"It's the first exam, I'm a bit nervous, I wonder if the questions will be difficult."
"Hope it's not too hard, or I'll get a beating when I get home if I fail."
"It shouldn't be that bad. Didn't Teacher Muyue give us practice tests? Passing should be easy."
Perhaps because it was their first exam, many students in Class 1, Year 1, were nervous.
They worried the questions would be too hard, and that they'd be scolded at home if their grades were poor.
"Anko, Izumo, are you nervous?" Kotetsu asked Izumo Kamizuki.
"What's there to be nervous about? It's just a small exam. I'll ace it easily," Anko Mitarashi said with a laugh.
"Of course, aren't you nervous? This isn't like usual; the results will be publicly displayed then," Izumo Kamizuki replied.
"I'm a bit nervous too. I only scored eighty on Teacher Hanyu's last practice test. The actual exam might be harder, so I'll probably only get sixty or seventy," Kotetsu Hagane nodded.
"My practice score was a bit better than yours, eighty-seven, but I also feel like I might only get sixty or seventy this time," Izumo Kamizuki said with a bitter expression.
"No way, you all scored so high?" Anko was a little stunned; she, who had been full of confidence, only got over sixty on the last practice test.
"Practice scores are all fake; they don't count for real," Izumo Kamizuki sighed.
"Let's try our best to score well. If the average score is high, I heard that if grades are too poor, the teacher might be replaced, and then it won't be Teacher Muyue anymore," Kotetsu said, revealing the rumor he had heard.
"Replace the teacher? Other teachers are fine, but Teacher Hanyu can't be replaced," Anko didn't want Muyue to leave.
Although he was their homeroom teacher, Muyue only taught more classes in Class 1; he didn't teach all of them, there were other teachers too.
"Yes, other teachers' classes are too boring; only Teacher Hanyu's classes are interesting and easy to understand," Izumo Kamizuki agreed.
"How about we tell the whole class this news to motivate everyone?" Izumo Kamizuki thought of a good idea; he had read in novels that morale needed to be boosted before a big battle.
Anko thought it was a good idea, then stood on her seat and announced the news to everyone.
Anko's words caused a stir in the classroom. Muyue was their most beloved and respected teacher.
"Everyone, try to score well! If Teacher Muyue leaves and we get another boring taijutsu teacher, it would be terrible," Kotetsu took the opportunity to say loudly.
"Study hard! We absolutely won't let Teacher Muyue be replaced!"
"I'll just say it directly: if anyone fails this time, I'll look down on them. Teacher Muyue taught us so well."
Shisui didn't participate. It didn't matter; he would act and directly secure first place in the entire grade. With such results, the teacher naturally wouldn't be replaced.
"Everyone quiet down, the exam time is almost here, just do your best."
Muyue's voice suddenly appeared, making the classroom instantly quiet. Everyone looked towards the source of the sound and saw Muyue standing at the doorway without them noticing when he arrived.
"I believe everyone can get good scores," Muyue said with a smile, not lingering, and quickly went to the class he was assigned to proctor.
So many students wanting to study hard for him to continue teaching naturally pleased Muyue.
However, Muyue could only say that they were worrying for nothing. Even if a teacher were to be replaced, it would be based on the entire semester and academic year.
Moreover, the practice tests Muyue gave them were actually harder than the real exam.
Walking into the classroom of Class 2, Year 4, Muyue directly went to the podium and announced, "Everyone quiet down, the exam is about to begin."
Teacher proctor assignments were random, and he happened to be proctoring Class 2, Year 4.
"Teacher Muyue."
Many people in Class 2, Year 4, greeted Muyue, and Muyue smiled and nodded in response to each of them.
Not only were Obito and Might Guy his disciples in Class 2, Year 4, but this class was also one where he taught a relatively large number of substitute lessons, so everyone was quite familiar with him. Coupled with the contrast with Iketani Yu, everyone liked Muyue even more.
"Teacher Muyue is watching, I must pass this time!" Might Guy took a deep breath, looking as if he was facing a formidable enemy.
If Might Guy had to choose between taking a theory exam and fighting a genin, he would rather choose to fight a genin.
He was also graduating next year. In a fight with an official ninja, he might have a burst of strength and even win, but for some theory questions, no matter how desperate he got, there was nothing he could do.
"Rin, just you wait and see. I guarantee this will change your perception of me," Obito whispered smugly.
"You'll definitely pass this time, right? I believe you can do it, Obito," Rin Nohara encouraged with a smile.
Although Obito had said such words countless times before without success, Rin Nohara was still willing to believe in Obito and offer encouragement.
"Try to get the questions you know right, check them several times, and leave the difficult ones for last," Rin Nohara gently reminded Obito.
As a good friend, she truly hoped that Obito could shed his "dead last" title.
"Mhm, mhm," Obito nodded in agreement.
Soon, another proctoring teacher, Sugihito Kimura, a colleague of Muyue from the same office, entered the classroom. Two teachers proctored one exam room together.
When the bell rang, Muyue and Sugihito Kimura distributed the exam papers together.
Then, the two proctored the exam, one quietly, one actively, and occasionally sat on the podium chatting.
"Teacher Iketani must be having a tough time. I guess his bonus for this semester is up in the air, getting stuck with two big dead-lasts," Sugihito Kimura sighed softly.
"Hard to say. Perhaps they'll study hard this semester and pass the exam," Muyue smiled and shook his head.
Muyue felt that Obito and Might Guy's performance this time should surprise a lot of people.
"They haven't passed a single theory exam for three consecutive years. If they could pass, they would have passed long ago. The higher the grade, the harder the curriculum," Sugihito Kimura thought Muyue was too optimistic.
"It's a good thing they're graduating after this school year, otherwise..." Sugihito Kimura imagined if such students fell into his hands, it would truly be a torment.
After a brief chat, Muyue continued his rounds.
He somewhat missed teaching, because of the exams, the entire ninja academy was closed for three days. The first day was for various theory exams, the second day was for practical training, and the third day was also for practical training, to determine the grade rankings.
These three days of closure meant he missed out on practicing several ninjutsu and refining dozens of chakra.
Fortunately, the disciple reward system was still usable. After the theory exam, Muyue gave Obito some shuriken, which triggered a good reward, granting him fifty chakra.
"Just you wait, Teacher Muyue, I'll definitely defeat them all with the shuriken you gave me and take first place!" Obito said gratefully.
The practical exam was about to begin.