182

*Chapter 182: The First Exam! 1*

After dodging Ino's lunge, Sasuke took a slight step back.

His face was expressionless.

He exuded an air of indifference.

+20 (10)

The point counter in front of Sasuke immediately ticked up, registering an increase.

"Sasuke, why did you dodge me?"

Ino pouted, staring at Sasuke with a hint of disappointment on her face.

But still...

It had been a long time since she last saw Sasuke.

Seeing him now made her genuinely happy!

Ino's eyes scanned Sasuke intently, finding him even more handsome than before!

"Ino, stop causing trouble over here!"

Sakura clenched her fists, a dark expression on her face. She looked like a guard dog protecting its territory, teetering on the edge of anger.

"You guys are here too, huh? This exam is such a hassle."

At that moment, a voice full of exasperation echoed.

Then—

Two boys walked over.

One was thin, the other was chubby.

The thin boy wore short sleeves, his hands stuffed into his pockets. His hair was tied in a ponytail, and his face showed a mix of helplessness and melancholy.

The chubby boy, on the other hand, was munching on snacks. His round face was adorned with two swirls, and his headband split his hair into a unique middle parting, resembling a pair of underpants.

These two were none other than Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi.

Choji didn’t think much of the situation.

However, Shikamaru's gaze lingered on Sasuke for a few moments longer.

Sigh...  

Things were getting more complicated!

Shikamaru couldn’t determine Sasuke's full strength, but he could assess his baseline abilities through observation.

"This guy, even if he’s holding back, is way stronger than us!"

Shikamaru muttered to himself.

"Whoa, you guys are taking the Chunin Exams too?"

Naruto's eyes widened as he looked at Shikamaru and Choji, excitement gleaming in his gaze.

Naruto loved lively situations.

The more people around, the more thrilled he felt!

"Finally, someone familiar!"

Just then, three more figures approached. Leading them was Kiba Inuzuka, wearing his signature hood.

Perched on Kiba’s head was his companion, Akamaru.

Following Kiba were two others: Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga.

Shino wore sunglasses, his face as impassive as Sasuke’s, emanating a similar cool demeanor.

Hinata, on the other hand, shyly glanced at Naruto, her eyes filled with bashfulness.

At this point, all nine of Konoha’s rookie Genin were gathered!

Including Neji, Lee, and Tenten, who were already seated inside, the Konoha Twelve were officially assembled.

"Even you guys are here. What’s going on?"

Shikamaru sighed, looking at Kiba and his group. The increasing number of familiar faces only added to his frustration.

"It looks like all nine of us rookie Genin from this year are taking the Chunin Selection Exams," Kiba said as he walked over. His gaze swept across the group before settling on Sasuke.

"How far do you think we’ll go? Sasuke, what’s your opinion?"

Kiba smirked as he finished speaking, giving off a wild and confident vibe.

"I'm invincible. Do as you please," Sasuke replied coolly, showing no regard for the Chunin Exams.

Was this really a Chunin Exam?

No, it was an opportunity to show off!

The process didn’t matter.

The results didn’t matter.

What mattered was earning as many points as possible during the exam!

Right now, he needed more points!

+50 (25)

Sasuke’s words to the other eight rookie Genin instantly earned him a significant number of points.

"Sasuke, we’ve been training hard too. As long as I don’t face you, I’m feeling pretty confident!"

Kiba looked smug, brimming with self-assurance about his abilities.

Of course—

Deep down, he also wanted to test himself against Sasuke, to see just how wide the gap between them was.

"Kiba, you’d better pray you don’t face Sasuke. No one here can beat him!"

At that moment—

A green-clad boy with thick eyebrows and wide eyes walked over, looking somewhat comical but speaking with utter seriousness.

"No one can beat Sasuke!"

His words echoed in the ears of the other rookie Genin.

+60 (30)

The counter in front of Sasuke ticked up again as he passively gained points for showing off.

Whoosh!  

In an instant—

All eyes turned to the green-clad figure.

It wasn’t just the Genin from Konoha who heard his words.

Many of the ninja in the classroom also caught them.

Whoosh!  

Amidst the crowd—

A red-haired boy glanced at Sasuke. His dark, hollow eyes betrayed no emotion.

No surprise.

No joy or anger.

He was as cold and detached as a machine.

"Lee, stop saying pointless things," Neji said as he and Tenten followed Lee.

With the arrival of these three, the Konoha Twelve were now fully gathered.

