Chapter 29 Test

Ninja Academy First Grade (Class 1).

A black-haired boy wearing a dark blue high-collared long-sleeved T-shirt lay motionless on his desk by the window.

The warm afternoon sun of spring shined through the window, casting light into the classroom and onto his figure. It seemed to outline him with a golden edge, making his whole being emit a faint golden glow.

The boy sleeping on the desk was none other than Uchiha Toshiro. Even though he had taken a two-hour nap at noon, he had just created a shadow clone with a significant amount of his chakra, leaving him feeling quite exhausted as if his body had been emptied out. Coupled with the slightly intoxicated warmth of the spring sun, he was already feeling drowsy again shortly after sitting down.

"Clatter!" The sound of a sliding door being opened suddenly filled the air. Ryosuke Aoyama, the bald homeroom teacher in a green Chūnin vest who bore a striking resemblance to Saitama-sensei, stepped into the classroom and headed towards the podium.

This immediately stopped the commotion among some of the classmates who were still fooling around. They sat up straight, adopting the appearance of well-behaved students.

"Everyone, perk up! We are about to conduct a basic Taijutsu test. Those at the back still sleeping, wake up and pay attention!"

It has been almost a month since the start of the term at the Ninja Academy. Not to mention the clan children in the class, even the ordinary civilian children had successfully refined their chakra by now.

Hence, the school was conducting various basic ability tests on these new students. These included cultural levels, hand seals, physical fitness, among other skills. Today, it was time for the Taijutsu test.

Reluctantly getting up, Toshiro propped his head on one hand, looking numbly at Teacher Aoyama standing at the podium, passionately explaining the importance of today's test.

Many classmates turned their heads, sneaking glances at Toshiro, who was just called out. Since joining the school, apart from showing a little prowess during the entrance exam, he had been quite low-key otherwise. In the mornings, he would borrow a book from the library and read it quietly at his seat.

Those classmates who were now turning to look at him mostly bore expressions of curiosity and exploration.

[This Uchiha guy in the class is quite strange, he's excessively quiet!]

[Silent Toshiro-kun is so handsome! Even his just-woken-up look is adorable! I really want to be friends with him!]

Ignoring the curious expressions of the boys in the class and the starry-eyed looks of some of the girls, Toshiro had long decided to be a quiet, handsome guy in the Ninja Academy. Moving as little as possible to conserve energy.

"Alright, everyone, follow me to the multi-purpose room for the Taijutsu test!"

The multi-purpose room resembled the training dojo at Toshiro's home but was larger and could accommodate more people.

In the activity room, Teacher Aoyama was conversing with a middle-aged ninja, roughly in his forties or fifties, with some greying hair.

"Alright, this is your future Taijutsu instructor, Teacher Ikeda Yuta. Soon, when your names are called, step forward one by one for Taijutsu sparring with Teacher Ikeda. You score one point for each threatening attack and three points for touching Teacher Ikeda. Got it?"

"Yes!" "Understood!" "Let's get started!"

Hearing the chaotic responses from these kids, Teacher Aoyama felt a great loss of face in front of his colleague. His forehead veins bulged, and he couldn't help but roar angrily.

"You lot better get serious! This test is crucial for your future. Clear the space in the middle, sit along the walls!!!"

The furious roar echoed through the room, even blowing the hair of the students standing in front of Aoyama.

Seeing the students finally showing some semblance of order, Ryosuke Aoyama nodded in satisfaction. "Teacher Ikeda, let's get started."

It was no wonder he valued this so much. The results of this test would go into the students' records. Their Taijutsu scores at graduation would be compared comprehensively with the teacher's evaluations to determine their class placements.

"The Taijutsu test will be conducted in the form of ninja sparring. You all know the rules; I will be the opponent, and each of you will take turns," Teacher Ikeda said with a smile, adding, "I won't make it easy for anyone to score."

Ninja sparring, or "Ninzu Tehodoki," is Taijutsu practice among ninjas. It excludes the use of ninja tools, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu and involves starting and ending combat with the ritualistic hand signs of confrontation and reconciliation, respectively.

"First up, Doi Kohei, you're on. Perform the hand sign of confrontation!"

A boy with short brown hair and average looks stood up somewhat dazed and walked to stand opposite Teacher Ikeda.

"Doi, don't be nervous. Use all your strength and attack Teacher Ikeda," Teacher Aoyama gently reassured the boy, who seemed to come from an ordinary family.

"Now, ninja sparring begins!"

For this test, a so-called "threatening attack" requires these children, who had just entered the Ninja Academy, to correctly execute effective attacks based on the Taijutsu knowledge taught over the past month.

As long as the posture wasn't too off, they could score a point. Touching the opponent aimed at exceptional ninja children, of whom there were always one or two each year at the Ninja Academy.

Without hesitation, Kohei Doi, after hearing the command to start, stepped forward, twisting his body and delivering a standard punch towards Teacher Ikeda's abdomen.

[Ninja truly is a brutal profession! Even a child from an ordinary family, just six years old, can fiercely attack a teacher upon receiving the command.]

The sound of continuous punches and blocks echoed through the dojo as Kohei Doi kept attacking Teacher Ikeda.

Ryosuke Aoyama, clipboard in one hand, was intently watching the scene, evaluating his student's strength and speed, jotting down notes occasionally.

Meanwhile, Teacher Ikeda wasn't just defending rigidly; he would also move occasionally and launch one or two slow attacks at the students to assess their reflexes.

"Alright! That's enough," Teacher Aoyama called to stop the sparring after roughly two minutes, having a good grasp of Kohei Doi's level.

"Conclude with the hand sign of reconciliation!"

(Chapter end)