As time moved into March, the third semester was coming to an end.
Starting this month, the number of times Kenjiro came to class in his original form began to increase.
Not only in the afternoons, but even in the morning cultural classes, he came in his original form.
The reason was simple: March was not only the graduation month for the sixth grade, but also the month for major exams for other grades.
Before the end of the semester, there would be an important year-end exam.
The results of the year-end exam, along with various small and surprise tests from the past three semesters, would all be included in the overall score.
Based on the overall scores, the school would select one student as the top student of the entire grade, the so-called "Chief Student."
Being the top student out of several classes, with dozens or even hundreds of students, including many children from ninja clans, was undoubtedly a sign of extraordinary talent.
If the student was from a ninja clan, they would be the most outstanding member of the new generation of their family.
If the student came from an ordinary family, they would be an exceptional civilian talent, surpassing even the children of ninja clans.
These Chief Students were the most notable figures in the ninja school.
Kenjiro naturally wouldn't let anyone else take that title.
This year's new batch of students was especially unique.
Children from major ninja clans were all the heirs of their clan leaders.
Becoming the Chief Student by surpassing them would have far more weight than in any other grade.
Securing the title of Chief Student would prove his extraordinary talent, making it even easier for Kenjiro to pursue Hinata without obstacles.
With his current strength, becoming the Chief Student was no challenge for him.
Even if he didn't attend as his original self, his shadow clones could easily defeat the others.
However, Kenjiro still chose to attend in his original form.
He knew that, at this moment, Konoha was beginning to stir with dark currents.
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In Konoha's 55th year, the first-years were seven years old.
At the same time, there was a major event that shocked the entire ninja world.
After the fall of the Senju clan, the Uchiha clan, now the number one clan in Konoha and even the strongest in the entire ninja world, would be wiped out by a thirteen-year-old boy.
This boy was none other than the current heir of the clan, Uchiha Sasuke's older brother—Uchiha Itachi.
With this astonishing achievement, Uchiha Itachi became the youngest S-rank rogue ninja in the history of the ninja world.
However, only a few knew that Uchiha Itachi did not single-handedly destroy the Uchiha clan. This incident involved not only the higher-ups of Konoha but also assistance from external forces.
Kenjiro was one of the few who knew this secret.
At this time, the shadow of the ninja world, Obito Uchiha, would soon use his Sharingan abilities to wander around Konoha.
In order to avoid being noticed by Obito, or worse, drawing attention to himself, Kenjiro decided to slow down his training pace and refrain from taking Hinata to the abandoned training grounds for the time being.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Hinata, the heir of the Hyuga clan, had a rare white eye that was highly valuable in the black market.
After all, the youth with a single white eye had already become an elite jonin in the Hidden Mist Village and appeared on Konoha's most-wanted list.
No one knew whether Obito or the hidden figures of the world, like Black and White Zetsu, might suddenly target Hinata's white eyes.
Kenjiro, who had already caused a butterfly effect, didn't want to take any chances on the villains' kindness.
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March 20th.
The students from first to fifth grade took their year-end exams before the sixth graders' graduation assessments.
On this day, Kenjiro arrived early at the ninja school.
However, Hinata arrived earlier than him.
After confirming the code and realizing that Kenjiro was there in his original form, Hinata gave him a soft smile and gently said, "Good luck, Kenjiro-kun."
"Yeah, let's both do our best."
Kenjiro grinned, softly encouraging, "Let's aim for first and second place."
"Yeah!"
Hinata imagined the scene where their names would be listed as first and second on the results board, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
In the past, Hinata had never cared about rankings.
But now, she didn't want to lose to anyone other than Kenjiro.
She had the strength to fight for second place!
Soon, it was time for the exams.
The morning exam was the cultural test.
Although they had been taught the basic Transformation Techniques this semester, there was no test for it.
After all, even the sixth graders hadn't all mastered the Transformation Techniques.
In fact, some graduation assessments only randomly tested one of the techniques.
For a freshly graduated Genin to be able to perform a C-ranked elemental jutsu was enough to make their Jonin instructor amazed at their chakra control.
This showed that over 90% of first-year students didn't have the chakra needed to perform the Transformation Technique.
That's why, despite Uchiha Itachi's cultural knowledge being only at the first-year level, when he attended class using shadow clones, his teacher thought there was nothing more to teach him and specifically requested the Third Hokage allow Itachi to graduate early.
In this world, culture was secondary; power was the main priority.
Naruto Uzumaki was the best example.
The morning exam posed no challenge for either Kenjiro or Hinata.
The afternoon exam consisted of shuriken throwing, taijutsu combat, and the newly added survival exercises.
The first two posed no problem. As long as Kenjiro didn't get matched against someone too powerful, even if he faced Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata would still score full marks.
In taijutsu, Hinata was already unbeatable in the first year.
Her quick strikes and pressure point techniques were nightmares for other children.
However, if she were matched against Kenjiro, she wouldn't stand a chance for second place.
Why not first place?
It was simple. Over these three semesters, Hinata had faced Kenjiro multiple times and had always lost.
Her overall score couldn't surpass Kenjiro's.
Even if she scored full marks in all her subjects during the year-end exam, she couldn't claim the Chief Student title.
Likewise, even if Kenjiro made a careless mistake in the cultural exam and accidentally lost to Sakura Haruno, she still wouldn't become the Chief Student, because her overall score wasn't good enough.
At present, the only ones in the first year who hadn't lost in practical combat were Kenjiro, Sasuke Uchiha, and Shino Aburame.
Both Sasuke and Shino's cultural exam and overall scores were lower than Kenjiro's and even Hinata's.
Even if they scored full marks on the year-end exam, they wouldn't claim the top spot.
As long as Hinata scored full marks in combat, second place was secured.
Unless someone from another class had a better overall score.
But clearly, that wasn't going to happen.
In shuriken throwing, Kenjiro easily scored full marks.
Then, when it was time for the taijutsu combat, Kenjiro was matched with an unexpected opponent.
"Next match: Kenjiro vs. Naruto Uzumaki."
The first-year class gathered in a circle in the open space.
Iruka Umino stood in the center, holding a clipboard and shouting loudly.
"Eh..."
Hearing the name of his opponent, Naruto Uzumaki groaned in despair, holding his head in his hands. "How is my opponent Kenjiro? I'm doomed!"
Cultural exams and shuriken throwing were nightmares for Naruto.
The only thing he had a chance in was taijutsu.
But now, even that chance was gone.
After all, Kenjiro was someone who could defeat Hinata, the taijutsu monster.
Unlike the despairing Naruto, Kenjiro eyes lit up.
Finally, he was matched with this child of destiny!
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