However—

All eyes were fixated on Sasuke. Lee’s remarks had both elevated Sasuke’s image and drawn considerable hostility towards him.

In the crowd—

A ninja with his face wrapped in bandages, leaving only his left eye exposed, glared at Sasuke. The emblem on his headband featured a musical note.

This was Tōsu, a Genin from the Hidden Sound Village.

"Calling yourself invincible? Such naive arrogance!" Tōsu sneered disdainfully.

"Focus on the mission," said Kin, a female Genin from the Sound Village who stood beside him.

"It’s fine," Tōsu replied, his eyes glinting with cruelty and excitement.

"I’ll go have some fun with him!"

Swish!  

With that—

Tōsu’s figure vanished, rushing toward Sasuke at incredible speed, leaving afterimages in his wake.

"!!!"

The Konoha Genin were all shocked, exclamation marks popping into their minds.

The weaker ones couldn’t even react!

The stronger ones—

Like Neji—had no intention of intervening.

Swish! Swish! Swish!  

Tōsu moved swiftly, unhindered by the surrounding crowd, as if traversing an empty street at dawn.

"You’ve picked the wrong person to mess with."

Sasuke looked at the approaching Tōsu, speaking calmly, his tone dripping with disdain.

+70 (35)

The counter ticked up again as Sasuke completed another display of dominance, earning more points.

According to Sasuke’s memory—

In the original story, Tōsu had attacked Kabuto instead!

But now—

Kabuto was nowhere to be found, likely hiding and avoiding interaction with the group.

Perhaps this was the butterfly effect at play.

---

---

Sasuke thought that if he hadn't given Kabuto a harsh lesson when the latter was tailing him, Kabuto might have shown up again at this moment.

Whoosh!  

Just then...

Tōsu charged at Sasuke, throwing a punch. His fist was equipped with a special device capable of emitting soundwave attacks.

"Too slow!"

Before Tōsu could fully execute his move, Sasuke’s figure flickered.

Whoosh!  

In an instant, Sasuke dashed forward, closing the distance and appearing directly in front of Tōsu.

He lifted his leg.

One kick!

Sasuke’s sweeping roundhouse landed squarely on Tōsu's abdomen.

Bang!  

A muffled thud echoed through the room.

Tōsu’s eyes widened, his pupils bulging, and he spat out a mouthful of saliva.

However...

It wasn’t over yet.

Sasuke exerted more force with his leg. The immense power, equivalent to an SS-level strike, sent Tōsu flying like a rubber ball.

Whoosh!  

Tōsu was flung backward, slamming into the window of Classroom 301 with a loud crash.

Shatter!  

The glass broke instantly.

Tōsu fell right through the window, plummeting out of Classroom 301.

*+80 (40)*

Sasuke's points instantly increased before his eyes.

"Whoa!"

Gasps of astonishment erupted throughout the classroom. No one had expected the situation to unfold this way.

Tōsu had appeared intimidating and fierce.

Many of the genin thought Tōsu was incredibly strong!

But no one could have imagined he’d be completely dominated by Sasuke.

So powerful!

No wonder that green-clad, bushy-browed boy earlier had said this was the strongest genin.

Indeed impressive!

The other two sound ninja, Zaku and Kin, exchanged glances, their shock evident in their eyes.

Tōsu was blown away?!

Such a scenario was beyond their imagination, leaving them unsure of what to do next.

Boom!  

Just then, smoke filled the room as a dozen Leaf ninja appeared out of nowhere, their aura oppressive and commanding.

"You bunch of brats, settle down!"

A loud, authoritative voice rang out.

Everyone in the classroom instantly froze, their chatter abruptly silenced.

Shing!  

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice.

The speaker wore a black headscarf, a black trench coat, and had a face crisscrossed with scars, exuding an intimidating presence.

It was none other than the special jonin of Konoha...

Morino Ibiki!

Sasuke glanced at Ibiki, feeling that their entrance was particularly impressive and dramatic.

Maybe I should take some notes for future use!

For now, Sasuke didn’t say anything nor attempt to draw attention to himself further.

After all, Ibiki had arrived.

This was the proctor for the first exam!

The real show-off moment would come during the second test!

"Impatient, aren’t we?"

Ibiki’s voice resonated through the room as his cold gaze swept over everyone, making each person feel a chill run down their spine.

"My name is Morino Ibiki, and I am the proctor for the first stage of the Chūnin Selection Exams."

"You genin better behave!"

"Without a proctor’s permission..."

