"Let me introduce everyone, these two students, Uchiha Chishimo and Uchiha Shisui, will be taking the graduation exam with you this time." The Middle-aged Teacher introduced the two to the students in front of him.
Hearing this, the quiet crowd began to whisper again.
"Cough cough!"
After feeling the restless crowd calm down again, the teacher nodded slightly and said, "Next, I will take you to the testing ground, where you will need to complete the Kunai throwing assessment!"
Upon hearing this, everyone, regardless of their differing moods, became solemn and serious. After all, for them now, successfully graduating and becoming a Genin was their most important task. Even Asuma Sarutobi, being a "Hokage's son," was no exception.
In the arena, perhaps only Chishimo's emotions remained unchanged from beginning to end. Even Shisui, beside him, couldn't hide a hint of seriousness beneath his smiling face.
Seeing the change in Shisui's expression, Chishimo pouted helplessly. With Shisui's ability, why would he care about such a mere graduation exam?
One must know that during their usual spars, although Chishimo could defeat Shisui with his strong comprehensive abilities, the excellent skill Shisui displayed in applying the Body Flicker Technique still caused him considerable trouble.
Not to mention a mere Genin, he couldn't say for Jonin yet, but among Chunin, Chishimo was confident that no one could stop Shisui.
But in the end, no matter how great his abilities, Shisui still had the mentality of a child, not yet transforming into the Shisui who worried about his clan and the Village, the Shisui known for his Body Flicker Technique. So, being nervous for the assessment was understandable.
As his thoughts raced, the main group had already begun to move under the teacher's lead. Chishimo's steps also didn't stop, following closely at the very end of the group.
"Chishimo!" Just having emerged from the tense atmosphere of worrying about the exam, Uchiha Obito excitedly ran up to Chishimo, "I used to look at you and think you'd be a clumsy guy like me, I never thought you'd be a genius too! And Shisui also…"
Uchiha Obito didn't hold back at all because Uchiha Shisui was beside him. Instead, he chatted happily with the two of them, although most of the time it was Obito doing the talking.
Uchiha Shisui responded to Uchiha Obito with six parts enthusiasm, three parts curiosity, and one part awkwardness. Although he had a good impression of this fellow clan member, he still felt a bit overwhelmed by the talkative Obito. He could only cast a pleading look at Chishimo, who returned an 'I can't help you' look.
In Chishimo's opinion, sometimes Uchiha Obito and Might Guy really had some similarities. Once they got excited, no one could stop them, so Chishimo truly was helpless.
Fortunately, this situation didn't last long.
The group of people who had been surrounding Uchiha Obito earlier also came over one after another.
Chishimo's eyes lit up. His future three-person team members were very likely among the people in front of him. Rather than getting to know them in a hurry after forming a team, it was better to start building relationships now.
"Obito, these are all your friends, right! Aren't you going to introduce them to us?" Chishimo pointed to the few people slowly approaching.
Uchiha Obito clearly hadn't recovered from his earlier excitement. He looked somewhat blankly in the direction Chishimo was pointing, only then realizing what Chishimo meant.
"I almost forgot about them if you hadn't mentioned it!" Uchiha Obito scratched his head awkwardly, smiling somewhat foolishly.
Obito quickly walked up to his companions and began to introduce them to Chishimo. Chishimo listened to the familiar names one by one, matching them with the corresponding faces as Obito introduced them.
When Obito introduced himself, everyone greeted Chishimo and Shisui quite kindly. Chishimo also responded to each of them, only Asuma Sarutobi nodded indifferently, clearly having quite a bit of an opinion of the two.
However, Chishimo wasn't annoyed. He also smiled and nodded in response. After all, psychologically, he was an adult. What adult would get angry with a child?
"Chishimo-kun, are you very confident about the graduation exam?" Rin Nohara asked curiously. Her careful observation had noticed that there was no tension on Chishimo's face, but rather more ease.
Feeling the gazes converging on him again, Chishimo smiled, feeling that these innocent children were truly adorably simple. Even though they themselves were terribly nervous, they still had the presence of mind to care about others.
"Who can say for sure about these things? As long as we do our best to perform our best when the time comes, whether we pass or not, at least we won't regret it, right?"
Chishimo seemed to be expressing his thoughts, but also guiding everyone in his own way. Coupled with his handsome and gentle smile, everyone felt touched, as if Chishimo had spoken their minds. Kurenai Yuhi, who was staring at Chishimo, even had little stars in her eyes.
Seeing this scene, Asuma Sarutobi gritted his teeth in frustration, but he was helpless. He twisted his mouth, secretly vowing in his heart to steal back the spotlight in the upcoming assessment.
In a short while, everyone had arrived at the training ground under the teacher's lead.
"Everyone, line up according to your Ninja numbers. I will conduct the exam for each of you one by one. Uchiha Chishimo and Uchiha Shisui, as for you two, line up at the very end of the queue!" The Middle-aged Teacher standing in front of everyone announced loudly.
Chishimo and his companion naturally had no objections to this decision. They nodded at the Middle-aged Teacher to show they understood.
"First, you will undergo the Kunai throwing assessment. Each of you can throw ten Kunai, and your score will be determined by the total number of targets hit. Any questions?"
Looking around, the Middle-aged Teacher saw no questions and didn't waste any more words, promptly starting the exam.
"First one, Asuma Sarutobi!"
Asuma Sarutobi slowly walked out of the crowd and approached the wooden target, not forgetting to turn back and give Chishimo a provocative look.
Seeing this, the surrounding people also showed expressions of eager spectators, clearly wanting to see who would prevail between these two. Although they didn't know the reason, it didn't stop them from enjoying the show.
However, they were all smart people and chose not to help either side. After all, one side was the Hokage's son, and the other was from the great Uchiha clan; neither was easy to provoke. They were all very smart not to interfere.
Turning back, after getting permission from the teacher, Asuma Sarutobi focused all his attention on the target. Then, he leaped up, continuously throwing the Kunai in his hand. Only ten whooshing sounds were heard in succession, and ten Kunai were already embedded in the wooden target ten meters away.
"Wow, look! Asuma hit all the targets!"
"As expected of the Hokage's son, he really has some skills!"
The teacher standing in front of the target, responsible for counting, looked at the wooden target and then loudly announced, "Asuma Sarutobi, ninety points!"
"What? Ninety points!"
"Damn it, isn't he putting pressure on us behind him!"
Feeling the envious and admiring gazes around him, Asuma Sarutobi made quite a splash. He looked back at Chishimo again, as if showing off.
Chishimo, however, ignored him and was chatting animatedly with Uchiha Obito and others, completely devoid of any nervousness about the approaching exam. This left Asuma Sarutobi with a feeling of powerlessness, like having strength but nowhere to use it.