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Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and before anyone realized it, March of Konoha Year 55 had arrived.
Unnoticed, the first year of school was about to come to an end. By April, the first-year students would advance to the second year. But before the vacation began, they still had to face one final major exam.
This exam would also determine the top student of the year—the one who would represent the entire grade as the Top Student.
March 18th.
At six in the morning, Ryūsei was already awake and training in his family's courtyard.
After his usual morning routine, he took a shower and prepared breakfast. Once he finished eating and drank a full glass of milk, Ryūsei formed hand signs and created two shadow clones, sending them off to work as usual.
Meanwhile, his real body headed to the Ninja Academy.
The morning session consisted of written exams—just answering questions. The real challenge would come in the afternoon.
Though it was called an "important" assessment, it was essentially just a slightly more advanced version of their usual tests, with an added survival exercise.
Calling it a "survival exercise" was even a bit of an exaggeration. In reality, it was just a glorified game of hide-and-seek.
Even the graduation exam for sixth-year students only required them to demonstrate one of the three basic ninjutsu techniques.
For first-years, the curriculum was mostly academic. Children who weren't from ninja families hadn't even received the training scrolls for the three basic techniques yet.
The practical lessons in the afternoon were limited to shuriken throwing or taijutsu sparring—they hadn't even started kunai combat training.
These lessons were designed to help them accumulate mental and physical energy, laying a solid foundation.
In the entire year, the only technique the school had officially taught them was… the Hiding with Camouflage Technique.
At first glance, the Hiding with Camouflage Jutsu and the Body Flicker Jutsu might seem advanced, but they were actually even more basic than the three foundational techniques.
In the original story, when Naruto first appeared, he used the Konoha Body Flicker and Hiding with Camouflage to outwit the ninjas chasing him.
The reason these techniques gave off an "advanced" vibe was simply because many skilled shinobi had creatively adapted them in various ways.
Ryūsei suspected that the afternoon's survival exercise would likely test their proficiency in the Hiding with Camouflage Jutsu.
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"Yo… Ryūsei, good morning!"
"Good morning, Ryūsei-kun!"
"Ryūsei-kun, want to hang out with us after the exam?"
"Ryūsei, can you pass me some answers during the test? Please! If I fail, my mom will kill me!"
As soon as Ryūsei entered the classroom, many of his classmates—both boys and girls—greeted him.
He responded with a smile, sometimes even stopping to chat for a bit, always patient and friendly.
Unlike the aloof Sasuke or the isolated Naruto, Ryūsei had carefully crafted his image as a "central air conditioner"—warm and approachable to everyone.
After all, he was the only one who knew just how many future powerhouses were sitting in this very classroom.
There were two future saviors and Hokages, not to mention clan heirs and future leaders of key Konoha divisions.
Who knew if even the minor background characters—ones never mentioned in the original story—might rise to positions of influence someday?
So, even before his "cheat ability" awakened, Ryūsei had taken advantage of his reputation as a genius to leave a good impression on all his classmates.
And now, even after fusing with Asura's chakra and becoming the undisputed strongest in the class, he still maintained that persona.
Making one more friend means having one less enemy.
It was all about social strategy!
After chatting with his classmates, Ryūsei finally made his way to his seat.
The moment he sat down, a small hand tapped his shoulder from behind.
Turning around, he saw Ino, sitting right behind him, grinning as she said, "Ryūsei, do your best in the exam today! You've got to secure that Top Student title!"
"I'll try," Ryūsei replied with a smile.
"Hey, Ryūsei… does your family have some kind of Kekkei Genkai? And you just secretly awakened it?"
A lazy voice chimed in from beside him.
Shikamaru Nara, resting his head on the desk with half-lidded eyes, muttered drowsily, "Ever since you beat Naruto a few months ago, it's like you've become a completely different person."
"You're so smart—why don't you figure it out?" Ryūsei teased.
"Haah…" Shikamaru yawned, stretching as he sat up. "Whatever. There's definitely something different about you now."
Ino rolled her eyes. "Everyone has their secrets. Why are you being so nosy?"
"Yeah, yeah… my bad," Shikamaru conceded, raising his hands in surrender as Ino glared at him, her fist raised threateningly.
But internally, his curiosity only grew.
Normally, Shikamaru wouldn't care about other people's business. Even Naruto's special status hadn't piqued his interest much.
But Ryūsei… was an exception.
After observing him for a year, Shikamaru had noticed that Ryūsei's behavior in the first half of the year and the second half were like night and day.
In the first half, to Shikamaru, Ryūsei had seemed fake.
His effortlessly charming smile, which easily won people over, struck Shikamaru—with his sharp mind and keen perception—as nothing more than masterful acting.
Ryūsei was an early genius, just like him, but his intentions were too calculated.
That was why Shikamaru hadn't felt particularly close to Ryūsei, despite him deliberately sitting nearby.
But in the second half of the year, Shikamaru's impression of Ryūsei had shifted dramatically.
Because during that time, Ryūsei had become real.
The overly strategic, mask-like smile—flawless as it was—had vanished, along with the faint gloom that had lingered in his expression.
At his young age, Shikamaru couldn't fully comprehend how someone could change so drastically. So, during a conversation with his father, he had asked for advice.
After hearing several possible explanations, Shikamaru realized that Ryūsei's transformation stemmed from newfound confidence.
And that change had begun the moment Ryūsei defeated Naruto.
That was why Shikamaru was so curious.
How could defeating Naruto—a guy who ranked dead last in every test—suddenly make Ryūsei so self-assured?
There was no doubt about it: Ryūsei had either undergone some kind of transformation or was hiding a secret.
Whatever it was, it had freed him from his earlier scheming, allowing him to stop pretending and stand above everyone else with genuine confidence.
Today's exam might just reveal a clue.
With that thought, Shikamaru found himself feeling slightly interested in the test for the first time.
Ryūsei had no idea what Shikamaru was thinking.
If he had known, he would have been impressed.
As expected of the future strategist and "Eighth Hokage."
To notice so much at just six or seven years old… he's no less sharp than Itachi, who was thinking like a Hokage at the same age.