"Fighting among examinees is strictly forbidden!"

"And even if permission is granted, you are not allowed to go for the kill!"

"Violators..."

"Will have their exam qualifications revoked immediately!"

"Do I make myself clear?"

Ibiki’s stern voice echoed loudly, and he even cast a meaningful glance at Sasuke after finishing.

He had been present all along.

He had simply chosen not to intervene.

Ibiki had witnessed Sasuke’s clash with Tōsu in its entirety and was somewhat impressed.

What tremendous power!

Ibiki couldn’t help but take a few more mental notes of Sasuke.

"Proctor!"

Kin from the Sound Village stepped forward and stood in front of Ibiki, her eyes fixed on him.

"Our teammate Tōsu will be here soon. Could you please wait a moment before starting?"

She quickly pleaded.

Kin realized as Ibiki spoke that the Chūnin Exams were about to begin.

However...

Tōsu wasn’t back yet!

"Are you three from the same team?"

Ibiki glanced at Kin, then at Zaku, his demeanor still as cold as ever.

"Yes!"

Kin and Zaku both nodded in unison.

"Too bad!"

Ibiki shook his head and gestured to the other proctors behind him.

"You’re late. Disqualified from the exams!"

Step, step, step...  

Immediately, two proctors walked up. One grabbed Kin, the other grabbed Zaku, dragging them toward the exit.

"Proctor! We arrived earlier, but that kid kicked our teammate out of the window! He’ll be back soon!" Kin shouted, hoping to secure their spot in the exam, as they had a mission to complete.

"You’re disqualified!"

Ibiki was unmoved, not even sparing Kin and Zaku another glance.

And just like that...

The two sound ninjas were escorted out of the classroom!

At that moment...

The remaining genin swallowed nervously, their expressions becoming tense.

It was brutal!

They were simply eliminated!

The room fell into a dead silence.

It was eerily quiet.

Even Sasuke hadn’t anticipated such a turn of events.

One kick!

He had effectively kicked three sound ninja out of the competition!

Interesting!

Sasuke’s lips curved slightly as he realized the situation was becoming more and more entertaining.

Ibiki nodded in satisfaction. After making an example of the Sound ninja, it was time to get down to business.

"Alright."

"We’ll now begin the first stage of the Chūnin Selection Exams."

"Submit your application forms in order."

"Then, collect your number plates and take your assigned seats."

"The written test papers will be distributed shortly."

Ibiki’s cold voice left no room for argument.

It was as if he were addressing criminals, showing no leniency.

After witnessing the earlier disqualification of the Sound ninja, no one dared to make a sound.

One by one...

The genin handed in their forms, received their number plates, and found their respective seats.

Once everyone was seated, the proctors began distributing the test papers.

The papers were handed out face-down.

---

*Chapter 182: The First Exam! 2 *

---

The test papers were placed face down on the desks, making it impossible for anyone to see their contents.

“Ahem, ahem…”

At that moment, Ibiki cleared his throat, his sharp eyes scanning the classroom and every student within it.

“Don’t move!”

“Listen up carefully!”

“This exam has a few important rules.”

“I’ll write them on the blackboard and explain them as I go.”

“No questions allowed!”

“Just listen carefully!”

As Ibiki spoke, he picked up a piece of chalk and began writing on the blackboard. The most prominent word he wrote was “RULES.”

“Rule one.”

“Each of you starts with 10 points. There are 10 questions, each worth 1 point.”

Ibiki swiftly wrote the first rule on the board. Once finished, he turned back to the examinees to explain.

“This test uses a deductive scoring system,” he stated.

“In other words, if you answer all the questions correctly, you’ll retain all 10 points. But for every wrong answer, 1 point will be deducted. For example, if you get 3 questions wrong, 3 points will be deducted from your total, leaving you with 7 points.”

He paused briefly, then turned back to the blackboard and continued writing.

“Rule two.”

“This exam is conducted in teams of three.”

“The results will be judged based on the team’s total score. The maximum combined score is 30 points. The higher the team score, the better your chances of passing.”

After writing the second rule, Ibiki immediately moved on to the third.

“Next, this is the most important rule...”

“Rule three.”

“During the exam…”

“Any misconduct, such as cheating or behavior deemed to be cheating…”

“…will result in a deduction of 2 points each time the invigilators catch you.”

Once this rule was written, Ibiki turned back to the class, his icy gaze sweeping across the examinees before resting on the row of proctoring ninja standing nearby.

