18 - If You’re a Man, Don’t Let Me Down
The exam was about to begin.
The three examinees stood in the center of the clearing, while their homeroom teacher, Kuroshu Nen, explained the rules.
"This exam differs from past practical tests. Though it's a controlled spar, the three proctors won't hold back just because of your age."
"To pass, you need to be prepared to give it everything you've got."
"Of course, if you want to back out now, there's still time…"
At that last line, Kuroshu Nen deliberately shifted his gaze away from Kakashi Hatake.
It was clearly directed at the two slackers…
Obito Uchiha was still a bit nervous, his eyes locked on the Hyuga chunin, barely registering the words.
Yuto Souta, though.
He was… actually a little excited.
A Hyuga proctor showing up for the exam said a lot—conspiracy, backroom deals, all possibilities.
It meant his low-profile approach was no longer viable, but… that didn't matter much.
Compared to the rewards of passing the exam, these were trivial.
"Teacher, can the three of us pick our proctors freely?" Yuto Souta asked.
"No," Kuroshu Nen shook his head. "Ninja don't get to choose their enemies."
"Especially not Konoha ninja."
He said it with gravity.
Every ninja world war, the other four nations seemed to agree on one thing… no matter their plans, target Konoha first!
Konoha ninja really didn't have the luxury of picking their foes…
"I see… Thanks for the lesson, Teacher," Yuto Souta said, sounding a bit disappointed.
But then his gaze shifted to the Hyuga chunin, his head tilting, a mocking, provocative grin spreading across his face!
Kakashi Hatake beside him sensed something and moved to intervene.
Too late…
"What I mean is… we Uchiha never care who our enemies are!"
Yuto Souta suddenly stepped forward, his stare piercing straight at the Hyuga!
"Once, a few school kids provoked us Uchiha. They thought numbers and age gave them the edge, but they forgot the gap in our bloodlines!"
"Peer sparring should stop at a tap-out, but I still broke that guy's arms… because I'm an Uchiha!"
He paused there.
By now, the field had fallen deathly silent…
The boy's tone was calm, as if recounting something insignificant, yet the aggression in his words left no room for rebuttal!
Disbelief crept into Kuroshu Nen's eyes.
As a teacher, his first instinct was to think of schoolyard brawls—an egregious offense.
As for Yuto Souta openly admitting to fighting…
Beyond shock, Kuroshu Nen could only turn a blind eye.
Clan affairs were beyond his control… Since the Hyuga hadn't come to the school, he didn't want to dwell on it here.
They'd deal with it after the exam.
What truly baffled him was… how had this bottom-of-the-class student suddenly changed so much?
Why was he saying this? What was his goal?
For the first time, he found himself anticipating Yuto Souta's exam performance…
Just based on that aura!
Kakashi Hatake beside him let out a quiet sigh.
He knew exactly what Yuto Souta was up to…
Provoking the Hyuga.
To ensure Obito got a normal proctor.
Too bad… If Kuroshu Nen had allowed them to choose opponents, Kakashi had planned to take the Hyuga himself.
"So… what's the point of all this?" Kuroshu Nen asked, rubbing his temples.
He had a bad feeling.
Yuto Souta's words carried weight.
But… no matter how he looked at it, it reeked of proctor-baiting.
"No point," Yuto Souta shrugged, then pointed a small hand at the Hyuga chunin.
"I don't think an Uchiha's exam needs a Hyuga proctor, but you're right, Teacher—Konoha ninja don't get to pick their enemies."
"So…"
Yuto Souta beckoned with a finger at the Hyuga.
"If you're still a man, don't let me look down on you!"
If you're a man, you know what to do, right?
I can't choose my proctor, but a proctor should be able to choose their examinee, no?
At this point.
Yuto Souta had given up any hope of laying low…
They'd come knocking at his door!
Self-delusion wasn't his style either.
The Hyuga's expression flickered repeatedly…
All eyes in the field had shifted from Yuto Souta to him.
His name was Hyuga Kouta. Right now, he should've been racing toward the Mist Village battlefield.
But just before departure, he'd received an order from the clan head…
Delay the battlefield trip and, as a chunin, proctor an Uchiha!
The clan head's demand was simple and brutal…
Use covert means to inject chakra into this brat's body!
Effectively crippling this Uchiha kid's future!
Harsh, but he'd accepted.
Especially after hearing Yuto Souta admit to the assault…
"Your approach is clever. When you know the gap between you and your enemy, you disrupt their judgment this way to seize a slim chance."
"As your proctor, I'm willing to give you that chance."
Hyuga Kouta spoke coldly.
His words were calculated, showing no anger at Yuto Souta's provocation. Instead, he praised the boy's psychological tactics like an elder.
The other two proctors and Kuroshu Nen visibly relaxed…
Worthy of the Hyuga.
Such composure, such refinement…
And the smile on Yuto Souta's face grew even brighter…
"So, shall we start?"
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