History ObfuscatingStupidity / FanWorks

However... she found that people, including her great-grandmother, tended to unconsciously underestimate her when she played dumb, and Shampoo had a policy of exploiting every advantage she could get.

* In ''FanFIc/ThisBites'', this is implied to be the case, at least to an extent, with Mr. 4. Miss Merry Christmas objects to his decision of [[spoiler:giving Lassoo to]] Cross, saying that Cross had helped stop them and save the kingdom. 4 uses that as his own reasoning, and in response to a surprised Christmas considering aloud how she wondered sometimes how moronic he ''actually'' was, he smiles.

* [[VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2 Ibuki Mioda]] in ''Fanfic/DuelingTriggerFinger''. She may act carefree and [[TheDitz ditzy]], but she's one heck of a duelist. Even [[Anime/YuGiOh Yugi's Grandpa]] notes her skill.

* ''FanFic/EquestriaGirlsMarvelUniverse'': Downplayed with Flash Sentry, who changed his image before High School to avoid being bullied for being a TeenGenius, and avoids drawing attention to himself by asking his teachers not to mention his intelligence. He doesn't act like a complete idiot like most examples though, and still manages to study and complete his homework.

* Naruto status as dead last in the academy and IdiotHero everywhere is at times depicted as this in most fics. However, the reasons as to why are what really make it enjoyable to read. For example:

* King Aultcray is implied to have been pretending to be petty and short-sighted in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13260174/9/Ambition-of-the-Red-Princess Ambition of the Red Princess]]''. After a few days of learning the general ins and outs of the world he's been summoned too, Naofumi proposes that Aultcray summoned all four heroes despite the ongoing negotiations to determine what order the various kingdoms will summon them so as to indefinitely tie up negotiations for the heroes to be released into the other kingdoms in exchange for Queen Mirelia's release. After framing Naofumi for rape, he'd banish the shield hero rather than execute him, only to have him assassinated en-route to Siltvelt, allowing Aultcray to keep the other three heroes within Melromarc and frame Siltvelt for killing one of the four heroes.

** Jean-Paul generally maintains a harmless CampGay demeanour. He's also capable of almost absently pulling a SherlockScan on someone he barely knows and when he gets angry, he gets cold and calm, and all the GratuitousFrench disappears.

-->'''Light:''' One does not just randomly select a question or 2 and try to get them wrong. No. Nor do you do it to every 4th question or some other such ridiculous, predictable pattern like that. [[TheChessMaster The key lies in, like all things, strategy]]. You need to choose ahead of time a subject or 2 you're awful at, a few you're neutral, and 1 you're good at. Then whenever you get homework, consistently get the same basic principals wrong, and get it wrong on the test as well. Also, you have to make a show of not paying attention in class, or else suspicions will be raised, and you'll be given a special "learning disability," and assigned a tutor pronto.

* In ''FanFic/OriginStory'', several members of ComicBook/TheAvengers finally notice that the entire point of [[SpiderMan Spider-Man's]] generally immature attitude is to make people underestimate him. After he makes one particularly insightful observation about the situation, he reminds ComicBook/TheAvengers (who are all sitting there staring at him in stunned surprise) that he has two Master's degrees and is close to earning his [=PhD=].

[[AC: ''Franchise/HarryPotter'']]
* Crabbe and Goyle are quite commonly described as doing this. Sometimes they are just shy or quiet, and that combined with their appearance, their love for food and their status as Draco Malfoy's cronies make people think they are stupid. Other times they are actively pretending to be stupid so that people won't expect anything of them. In both cases they either actually like Draco and he likes them, or they protect Draco physically (as is implied in canon) and he protects them socially. In one particular fic, they weren't stupid, but since they suffered from undiagnosed dyslexia, everyone thought they were.
* In ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8499891/1/Whispered-Words Whispered Words]]'' Harry fakes a head injury in an attempt [[RefusalOfTheCall to make Dumbledore and the rest of the Wizarding World leave him alone and not drag him into]] ''[[RefusalOfTheCall their]]'' [[RefusalOfTheCall war.]]
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7973137/4/Take-No-Umbridge-I-As-Umbridge-Sees-it Take No Umbridge]]'', Trelawny's "side-show fortune teller" mannerisms aren't just an act, but one required to ace the Divination practical.

