheating in this exam be easier?
But Shuzo was no pushover. Any student showing signs of cheating wouldn't escape his notice.
Either he would approach and knock on the table to make them behave, or he would clear his throat as a form of punishment. In any case, students under Shuzo's watch would inevitably comply.
Obito sighed in frustration, looking at the seemingly incomprehensible paper. He could only try to fill it with answers, even if it meant guessing.
At least, he had to aim for a passing grade, right? Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.
However, Kyomu and Kakashi were unaffected. The two of them wrote as if competing to see who could finish faster, without a pause in their pen movements.
The scheduled hour and a half for the written test was over in just half an hour for Kyomu and Kakashi. Almost simultaneously, they raised their hands, indicating they were ready to submit their papers.
Shuzo glanced at the two, and the students around them also shifted their attention to Kyomu and Kakashi.
"Tch, seeking attention."
Some students thought cynically. They couldn't believe that Kyomu, the one who daydreamed in class and got punished at the door every day, and Kakashi, who had been skipping classes for over twenty days, could complete the paper in such a short time.
"Well, you can leave the exam room after submitting your papers."
Shuzo didn't say much. He had no expectations for Kyomu and Kakashi.
Once the two left the classroom, Shuzo, feeling a bit bored, took a look at their answer sheets. However, his eyes nearly popped out.
They didn't cheat.
And they got everything right!
Excitement, disbelief, suspicion filled Shuzo's mind. Putting down their papers, he scanned the rest of the class, and his expression quickly turned cold.
These mediocrities!
They paid attention in class, did well in the assigned homework, yet during exams, why did they all wear a mask of agony?
Shaking his head, Shuzo continued invigilating, enduring until the bell rang to signal the end of the exam.
Students started handing in their papers, some relieved, others overly nervous, and a few with vacant stares.
But unanimously, when Shuzo left the exam room with graded papers in hand, the classroom erupted.
Compare answers, we must compare answers!
Groups of friends gathered, wailing or cheering occasionally.
Even Obito, red-faced, approached Rin, "Rin, how did you do the third question?"
"...I answered like this, but I'm not sure if it's correct."
"Although there are some differences from my answer, you should have gotten it right." Obito tried to sound confident, but his mood had plummeted. "Rin, what about the other questions?"
Rin explained her answers to Obito in detail.
Upon hearing it, Obito's face lost its color. "Rin, are my answers incorrect?" Rin, seeing Obito's state, started worrying.
"I don't know, but there's a significant difference between my answers and yours."
Obito was in shock, but he couldn't bring himself to ask others. He reluctantly asked Rin to check answers with other students.
As for why Obito didn't approach Kyomu and Kakashi, he had fallen into a mental trap.
Two people who daydreamed and skipped class daily, how could they possibly get everything right?
Meanwhile, Rin didn't approach Kyomu and Kakashi either. Their surroundings seemed deserted.
Kyomu and Kakashi, however, were quite relaxed, calmly watching their classmates compare answers. The confusion in their hearts grew.
Was there still a point in comparing answers now?
Regardless of the point, everyone enjoyed the process. An hour later, when Shuzo returned to the classroom with graded papers, the spectacle finally concluded.
"I'm very dissatisfied with this month's exam!" Shuzo burst out upon entering. "Only three students scored above 90, and not even half passed!
What's more outrageous is that some managed to score in single digits, and I don't even know how those scores were achieved!"
He slammed the pile of papers onto the desk, and Shuzo Torii started calling names and distributing papers.
"Nohara Rin, 93."
Rin excitedly stood up, gesturing a victory sign towards Obito, who admired her from not too far away, then walked towards the podium.
After Rin, most students mentioned by Shuzo scored between 60 and 70, with a few failing.
"Might Guy, 7."
"Hahaha..."
When the single-digit score appeared, the classroom erupted into laughter that could probably lift the roof. Even Might couldn't help chuckling.
How could one even score 7?!
"Uchiha Obito, 9."
"Huh?" Obito's smile froze. "Impossible! How could I score so low!"
"Check if your name is written on the paper," Shuzo tossed the paper at Obito. "I've taught so many students, and you're the only Uchiha who scored less than 90."
"Hahaha, Obito, who scored nine, was just laughing at Might Guy for scoring seven! Now, laugh again!"
"One Obito is equal to one-tenth of other Uchihas, hahaha..."
Laughter echoed from all sides, even from those who were previously laughed at.
Obito held the paper in silence, sitting back at his desk with a lowered head, unsure of what to think.
As the papers were distributed, no more single-digit scores were seen. The students who wanted to see the excitement now shifted their attention to Kyomu and Kakashi.
These two must also have single-digit scores.
"Aragami Kyomu, 100."
"Hatake Kakashi, 100."
As Shuzo announced their scores, the classroom first fell silent, then erupted into chaos.
"What? How is that possible!"
"Teacher, did you read the papers correctly? He daydreams and skips class every day!"
"Must be a mistake, I don't believe it!"
Kyomu and Kakashi paid no attention to the discussions around them. They walked up to the podium, received their papers, and returned to their seats calmly.
"Quiet down," Shuzo gestured to calm the students. "These are the true scores of Kyomu and Kakashi, and they did not cheat."
Now, the classroom fell completely silent. Breaths were audible, and all eyes were fixed on Kyomu and Kakashi.
Perhaps, they had overlooked something crucial.
They didn't understand the world of genius. In comparison to geniuses, their efforts and rewards were incomparable.
At this moment, some became convinced, even admiring. But at the same time, some went from doubt to hysteria.
"I don't believe it!"
"Neither do I!"
"In the second exam, they will surely reveal their true colors!"
Kyomu could understand the feelings of these few people, but he had no intention of responding.
The second exam? Well, let's just wait and see.
(End of this chapter)