#34 Divine Reward System.

At this moment, Tatsuya was surrounded by Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and the others, all eager to know the answer.

“Tatsuya, did you know the test questions in advance?” Naruto blurted out first.

“Of course not!” Tatsuya replied with a smirk.

“Then how did you know how to pass the exam?” Sakura pressed, arms crossed.

“Easy!” Tatsuya said confidently. “From the information I gathered, Ibiki is an expert in psychological torture and mental warfare.”

“Think about it. They put someone like him in charge of the first exam—it was never going to be a straightforward written test.”

“Secondly, theoretical knowledge alone never determines whether a genin can become a chunin. We all know there are plenty of chunin and even jonin in our village who aren’t exactly book smart.”

“So logically, even if you turned in a blank paper, you wouldn’t be eliminated outright. At worst, it would lower your score.”

Tatsuya’s calm explanation had everyone listening intently.

“And finally,” he continued, “the biggest challenge in the Chunin Exams isn’t answering a few questions—it’s facing death.”

“Combine those three points with how Ibiki kept applying psychological pressure throughout the test, and it was obvious the real purpose of the exam wasn’t just about answering correctly.”

“In the end, Ibiki himself confirmed it.”

“What this exam really tested was our mental resilience. Could we withstand pressure? Could we handle tough situations without breaking?”

Tatsuya’s words clicked into place for everyone.

Even Shikamaru, known for his high IQ, nodded in agreement.

After a moment, Sasuke frowned slightly. “Tatsuya, but you told Naruto to hand in a blank paper before the exam even started?”

Before Tatsuya could answer, Shikamaru smirked and spoke up first.

“That part was obvious.”

“He said it to keep Naruto from panicking. If the exam turned out to be normal, Naruto could still pass. If it wasn’t, then handing in a blank paper wouldn’t matter anyway.”

Realization dawned on the group, and they all nodded in understanding.

They couldn’t help but feel a bit of admiration for Tatsuya. Who else would have thought you could pass by “handing in a blank paper”?

With their curiosity satisfied, the group eventually dispersed. Tatsuya, along with Naruto and Sasuke, went to Kakashi to confirm the time and location for the next exam.

The next day.

When Tatsuya and the others arrived at the [Second Exam Hall], the candidates who had passed the first test were already gathering.

The location? Konoha’s [44th Training Ground].

More commonly known as—[The Forest of Death].

A massive, dark forest, enclosed by a towering ten-meter iron fence. Multiple identical entrances lined its perimeter, each marked only by a number.

The atmosphere was eerie, the air thick with an ominous presence. No one knew how many had perished within those woods.

In this stage of the Chunin Exams—killing was allowed.

To become a chunin, one had to face death itself.

Hinata shivered slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. “This place… it feels terrifying.”

She wasn’t alone. Even the usually laid-back Shikamaru and food-loving Choji seemed uneasy.

That was when Anko Mitarashi, the chief examiner, spoke up with a sly grin.

“Heh… you’ll soon find out why it’s called the [Forest of Death].”

Naruto, ever the loudmouth, scoffed. “Tch! You’re just trying to scare us!” He clenched his fists, standing tall. “I’m not afraid!”

“Oh? That so?” Anko smirked, suddenly flicking a kunai toward Naruto’s face.

The sharp weapon flew straight for his cheek—only for it to be caught mid-air by a firm hand.

The entire crowd went silent.

Anko’s smirk faltered slightly as she found herself staring into a pair of calm, unwavering eyes.

Tatsuya stood between her and Naruto, holding the kunai effortlessly.

The space between them was barely a breath apart, close enough to feel each other’s presence.

Tatsuya gave her an easygoing smile. “Anko-sensei, I know I’m handsome, but staring at me like that is a bit much, don’t you think?”

“Uh…” Anko blinked, momentarily thrown off. A light blush dusted her cheeks before she quickly stepped back.

She had only meant to teach Naruto a lesson—to let him feel a real close call. She hadn’t expected anyone to react fast enough to intercept her attack.

More importantly, Tatsuya hadn’t just blocked the attack.

He had anticipated it.

The implications were clear. Either it was sheer luck—or Tatsuya had completely read her intentions before she even moved.

For a fresh genin to do that? Unbelievable.

She chose to believe it was a fluke. It made things easier to accept.

“Guess I’ll just have to wait and see how he does in the next exam,” she thought to herself, her eyes lingering on Tatsuya for a moment longer.

Then, regaining her composure, she flashed a grin. “Not bad, kid.”

“I’m honored to receive praise from Anko-sensei,” Tatsuya replied smoothly, handing her back the kunai.

Kiba and the others stared in shock.

Tatsuya had just flirted with Anko in front of everyone and lived to tell the tale.

Kiba gave him a thumbs-up. “Damn, man. Respect.”

Most of the other genin were too stunned to speak, but those with sharper senses—Gaara, Neji, Shikamaru, and even Orochimaru in disguise—saw something else entirely.

Tatsuya’s speed and reaction time were no joke. He wasn’t just lucky.

In the midst of the crowd, a kunoichi from the Hidden Grass spoke softly to herself. “Oh? A promising one.” Her disguised golden eyes gleamed with curiosity. “I wonder how he compares to that Uchiha boy…”

Orochimaru had taken notice.

“Here, Anko-sensei.”

Tatsuya handed the kunai back with a polite smile, looking every bit the respectful student.

Anko took it with a chuckle. “This year’s candidates really are something else,” she mused, glancing at the gathered genin.

Then, her grin widened. “Heh… I’m really looking forward to this.”