"It's our first real exam. I'm a bit nervous—I wonder how tough the questions will be."
"Hopefully not too tough. If I fail, I'll get an earful at home."
"It shouldn't be that bad. Takuya-sensei gave us practice exams, after all. Passing shouldn't be a problem."
In Class 1-1, most students were visibly anxious about their first-ever formal examination. They worried about the difficulty, concerned poor results might lead to scolding at home.
"Koutetsu, Izumo, you guys nervous?" Anko asked.
"Nervous? What's there to be nervous about? It's just a little test. Watch me ace it," Anko bragged cheerfully.
"Are you serious? This is different from the usual quizzes. Our results will be posted for everyone to see," Izumo replied nervously.
"I'm a bit worried too," Koutetsu added. "I got eighty points on Takuya-sensei's practice test. The real one should be harder, so I might only get around sixty or seventy."
"My practice score was slightly higher, eighty-seven. But I also expect to drop to around seventy this time," Izumo admitted gloomily.
"Wait, you guys scored that high?" Anko was taken aback. She'd been feeling confident despite scoring just over sixty on the practice test.
"Practice tests don't count—they're misleading," Izumo sighed.
"We should all try harder," Koutetsu suggested quietly. "I heard a rumor: if our class scores too low, they'll replace our homeroom teacher. We might lose Takuya-sensei."
"Replace him? No way! I don't mind other teachers being switched, but we can't lose Takuya-sensei," Anko declared firmly.
Even though Takuya wasn't the only instructor teaching Class 1-1, he was easily their favorite. Other teachers were simply too dull.
"Yeah, Takuya-sensei's lessons are the only ones that are both fun and easy to understand," Izumo agreed wholeheartedly.
"Why don't we announce this to the whole class?" Izumo suddenly suggested. He remembered that before big battles in novels, heroes always motivated their allies with stirring speeches.
Thinking this was a brilliant idea, Anko immediately stood up on her chair and made the announcement loudly to everyone.
The news instantly stirred up the classroom. After all, Takuya was their most admired and beloved teacher.
"Let's give it our all! If Takuya-sensei gets replaced by another boring teacher, like that taijutsu guy, we'll be doomed!" Koutetsu shouted, capitalizing on the energy.
"We have to do well—no way we're letting Takuya-sensei get replaced!"
"I'll say it straight up—if anyone fails after how clearly Takuya-sensei explained things, I'll lose all respect for you!"
Shisui sat quietly, unaffected. He knew his own performance would decisively secure the top spot, ensuring Takuya's position as their teacher wouldn't be jeopardized.
"Settle down, everyone. The test is about to start. Just do your best," Takuya's gentle voice suddenly silenced the room.
The students turned, startled, to see Takuya standing calmly at the door.
"I believe everyone here will do great," he smiled encouragingly before leaving for the classroom he'd been assigned to invigilate.
Takuya felt genuinely pleased that the students were so motivated to keep him around. Still, he found their worries amusing. Even if there was talk of changing teachers, such decisions would be based on the entire term or even the full academic year, not a single test.
Besides, the practice exam he'd given them had actually been harder than the official one.
He entered Class 4-2 and announced clearly from the podium, "Everyone, please quiet down—the exam is starting soon."
Teacher supervision was randomly assigned, and he'd coincidentally gotten Class 4-2.
"Takuya-sensei!" several students called out warmly.
He nodded back with a smile. Not only were Obito and Guy in this class, but he'd also frequently substituted here. Compared to Ikeya Isamu, Takuya was clearly the preferred teacher among these students.
"Takuya-sensei's watching—I have to pass this time!" Guy took a deep breath, as serious as if he were facing a powerful enemy.
If Guy had to choose between taking a theory exam or fighting an actual ninja, he'd honestly prefer combat. With graduation next year, he at least had a chance in a real fight, but some of these theory questions left him utterly helpless.
"Just watch, Rin—this time, your view of me will totally change!" Obito whispered confidently.
"I'm sure you'll pass this time, Obito. I believe in you," Rin smiled encouragingly.
Obito had said similar things countless times before without succeeding, but Rin never stopped supporting him.
"Do the easier questions first, double-check carefully, and save the hard ones for last," Rin gently reminded him.
As his friend, she genuinely hoped Obito could finally shake off his reputation as dead-last.
"Got it," Obito nodded seriously.
Shortly after, another instructor walked in—it was Sugito Kimura, a teacher from Takuya's office. Each exam room had two teachers invigilating together.
As the bell rang, Takuya and Sugito distributed the exam papers, then monitored the students—occasionally sitting down at the podium to quietly chat.
"Ikeya-sensei really got unlucky this term. There goes his bonus, stuck with the two worst students," Sugito sighed sympathetically.
"You never know. Maybe this semester they'll actually pass," Takuya said with a calm smile.
He had a feeling Obito's and Guy's performances this time might just shock everyone.
"These two have never passed theory in three years," Sugito shook his head skeptically. "If they were capable, they'd have done it before—the courses only get tougher from here."
"At least they're graduating next year. If they ended up in my class, I'd be miserable," Sugito muttered with relief.
After the brief conversation, Takuya resumed his supervision.
He already missed teaching. Exams meant a three-day break from regular classes. Day one was theory exams, followed by two days of practical exams, culminating in grade rankings.
For Takuya, these three days meant several missed opportunities—fewer ninjutsu learned and less chakra cultivated.
Thankfully, his disciple reward still triggered. After the theory exam, Takuya gifted Obito some new shuriken, earning an instant fifty-chakra bonus.
"You'll see, Takuya-sensei—I'll beat everyone with the shuriken you gave me and take first place!" Obito declared gratefully.
The practical exams were about to begin.