“In other words,” he continued, “if you lose all 10 points, you will be disqualified and removed from the exam hall.”

“Remember this well!”

“Clumsy attempts to cheat are no different from digging your own grave.”

“If you want to become a Chunin…”

“…then act like a proper ninja!”

Swish!

Every Genin in the classroom followed Ibiki’s gaze and noticed that each proctor held a notebook, ready to record any cheating attempts.

“And finally, the last rule!”

Ibiki’s voice rang out again as he turned back to the blackboard and began writing.

“After the exam…”

“Any team with a member who has lost all their points or scored zero…”

“…will be disqualified as a whole!”

The moment he finished speaking, it was as if a bomb had gone off in the room.

Hiss…

Every examinee drew a sharp breath.

This wasn’t an individual test!

It was a team test!

If one person lost all their points, whether from cheating or incorrect answers, the entire team would fail.

Unbelievable!

A heavy pressure seemed to descend on everyone in the room.

Naruto immediately turned to look at Sasuke, his eyes filled with a plea for help.

In an instant, their gazes met.

Even across the distance, Naruto could feel the confidence radiating from Sasuke’s eyes.

No problem at all!

Naruto was instantly reassured by Sasuke’s confidence, and his panic subsided in a flash.

Sakura, who had been watching Naruto as he turned, noticed the change in his expression right away.

Her sharp intuition caught the comfort in Naruto’s eyes.

Everything will be fine!

Sakura’s initial worry faded as well. She knew that if Naruto could look this confident, it must be because he had drawn strength from Sasuke.

Whizz!

At that moment, a piece of chalk flew through the air and struck Naruto on the head with precision.

“Ow!”

Naruto yelped in pain and immediately turned to glare at Ibiki.

“Such behavior during the actual exam will count as cheating and will result in a deduction!”

Ibiki used Naruto as an example to emphasize his point.

“Now, everyone has a test paper.”

“You have one hour.”

“And now…”

“The exam begins!”

As soon as Ibiki finished speaking, everyone picked up their test papers and pens, preparing to dive into the questions.

But…

Most people had remarkably similar reactions.

Flip the paper.

Pick up the pen.

Read the question.

Pick up the pen.

Read the question.

Pick up the pen.

…

But no one started writing!

They couldn’t even begin!

The questions were impossible!

Sasuke observed the room with a slight smirk. He had seen the Chunin Exam in the anime.

These questions weren’t meant to be answered!

However…

Ibiki’s explanation of the rules had piqued Sasuke’s interest.

Losing 2 points per instance of cheating…

Everyone started with 10 points…

This seemed to encourage cheating!

Everyone could theoretically cheat up to 4 times!

Because the fifth time would mean elimination!

The rule about team disqualification was particularly intriguing.

One disqualified member meant the whole team was out…

But the scoring method was a brain teaser.

A perfect score was 10 points.

You lost 1 point for every wrong answer.

So logically… if everyone started with 10 points… no one had to answer at all!

Sasuke found the test’s structure to be riddled with traps, but he enjoyed the challenge.

Time to stir things up!

With that thought, Sasuke refrained from causing any trouble for now. Instead, he flipped over his test paper to see what was written.

The first question was to decode a cipher and translate it into text. A diagram accompanied the question.

No idea!

The diagram’s symbols looked like gibberish from another planet. Sasuke couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

He moved on to the next question.

The second question:

“The parabolic trajectory of a shuriken thrown by Ninja A from a 7-meter-high tree reaches its maximum range. Based on the diagram, identify the characteristics of potential enemy ninjas within the range and calculate the maximum range for a flat-plane battle. Provide your reasoning.”

After reading it, Sasuke put the paper down.

What kind of nonsense was this?

The first half seemed like a math problem.

The second half was a logic puzzle.

And neither had anything to do with the characteristics of enemy ninjas!

What a ridiculous question!

Sasuke decided not to answer for now. He wasn’t going to blatantly spy on others either. Getting caught cheating and jeopardizing Team 7’s chances would be a disaster.

“I have a question!”

Suddenly, a Genin stood up and looked straight at Ibiki. “How many people will advance to the next round?”

Swish!

Immediately, everyone turned their attention to Ibiki.

This answer would directly impact their chances of success!

Ibiki’s lips curled into a sly smile.

---

---

Ibiki's response was a burst of laughter, which quickly froze as he coldly said, “Even if you knew, what could you do about it? Or... do you just not want to take the test anymore?”

“S-Sorry!”

