The next day, the practical exam was held at the training grounds, just like before.
After all the students had completed drawing lots, Mokutsuki announced the start of the practical exam.
“Will candidates number one, Steel, and number two, Kouji Mine, please enter the arena.”
Steel knew that being number one meant he would be the first to take the exam, so he had already warmed up in advance.
“Let me take the lead. Remember to cheer for me,” Steel said goodbye to his two good friends and walked into the exam area.
“Steel, don’t lose in the first match,” Shinyue Izumo cheered on Steel, giving him encouragement.
Kouji Mine and Steel entered the area together. Without much exchange, they made the Seal of Confrontation and waited for Mokutsuki’s signal to start the battle.
Although they aimed to get rid of the taijutsu teacher, they were going to wait to act during the practical. They wanted to show their true capabilities so the invigilator could see the difference between the students’ ninjutsu and taijutsu levels.
At the start, both engaged in a taijutsu battle to test each other.
In the initial exchange, Steel managed to suppress Kouji Mine with his greater strength.
Then Kouji Mine began to use tactics. First, he used the Substitution Jutsu to confuse Steel and create distance, then he created two clones to mix with his real self, looking for an opportunity to attack.
Kouji Mine’s Three Basic Techniques were decent, but Steel’s were even more advanced.
Steel first created a chair clone, then two normal clones. He used the regular clones to confuse Kouji Mine, then canceled the chair clone to make a regular clone, and finally used the Transformation Jutsu to turn it into a chair.
Naturally, Kouji Mine didn’t suspect a walking chair, allowing Steel to seize the opportunity and defeat him with a single strike.
“Hey, isn’t this Steel, one of the three so-called ‘Ninjutsu Talents’ everyone was talking about at the school? I didn’t expect this deception technique to be used so effectively,” Ayako Ueda praised Steel’s combat wisdom.
“And his Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu are very proficient, even better than the students in my class,” Ayako Ueda exclaimed.
She taught second-year ninjutsu, and even the best student in her class didn’t match up to Steel.
Purely in terms of Clone Jutsu, Ayako Ueda believed Steel had reached a graduation-level standard.
Steel’s opponent, Kouji Mine, also performed well, enough to outclass most students in her class.
As she continued to praise them, Ayako Ueda gave Steel a perfect 10 for his ninjutsu. With such a level of ninjutsu in the first year, anything less than a perfect score would be unreasonable. As for taijutsu, she only gave him 7.1, just above passing.
Kouji Mine’s taijutsu was even worse, earning only 5 points from Ayako Ueda.
Both performed averagely in shuriken throwing, earning 5 points each.
However, their hand seal proficiency was commendable, with Steel earning 8 points and Kouji Mine 7.5 points.
In the end, Ayako Ueda calculated Steel’s total score, reaching a high of 30.1 points.
This score was considered excellent. At the Ninja Academy, practical exam scores were stringent. Generally, a score above 20 indicated good performance, and above 30 signified excellence.
“Steel studies very hard,” Mokutsuki nodded.
Although he was curious if Steel trained at home, he knew Steel definitely studied hard at home. When collecting the test papers, Mokutsuki had a glimpse and knew the score would be high.
“The second match is about to begin. Will candidates number three, Shinyue Izumo, and number four, Yuki Koizumi, please get ready.”
“This time, watch me,” Shinyue Izumo said as he high-fived Steel on his way in.
“Izumo, good luck,” Anko cheered, raising her little fists.
Shinyue Izumo’s battle was more steady. Instead of disguising themself as a chair, he used a confusion technique to create a three-meter-tall, terrifying monster, scaring Yuki Koizumi and securing a quick victory.
“Shinyue Izumo, he’s also one of the ‘Ninjutsu Talents,’ right? Truly talented,” Ayako Ueda commented, thinking Steel and Izumo were indeed talented in a positive sense.
Shinyue Izumo’s display of ninjutsu was also exceptional. Ayako Ueda gave him a perfect score for ninjutsu, with a total score of 30.5. His hand seal proficiency was slightly better than Steel’s.
Ayako Ueda initially thought the first two students were of high quality. But after scoring the fifth match, she realized she had yet to give any student a ninjutsu score below 8.
Every student’s Three Basic Techniques was outstanding.
“Will candidates number eleven, Anko Mitarashi, and number twelve, Keiji Shima, please get ready.”
“You two watch this, I’ll show you what real deception techniques are,” Anko declared, thinking Steel and Izumo’s techniques were subpar.
“What’s wrong with a chair if it wins?” Steel retorted.
“Can it be scarier than my illusion?” Izumo thought his approach was best.
Anko didn’t respond. She knew practical demonstration was the best proof.
Keiji Shima’s taijutsu couldn’t match Anko’s, and she quickly took control.
Anko didn’t relent, swiftly forming hand seals to create seven or eight clones of Keiji Shima. Then, she used the Transformation Jutsu to turn into Keiji Shima herself.
In an instant, the exam area was filled with Keiji Shima clones running around, and Anko’s figure vanished.
“Mokutsuki-sensei, your student is truly talented,” Ayako Ueda said, stunned. She had been a teacher for years and had invigilated countless times but had never seen such a situation.
“Her thinking is quite unique,” Mokutsuki said after a moment.
Keiji Shima was bewildered by the sight of himself everywhere, and despite his caution, he was ultimately caught off guard and defeated by Anko.
Anko naturally earned a perfect 10 for ninjutsu. Ayako Ueda could say Anko’s score was perfect only because it was capped at 10. Anko’s ninjutsu level was higher than Steel and Izumo’s.
In the end, Anko scored a high 36, with full marks in everything except taijutsu and shuriken throwing.
Ayako Ueda felt like she was invigilating third- and fourth-year students.
These students’ ninjutsu levels were far beyond her expectations. She had invigilated Class 1-A before, and although they were good, it wasn’t this exaggerated.
Previously, she had said Class 1-A’s level was comparable to her second-year class. Now, she felt her class wasn’t worthy it.
“Mokutsuki-sensei, the ninjutsu level in your class is incredible. Every teacher at the academy should learn from you on how to teach ninjutsu,” Ayako Ueda praised.
A couple of standout students might be due to natural talent, but an entire class of outstanding students indicated excellent teaching. There couldn’t be that many geniuses.
“It’s all thanks to the students’ hard work. I just do my best to teach them,” Mokutsuki said humbly.
With mastery of level Three Basic Techniques and teaching skills, there needed to be a better instructor for these techniques in all of Konoha.
“Will candidate number thirty-eight, Shisui Uchiha, please get ready for the exam…”
Hearing Shisui’s name, Ayako Ueda perked up. This was the student she anticipated the most, having previously demonstrated a talent comparable to Kakashi at the same age.
(End of Chapter)
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