Naruto: Mind Games Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Test and Results



[[Hikaru Yamanaka]]



Even in primary school, you need to either give an interview or take tests to get accepted. While it is not prevalent everywhere, many countries follow this rule.



And currently, I was in an entirely different place… yet I had to take tests for the academy. 



There are practicals but after the show that Arima and I delivered, we were given an A-grade without having to take another test with the rest of the Academy kids.



The test on its own was pretty easy. It involved some basic questions about the history of the shinobi world, chakra and its types and a few things about the Hokages.



Needless to say, I wrote the entire paper in under ten minutes which greatly surprised the teachers and the students.



"*Tsk* He must be an idiot and guessed all his answers."



"There is no way he completed the paper in ten minutes. He is definitely going to fail."



All the students sneered as I went to submit the paper.



Inoichi frowned at me while the Nara heir slept through the test.



However, the most surprising sight was Arima.



The boy sat on his bench, scratching his head.



Is he not good at the theoretical stuff?



Eh, whatever. It's not that hard so he will pass.



"Are you sure you don't want to recheck your paper?" The teacher asked. 



"No, I am fine."



I already checked the paper thrice, there is no point in checking again. I just need to get into the Academy after all.



"Confidence is good but remember that a shinobi should never overestimate his abilities." He stared at me. "I will ask again, do you want to recheck the paper?"



"..."



"No?" He asked and I shook my head. "Don't cry if you don't get selected."



I submitted the paper and left the room as it was getting annoying.



It was pretty hot in the outside and maybe I should have just stayed inside. But the constant sneering of the students and teachers made it nigh-impossible to stay inside.



And to add to my suffering, I cannot leave the campus before everyone completes the test. 



What a bullshit rule…



Fuck it's hot!



Checking around, I took a breath of relief when I found a swing hanging from the branch of a tree in the shade.



As I sat down, I thought of things that mattered.



My goals and the future. 



This world was a world of martial arts and chakra. I am a random guy with a biology major… which seems pretty useless in this world. 



Well, there is a branch of jutsu that deals with the medical side. So, maybe… just maybe I can pursue that in the future. 



"Everything about this place seems boring doesn't it?" 



*Shudder*



I nearly fell from the swing as a voice echoed near my ear.



"W-who?"



I turned around and found a ghastly pale man with long hair standing to my side.



My first instinct screamed at me to run away as fast as possible while my body refused to move.



"There is no reason to be scared, I am not here to harm you." 



That made me relax a little but I was still not certain. However… I believe I have seen him somewhere. And I can feel his chakra, it's scary.



"Do I know you, sir?" 



He raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps, but don't worry, I am here to enjoy the wind."



Somehow that didn't make me too assured but I couldn't do much about it.



"The test should be still ongoing, did you skip it?" 



"I completed it." 



He raised another eyebrow.



*Sigh* Say that you think I am lying or I guessed my answers. 



.


.


.



Surprisingly, he didn't. Instead, he chuckled. 



And no it was not a very pleasing sound. 



"You are interesting, child. You interest me."



Wait wait wait. That's not something you should ever say to a kid. 



But as we stared at each other, the bell rang which meant that the test was over.



"Your friends will be out in a minute and I should get going." He said and smiled. "But I will remember you, kid. Now everything depends on your results."



What's that supposed to mean? 



"You will know when the time comes." He said and using his jutsu, he vanished.



He cannot read my mind, right… right?



…


…



[[A Week Later]]



Hikaru's dad has spent the previous night ensuring Hikaru that it was alright even if he didn't get selected. He believed that Hikaru would be made to take part in the war that is supposed to happen— if he got selected. 



But on the other hand, he worried about the insults that will be thrown at Hikaru by the members of the clan if he gets rejected. However, if he had to choose— he would choose his son's life over his pride in a heartbeat.



"Hikaru!"



Arima yelled the young Yamanaka's name from the outside.



"Now, remember what I said, son. It is alright if you fail but do not lose hope."



"Yes, father." 



Hikaru left with Arima and realised that it was not only his dad, but everyone else's parents were just as worried for their children. He saw some of the parents crying and wishing their children luck. It made him smile as he knew that for a parent there was nothing happier than their child's success.



As they reached the result board, Arima asked Hikaru.



"What rank do you think we will be at?" 



"I don't know. Probably within the top ten?" 



Arima laughed. "I was thinking the top two."



Many would consider the two to be cocksure but the boys knew it far too well that the rest of the kids came nowhere near the two of them.



The crowd around the result board was massive which made it difficult for Hikaru to check his result.



However, he was with Arima and it made things less difficult.



Arima was hardworking and kind but he knew when to take advantage of his position as the Hokage's son.



"Move." 



Most were annoyed as someone tried to order them but when they saw who the person was, their complaints died before they could voice them. 



They made way for Arima, and Hikaru managed to squeeze in through that gap with the son of the Hokage.



"Remember that the top students will be matched with the bottom ones to make the team more balanced." One of the teachers announced. "Whereas, the third member will be assigned by the teachers."



Hikaru instantly looked at the last names and shook his head when he realised they were clanless kids with no special talent. 



"What the hell…" Arima frowned which confused Hikaru. But that confusion vanished instantly as he saw the name of the top three students.



Surprisingly or not so surprisingly, he was ranked one. But that was the least surprising thing about the results. What surprised him was—



"Why the hell am I third?!" Arima exclaimed in anger and disappointment. 



'*3rd: Arima Sarutobi.*'



Hikaru frowned as he found Arima's name in the third position. Hikaru had a perfect score in both Academics and Practicals however Arima has lost two points in the theory paper. Which knocked his position by two.



'*2nd: Minato Namikaze.*'



'Who is this gu—' Hikaru widened his eyes in realisation. 'The blonde kid…'



"Now… everyone, once you check your results move to the hall, you will be assigned a teacher according to your ranks." The teacher instructed. 



"Bummer man…" Arima sighed. "I expected us to be ranked one and two. But now a random kid took the second spot."



"Yeah…" 



Hikaru was still surprised that it was a guy from a random clan that ranked second instead of the Hokage's prodigal son.



However, that was going to be less surprising for him than the teacher he was assigned with. Once he was to see his teacher, he was going to be left baffled.