109 CH - 106 Exams

Hanzo's visit to the Land of Grass was more than just an inspection of its development; it was also a search for his own past ideals. Once upon a time, he had been a visionary leader of the Rain Village, but now he couldn't help but question where he had gone astray.

Upon hearing about the Grass Village's academy exams, Hanzo hesitated briefly. He didn't immediately express his desire to visit the academy but instead continued to follow Yoshinori, his steps involuntarily slowing down.

As he gazed upon the Land of Grass, so different from the Land of Rain, with its genuine smiles on people's faces and the vast expanse of white snow, he couldn't help but feel envious of the tranquility that enveloped this place.

…

Meanwhile, in another part of the Land of Grass, exams were in full swing at the academy. However, beneath the academy building, a nervous exchange student named Obito found himself in a rather unique situation.

He was sitting in an exam room beneath the Grass Village's academy, surrounded by a group of White Zetsu, who were there to invigilate. Obito, quivering with anxiety, glanced around at the numerous White Zetsu surrounding him, unsure of what to make of the situation. The sight was rather intimidating for him, with ten White Zetsu standing guard around him, even one positioned above his head.

Obito couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and wondered why this level of supervision was necessary. After all, he was the only student in the room, and importantly, he couldn't fathom why he, as a Konoha ninja, needed to take an exam from the Grass Village.

Feeling a bit anxious, Obito raised his hand, trying to get the attention of Madara-Sensei, who was present but seemed to be dozing off. He cleared his throat and spoke in a cautious tone, "Madara-Sensei, is it really necessary to have so many invigilators? I'm Obito of the Uchiha clan, and I assure you, I'm always honest and trustworthy. I have no intention of cheating."

Inwardly, Obito couldn't help but question the need for this level of supervision. He was the only student taking the exam, so it seemed excessive. Besides, his arm was still recovering, and he wasn't in the best condition to write. Couldn't he simply skip the exam?

Obito's attempt to negotiate with Madara-Sensei about the number of invigilators was met with a stern response. Madara opened his eyes slowly, giving Obito a look that clearly communicated, 'Don't bother me,' and said firmly, "Shut up and start the exam."

Obito could only let out a quiet sigh of resignation, as he murmured inwardly 'It seem that Madara-Sensei is in no mood for leniency.'

As the exam began, Zetsu, responsible for overseeing the examination, distributed the prepared exam papers. They mainly consisted of written exams, as Obito was already a ninja, there was no need for practical ninja arts or physical exams. Therefore, the examination consisted solely of written questions.

The ten White Zetsu overseeing the exam followed strict security measures to ensure that the papers were distributed with the utmost care, checking them thoroughly before handing them to Obito. They seemed determined to ensure the exam's security and integrity.

As Zetsu handed the exam papers to Obito, he leaned in and whispered, "Obito, I bought these blank sheets with the money earned from scavenging trash, and I meticulously copied the exam questions by hand. So, make good use of them."

It was clear that the Grass Village took exam security very seriously, going to great lengths to prevent cheating or unauthorized access to the exam materials. Therefore, Zetsu had no choice but to manually copy the exam questions personally for Obito.

As Obito received the exam papers from Zetsu and expressed his gratitude, he couldn't help but feel deeply moved by the effort that had gone into preparing them. He whispered his thanks to the 'bastard' Zetsu, who had played a crucial role in making this exam possible. With trembling hands, he accepted the papers, and the exam officially began.

However, as he filled out the exam, Obito couldn't help but reflect on how he, a ninja from Konoha, had ended up in the Land of Grass taking their exams. It was a far cry from the life he had imagined for himself. He wondered when he would be able to leave this place and return to his home village.

As time passed, Obito, who had only recently started his studies abroad, struggled with the exam. He found the Applied Ninja Arts section particularly challenging. Questions like one would need to bleed and heal at the same time, or one would need to calculate the time and amount of healing, left him perplexed. The concept of throwing shuriken at distances like 800 meters seemed completely foreign to him. He couldn't help but question whether such things were really a concern for ninjas.

Obito sat at the desk, his head in his hands, staring at the exam paper before him. The tremors in his hand holding the pen were a reflection of his inner turmoil. The questions on the paper seemed like a foreign language to him, and he couldn't figure out how to answer them. In frustration, he began to skip question after question, feeling lost and defeated.

However, as he was looking through the questions and skipping it, he suddenly stopped because he came across a question that piqued his interest. It was a scenario involving the detonation of the Kannabi Bridge by Konoha ninjas to reverse the course of a war. The question asked whether these ninjas could safely escape the blast radius, given certain parameters.

For a moment, Obito's heart swelled with excitement. This was a question he knew the answer to, a question that related to his own experiences. But as he read the words 'Kannabi Bridge,' a wave of nostalgia and longing washed over him. Memories of his comrades, Kakashi and Rin, flooded his mind.

His initial excitement waned as he found himself lost in thoughts. He couldn't help but utter softly, almost as if speaking to himself, "I wonder how Kakashi and Rin are faring these days. Do they ever think about me?"

But that moment of reflection only fueled his determination. As an Uchiha, he wouldn't be defeated by a mere exam, no matter how challenging. He was Obito Uchiha, and he was going to find a way to escape from this place, no matter what it took. 

…

Soon, the exam concluded. For Obito, it was a relatively swift affair, given his fewer subjects and his liking for skipping questions resulting in quick responses. Speaking of Which, Unlike the academy students who had to wait anxiously for their results at home, here, the exams were graded immediately. The chief examiner, Madara-sensei, personally oversaw the grading process.

Obito couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anxiety as he watched Madara-sensei grade his paper right before him. As a student, he had a pretty good idea of how he had performed and it only added to his unease, since it wasn't good.

After what felt like an eternity, Madara stopped grading and remained ominously silent. Obito, with an uneasy smile, cautiously inquired, "Madara-sensei, how did I do?"

In response, Madara snorted coldly, his eyes piercing into Obito's as he slammed his hand on the table. He declared, "You're the worst student I've ever seen!"

Obito was left utterly speechless by Madara's declaration. Inside his mind, he couldn't help but think, 'You must be kidding, right? Zetsu said I was the first student here. That means you've only met me. There's no need for you to exaggerate it.''

…

As the sun had set and the day's exams had come to an end above ground, Yoshinori, leading Hanzo, returned to the academy area once more.

There wasn't much choice in terms of accommodation for Hanzo; it was arranged in this vicinity. This area had more ninjas around, making it easier to supervise. Speaking of which, due to Hanzo's slow pace during the tour and Yoshinori's lack of understanding regarding the purpose of Hanzo's visit to the Grass Village, their exploration of the village was rather casual.

"Let's conclude our exploration for today. It's getting late, and I believe Lord Hanzo should rest," Yoshinori suggested with a warm smile. "While the Grass Village may be smaller than the Rain Village, it offers its own charm, even though it's quieter in winter. In a few days, we'll celebrate the New Year, and the village will come alive. I wonder if Leader Hanzo will still be here to witness it."

Hanzo nodded in agreement, "You've shown me plenty, there's no need to worry." He observed the children leaving the academy, their joyful laughter filling the air as the sun dipped below the horizon.

The sight of the white snow, the children, and their smiles left a sense of nostalgia in Hanzo. "Such a beautiful scene," he murmured, a longing expression crossing his face.

Yoshinori's pride was evident as he heard Hanzo's words, but he quickly refocused. "In any case, let me escort you to your accommodations, Lord Hanzo!"