* In ''Blind'' the Hyuuga train their kids at the age of 3 (according to this fic that's the youngest you can mold charka). Naruto just so happens to be Hyuuga Hiashi's adopted guest/son and he and Hinata can pass the Genin Exam with flying colours. The problem however is that Hinata is [[CaptainObvious blind]] so her clones and henges come out black and white so she can't pass thusly her class and villagers (except Hiashi. He's is a [[GoodParents good father here]]) brand her a dope. Naruto keeps failing (Hiashi himself has been teaching Naruto to be a hyper-competent ninja) to stay with her while developing a jutsu to help her see. It should be noted that Hinata knows one of the Second Hokages jutsus and Naruto knows Kage Bushin and the Hiraishin.

* [[spoiler: Princess Peach]], of all people, in ''[[FanFic/NewLookSeries Link's New Look]]''

* Kakashi in ''FanFic/FromHisExcerpts'' by Phoenyxx. Kakashi speaks fluent English, but hides it from the professors, resulting in little gems like these:
--> "Squid…Like…No magic."
--> Oh. Professor Flitwick chuckled lightly, "I believe the correct term is squib."
-->"Yes, squid. It is what I say."

[[AC: ''Franchise/SailorMoon'']]
* During the late '90s, Usagi of ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' practically ruled this trope. It was all the rage for fanfic writers to make Usagi into a GodModeSue who was only pretending to be an idiot, often by leaving the Inners and dropping the act. That she still can't write proper hiragana as queen and routinely swipes her kid's candy in the canon is conveniently ignored.
** She is TheDitz in the [[Anime/SailorMoon anime]], but shows that she is actually pretty smart in the [[Manga/SailorMoon manga]], especially as it goes on and the burdens of leadership take their toll. Venus can be considered another case as well, since it is hinted that she speaks fluent English, a language that is just as hard for the Japanese to learn as their own language is for native English speakers. (They're in completely different language families, so have no common baselines).

* In ''Blind'' the Hyuuga train their kids at the age of 3 (according to this fic that's the youngest you can mold charka). Naruto just so happens to be Hyuuga Hiashi's adopted guest/son and he and Hinata can pass the Genin Exam with flying colours. The problem however is that Hinata is [[CaptainObvious blind]] so her clones and henges come out black and white so she can't pass thusly her class and villagers (except Hiashi. He's is a [[GoodParents good father here]]) brand her a dope. Naruto [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming keeps failing (Hiashi himself has been teaching Naruto to be a hyper-competent ninja) to stay with her while developing a jutsu to help her see.]] It should be noted that Hinata knows one of the Second Hokages jutsus and Naruto knows Kage Bushin and the Hiraishin.
* In ''Legacy of the Rasengan'' Naruto is a creator of simple-to-use yet effective jutsus (simple as in easy to activate and tweak), thinks before he acts, is very observant but acts like his canon self to hide it. The only ones who know (at first) he is playing dumb are Kakashi (due to Naruto outwitting him during the bell test and carefully observing Naruto "Take in information, process it instantly, then act in a manner expected of his buffoon self." ), Hinata ([[ShipTease he doesn't put up the charade when they're alone together]]) and Shikamaru (connected the dots like Kakashi). As is common with the trope they call it dumb luck if he pwns with wits/acts unusually perceptive and jaw-drop when he shows jutsu. Everyone eventually figures it out during the Chunnin Exams after he [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome displays a jutsu that works like Jyuuken and]] '''[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome CLEAVES THROUGH NEJI'S ROTATION]]'''!

** Even Goku sometimes only acts stupid, such as intentionally mispronouncing hyperbolic time chamber, and also can be pretty smart at times, asking for Mr. Popo's instant transportation carpet when he needs to get to the Vegeta and Nappa fight quickly, and understanding the ins and outs of Super Saiyan 3.

* Italy did this in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]''. [[spoiler:He was fully aware of Germany's and Japan's feelings toward him all along. [[InsecureLoveInterest He didn't think he was worthy though]].

-> "Squid…Like…No magic."
-> Oh. Professor Flitwick chuckled lightly, "I believe the correct term is squib."
->"Yes, squid. It is what I say."