NOVEL NEXT Chapter 86: Chapter 86
The secret was out.
"If there are no surprises, then our proctor today… will probably be this senior right here!"
Such was the benefit of growing stronger—even those who had once underestimated you couldn't ignore your presence anymore. Nara Shikaku, for instance, now had no choice but to acknowledge the prowess of Fujiwara Tetsuya.
Not far away, the expressions of Uesugi Yusuke and Tanaka Rina visibly shifted as well. Their gazes betrayed shock and disbelief.
Tetsuya's role as the proctor for today's graduation exam had been a carefully kept secret. Aside from Uchiha Mikoto, no one else had known. So, it was only natural that Yusuke and Rina were utterly dumbfounded.
"It really is Tetsuya! It's him!"
In the second-year section of the academy—Tetsuya's former class—a chorus of voices erupted in excitement. A group of wide-eyed children, a mix of boys and girls, began cheering fervently after snapping out of their initial shock.
"Hey, who's that pretty big sister standing next to Tetsuya?"
"She's gorgeous! Does Konoha have beauties like her?"
"Could she be Tetsuya's girlfriend?"
"Damn it! How is that fair? I'm so jealous!"
"Keep your voice down, Seiichiro! Don't you see the teachers up front? You're embarrassing the entire second year!"
"But you're not wrong. Tetsuya really has that kind of girlfriend? Unbelievable… so unfair!"
In a secluded corner, a few oblivious kids suddenly huddled together and burst into tears, unable to contain their envy.
While the students outside buzzed with chaotic emotions, Tetsuya, on the other hand, was busy with formalities. Under the guidance of Sanjodou Suzuko, he spent several minutes greeting the academy's teachers one by one.
Though a year had passed since Tetsuya graduated from the academy, the instructors still vividly remembered him. After all, how could they forget a student who had managed to graduate as a first-year?
"And that's the situation!" Suzuko addressed the gathered students. "For this graduation exam, Chunin Fujiwara Tetsuya will serve as your proctor. Tetsuya is a genius cultivated right here in our academy. While he may be younger than some of you, he's now your senior in rank. You should all seize this opportunity and take this as your final lesson before officially stepping onto the path of a shinobi."
After the brief introduction, the elite Chunin instructor silently stepped aside, leaving the stage to Tetsuya.
Tetsuya stepped forward, meeting the eager and expectant gazes of the students. His calm, confident demeanor naturally drew their attention.
"Greetings, everyone. I am Fujiwara Tetsuya, and I'll be your proctor today."
After giving a subtle nod to Uchiha Mikoto, Tetsuya turned back to the group. He had spent the past week pondering the structure of the graduation exam. While he had toyed with the idea of organizing a high-level test, he eventually dismissed it. Hosting such an exam would require significant resources and coordination, which might not align with Sarutobi Hiruzen's preferences. In the end, he decided to keep things straightforward and effective.
"The rules for today's graduation exam are simple," Tetsuya announced, his voice steady and composed. "You can use any tactics or techniques at your disposal. All of you will attack me together. To pass, you have two options: either defeat me within five minutes or survive my attacks for the same duration."
The students exchanged uneasy glances.
"Of course," he continued, "to ensure fairness, I won't use ninja tools or large-scale jutsu during the exam. But be warned, those who fail to endure for five minutes will be deemed unqualified."
A wave of murmurs spread among the students. Many of them were taken aback by the bold simplicity of the rules.
"What an arrogant guy," someone muttered.
"Does he think we're pushovers?" another scoffed. "He's just some kid from a declining ninja clan! Does being a Chunin already make him think he's invincible?"
"Hah! I'll wipe that smug look off his face!" one more growled. "So what if he's a Chunin? Our clan has plenty of Chunin—he's nothing special!"
Tetsuya's calm declaration had clearly stirred up the students' fighting spirit. Even the reminders from their clan elders to stay cautious were momentarily forgotten.
"Well then," Tetsuya said, his lips curling into a smirk, "What are you all waiting for? Time is ticking. Are you going to attack or just stand there?"
As the students hesitated, Tetsuya's figure blurred. In an instant, he appeared in their midst.
"Watch out!" someone yelled. "He's already making his move!"
The suddenness of Tetsuya's attack threw the group into disarray. The more cautious students, like Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi, immediately dispersed to the outskirts. But, predictably, the academy was never short of hot-headed individuals. Over a dozen students, wielding kunai, charged straight at Tetsuya without hesitation.
"Charging in without assessing your opponent's strength?" Tetsuya mused aloud. "How reckless."
With the enhanced speed of the Body Flicker Technique, Tetsuya darted between them, his movements too fast to track. In just ten seconds, he incapacitated the group with precise hand strikes, leaving them sprawled unconscious on the ground.
"His Body Flicker Technique is already at such a level?" one student muttered in awe. "He's exactly like the rumors say… a complete monster."
The remaining students finally felt the full weight of Tetsuya's presence. The ease with which he had dispatched their classmates sent a chill down their spines.
"Everyone, listen up!" one of the older students called out. "He's too fast! Even if we can see his movements, our bodies can't keep up. If we stay bunched together, we'll only get in each other's way. Spread out into regular battle formations!"
The suggestion quickly took hold, and the remaining twenty-plus students formed small squads, fanning out to surround Tetsuya.
"Trying to stall for time, are you?" Tetsuya muttered, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "What a naïve strategy."
Scanning the field, Tetsuya's sharp gaze locked onto a particular squad. Without hesitation, he launched himself toward them.
"Damn it! He's coming straight for us!" one of the students shouted in panic.
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