At Training Ground 16, Muyue was taking attendance before the exam.
Since it was a school-wide exam and practical combat required a lot of space, the school playground clearly couldn't accommodate so many people, so the exam was held directly at the training ground.
After confirming that all the examinees had arrived, Muyue and Kimura Sanjin announced the start of the lottery.
The rules of the practical combat exam were simple: students would be called up to draw lots according to the class roster, and then the draw number would determine their opponent. Number one would fight number two, number three would fight number four, and so on.
"I'm number one, Rin, what number are you?" Obito eagerly asked Rin Nohara after drawing his lot.
"I'm number ten. So, Obito, you're in the first match!" Rin Nohara replied.
"It doesn't matter which match, I'm going to win anyway." Obito was very confident; he believed everyone would be shocked by his current strength.
After training with Muyue for a month, Obito felt like he was gaining new insights every day. The current him had surpassed his past self by leaps and bounds.
After asking Rin Nohara, Obito went to ask Might Guy for his number.
"Forty," Might Guy answered.
"In that case, we'll probably only meet at the very end," Obito hadn't expected Might Guy to be the exact opposite of him.
"Don't lose before me, Obito!" Might Guy gave Obito a thumbs-up to cheer him on.
"That's what I should be saying! I'm an Uchiha!" Obito wasn't sure if Might Guy was being deliberate or unintentional, but it sounded awfully like a provocation.
"Where do you two get off with all that confidence?" a classmate next to them retorted. How were these two dead-last students talking about a 'clash of titans'?
"The first battle is about to begin. Examinee number one, Uchiha Obito, and examinee number two, Uchiha Tekka, please prepare for the exam." Muyue glanced at the time and officially announced the start of the exam.
Obito didn't argue with those who were mocking him; he quickly walked to the square area marked with white lines, ready to start the exam.
Uchiha Tekka also quickly entered the examination area and met Obito's gaze.
Although both were Uchihas, the same age, and classmates, they had barely spoken to each other.
There was no dramatic backstory; it was purely that neither of them was interested in the other.
Uchiha Tekka thought Obito was a bit dim-witted, lacked strength, and was often late—he had never seen such a weak Uchiha.
Obito thought Uchiha Tekka seemed cold and unapproachable.
"Both sides are Uchihas. This is going to be interesting," some mischief-maker could barely hold back their laughter.
They were from the same clan; whoever lost would be embarrassed.
"What's so interesting about it? Besides Uchiha Tekka winning, could Uchiha Obito possibly win?" The person next to him, however, believed this was a battle with no suspense.
"You know, Uchiha Tekka has been class-first in his second and third years, only being outdone by Kakashi in his first year."
"And what level is Uchiha Obito? His theory scores never pass, and his practical skills are just ordinary. How could he possibly beat Uchiha Tekka?"
The mischief-maker thought about it and realized it was true. Uchiha Tekka could be considered a standard Uchiha ninja, excellent in both practical and theoretical skills. Apart from that monstrous Kakashi who graduated in his first year, no one in the class was his match.
For Uchiha Obito, the Uchiha clan's dead-last, to defeat an excellent Uchiha like Uchiha Tekka, it was indeed a bit much to ask.
"Obito, be careful!" Rin Nohara said worriedly.
She felt Obito's luck was simply too bad.
Originally, with Obito's strength, while not at the forefront of the class, he wouldn't be eliminated in the first round.
But facing Uchiha Tekka, a formidable opponent who was consistently first, Rin Nohara only hoped Obito wouldn't push himself too hard, to avoid getting hurt.
Mentally, she supported Obito's victory, but realistically, there was a clear disparity in their strengths.
"Almost everyone is betting against him, but a victory under such circumstances would be even more exhilarating!" Might Guy folded his arms across his chest, a hearty smile on his face. Unlike others, he believed Obito could win.
The commotion from Class 4-2 even piqued the curiosity of other fourth-grade classes nearby, and many people came over to take a look. Practical exams were relatively free; as long as you didn't leave the training ground, it was fine.
However, upon seeing it was Obito and Tekka, many people lost interest.
They were all in the same grade, and they had been taking practical exams together for several years, so everyone knew who was strong in which class.
Uchiha Tekka fighting Uchiha Obito? Wasn't this just a complete beatdown? What was there to see?
Only a few who wanted to see Uchiha Tekka's strength remained.
The two stood opposite each other, forming a 'Confrontation Seal'.
This was a necessary procedure in ninja school battles, to tell the opponent that you were about to attack. After the fight, they would form a 'Reconciliation Seal' to symbolize that they were still good comrades.
"Begin!" Muyue announced the start of the battle after seeing both of them were ready.
As soon as Muyue's words fell, Uchiha Tekka swiftly drew three shuriken from his ninja pouch and flung them at Obito, aiming for his head, torso, and feet. He then rapidly charged towards Obito.
Obito also casually drew three shuriken and quickly threw them.
The six shuriken collided with a crisp metallic clang and fell to the ground.
"The Uchiha clan's shuriken throwing is indeed extraordinary. Even an Uchiha with relatively ordinary talent like Uchiha Obito has a decent hand in shuriken throwing," Kimura Sanjin commented.
To intercept shuriken with shuriken required impressive accuracy.
Because the training ground wasn't very large, Uchiha Tekka quickly closed in on Obito and threw a quick right hook.
Obito showed no fear, meeting the punch with his own fist, engaging Uchiha Tekka in close combat.
The two exchanged blows, kicking up dust and fighting intensely.
"Oh, so this Uchiha Obito actually has quite a hand in taijutsu?" The onlookers were surprised.
The Uchiha Obito, who was called the Uchiha clan's dead-last, was actually holding his own against Uchiha Tekka.
If outsiders were surprised, let alone those in their own class, who looked as if they had seen a ghost.
The normal procedure should have been Obito being instantly kicked away and defeated by Uchiha Tekka.
"Obito has really gotten a lot stronger!" Rin Nohara's mouth was slightly agape, somewhat disbelieving.
She had always thought Obito was just bluffing as before, but this time, he had truly gotten stronger!
"Uchiha Obito is still a bit lacking," Kimura Sanjin said, shaking his head. As a Chunin, he could see much more than the students.
"His taijutsu is indeed a bit lacking," Muyue nodded.
After all, he only had a month. How could he cover all aspects? In this month, Obito mainly focused on Fire Style ninjutsu, and under Muyue's guidance, his nature transformation had greatly improved compared to before.
As Kimura Sanjin said, Obito was gradually pushed back.
"I knew it. How could Uchiha Obito possibly be Uchiha Tekka's opponent?" The person who had just mocked Obito breathed a sigh of relief.
If Obito had defeated Uchiha Tekka, wouldn't that make him seem terribly short-sighted?
However, he thought it might be better to drop the nickname "Uchiha's dead-last" for Obito from now on. With this performance, calling him a dead-last would be underestimating him.
Obito found an opportunity, using Uchiha Tekka's punch to temporarily widen the distance between them, and then quickly began to form hand signs.
He hadn't practiced Fire Style ninjutsu for so long just to have an intense fistfight with Uchiha Tekka.
Don't think this chapter is making them out to be stupid; it's because Obito was acting so arrogant that others started mocking him.