The nervous Genin quickly sat down and stopped talking. Nobody wanted to be a burden to their teammates.

Gradually, the atmosphere in the exam room began to shift.

These questions were genuinely impossible!

Cheating was the only option!

Akamaru, perched on Kiba Inuzuka’s head, was busy observing the test papers of nearby candidates and relaying the information to Kiba in a unique way.

Shino Aburame used his bugs to gather answers—essentially a ninja-world version of Ant-Man.

Tenten utilized her ninja tool manipulation skills to pass information to Lee.

Neji simply activated his Byakugan, seeing through the people in front of him to view the answers.

Ino used her Mind Transfer Jutsu to sneak a peek at Sakura’s test paper.

Everyone was showcasing their unique ninja techniques to gather intel.

At this moment, Sasuke noticed one particular candidate with the word "Diligence" written on his back.

This was the "scholar" that Ibiki had planted in the room!

At that moment, Sasuke's pupils shifted, and the three tomoe of his Sharingan appeared.

Using the Sharingan, he copied the scholar's movements.

Sasuke began writing down the answers on his test paper, committing the scholar's actions to memory.

Meanwhile, Naruto was completely at a loss!

He had no idea how to answer the questions and no means of gathering information.

However...

Naruto chose to trust Sasuke. Instead of attempting to cheat, he lay on his desk, waiting for an opportunity.

Swish!  

At that moment, a kunai flew across the room, pinning a Genin’s test paper to the desk.

“Ah!”

The startled Genin flinched, his eyes darting to the proctor ninja nearby.

“You’ve been caught cheating five times. You’re disqualified,” said Kamizuki Izumo coldly, flipping through his notebook, where he had recorded the candidate’s attempts.

“H-How can this be?”

The Genin panicked. He hadn’t even realized he’d been caught five times. There had been no warnings.

“And the two teammates with you, please leave as well. Move quickly,” Izumo commanded, offering no explanation or further remarks.

“Damn it!” the Genin muttered under his breath as he put down his pen and walked out. His teammates reluctantly followed.

Swish!  

Not long after, another kunai flew through the air, pinning a different Genin’s test paper.

“You’ve been caught cheating five times. Disqualified!”

With the proctor’s announcement, another group was escorted out.

Gradually, more and more candidates were caught due to their poor cheating techniques.

The classroom became increasingly empty, and the pressure on those remaining grew heavier.

At this point...

Gaara reached toward his left eye, using his sand to send his eyeball floating toward a nearby candidate’s test paper.

At the same time, Kankuro raised his hand.

“Excuse me!”

Kankuro’s voice drew the attention of a nearby proctor.

“What is it?” the proctor asked.

“I need to use the restroom,” Kankuro said, looking apologetically at the proctor.

His statement immediately signaled Sasuke.

This was the moment he’d been waiting for!

Not so fast!  

Sasuke’s jet-black pupils transformed into the three-tomoe Sharingan.

“Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness!”

Without forming any hand signs, Sasuke activated his Genjutsu through his Sharingan.

Whoosh!  

In an instant, the entire classroom was shrouded in darkness. Everyone, including the proctors, was plunged into pitch-black voids.

+100 (50)

Numbers flashed in Sasuke’s mind.

Kankuro froze in place, his vision completely gone.

Akamaru lay flat on Kiba’s head, motionless. Even Shino’s bugs stopped moving, unable to navigate the sudden darkness.

Neji, who had been using his Byakugan, could no longer see through anything.

Ino, who had been copying answers through Sakura’s perspective, thought she had gone blind.

Gaara’s floating sand eye, poised to capture answers, was also rendered useless by the darkness.

The entire classroom was paralyzed in their attempts to gather information.

Even Ibiki, standing at the podium, found himself in total darkness.

“Which candidate is responsible for this?” Ibiki muttered, feeling both amused and exasperated. This was getting out of hand!

Whoosh!  

Sasuke activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, instantly teleporting to the seat next to Naruto.

“Naruto...”

Naruto nearly exclaimed, but quickly stopped himself to avoid revealing Sasuke.

+50 (25)

Numbers flashed in Sasuke’s mind again.

Without a word, Sasuke grabbed Naruto’s test paper and rapidly wrote down answers at lightning speed.

With his SS-level agility, Sasuke finished in moments. He even used a special technique to mimic Naruto’s handwriting perfectly.

+60 (30)

Returning to his seat, Sasuke retrieved the kunai he had placed earlier and stored it in his personal space.

