Chapter 14: The Last One Will Eventually Strike Back
"This is our first exam… I'm kinda nervous. What if the questions are hard?"
"I hope not. If I fail, I'm getting a beating when I get home."
"It shouldn't be that bad. Didn't Mugetsu-sensei already give us a practice test? Passing should be easy."
The atmosphere in Class 1, Grade 1 was filled with tension. It was their first real exam, and nerves were running high. Some feared the questions. Others feared their parents.
"Anko, Izumo, are you guys nervous?" Kotetsu asked casually.
"What's there to be nervous about? It's just a small test. Watch me ace it." Anko smirked confidently.
"Of course I'm nervous! This isn't just a drill—our scores are getting posted publicly," Izumo replied with a frown.
"I'm a little worried too. I only got an eighty on the practice test Mugetsu-sensei gave us. The real thing might be harder… I'll probably land somewhere in the sixties or seventies," Kotetsu admitted.
"My practice score was a bit better—eighty-seven—but I've got the same feeling. This time won't be as easy," Izumo added with a bitter smile.
"You guys scored that high?" Anko blinked, surprised. Her own practice score had barely passed sixty, despite her earlier bravado.
"Practice scores don't count. They're just for show." Izumo sighed.
"Let's do our best," Kotetsu said. "I heard that if our overall class grades are too low, they might replace the teacher. We could lose Mugetsu-sensei."
"Replace teachers? Anyone but Mugetsu-sensei!" Anko panicked slightly.
Although Mugetsu was their homeroom teacher and taught more classes than the others, he wasn't the only instructor they had. There were other subject teachers in rotation too.
"Yeah, the other teachers' classes are way too boring. Only Mugetsu-sensei makes class fun and easy to follow," Izumo agreed.
"Should we tell everyone in class?" Izumo suggested. "Like in the novels—boost morale before the big battle!"
Anko thought it was a great idea. She stood up on her chair and announced it to the whole class.
The moment she shouted the news, the class erupted into a buzz. Mugetsu was by far their favorite teacher.
"Everyone, try your best! If we bomb this and get a replacement like Teacher Physical Prowess again, we're doomed!" Kotetsu followed up with a shout.
"Yeah! Study hard—we won't let them take Mugetsu-sensei away!"
"I'm saying this now—if anyone fails, I'll seriously look down on them. Sensei's done so much for us!"
Shisui didn't join in the noise. He didn't need to. He would let his actions speak for themselves and take first place in the grade. If the overall scores were that good, the school would never even consider replacing Mugetsu.
"Quiet down, everyone. The exam's about to begin—just do your best."
Mugetsu's voice rang through the classroom, and the chatter died instantly. Everyone turned toward the doorway.
He stood there calmly, smiling faintly.
"I believe you'll all do well," he said, then walked off to the classroom he was assigned to proctor.
Hearing their favorite teacher support them just before the test filled the students with energy.
Mugetsu, for his part, was quietly amused.
They were worrying too much. Teacher evaluations happened by semester or year, not by one exam.
In fact, the practice test he gave them had been harder than the real thing.
---
Arriving at Class 2, Grade 4, Hayate walked straight to the front and addressed the students.
"Everyone settle down. The exam is starting."
Proctor assignments were randomized, and it just so happened he was assigned here today.
"Mugetsu-sensei!"
The students greeted him warmly. Many were already familiar with him—not just because Obito and Guy were in this class, but also because he'd often substituted here. Compared to Ikeya, Mugetsu was adored.
"Mugetsu-sensei's here… I have to pass this time!" Guy said, clenching his fists like he was going into battle.
Between theory exams and a real Genin fight, he would've chosen the latter any day.
He was graduating next year. Fighting a trained ninja, he had a chance. But when it came to theory questions, he was completely out of his depth.
"Rin, just watch. This time, I'll totally change how you see me," Obito said, puffing up with confidence.
"You'll definitely pass, right? I believe in you, Obito," Rin smiled.
Even though he'd said this countless times before and never followed through, Rin still encouraged him.
"Start with the easy ones, double-check your answers, and leave the hard ones for last," she advised kindly.
As a friend, she truly hoped he could finally shake off his "dead-last" title.
"Mhm, mhm." Obito nodded seriously.
Soon, another proctor entered—Kimura Sugito, one of Hayate's office colleagues.
Every exam room had two proctors.
Once the bell rang, Mugetsu and Sugito handed out the test papers and began monitoring the room together. Occasionally, the two sat at the podium to chat quietly.
"Poor Ikeya. With two dead-last students in his class, his semester bonus is probably gone," Sugito whispered.
"Hard to say. They might surprise us this time," Mugetsu replied, still smiling.
He believed Obito and Guy were about to turn some heads.
"They've failed every theory test for three straight years. If they could pass, they would've done it by now. It only gets harder the higher they go," Sugito scoffed.
"Good thing they're graduating this year. If either of them landed in my class, I'd be miserable," he added.
Mugetsu simply smiled and stood up, resuming his rounds through the room.
He missed teaching. The Academy was suspended for three days because of exams:
Day one was theory.
Day two and three were practical combat to determine rankings.
That meant three days of missed training.
Fewer Ninjutsu practiced.
Dozens of Chakra points unrefined.
Luckily, the disciple reward system still worked. After the theory exam, Mugetsu handed Obito a few Shuriken—and that triggered a reward burst, netting him 50 Chakra.
"Just wait and see, Mugetsu-sensei! I'll use these Shuriken and crush the practical exam!" Obito declared with fiery eyes.
The practical was about to begin.
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