Chapter 88: Chapter 88
"It didn't work," Makoto sighed.
Twenty minutes after the results were announced, there was no system message.
"The exams I designed are not effective. Exams with such short time intervals won't yield results," Makoto admitted.
Makoto canceled the exam plans, as it was clear that they didn't bring any rewards and only made the students feel frustrated.
During a late-night practice session, Shisui suddenly appeared in front of Makoto, wearing a surprised expression.
"Teacher Makoto, it seems I've mastered Soru," Shisui said, demonstrating the technique twice.
Makoto, after reviewing it, confirmed Shisui's mastery and acknowledged his progress.
"Well done. Once you become proficient with this technique, we'll move on to Ninjutsu," Makoto said, planning to teach Shisui more fire release ninjutsu.
Shisui's quick learning abilities assured Makoto that he would master additional techniques easily.
Regarding Obito, Makoto didn't have immediate plans for him to learn new fire release ninjutsu. His two jutsus are enough for now. Too many options in a battle could lead to confusion.
Especially with Obito. He is very much like Naruto. It's better to have fewer choices.
Makoto then assessed Might Gai's progress in Soru and noted that he had a long way to go, estimating it would take about another week to master it.
Looking at Might Gai and Obito, who were practicing speed-increasing skills, Makoto had an idea.
In the past, when Might Gai and Obito trained together, their physical abilities improved rapidly. Although they had focused on practicing taijutsu to hit the Hyuga Kento, the essence of their training was Soru.
Obito had yet to practice the true Soru. Only some of it's applications.
Makoto called Obito and Might Gai together and asked with a smile, "Do you both feel that your current learning efficiency is a bit slow?"
Might Gai shook his head, considering it normal, while Obito, realizing that Makoto might have a solution to accelerate their learning, replied eagerly, "Yes, Teacher Makoto, your speed-increasing technique is quite challenging. Is there a way to learn it faster?"
Makoto nodded and said, "Yes, it depends on how determined you are."
Obito expressed his eagerness, and Might Gai couldn't resist the temptation either, saying, "If I could master Soru quickly, I'm all in."
Makoto smiled and instructed, "Let's start by running a lap to showcase your fastest speed."
The two students followed his instructions and sprinted at their maximum speed.
Makoto timed them and proposed a competition, "Both of you, compete to see who can surpass their speed limit first. For every half-second slower than your limit, you'll have to answer five extra questions. For every half-second faster, you'll have five fewer questions. You'll start with 40 questions. Since you have different speeds, the distances will be adjusted accordingly. The person who reaches the finishing line first, can do 30 fewer questions."
Obito was taken aback by the challenge.
Upon hearing these rules, he felt a sense of deja vu, as if he had been transported back to the rigorous special battle training that marked the end of their preparation period.
The familiar punishment system and the looming sense of debt at the outset were all too familiar. It felt like he was on the brink of entering the dreaded installment stage.
"Teacher Makoto, honestly, I think our current efficiency is quite high," Obito remarked, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead in an attempt to salvage the situation.
Might Gai shared a nod of agreement, stating, "I agree. It's been less than a month since we escaped the hell of daily question drills. I'd rather not go back to that routine."
Makoto's disappointment showed in his expression, casting a shadow of sadness. "I thought you would appreciate a training method that combines theory and practical combat. I even prepared the theoretical knowledge for the upcoming semester, but I guess you'll have to wait until school starts next semester to use it."
Obito felt a twinge of discomfort.
He had encountered similar situations before, where an idea he had thoughtfully devised for the group was easily rejected.
"If you think about it, Teacher Makoto, your idea is genuinely excellent. It not only enhances our speed but also boosts our theoretical knowledge," Obito offered, hoping to console Makoto, even if he silently grumbled about it.
He knew that he couldn't let Makoto down, whether it was answering questions or supporting his ideas.
"Embrace the spirit of youth – more training and more questions!" Might Gai chimed in to ease Makoto's disappointment, though the thought of more days spent answering questions left him on the brink of tears.
"Let's prepare to begin the competition," Makoto announced with his usual gentle smile.
Seeing Makoto's familiar smile, Obito let out a sigh of relief but couldn't help but think, "Why do I always feel the need to talk too much? If I hadn't, I might have avoided this situation."
However, it was too late to change anything, and Obito knew that he had no choice but to participate. If they couldn't avoid the competition, his only goal was to minimize the damage it would cause him.
While breaking the speed limit could reduce five questions for every half-second, it was not as simple as it seemed. On the other hand, reaching the finish line first could instantly deduct 30 questions, and it didn't necessarily require breaking the limit.
Obito and Might Gai realized that the most comfortable outcome would be to be the first to reach the finish line.
The two exchanged determined glances, revealing their mutual desire to win and their shared fear of the impending questions.
Makoto carefully planned the running route and the final point for their competition and positioned himself so that both of them could clearly hear his instructions.
"Get ready, start!" Makoto's commanding shout echoed in their ears.
*Swish*
The moment he heard his command, Obito burst forward with incredible speed, leaving everything behind as he poured all his strength into the sprint.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone