Naruto: My Unique System

Chapter 21: Second Semester

"Hey there, esteemed chief students."

Just as Tatsuma and Minato stepped onto the Academy grounds, they were greeted by a sardonic voice. Minato, walking a pace behind Tatsuma, mirrored his confusion.

Glancing toward the origin of the voice, they found Shikaku accompanied by Choza and Inoichi, all wearing mischievous grins. The source of the sarcasm was none other than Shikaku himself. Catching the attention of the duo, Shikaku continued with a playful smirk:

"Considering it's a first in Academy history for two students to clinch the top spot simultaneously, don't you think you owe me, the unsung hero and your stepping stone, a celebratory meal?"

Upon processing this, Tatsuma and Minato hadn't shown any immediate reactions. Choza, amidst his snack of potato chips, unexpectedly shot his hand up high and declared, "Count me in! Stepping stones, unite!"

"..."

A hush settled over the group, particularly catching Shikaku off guard. He had just playfully referred to himself as a stepping stone, and here was Choza turning it into some kind of honorable pledge.

Fortunately, both Shikaku and Inoichi had grown up alongside Choza, well aware of the Akimichi clan's unwavering dedication to the art of eating. The reputation of their gluttony extended far and wide, both within and beyond the village.

"Chief students, huh? Not bad, Minato. Looks like you're holding your ground against me." Tatsuma chuckled, giving Minato a friendly pat on the shoulder. In the practical tests preceding the break, both Tatsuma and Minato displayed comparable skills in the combat assessments. The only notable difference was Tatsuma's heightened determination to emerge victorious, even if it meant sustaining injuries to outdo Minato.

Furthermore, Tatsuma considered the joint performance of himself and Shikaku in the initial round as a bit of a setback. Hence, despite Tatsuma winning all three matches and Minato securing two out of three, a tied score seemed a fair assessment given the circumstances.

However, this did lead to the cancellation of a reward since he didn't win this bet. Tatsuma wasn't overly disappointed about missing out on a talent reward this time. He acknowledged that Minato's performance had been genuinely commendable, worthy of the title of chief student.

Moreover, post-tests, Minato actively sought out Tsunade's expertise to mend his injuries. Tatsuma couldn't help but feel that without Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu, at least half of his break time would have been wasted.

Initially concerned that Tatsuma's strong desire for victory might make it challenging for him to accept the situation, Minato was pleasantly surprised to find Tatsuma still sporting a smile. Witnessing this, Minato's admiration for Tatsuma only deepened, prompting him to say:

"Let me treat a few of you to ramen tonight; I don't have a bottomless wallet, though."

"Alright!"

The first day of the new semester unfolded with a laid-back atmosphere. Sarutobi Atoma gleefully disclosed the results of the previous exam. The overall performance from the previous semester was commendable, with Tatsuma and Minato standing out in particular.

Initially, it was Sarutobi Atoma who decided to place these two commoner students in the same class, even displacing a child from the Shimura Clan. At first, he had concerns about whether these two would blend in seamlessly after enrollment.

However, geniuses were geniuses. Tatsuma and Minato exceeded his expectations, earning the titles of first-year chief students at the ninja school and catching the attention of the Third Hokage and Jiraiya.