Chapter 17: Might Guy's Redemption

At noon, in the office, teachers discussed their observations from the exams.

"The Hyūga boy from Class 4-A is really impressive. As expected from the Hyūga clan, no one in his class could last a minute against him," said Ikeda with a hint of envy.

"He'll probably take the top spot in the practical exams again this year."

Ikeda wished he were the homeroom teacher of Class 4-A instead of 4-B. The bonus for teaching a top student would easily cover a fancy date at a high-end restaurant.

But it wasn't possible; a class with such good performance wouldn't have a change in teachers.

"Not necessarily. I think the Uchiha boy from your class, Obito, has a chance," Kimura chimed in.

Ikeda looked puzzled and asked, "Kimura, did you mean Uchiha Tetsuka? His skills are indeed impressive."

"No, I meant Uchiha Obito," Kimura clarified, asserting that he was not mistaken.

"Uchiha Obito? That can't be right. What skills could he have?" Ikeda looked skeptical, thinking Kimura was joking.

Obito was known as the bottom of the Uchiha class. If he were skilled, he wouldn't have that reputation.

"I'm not kidding. Obito's first opponent was Tetsuka, and he won decisively," Kimura continued.

Seeing Ikeda's disbelief, Kimura turned to Ryuto. "Ryuto-sensei was monitoring with me. Ask him."

Ikeda looked at Ryuto.

Ryuto nodded and said, "Yes, Kimura is correct. Obito defeated Tetsuka in the first round."

"That's unbelievable," Ikeda scratched his head, bewildered.

Ryuto's words were trustworthy. He was a teacher who had gained unanimous respect within a month of starting.

"How did he beat Tetsuka?" Ikeda was stumped, trying to figure out the reason behind the unexpected outcome.

Wasn't Obito supposed to be the class loser? How did he defeat the previous class champion?

Ryuto thought to himself, "If Obito's improvement surprises him this much, wait until he sees Might Guy's performance."

Ikeda would likely keep his bonus after all. Ryuto noted that Ikeda wasn't entirely undeserving, considering he often asked Ryuto to substitute, allowing Ryuto to earn rewards and sometimes treat him to meals.

"Ryuto-sensei's class is really exceptional," said Ueda Aya, who had been monitoring Ryuto's Class 1-A.

"Their overall mastery of the Three Basic Jutsus is almost on par with my second-year students," Aya marveled.

"Especially a prodigy named Uchiha Shisui. He reminds me of Kakashi Hatake from a few years back. He'll surely be the top in first-year practical exams."

"Comparable to Kakashi? That's quite a statement," Ikeda exclaimed, surprised.

Being the top in one's grade was one thing, but matching Kakashi's talent was extraordinary. Kakashi was a recognized genius, quickly rising to Chūnin after graduation.

"Yes, it's that impressive. Shisui is on a different level than the other first-year students," Aya confirmed.

"Yashiro-sensei, you're incredibly lucky. This should make evaluations a breeze," Ikeda remarked enviously, wishing he had such luck.

"It's not luck. It's Yashiro-sensei's excellent teaching. You can't attribute the entire class's high skill level to luck," Aya corrected him.

Aya believed the students' achievements were a testament to Ryuto's teaching prowess, not just the presence of naturally gifted students.

"Yes, yes, I misspoke. Of course, Ryuto-sensei is an outstanding teacher. My students wish he could teach them all the time," Ikeda admitted.

He felt a bit disheartened, as his students preferred Ryuto over him, even though he rarely asked Ryuto to substitute.

"It's nothing special. The students are just very hardworking," Ryuto said modestly.

After chatting with his colleagues, Ryuto practiced calligraphy until the afternoon exams resumed.

The exams were still held at Training Ground 16, but with fewer participants. Students who had already lost were not required to continue and could choose to skip the remaining exams.

As the afternoon progressed, Might Guy began to attract attention with his clean and decisive victories.

"Might Guy's taijutsu is incredible. He's so fast; he defeated Daisuke with a single kick," a student exclaimed.

"He's changed a lot. I remember he was just average in the third year," remarked another student who knew Guy.

"Maybe he trained really hard over the summer and the new semester?" he speculated.

"For the final match: Number 1, Uchiha Obito, versus Number 40, Might Guy. Please prepare to begin," Ryuto announced the final match of the class's practical exam.

Guy and Obito exchanged looks and moved to the exam area, ready to fight.

"Guy, I won't let you take this first place," Obito said, glancing at Rin outside the ring, his fighting spirit igniting.

"I feel the same. To become the strongest, I must seize every first place I can!" Guy replied with equal determination.

"They actually made it to the final," a student who had doubted them earlier admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.

It was surprising how much the two had improved from being the class's bottom two to strong contenders in the fourth year.

After their pre-battle declarations, Guy and Obito stood in opposition, forming the Seal of Confrontation.

"Begin!"

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