As March arrived, the third semester came to an end. From this month on, the number of times Juuyabiru's main body attended class noticeably increased. He began appearing not just for afternoon sessions, but also for the morning cultural classes.
This was no coincidence—March marked the graduation season for sixth-grade students, and it was also the month of major examinations for the other grades. One crucial event was the annual exam, which factored heavily into overall academic performance. The results of this exam, along with those from various quizzes and spot checks conducted throughout the year, would be tallied into a cumulative score.
The school would then select a single student with the highest overall score across the entire grade. This individual would be recognized as the valedictorian.
To be chosen from among multiple classes and dozens—if not hundreds—of students, many of whom belonged to prestigious ninja clans, meant standing out as the most dazzling genius of the year. If that student came from a ninja clan, he or she would be hailed as the most outstanding member of the clan's new generation. But if the top performer came from an ordinary family, it would signal a commoner genius who had surpassed even the elite.
These valedictorians were revered figures within the Ninja Academy.
Naturally, Juuyabiru had no intention of allowing the valedictorian title to fall into someone else's hands.
His class was, without question, the most elite among the new generation. It contained the heirs of all major ninja clans. To defeat them and still emerge as valedictorian would be a tremendous achievement—far more prestigious than being the top student in a lesser class.
If Juuyabiru could claim the title and prove his exceptional talent, it would make finding Hinata far easier. With his current strength, securing the top spot posed no challenge for him. Even if his main body wasn't present, Izayoi's shadow clone alone was capable of defeating most opponents.
Still, Juuyabiru chose to come in person.
He was acutely aware of the hidden turmoil brewing in Konoha.
This was Konoha Year 55. Shino Aburame was seven years old. It was also the year of an event that would send shockwaves throughout the entire ninja world: the fall of the Uchiha Clan.
After the decline of the Senju, the Uchiha had become the wealthiest clan in Konoha—arguably the most powerful ninja clan in the world. And yet, this clan would be destroyed by a single thirteen-year-old boy.
That boy was none other than Uchiha Itachi, the elder brother of Uchiha Sasuke and the son of the current clan head.
Thanks to this unimaginable feat, Itachi would go on to become the youngest S-rank missing-nin in the ninja world.
However, very few knew the full story.
The Uchiha Clan's annihilation wasn't achieved by Itachi alone. Behind the scenes lurked the influence of Konoha's upper echelons—and outsiders as well.
Juuyabiru was one of the few aware of this secret.
During this volatile period, the number one simp in the ninja world could use Kamui to enter Konoha at any moment. In order to avoid being noticed—or drawing that man's attention—Juuyabiru decided to decelerate his training. He would refrain from taking Hinata to the abandoned training grounds until after the Uchiha Clan was eradicated.
Better safe than sorry.
Hinata was the young lady of the Hyuga main family. Without the Caged Bird Curse Mark, her Byakugan was a priceless asset on the black market. Even Ao, who possessed only one Byakugan, had managed to become an elite Jonin in the Hidden Mist and made it onto Konoha's most-wanted list.
Who knew whether Uchiha Obito—or even Black and White Zetsu hiding in the shadows—might suddenly covet Hinata's Byakugan?
Juuyabiru had already set the butterfly effect in motion. He wasn't about to gamble on the mercy of villains.
March 20th.
Students from first through fifth grade faced their annual exam, which would be held prior to the sixth-grade graduation exams.
On that day, Juuyabiru arrived early at the Ninja Academy. However, to his surprise, Hinata was already in the classroom.
Once she confirmed the code that revealed Juuyabiru was present in his main body, Hinata smiled gently and whispered, "Juuyabiru, good luck."
"Yes," Juuyabiru replied, grinning. "Let's do our best together."
"Let's aim for first and second place," he added softly.
"Mm!"
Hinata pictured the results board—her name and Juuyabiru's side by side, ranked first and second. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation.
In the past, Hinata had never cared about rankings. But now, she didn't want to lose to anyone—except Juuyabiru.
And she had the strength to compete for second place!
Soon, the morning cultural exam began.
Although the students had been taught the Three Body Technique this semester, it was not part of the assessment. Most first-grade students didn't even have enough chakra to use it. Even in graduation exams, usually only one of the Three Body Techniques was required.
For a newly minted Genin to successfully perform a C-rank Five Elements Ninjutsu was already impressive enough to surprise a Jonin instructor.
Uchiha Itachi's case was especially telling. His cultural knowledge was technically only at the first-grade level. Yet, by sending Izayoi's shadow clone to attend his classes, his teacher had declared that there was nothing more he could teach him—and even went as far as to request permission from the Third Hokage for early graduation.
In this world, academic performance was secondary. Strength was everything.
Uzumaki Naruto was the perfect example.
Naturally, the morning exam posed no difficulty for Juuyabiru and Hinata.
The afternoon exam, however, included shuriken throwing, taijutsu duels, and—for the first time—a survival exercise.
The first two tests weren't a challenge either. In the taijutsu duel, as long as Hinata didn't get matched with Juuyabiru, she was guaranteed full marks—even against someone like Uchiha Sasuke.
When it came to taijutsu, Hinata reigned supreme among the first graders. Her precision and decisiveness made her Gentle Fist style a nightmare for her classmates.
But if she ended up facing Juuyabiru?
Then second place would be out of reach.
Why not aim for valedictorian, then?
Simple. Hinata had already lost to Juuyabiru several times across the past three semesters. Her overall score trailed behind his. Even if she aced every section of the annual exam, the title would still slip through her fingers.
Likewise, even if Juuyabiru got careless during the cultural exam and made a minor mistake—like getting one question wrong and losing to someone like Sakura Haruno—it wouldn't matter. Her overall score wasn't high enough to surpass him anyway.
Currently, only three students remained undefeated in actual combat: Juuyabiru, Uchiha Sasuke, and Shino Aburame.
Among them, Sasuke and Shino's academic scores were below both Juuyabiru and Hinata. Even with perfect scores on the annual exam, neither of them could claim the valedictorian title.
As long as Hinata maintained full marks in actual combat, she would definitely secure second place.
That is, unless someone from another class surpassed her overall score—which seemed highly unlikely.
Juuyabiru breezed through the shuriken throwing assessment, scoring a perfect score.
Then came the taijutsu duels.
When the next match was announced, it drew everyone's attention.
"Next round: Juuyabiru versus Uzumaki Naruto!"
The students of Class 1, Grade 1, quickly gathered to form a circle in the training yard.
Standing at the center, clipboard in hand, Iruka Umino called out loudly.
"Eh…" Naruto groaned the moment he heard his opponent's name.
He clutched his head and wailed, "Why Juuyabiru? I'm doomed!"
Naruto had always struggled with cultural classes and shuriken throwing. The only area where he had even a glimmer of hope was in taijutsu.
Now, that hope was gone.
After all, even the "taijutsu demon king" Hinata couldn't beat Juuyabiru.
Unlike the defeated Naruto, Juuyabiru's eyes gleamed with excitement.
At last, he would face the child of destiny!
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