The noise in the examination room didn't last long before Konoha's examiners arrived.
Morino Ibiki, the proctor for the first phase, stepped forward, and the room fell silent almost instantly.
It wasn't surprising.
The countless scars on Ibiki's face gave him an intimidating presence, making it clear he wasn't someone to take lightly. Most of the candidates instinctively held their breath.
Ibiki scanned the room with interest, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Oh? It seems this year's batch of ninjas is quite energetic."
His smile wasn't reassuring—if anything, it made people even more nervous.
No one responded.
His expression quickly turned serious.
"Alright… Everyone, take your seats."
The candidates hurried to their assigned places.
Once they settled, Konoha's assisting proctors exchanged glances, then began handing out the test papers.
Ibiki's voice rang out.
"The Chunin Exam's written test… begins now!"
The moment the words left his lips, the candidates snapped into action.
Or at least, they tried to.
Because after filling in their names and basic details, most of them froze.
They stared wide-eyed at the impossibly difficult questions in front of them.
---
The first question alone was something out of a scientific nightmare:
**"A wind current moves at 10 meters per second toward the north. A Chunin throws a kunai from the south, targeting you 100 meters away while you move at 5 meters per second. Given the sound delay of the kunai slicing through the air, determine:
1. The exact location where the kunai will land.
2. Whether you can dodge it based on standard reaction times."**
...What?!
That was just the first question.
The rest? Even worse.
Most of the candidates broke into cold sweats.
"Is this… even a ninja exam?"
Many quickly realized: answering was impossible.
Which meant…
They had no choice but to cheat.
---
Ibiki watched the room carefully, noting every small movement.
Hidden among the test-takers were a few candidates with the correct answers.
This wasn't an accident.
They were planted there—their purpose?
To serve as bait, tempting the others to steal their answers.
After all, this exam wasn't just about knowledge.
It was about information gathering—an essential ninja skill.
Those who cheated skillfully would pass.
But those who got caught?
They'd be eliminated immediately.
Within the first ten minutes, four people had already been disqualified.
---
While most struggled, some didn't need to cheat at all.
Among them were Sakura and Ino.
Even though Ino had improved significantly, her theoretical knowledge still couldn't quite match Sakura's genius-level intellect.
And then, there was Sakiya Kihana.
Sitting at the highest seat in the room, she glanced down at the other candidates, as if watching from a throne, seeing them as nothing more than ants.
For her, these questions were trivial.
As long as she remembered Konoha's theoretical knowledge, there was nothing remotely challenging here.
Within moments, she finished the test effortlessly.
The other students were stunned.
Even Sakura, who had the sharpest mind in the room, was still deep in thought—yet Sakiya had already put down her pen.
A genius among geniuses.
If there were a term for someone who could effortlessly solve impossible problems, it would be:
"The Exam Monster."
Sakiya stretched lazily, satisfied.
"Hah~ This little test? My 'Eyes of Death' saw through it instantly."
Her teammates, Sakuragi and Tsuchiya Tsukigami, exchanged looks.
For a brief moment, they considered cheating.
After all—how could they compete with someone like her?
Would they even stand a chance?
Just as Tsuchiya Tsukigami attempted to discreetly toss a small note to a strong-looking candidate for help, disaster struck.
A tiny paper ball suddenly hit the intended recipient in the back of the head—drawing immediate attention.
The result?
Disqualification.
Without hesitation, the proctors declared the student a failure and escorted them out.
Watching this unfold, Masaru Sakuragi shook his head.
"That was a terrible technique."
He turned to Tsuchiya, his expression disapproving.
"You can't just rely on sloppy tricks like that."
Sakuragi, however, had his own brilliant plan.
He would pretend to need the restroom.
Once outside, he could slip past the struggling candidates, peek at a few answers, and then return.
With his sharp memory, memorizing a handful of questions wouldn't be a problem.
Just as he prepared to raise his hand, however—
Someone else beat him to it.
