In the real Shinobi World...
The countdown to the end of the Heavenly Screen's video lit up. The next day, the atmosphere in Konoha became unusually tense and busy. Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the window of the Hokage's office, looking out at the bustling crowds in the village as he quietly considered his plans for what came next. He knew that the Chunin Ninja Exams were not only an opportunity to select outstanding ninja, but also an important stage on which to display Konoha's strength and deter the other ninja villages. Especially after the Heavenly Screen had shown those shocking scenes, Konoha's every move was under close scrutiny.
"Notify all the Genin taking the Chunin Ninja Exams to prepare for the test," the Third Hokage said gravely to the Anbu Ninja beside him, his voice carrying a hint of unquestionable authority. "The first exam will be a written test, as usual."
The news spread quickly throughout Konoha, and the Genin from every village began preparing for the exam. This time, however, the Chunin Ninja Exams were very different from those of the past. The video shown on the Heavenly Screen had not only made Naruto the center of everyone's attention, but had also given the ninja from other villages a new understanding of Konoha's strength.
When Naruto appeared in the exam room, everyone's eyes involuntarily turned toward him. Unlike in the original story, Naruto was no longer the overlooked "dead last." He was the hero from the Heavenly Screen who had fought Pain and saved the village, and the son of Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze. His every action and every word became the focus of the other examinees' attention.
"Is that Naruto? The Fourth Hokage's son..." a Genin from Sunagakure said quietly, a trace of awe in his voice.
"I heard he's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but he doesn't look like it at all..." another ninja from Iwagakure muttered, his eyes full of curiosity.
Gaara stood in a corner of the exam room, watching Naruto coldly. His gaze held a trace of complicated emotion. As the Kazekage's son and a Jinchūriki himself, Gaara had been treated as a monster since childhood, enduring endless loneliness and pain. Naruto, however, was completely different from him. The blond boy had a tragic past too, yet he always wore an optimistic smile and had so many people around him who cared about him.
"Why... can he be so optimistic?" Gaara murmured, his voice carrying a barely perceptible trace of envy and confusion. His fingers tightened slightly, and something seemed to be quietly changing inside him.
Meanwhile, the ninja from Iwagakure were also watching Naruto in secret. Because of the video shown on the Heavenly Screen, Tsuchikage Ōnoki had taken a keen interest in Konoha's current situation and had specifically sent several elite "Genin" to take the exam, hoping to use the opportunity to find out Konoha's true strength.
"Is that blond kid the Fourth Hokage's son?" Kurotsuchi folded her arms and watched Naruto with interest, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. "Interesting kid. He reminds me of my senior Deidara... that rebellious 'big brother' of mine."
Deidara appeared in Kurotsuchi's mind, the crazy ninja who was always shouting, "Art is an Explosion." Although Deidara had defected from the village, Kurotsuchi still had complicated feelings about him. And Naruto, standing before her now, was completely different from Deidara, yet he gave her the same inexplicable sense of familiarity.
The ninja from Otogakure, on the other hand, were rather quiet. They had originally come to take the exam on Orochimaru's orders and test the strength of Konoha's younger generation while they were at it. However, the footage of Naruto fighting Pain on the Heavenly Screen had made them abandon that idea. A battle on that level was simply beyond anything they could interfere in.
Lord Orochimaru's plan... will probably need to be reconsidered, an Otogakure ninja thought, a trace of unease on his face.
The atmosphere in the exam room grew increasingly tense, but Naruto was oblivious. As usual, he stood casually at the classroom door, chatting now and then with Shikamaru and Sakura beside him. Although he had noticed the strange looks from the people around him, he paid them no mind. To him, the Chunin Ninja Exams were simply a chance to prove himself, and he had long since resolved to pass the exam and become a true ninja.
"Naruto, don't drag us down again this time," Sakura said, looking at him helplessly, a hint of worry in her voice.
"Don't worry, Sakura! I'm the man who's going to become Hokage. How could I fail an exam like this?" Naruto patted his chest confidently, his trademark grin appearing on his face.