The entire process was seamless.

Gradually, the darkness lifted, as if nothing had happened.

+70 (35)

Numbers flashed once more in Sasuke’s mind.

Naruto immediately glanced at his test paper.

Except for the final question, all the answers were neatly filled in!

It was Sasuke!

Naruto’s face lit up with joy, silently giving Sasuke a thumbs-up in his heart.

+80 (40)

Sasuke felt no pressure helping Naruto. To him, it made no difference. But this playful stunt earned him plenty of system points while also livening up the exam’s atmosphere.

How entertaining!

Sasuke wasn’t worried about Sakura, though. Based on his knowledge from watching the anime, Sakura was a true academic genius. She didn’t need to cheat—she could solve every question on her own.

“This candidate,” Ibiki said, his gaze fixed on Kankuro.

“Do you still need to use the restroom?”

Ibiki’s voice echoed through the room, reminding everyone that the test was still ongoing.

---

*Chapter 182: The First Exam! 3*

---

*Everyone has a question mark in their hearts.*

Who caused the earlier darkness?

“Go! Of course, we have to go!”

Kankuro nodded immediately. He still didn’t have his answer.

“You can only go with an examiner accompanying you,” came the reply.

At that moment, an exam proctor stood up, took out a pair of handcuffs, secured Kankuro, and tied a rope to the cuffs.

Then—

The two walked out…

Gradually—

Time ticked by, second by second.

Ibiki glanced at the watch on his wrist. Forty-five minutes had passed since the exam began.

“Now, I’ll announce the tenth question,” he said suddenly, capturing the attention of every genin who was either cheating or looking for an opportunity to cheat.

In an instant, all eyes were on Ibiki’s cold, scarred face.

“For the tenth question…”

“I’m going to add a few new rules.”

His words shocked the room. Every examinee widened their eyes, filled with disbelief.

What’s going on?

What’s he trying to do?

Why are there more rules now?

Everyone was panicking inside.

Creaaaak!  

Suddenly—

The classroom door opened.

Kankuro and the exam proctor returned.

Ibiki glanced at Kankuro. His face was expressionless as he spoke indifferently.

“Lucky you.”

“I suppose your puppet trick wasn’t completely wasted.”

“Now sit down.”

“I’m about to announce the rules.”

Ibiki had clearly noticed Kankuro’s little tricks all along, but he didn’t say much.

Using puppets?

Well, that could be considered a ninja’s skill.

“Now I’ll explain the rules for the tenth question!”

“This is a rule of despair.”

“You have a choice. For the tenth question, will you take it or not?”

As soon as Ibiki finished speaking, the room exploded into murmurs.

Every face was filled with immense pressure.

Except for Sasuke.

He showed no surprise at all.

From the start, he had known what this exam was about, so he remained calm.

It was like playing with an open hand of cards.

Of course,

it was the opponent’s cards that were open.

“Choose for ourselves?”

“What does that mean?”

“And what happens if we choose not to take it?”

Temari asked urgently, unable to hide her anxiety. She had been waiting for Kankuro to return with the answers, but this sudden twist left her flustered.

Ibiki cast a sharp glance at Temari, silencing her instantly with his cold stare.

“It’s simple!”

“If you choose not to take it, you get zero points!”

“You’ll lose your qualification to take the exam.”

“And…”

“The other two members of your team will also lose their qualification!”

Ibiki’s words sent shockwaves through the room. The remaining examinees could hardly take it.

“Then we have no choice but to take it!”

“What kind of nonsense is this!”

“This isn’t even a choice!”

“Why not just give us the question already!”

Frustrated murmurs filled the room. Many of the examinees had never seen an exam like this.

“Don’t be so hasty,” Ibiki said, narrowing his eyes. His tone grew sharper and heavier.

“Before I announce the contents of the tenth question…”

“I need to add another rule.”

“If you choose to take it…”

“But fail to answer correctly…”

Ibiki deliberately dragged out his words, heightening the tension and curiosity in the room.

“You will never again be allowed to participate in the Chunin Exams!”

“What? That’s ridiculous! Haven’t there been people who’ve taken the Chunin Exams more than once?”

Kiba shot to his feet, pointing a finger at Ibiki, his frustration boiling over. The rules of this exam were enough to drive anyone mad.

“Heh heh heh…”

Ibiki chuckled, a sinister sound that sent chills down everyone’s spine. Combined with the scars on his face, it made him look even more menacing.

“Bad luck for you.”

“This year, I make the rules.”

“However…”

“There’s still a way out.”

“If you’re not confident…”

“You’d be wise to choose not to take the question.”

“That way, you can try again in the future Chunin Exams.”

Ibiki pointed out an alternative path.

Instantly—

The atmosphere in the room grew even heavier.

Everyone fell silent.

This was an absolute dilemma!

If they chose to take the question and failed,

they’d remain genin for life!

“Well then… now,” Ibiki continued, “make your choice.”

“Will you take the tenth question or not?”

“Raise your hand if you choose not to take it.”

“Once your number is recorded, you may leave.”

Ibiki didn’t give the examinees much time. As soon as he explained the rules, he urged them to decide.

In that moment—

Cold sweat poured down many faces.

The weight of the decision bore heavily on everyone’s minds.

This wasn’t just about one person.

If they gave up on the tenth question, they were effectively giving up on the Chunin Exams.

Not only would they be disqualified,

but their teammates would be too!

But if they chose to take it and failed,

they’d be stuck as genin forever.

One was a single loss; the other was permanent.

Gradually—

Some examinees, whose resolve wavered, began raising their hands.

“I’m not taking it!”

“Me neither!”

“I don’t want to take it!”

One by one, genin raised their hands.

Then—

After reporting their numbers to the proctors,

they stood up, their teammates following suit.

Together, they recorded their numbers and left.

No one blamed anyone else.

In such a situation, who could claim they’d do better?

However—

Not all who left were actual examinees.

Many were planted by Ibiki to shake the others’ resolve.

As time passed—

The number of remaining examinees dwindled.

The remaining few hesitated, waiting for someone else in their team to give up first, to lessen their own guilt.

“Anyone else want to withdraw?”

Ibiki’s icy gaze swept across the room, unrelenting.

Suddenly—

Naruto raised his hand.

This action immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Bam!  

The next moment, Naruto slammed his hand onto his desk, the sound echoing through the room and pulling all eyes toward him.

“Hey!”

“You!”

“Don’t underestimate people!”

“I won’t back down!”

“I’m taking the question!”

“Even if I remain a genin for the rest of my life!”

“I’ll still aim to become Hokage!”

“Go ahead and give me the question!”

“I’m not afraid of you!”

---

Naruto's determined voice echoed through the entire classroom, like a powerful stimulant injected into everyone’s hearts.

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.

Everyone in the classroom felt inspired; their lips curled into smiles, and hesitation or doubt was nowhere to be seen.

"I’ll give you one more chance!"

"This decision will impact your entire life!"

"If you regret it, it’s not too late to back out!"

Ibiki stared intently into Naruto's eyes, sensing the overwhelming determination surging within the young man.

"Speak your mind."

"This is my way of the ninja!"

As soon as Naruto spoke, the restless and anxious mood in the exam hall instantly calmed. Everyone was reminded of their initial resolve.

How could they back down now, of all times?

In an instant, the room solidified with determination.

Ibiki said nothing more. He swept his gaze across the classroom.

Every expression was resolute.

No one would be leaving now!

Waiting any longer wouldn’t change a thing!

"Phew..."

Ibiki exhaled softly, a faint smile forming on his lips as he addressed the examinees.

"Your decision is a wise one."

"Now, for everyone here..."

"I hereby declare that you’ve all passed the first stage of the Chūnin Selection Exams!"

Immediately, the room erupted in stunned silence.

Eyes widened in disbelief.

No one knew what was happening!

They had somehow advanced without understanding why!

"What... what’s going on?"

Sakura’s eyes widened in confusion. She hadn’t yet processed what had just happened. Unable to contain herself, she blurted out, "Everyone passed? What about the tenth question?"

"There wasn’t a tenth question at all!"

Ibiki suddenly broke into a grin.

"If you must know..."

"The choice I gave you just now, the one between two options..."

"That was the tenth question!"

Ibiki revealed the core of the exam’s secret.

This unexpected twist made Sasuke, seated at the back of the room, smirk slightly.

Interesting!

Though Sasuke didn’t feel much engagement earlier, he was reminded of the thrill and tension of watching anime—those moments of plot twists and excitement still carried a certain charm.

"Wait, then what about the first nine questions? Were they pointless?"

Temari was visibly annoyed, glaring as she spoke. She had just copied Kankurō’s answers—only to find out they didn’t matter?

This was too much!

Way too much!

Temari felt like she’d been played!

"Not at all!"