A student boldly lifted his hand, requesting a bathroom break.
The proctors nodded… then immediately declared him disqualified.
"You're out. Leave."
Sakuragi froze mid-motion, slowly lowering his hand back down.
…Abort mission.
---
The conventional methods had all failed.
No special jutsu, no clever tricks—every attempt had been caught instantly.
More and more candidates fell one by one, their dreams of passing the exam shattered.
Meanwhile, others had unfair advantages.
Gaara could control sand to steal answers effortlessly.
Kiba had his dog peek for him.
Shino had a swarm of insects gathering intel.
And those with Byakugan or Sharingan? They had it easy.
But Sakuragi and Tsuchiya?
They had nothing.
No sand.
No dogs.
No insects.
No special eyes.
Just two ordinary guys trapped in an impossible test.
All they could do was sit there, enduring the agonizing minutes as the clock ticked down.
---
Suddenly—
A strange symbol flickered onto their desks.
A tiny note appeared, materializing out of nowhere.
Tsuchiya and Sakuragi's eyes widened in shock.
Their gaze snapped toward Sakiya Kihana.
She simply gave them a knowing smile, then turned back to her paper, as if nothing had happened.
The two swallowed nervously, exchanging glances before carefully unfolding the note.
The message read:
"As members of the Deed of Death, I expect you to handle this minor trial with ease. If you can't even pass this, then you are unworthy of being part of my legacy. You wouldn't dare disappoint me… right?
See you in the next stage."
—The Eye of Death"
Tsuchiya and Sakuragi slowly put the note down, their faces turning ashen.
They glanced at each other, their thoughts perfectly aligned.
"We're doomed."
The exam timer ticked down… and their fate was sealed.
Suddenly, Ibiki Morino spoke.
"It seems most of you have made it this far."
The candidates perked up, listening intently.
"Now, I will announce the tenth and final question of the exam."
A wave of shock and anticipation spread through the room. Everyone quickly focused, bracing for the challenge.
---
Ibiki's expression remained calm yet ominous as he laid out the rules.
"You have a choice."
If you choose not to answer, your entire team will be disqualified, and you'll have to wait six months for the next Chunin Exam.
If you choose to answer but get it wrong, you will never be allowed to take the exam again.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then, chaos erupted.
"That's ridiculous!"
"You don't have the right to decide that!"
"Forever? That's unfair!"
Ibiki remained unfazed, his tone steady yet commanding.
"You're welcome to test whether I have the authority to enforce this."
The room fell silent again.
He continued, his voice firm.
"If you wish to back out, you may do so. But remember—if even one member of your team gives up, your entire squad is out. You'll have to wait until the next exam."
Tension thickened as the weight of his words settled in.
A candidate suddenly stood up, anger flashing across his face.
"Forget this! I won't take that risk!"
With that, his team left the exam hall, their dreams crushed.
Their departure shook the room. More and more candidates hesitated, some considering following suit.
---
Just as doubt spread, Naruto stood up.
With his signature fiery determination, he gave an impassioned speech, refusing to back down.
His words resonated, reigniting the resolve of the candidates. One by one, they chose to stay.
Ibiki watched the room, a small smirk appearing on his face.
"Well then…"
He let the tension hang for a moment before revealing the truth.
"Congratulations. Everyone who chose to stay… has passed."
---
A wave of relief washed over the room.
Tsuchiya Tsukigami and Masaru Sakuragi exchanged looks, their expressions lighting up with excitement.
They had made it through.
Still, as they processed the moment, they couldn't help but think—
"So the real challenge wasn't even the test itself, but our resolve to face the unknown?"
They exhaled.
"That was brutal…"
But there was no time to relax.
Just then, the doors swung open.
A familiar voice cut through the air.
"Alright, you maggots! No time to celebrate! The real test begins now!"
Mitarashi Anko had arrived.
And with her arrival came the next stage of the exam…
The Forest of Death.
_______
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