Shikamaru looked at him lazily and sighed. "What a drag... But this exam probably won't be that simple."
While the many examinees were talking among themselves and keeping their guard up against one another, the doors to the exam room swung open. Ibiki Morino, the examiner for the first test, walked in with a group of Chunin proctors. A cold smile played on Ibiki's face as his knife-sharp gaze swept over every examinee present, as if silently warning them that there would be no getting through this exam by luck.
"Examinees, welcome to the first part of the Chunin Ninja Exams—the written test." Ibiki's voice was deep and forceful, instantly silencing the noise in the room. He stood at the front with his hands behind his back, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's. "The exam consists of a questionnaire, and you have one hour. The rules are simple: no cheating, no whispering to one another, and no using any Ninjutsu or tools. If you're caught breaking a rule, you'll lose two points each time. If your score drops below passing, you'll be disqualified immediately."
At the words "written test," Naruto's face instantly went pale. He was completely worked up, panicking inside as if ten thousand frogs were jumping around in his stomach. His written test scores were famously dead last, and he had always scraped through exams by guessing and relying on luck. This was the Chunin Ninja Exams, and it was bound to be much harder than usual. How could he possibly pass?
"A written test? I'm doomed, I'm doomed..." Naruto murmured, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. His fingers drummed unconsciously on the desk, and he was already imagining the miserable scene of being eliminated for failing.
Just then, the seats were assigned. Naruto looked up and discovered that Hinata Hyuga was sitting beside him. Hinata had her head lowered, her cheeks slightly flushed and her fingers twisting together nervously. She was clearly a little nervous too. Seeing Hinata, Naruto relaxed a little and smiled at her. "Hey, Hinata! What a coincidence, we're sitting together!"
Hinata trembled slightly at the sound of Naruto's voice, and her face grew even redder. She raised her head and stole a glance at him, then quickly lowered it again. In a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, she said, "N-Naruto-kun... I hope we get along..."
Naruto couldn't help laughing at how shy Hinata looked. He remembered the scene in the video on the Heavenly Screen, where Hinata had risked everything and rushed forward to fight Pain in order to save him. Hinata had still been shy then, but her eyes had been full of resolve and courage. At the thought, a warm feeling welled up in Naruto's heart.
"Hinata, you're an amazing ninja!" Naruto said sincerely, a trace of admiration in his voice. "I was really moved when I saw how hard you fought to save me in the video the other day!"
Hinata's face grew even redder at Naruto's praise, and she nearly buried herself beneath the desk. Her heart raced, and her mind went blank. All she could do was stammer, "N-Naruto-kun... it was what I should have done... I-I'm just glad you're all right..."
Watching Hinata's shy expression, Naruto thought she was increasingly cute. He scratched his head and smiled. "Hinata, you're always so shy, but you're really incredible! Let's both do our best on this exam!"
At Naruto's encouragement, Hinata felt a warm current pass through her heart. She gathered her courage, raised her head, and looked at Naruto, her eyes shining with determination. "Yes! Naruto-kun, let's do our best together!"
As the two were talking, Ibiki's voice rang out again. "Begin the exam!"
At his words, the test papers were distributed to every examinee. Naruto looked at the densely packed questions on his paper and immediately felt dizzy. He gritted his teeth and made a silent resolution. No matter what, I'm going to pass this exam! To become Hokage, and so I don't let Hinata down!
The atmosphere in the exam room instantly grew tense as every examinee focused completely on answering the questions. Naruto was still panicking inside, but looking at Hinata's serious profile beside him gave him an inexplicable sense of strength.
Hinata, thank you... Naruto said silently in his heart. Then he lowered his head and began working earnestly on the questions. He knew that this exam was not merely a test of knowledge, but also a challenge to his will and convictions. And he would never give up so easily!
Inside the exam room, the tension was almost suffocating. The examinees looked down at their papers, their expressions varied. Some of the cleverer examinees, such as Shikamaru, Sasuke, and Gaara, quickly discovered the exam's true purpose: it was not simply a test of knowledge, but a test of their ability to gather intelligence. They calmly observed the Chunin proctors around them, looking for loopholes they could exploit while secretly analyzing the reactions of the other examinees.
