Chapter 16

At the registry's physical trials, Saitama breezes through every station, stunning the other applicants with off-the-charts speed, stamina, and limb strength while smashing existing records. He regroups with Genos in the locker room, and both shrug off the tests as trivial, with Genos noting the written portion was simple enough that fitness would decide everything. An hour later the results land: Genos scores a flawless 100 and enters as S-Class, while Saitama's 71, dragged down by a barely passing written test despite a perfect fitness mark, places him in C-Class. Both are called to a seminar for successful candidates.

The gathering is led by Sneck, who lectures the newcomers on what heroism means and bristles at Saitama's flat indifference, even hinting he could strip Saitama of his rank. On the way home, Genos is pleased with their new status and figures it makes him Saitama's official pupil, a thought Saitama already regrets.

Back at the association, Sneck grumbles to Jinzuren that both recruits will likely quit, but his colleague disagrees, pointing out that Genos already outranks Sneck and that Saitama shattered every fitness record and could soon surpass him. Later, mulling over the rankings by the river, Saitama concedes Genos may be impressive yet decides that is not the hero he wants to be. Sneck then blocks his path, declaring he will test the promising rookie. He lands a strike on Saitama's face, but after a brief, unseen scuffle, Sneck ends up buried headfirst in the ground while Saitama walks off.

Saitama breaks the exam's fitness records but scrapes by on the written test, landing in C-Class, while Genos earns a perfect score and S-Class rank. Sneck lectures and threatens the pair, Genos declares himself Saitama's disciple, and a confrontation ends with Sneck planted headfirst in the ground after challenging Saitama.

Released on October 4, 2012, this chapter is part of the National Superhero Registry Arc, appears in Volume 3, corresponds to webcomic chapter 16, and is adapted in anime Episode 5. Its short summary is flagged as incomplete on the source wiki. A background gag places a Perman-styled character, a nod to Fujiko Fujio, among the heroes mocking Saitama.