"Those nine questions served their purpose."

"They tested your ability to gather intelligence!"

"First of all..."

"The key to this exam was outlined in the rules."

"You were told to form teams of three."

"And your scores were evaluated based on your team’s total performance."

"This placed a heavy psychological burden on you to avoid dragging down your teammates."

Ibiki's lips curved slightly as he began to explain the intricacies of the exam.

"I figured that out a long time ago!"

Naruto folded his arms across his chest and pouted, clearly wanting credit for the group’s success.

"But here’s the thing..."

"For most of you, these questions were far too difficult."

"So..."

"You all came to the same conclusion: there was only one way forward."

"And that was to cheat!"

"In other words..."

"This exam was designed to make you cheat!"

"That’s why we planted two Chūnin who already knew the answers among you, giving you clear targets to exploit."

Ibiki continued to elaborate, breaking down the strategies behind the test.

"Hahaha! I knew it all along! It was so obvious!"

Naruto threw his head back and laughed loudly, his carefree voice ringing through the room. After all, the exam was already over, and he had passed.

Ibiki cast a long, meaningful glance at Naruto but refrained from saying more. Instead, he removed his headscarf.

"But..."

"For those who cheated poorly..."

"They were disqualified immediately!"

"Because..."

"In the ninja world, information is sometimes more important than life itself!"

Beneath Ibiki’s headscarf were scars so gruesome they left everyone silent.

Even Sasuke, who rarely showed emotion, was struck by the sight.

Looking at Ibiki's head, he couldn’t begin to imagine what the man had endured.

Despite mentally preparing himself, Sasuke found the reality deeply shocking.

"So..."

"During missions..."

"Or on the battlefield..."

"You’ll often risk your life to obtain information."

"But even when information is acquired, if it’s discovered by the enemy or a third party..."

"It might not be reliable."

"Remember this well."

"Incorrect intelligence can lead to dire consequences for both your teammates and your village!"

"That’s why..."

"This exam was designed to evaluate your information-gathering capabilities."

"And to eliminate those unfit for the task!"

"Ultimately, the tenth question was the real test!"

Ibiki placed his headscarf back on, his earlier words leaving the room in complete silence.

"Then why ask the tenth question at all?" Temari’s voice was much quieter now, as she dared not speak too casually to Ibiki.

"Heh heh heh..."

Ibiki chuckled, spreading his arms in a bold gesture.

"Let me explain it this way!"

"When faced with the tenth question..."

"You had to choose whether to take the risk or not."

"Admittedly, it was a difficult choice to make!"

"Choosing not to attempt it meant disqualifying your entire team from the exam!"

"But attempting it and failing meant being stuck as a Genin for life!"

"This question wasn’t fair by any measure!"

"But in the real world, what would you do if faced with such a situation?"

"Imagine you’re already a Chūnin."

"The mission is to retrieve classified documents, but you have no intel on the enemy’s strength, numbers, or weaponry."

"And there’s the risk of an ambush."

"What would you do?"

"Would you abandon a dangerous mission just because it seemed too risky or to protect your teammates?"

"You can’t!"

"There are times when certain missions..."

"No matter how dangerous..."

"Must be accepted!"

"In such moments..."

"You must inspire courage in your teammates and possess the ability to lead them out of danger!"

"This is the quality a Chūnin, as a team leader, must have."

"And conversely..."

---

"Those who cower in the face of danger."

"Those who pin their hopes on an unpredictable future."

"And those who willingly withdraw."

"In my opinion..."

"They are all weak-willed trash!"

"They are not worthy of becoming Chunin!"

"You have passed my test. The first stage of the Chunin Exams is over!"

"Keep working hard!"

Ibiki's lips curled into a smile.

The aura he exuded changed, becoming less sinister.

"Bang!"

Just as Ibiki finished speaking,

the window of classroom 301 on the third floor of the Ninja Academy was shattered. A dark figure suddenly rushed in.

This figure appeared very abruptly.

It startled everyone!

Along with this figure came two kunai, which pierced the ceiling of the classroom and pulled out a banner.

Immediately after,

a female ninja with purple hair and a fishnet outfit appeared in everyone's sight.

It was Mitarashi Anko!

"It's too early to celebrate!"

"I am the proctor for the second exam."

"Mitarashi Anko!"

"The next exam is waiting for you!"

After Anko finished speaking, she glared at Ibiki. Anyone could see the dissatisfaction in her eyes.

"Your test was too easy!"

(End of chapter)