Just as I thought, this exam isn't that simple. Shikamaru leaned lazily back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the questions on the paper. He already had a plan. As long as you don't get caught, cheating is allowed... What a drag.
Sasuke, meanwhile, wore a cold expression. He slightly activated his Sharingan and used his Dōjutsu to copy the answers of the examinee in front of him with ease. His gaze occasionally drifted toward Naruto, and when he saw him scratching his head in frustration, he thought, Naruto, hurry up and notice. This is the key.
Gaara completely ignored the questions on his paper, folded his arms, and coldly watched everything happening in the exam room. His gaze finally settled on Naruto, a flicker of complicated emotion in his eyes. That guy... he's a Jinchūriki just like me, so why can he be so optimistic?
Meanwhile, Naruto was clutching his hair, nearly scratching his scalp raw. Looking at the questions on the paper, which might as well have been written in an ancient script, he was so distraught he almost cried. What is any of this?! Why can't I understand a single word?! He was already imagining the miserable scene of being eliminated for failing, and had even begun considering whether to secretly use a Shadow Clone to cheat.
Just as Naruto was about to despair, his gaze accidentally fell on Hinata beside him. Hinata was working diligently on the questions. Her cheeks were still slightly red, but her eyes were full of concentration and resolve. As Naruto looked at her profile, an inexplicable strength suddenly welled up inside him.
No, I can't give up! Hinata's working hard, so how can I just give up like this?! Naruto gritted his teeth, lowered his head again, and began studying the questions on the paper in earnest. Although he still couldn't understand them, he resolved to keep going no matter what.
Outside the exam room, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was having a conversation with the team leaders from the other villages. It seemed relaxed, but undercurrents stirred beneath the surface. He wore a kindly smile, but his gaze was sharp as a hawk's as it swept over everyone present.
"Everyone, thank you for traveling so far to participate in Konoha's Chunin Ninja Exams," the Third Hokage began slowly, his voice carrying both authority and warmth. "This exam is not only an opportunity to select outstanding ninja, but also a chance for our great ninja villages to exchange ideas and cooperate."
Kitsuchi, the team leader from Iwagakure, nodded with an honest smile. "The Third Hokage is right. We in Iwagakure have always been committed to maintaining peace in the Shinobi World. These Chunin Ninja Exams are also a good opportunity for us to learn from Konoha."
The Third Hokage smiled faintly and turned his gaze to Orochimaru, who was disguised as the Kazekage. Although Orochimaru's disguise was flawless, the Third Hokage still detected something familiar in his eyes. He grew wary, but showed nothing on the surface.
"Lord Kazekage, what are your thoughts on the video recently shown on the Heavenly Screen?" the Third Hokage asked with feigned casualness, a probing note in his voice.
Orochimaru smiled faintly, his voice low and raspy. "The contents of the Heavenly Screen were indeed shocking. Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze's performance in particular was truly astonishing. But you needn't worry, Third Hokage. We in Sunagakure have always valued peace, and we won't throw ourselves into disarray because of what the Heavenly Screen showed."
The Third Hokage nodded, but he did not fully relax. He knew the Kazekage's words were full of hypocrisy and calculation, but this was not the time to expose him. He continued, "Peace is hard-won, and all our great ninja villages should cherish it. I hope these Chunin Ninja Exams can serve as a bridge for us to deepen our understanding and strengthen our cooperation."
Kitsuchi nodded in agreement. "The Third Hokage is right. We in Iwagakure also hope to continue maintaining friendly relations with Konoha."
Orochimaru smiled faintly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Of course. Peace is what we all wish for."
The Third Hokage looked at the two of them and sighed inwardly. He knew that peace in the Shinobi World had never been achieved overnight; it required the efforts and sacrifices of countless people. Although the Heavenly Screen's contents had revealed possibilities for the future, they might also become the spark that set off chaos. He had to proceed carefully and could never allow Konoha to fall into crisis.
