This Naruto is too easily persuaded.

Today will be a special day for Naruto.

After more than a month of practice, Naruto has made significant progress in taijutsu, ninjutsu, and even academic subjects.

This even includes mathematics.

When Naruto arrived at the Ninja Academy, he found that the classroom lacked its usual relaxed atmosphere.

"Hey Naruto, are you confident about today's exam?"

Kiba Inuzuka raised an eyebrow, his tone less contemptuous than before, and more scrutinizing.

He has already come to regard Naruto as an opponent he needs to fight with all his might.

"Tch, just putting on an act."

A classmate nearby muttered something under his breath, but subconsciously avoided Naruto's calm gaze.

Naruto nodded slightly to Shikamaru and Choji in the corner, then walked to his seat.

Iruka walked into the classroom carrying a stack of test papers.

When Iruka's gaze swept over Naruto, his eyes paused almost imperceptibly.

He had seen Naruto's hard work during this period and couldn't help but have higher expectations for Naruto.

Iruka originally only hoped that Naruto could pass, which would already be enough to reward his hard work over the past few months.

But now, Iruka hopes that Naruto's grades will be in the middle of the class.

If Naruto performs normally in the practical training session, he might even be able to get into the top 10 of the class!

"Everyone, go back to your seats!"

He shouted, and then the exam papers began to be passed to the back of the row.

After receiving the test paper, Naruto did not start writing as usual, but first glanced through the questions.

In Naruto's memory, the contents of the past exam papers were like encrypted gibberish, and they were also subjected to genjutsu.

Just looking at it makes me want to sleep.

But looking at it now, how should I put it?

Surprisingly simple.

Major events in the ninja world, basic tactical simulations, the flow of chakra...

The solution to these problems flows as naturally and smoothly as breathing.

Naruto adjusted his glasses and then began answering the questions.

Thanks to Aizen's calligraphy insights and systematic reading and memorization, he was able to write with divine inspiration.

The handwriting is elegant and neat, and the answering speed is extremely fast.

Half the time had passed when Naruto put down his pen and began checking the answers to the questions.

"Is this what it feels like to be a top student?"

He looked at the neatly written paper, yet felt a strange sense of calm.

There was no ecstasy, no eagerness to prove anything, only a calm confidence that this is how things should be.

It turns out that when you have enough strength, everything is taken for granted.

Then, he rested his chin on his hand and looked out the window.

I'm considering whether to hand in my paper early and dedicate the time to the more crucial treading water training.

Just as Naruto was weighing whether he should be so high-profile, a very light touch, as if hesitant, came from his elbow.

Naruto glanced to the side and saw Hinata Hyuga.

Her fair cheeks were flushed, and even her delicate earlobes were pink.

Hinata seemed to summon all the courage in her body before she dared to nudge him with her elbow.

Then, she moved the test paper slightly towards Naruto.

The handwriting on the exam paper was neat, and the answers were accurate.

But in Naruto's eyes, her action itself was more clearly written with her intentions than the exam paper.

She was worried about me.

This thought caused Naruto's blue eyes behind his glasses to flicker slightly.

Attention is mutual.

Since realizing that Hinata often stares at him, Naruto has also paid more attention to Hinata.

This also led to the discovery of many previously unnoticed details.

She is always the first person to notice changes in herself, and also the one who silently pays the most attention to her.

And at this moment, this clumsy yet pure concern.

The light in her eyes never changed from beginning to end.

Naruto didn't look at her answer, but turned around and gave her a bright smile.

This was not the smile he had practiced for so long, a smile he used to fake.

He mouthed the words silently:

"Thanks."

Naruto then stood up without hesitation and handed in his test paper.

He felt a strange feeling in his heart.

I felt very uncomfortable, so I was eager to go outside and breathe some fresh air.

"..."

Hinata was stunned.

Looking at Naruto's smile, her heart pounded, her face turned bright red, and her mind went completely blank.

The courage I had finally mustered melted away like snowflakes.

She suddenly lowered her head, her forehead almost hitting the table, her fingers gripping the pen tightly.

Just then, Iruka's voice rang out:

"There are 15 minutes left before the exam. Check everyone's names, and don't look around!"

Hinata shuddered and buried her face even deeper.

In the classroom, as Naruto stood up, many students who hadn't done well in school showed gloating smiles.

"Hey, did that guy really hand in his paper?"

"He probably just gave up because he can't do it."

"Hmph, yeah, he's a bottom-of-the-class student after all..."

Whispers rose and fell like mosquitoes.

In their eyes, Naruto is still the same Naruto.

No matter how well they pretend on ordinary days, they'll be exposed during exams.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto's back, a cold smile playing on his lips, before turning his gaze back to focus on answering the questions.

He never even considered the possibility that Naruto might surpass him.

This exam is a bit difficult; even he has to concentrate on it. How come Naruto is faster than him?

Based on his glasses?

This self-destructive behavior made him too lazy to even feel contempt.

On the platform, Iruka watched Naruto walk towards him and sighed inwardly.

"Naruto, this exam is difficult, but it doesn't have to be..."

Iruka was about to give a few words of advice: don't give up, be brave in facing difficulties.

When his gaze casually swept over the neat exam paper filled with answers, the words that were about to come out were abruptly stuck in his throat.

The first question is correct.

The second question is correct.

The third question is correct.

……

Iruka's eyes widened as he stared at the exam paper in front of him, as if he were looking at a standard answer key.

No, this handwriting is even better than the standard answer.

Upon closer inspection, one can even find a pleasing aesthetic and charm in it.

He couldn't even find a single typo.

If he hadn't been personally supervising the exam, no one would have believed that this was Naruto's doing.

In particular, the discussion on the "Will of Fire" at the end of the volume is so insightful and profound that even Iruka would be ashamed of his own shortcomings.

When Iruka looked up sharply to ask a question, Naruto was nowhere to be seen.

Only a room full of students with strange expressions remained.

……

The next morning.

The atmosphere outside the classroom was even more tense than during the exam.

Because Iruka is posting exam results.

"This is impossible!!"

A sharp cry broke the silence.

Sakura Haruno covered her mouth, her eyes fixed on the rankings, as if she had seen something unbelievable.

"What's wrong? Wide forehead, why are you making such a fuss..."

Ino, who had just arrived, squeezed into the crowd, looked up at the rankings, and let out the same loud exclamation:

"How could that be? You're kidding!"

Sasuke frowned, a surge of irritation rising within him.

He arrived early and was already sitting in the classroom when the notices were posted, not paying much attention to the external rankings.

He has absolute confidence in himself.

Except for the last question, all the other answers are absolutely perfect.

But the commotion outside also piqued his curiosity.

So he put one hand in his pocket and slowly walked to the list.

[First Place: Naruto Uzumaki, 100 points]

Sasuke's hands, which were in his pockets, clenched tightly. His previously nonchalant and cold expression froze instantly, and his pupils contracted sharply.

"How...how is this possible?!"