Naruto: Teaching to Become Stronger, Changing Tragedies 5

Chapter 5: Exam Secrets

2025-01-18

Chapter 5: Exam Secrets

“Teacher Hagane, please, please don’t tell Teacher Iketani,” Obito pleaded with Hayate, his voice laced with desperation.

“That depends on your performance,” Hayate said with a sly smile, offering no concrete answer.

“Teacher, is there something you need?” Might Guy scratched his head, puzzled as to why he was summoned. He hadn’t done anything wrong.

Hayate looked at Might Guy, this man who almost single-handedly caused a catastrophic ending, hailed by Madara as the strongest taijutsu user, still looked quite immature.

Although he was already wearing his signature green jumpsuit, his resolve, aside from his skill, was still lacking.

At this point, while Might Guy believed his daily training would eventually make him a taijutsu master, he hadn’t fully grasped his father’s teachings on youth and self-discipline. He still needed to grow, and Hayate was happy to lend a hand during this period.

“Your theoretical scores are causing Teacher Iketani quite a bit of trouble,” Hayate stated.

Upon hearing Hayate’s words, even the relatively carefree Obito hung his head in shame.

“It’s not that I don’t want to study, but the questions are too difficult to understand. Why would they put those animals together and ask how many of each there are…,” Obito attempted to justify himself.

Seeing Obito’s expression, Hayate recalled his own high school struggles with math, relieved that his major didn’t require advanced calculus.

However, Hayate knew it was ultimately Obito’s fault. The math taught at the Ninja Academy was extremely basic, with fewer classes than even history.

“But it’s not just math you’re struggling with; you’re failing history and ninja technique theory as well,” Hayate shook his head.

“What good is knowing all that history? It’s all in the past,” Obito scoffed, believing history should be abolished. Math might be useful when buying groceries, but what use was history?

“I think so too,” Might Guy nodded in agreement. He genuinely couldn’t memorize all that historical information.

“You need to talk to the Third Hokage about that. He’s the principal of the Ninja Academy,” Hayate said, disclaiming any authority in this matter.

“But this isn’t sustainable. It’s not good for Teacher Iketani, nor is it good for you two.”

“Do you have any exam secrets, Teacher Hagane?” Obito asked expectantly, his eyes fixed on Hayate.

Might Guy also looked at Hayate with excitement. No one wanted to be a bottom-dweller unless they truly couldn’t help it.

“I do have an exam secret: practice questions! Study while you practice!” Hayate revealed his secret.

Given the Ninja Academy’s exam difficulty, he only needed to utilize his past-life test-taking experience to easily pass. After all, the Ninja Academy’s passing grade was half the class average.

“Practice questions?” Both of them looked bewildered, not understanding.

“You can consider this special training for the exam. And if you pass the exam, I’ll give you a reward,” Hayate smiled.

“What kind of reward? A dango (sweet rice dumpling)? Obito curiously inquired.

“I can teach you ninja techniques or taijutsu. Essentially, I can guide your training,” Hayate replied.

“Really?!” Their eyes widened in disbelief at this stroke of good luck.

“The prerequisite is that you pass the exam in a month,” Hayate reminded them.

“Is this what youth is all about? I’m fired up!” Might Guy exclaimed excitedly.

“I’ll definitely pass this time,” Obito guaranteed.

Watching the two become motivated, Hayate nodded silently to himself. Elite hunters often appear as prey.

The two felt they had struck gold, gaining both a secret to passing and a reward of training guidance.

Hayate, on the other hand, only needed to naturally become their teacher during this special training to reap great benefits.

Even if they didn’t pass in the end, Hayate could simply say, “Seeing how hard you both worked, I felt bad not giving you a reward,” potentially further boosting his favorability.

The reason he didn’t just trick them into becoming his students like he did with Shisui was twofold: the background was unsuitable, making it hard to feign a debt of gratitude, and Hayate only planned to teach this one lesson; he couldn’t maintain long-term contact. It would be much easier if he were their homeroom teacher.

After finalizing the special training arrangements with the two, Hayate returned to the classroom with them.

“Obito, what did Teacher Hagane call you out for? Didn’t he punish you?” Rin Nohara asked worriedly.

“Of course not! Teacher Hagane is great; he taught me exam secrets!” Obito quickly defended Hayate.

As long as Hayate could help him escape his bottom-dweller status, Obito could become the number one student of the academy.

“Rin, you should also pay more attention in class so I don’t surpass you next exam,” Obito chuckled.

“I wish you could,” Rin Nohara smiled helplessly, seeing Obito’s smugness. While not top of the class, she still ranked highly.

After the school bell rang, Obito displayed an unprecedented level of seriousness. He was determined to pass, already considering which ninja techniques to study.

Rin Nohara was surprised; could Obito actually be serious this time?

Three minutes later, seeing Obito sprawled on his desk, Rin could only conclude that he was still the same Obito she knew.

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At that moment, a piece of chalk described a beautiful parabolic arc before landing on Obito’s head.

Obito looked around in a daze, met Hayate’s gaze, saw Rin Nohara’s face, and saw Might Guy diligently writing. He remembered his words from three minutes prior and his face flushed, banishing his drowsiness.

After this little incident of Obito falling asleep, the rest of the class went smoothly.

[Lecture Complete]

[Rating: A]

[Reward Obtained: Konoha Gale]

This reward was a taijutsu technique, not a ninjutsu technique, and it was one that Might Guy would later develop.

This taijutsu seemed simple, merely a leg kick, but Hayate, having already learned the basics, found it wasn’t as easy as he’d imagined. The leg positioning, muscle exertion, and chakra release all required skill.

Hayate was worried about not having anything to teach Guy, so he was very pleased with this reward.

After school, Hayate wandered in the southern Konoha forest, searching for a suitable training location.

He still had a certain Root affiliation, and Danzo certainly knew where he lived.

Given Danzo’s hatred for the Uchiha, if he knew that Hayate had taught Shisui ninja techniques without reporting it, he’d suspect Hayate of defection.

While he had sensory ninjutsu, he couldn’t keep it activated all the time; his chakra couldn’t sustain it.

Therefore, Hayate planned to train with Shisui outdoors from now on.

Finally, Hayate found a riverside area with a pleasant and secluded environment, perfect for training.

Hayate memorized the location and went home.

As it turned out, Hayate’s caution wasn’t in vain. Upon entering his courtyard, he discovered a ninja wearing an animal mask standing inside.

(End of Chapter)

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