The students of the academy breathed a collective sigh of relief as the final exams came to a close. The examination papers and fitness tests had been rigorous tests of their knowledge and abilities, and now, it was a waiting game. The teachers had already collected all the results and retreated to evaluate the results.
As the students dispersed, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. Many of them gathered in small groups, discussing the challenges they had faced and the questions that had stumped them.
It was a moment of camaraderie, a shared experience that would bond them together as they progressed on their shinobi journey.
Renjiro found a quiet spot beneath the shade of a towering tree. He sat down, his back against the rough bark, and gazed out at the tranquil surroundings of the academy courtyard.
Some students used this brief respite to practice their jutsu or spar with their peers, eager to keep their skills sharp even in the midst of uncertainty. Others simply enjoyed the tranquillity, finding solace in the peaceful moments before the results were revealed.
The teachers diligently reviewed the papers, calculating the scores and assessing the performance of each student. It was a task that required careful consideration, as the results would shape the path of these young ninjas.
After a period of tense waiting, the teachers returned to the courtyard, bearing the results of the exams. The students fell into a hushed silence, their eyes fixed on the instructors who held their destinies in their hands.
With a calm but authoritative tone, one of the teachers began to read out the results one by one. Some faces lit up with smiles of triumph, while others bore expressions of disappointment.
As expected, Renjiro took the top spot. The results for the top 5 were:
1.Uzumaki Renjiro : 100 + 23 + 23 + 49 + 49 = 244
2.Hyuga Kenta : 100 + 19 + 20 + 43 + 44 = 226
3.Hyuga Haori : 91 + 19 + 23 + 39 + 43 = 215
4.Nara Hayate : 100 + 11 + 19 + 30 + 30 = 190
5.Uchiha Sora : 79 + 15 + 16 + 32 + 32 = 174
As the results were announced for each student, the courtyard filled with a mix of emotions, from cheers of joy to moments of reflection.
The results were for the written test, sprinting, obstacle race, weapon throwing and taijutsu in respective order.
The written test was out of a hundred points, sprinting and obstacle race were both out of twenty-five points while Taijutsu and Weapon throwing were out of fifty points. The most number of points one could get cumulatively was two hundred and fifty points.
'Hyuga Kenta is a true genius if he could score all those points at his age. I can't believe the gap between him and me, an adult in a child's body, is quite close.
Although I came first as expected, I can't let this get to my head. For all I know this doesn't prove anything. But it is good to see Sora doing well.'
As Renjiro was thinking about the results so was a certain Hyuga. Kenta had Expected to do well in the exams. But his results only ended up frustrating him.
'Although his performance in the written test is a bit surprising, considering he rarely pays attention to the instructors, I was not expecting him to be better than me at Taijutsu.
Father was right. Just because I was better than my peers at the clan doesn't mean that I was strong. I need to improve.'
While Renjiro was still deep in thoughts over the exam results, a wave of prickling sensation washed over him. He instinctively turned his head around when he noticed Kenta and Haori Hyuga, two of his fellow students, staring intently at him.
It didn't take long for Renjiro to deduce the reason behind their frustration. It was likely related to the exam results. With a knowing glance, he chose to ignore their discontent, understanding that involving himself in petty squabbles would do more harm than good.
Renjiro's results did cause a stir in both the student and Teacher communities. One of the teachers affected was Ryuji, his homeroom teacher.
'He was not answering my questions in class and still managed to get everything? Why was he playing dumb? There was also that incident where I found soil on his desk. What was he busy doing?'
With the official announcement of the exam results, the two-month vacation period for the academy students began. Renjiro felt a sense of relief and excitement, knowing that he would have some time to rest and recuperate before the next phase of his training.
Fortunately, Miwa, his fellow Uchiha and aunt, had also returned to the village. Renjiro was happy because she would be of great help in his training for the next month.
As Renjiro basked in the mixed atmosphere of relief and excitement following the announcement of the exam results, he noticed Sora Uchiha approaching him with a warm smile on her face. Her onyx eyes sparkled with genuine joy.
"Renjiro, congratulations on your performance in the exams," Sora said, her voice filled with sincerity. "You did really well, and I'm genuinely happy for you."
Renjiro appreciated her kind words and smiled back.
"Thank you, Sora."
However, as he turned his attention to Kaito, the atmosphere grew noticeably colder. Kaito, with an insincere smile that barely reached his eyes, muttered a half-hearted, "Congratulations, Renjiro."
Renjiro could sense the lack of genuine warmth in Kaito's words. It wasn't a surprise, as their interactions had often been marked by tension and rivalry, at least on Kaito's side.
Kaito's insincere congratulations hung in the air for a moment before he simply turned and walked away without waiting for a response.
Renjiro exchanged a knowing glance with Sora, understanding that not all well-wishes were as heartfelt as they seemed. Despite the mixed reactions, he remained focused on his journey ahead.