Chapter 21: A Little Interlude
The next day, the written exam was in full swing, but it wasn't just Deidara and his friends taking it; they were joined by this year's graduating students.
The exam content was somewhat tricky, but it fell within the realm of what they had learned. Deidara and his companions had truly put in a lot of hard work, leaving no room for shortcuts, so the exam wasn't particularly difficult for them.
On the other hand, it was a bit challenging for the graduating students who hadn't taken their studies seriously throughout the year. As Deidara left the exam room, he recalled the expressions of a few students who had been scratching their heads in confusion. He couldn't help but shake his head.
Theoretical knowledge was crucial; no matter how strong one's combat abilities, one could not truly become a ninja without it. Deidara would not casually help others make choices, so he ignored those individuals.
After waiting outside for a while, Kurotsuchi and the others emerged from the exam room.
"Brother, we're so glad we studied diligently before this exam, or we might not have passed!" Kurotsuchi was the first to speak upon exiting.
"Exactly! If we hadn't put in all those late nights studying, we could have easily failed! Just look at the graduating students; many of them probably won't make it!" Chitatsu chimed in.
"Yeah, several of them even tried to ask me for answers, but I refused," Deidara added, feeling sympathetic to their plight.
"Those people are truly despicable! If they got you, Deidara, caught for cheating, that would be awful! How could they be so bad?" Kurotsuchi fumed.
Suddenly, Deidara reached out and pulled Kurotsuchi back just in time to dodge a slap.
Deidara stood protectively in front of her and coldly said, "It's really not good to hit girls! And an ambush like that is especially despicable."
The person who had approached was clearly taller than Deidara and was one of the students who had asked for answers earlier. Frustrated, he had been about to slap Kurotsuchi on the head, unable to tolerate their merriment while he believed he might fail the exam himself.
This guy couldn't hold it in any longer; he was intent on ruining their happy atmosphere, and since Kurotsuchi was close by, he chose to target her.
Kurotsuchi looked bewildered by the whole situation, but seeing Deidara immediately shield her made her feel pleased.
However, she wasn't the type to let someone bully her without retaliation! After all, she harbored a little devil inside her; only around Deidara did she turn into a gentle kitten. If anyone else dared to mess with her, she would fiercely claw back without hesitation!
With a bright smile, Kurotsuchi pushed Deidara aside and said to the tall guy, "Hey, you better think twice before messing with me!"
"Ha! And what's a little girl like you going to do if I push you?" The guy was clearly fearless, and knowing that Deidara and his friends were somewhat-known figures in the school, he still acted without regard. It was unclear whether he was overly confident or just foolish.
Having said that, the guy reached out again, preparing to strike. But Chitatsu, Dōjō, and the others remained still, watching the scene unfold, while Kurotsuchi had just prevented Deidara from intervening, so they sat back to see what would happen.
"Doton: Quick Sand!" Kurotsuchi formed some hand seals and struck the ground, causing the area beneath the guy to soften, quickly sinking him into the ground.
"Ah! What are you doing? Let me out, you guys!" He struggled desperately, but with each movement, he sank deeper. Once he was mostly buried, Kurotsuchi finally stopped her technique.
"Now, this height looks much better!" Kurotsuchi grinned, giving the guy a light pat on the head before leaning in closer and whispering in his ear, "Next time, don't be so reckless; some people aren't as easy to deal with as I am."
Even if the guy was dim-witted, he realized the situation he was in. He had not expected that these little kids he underestimated had such strength.
Seeing him no longer acting arrogant, Kurotsuchi stood up and said, "Alright, let's go! Let him figure out a way to crawl out by himself!"
"Hey, hey, are you really leaving me like this? I know I was wrong! Let me out!"