"Everyone, the exam is still underway. Let's continue observing," the Third Hokage said with a smile, then turned and left the place where they had been talking. His back looked somewhat hunched, but his steps remained firm.
Kitsuchi watched the Third Hokage leave, a trace of respect flashing in his eyes. Orochimaru, however, smiled coldly and murmured, "Old man, your era is over... Decaying Konoha."
Inside the exam room.
The tension was so thick it was almost hard to breathe. Ibiki Morino stood at the front, his knife-sharp gaze sweeping over every examinee present, a cold smile on his lips. He spoke slowly, his voice deep and forceful. "Next is the tenth question. But before I reveal it, I need to explain the rules."
His words instantly silenced the entire room. Everyone's eyes turned to him, their hearts filled with unease and anticipation.
"The rules for the tenth question are simple: choose whether or not to take it. If you choose to take it but answer incorrectly, you will lose the right to take the Chunin Ninja Exams forever and remain a Genin for life." Ibiki's voice was cold and merciless, as if he were announcing an irreversible fate. "If you choose not to take it, you may withdraw and try again next time. Of course, your teammates will also be disqualified because of your choice."
His words exploded in the exam room like a massive bomb. The examinees' faces turned pale in an instant, and some even began cursing under their breath, clearly angry and desperate at the cruel rule.
"What kind of bullshit rule is that?! It's completely unfair!" one examinee couldn't help complaining in a low voice.
"Never being able to take the Chunin Ninja Exams again? That's way too harsh..." another examinee muttered, his eyes full of fear.
Naruto froze when he heard the rule. He instantly pictured himself being a Genin for the rest of his life, and his heart filled with resentment and anger.
"For the rest of my life... I can only be a Genin?" Naruto murmured, his voice trembling slightly. His gaze swept over everyone in the room, and when he saw the hesitation and fear on their faces, an inexplicable strength suddenly welled up inside him.
Just then, Ibiki's voice rang out again. "You have one minute to consider your choice. Those who choose to take it, stay. Those who choose not to may leave."
The exam room was deathly silent, with only the ticking of the clock echoing in their ears. Every second seemed to stretch out, pressing down on them until they could hardly breathe. At last, someone stood up and walked out of the room with his head lowered. Soon, more and more people chose to give up, their faces filled with resentment and helplessness.
Naruto watched the examinees leave, but his resolve did not waver in the slightest. Scenes rose in his mind: himself fighting Pain on the Heavenly Screen, Minato Namikaze sacrificing himself to protect the village, and Hinata risking her life to save him. He knew he could never back down here.
"Don't underestimate me!" Naruto suddenly slapped the desk and sprang to his feet. His voice was loud and firm, instantly shattering the silence in the room. "I'm not running away! I'll take it, even if I have to be a Genin for the rest of my life! I'll become Hokage on sheer guts alone! It's fine, I'm not scared at all!"
His words struck like a thunderclap, instantly shocking everyone present. Sakura and Sasuke looked at Naruto, surprise and relief flashing in their eyes, but they couldn't help grumbling inwardly, That idiot didn't consider us at all...
The other examinees wore complicated expressions. They looked at Naruto, their hearts full of admiration and shock. Those who knew his identity in particular couldn't help whispering among themselves.
"As expected of the Fourth Hokage's son... He really has guts," an examinee from Sunagakure said quietly, a trace of respect in his voice.
"The him shown on the Heavenly Screen really wasn't an ordinary person..." another examinee from Iwagakure murmured, his eyes full of complicated emotion.
Kurotsuchi's eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth lifted in a playful smile. Just as I thought, he's no ordinary kid... He's getting more and more interesting.
Ibiki looked at Naruto, appreciation flashing in his eyes. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a rare hint of gentleness. "Very well. Since you've chosen to take it, the tenth question is—there is no question."
His words left the examinees momentarily stunned, before they burst into cries of surprise.
"No question? What does that mean?" Sakura couldn't help asking, her eyes full of confusion.
Ibiki smiled faintly and explained, "The true test of the tenth question was your courage and determination. Only those who dare to face the unknown and take risks are qualified to become Chunin. Congratulations, you've passed the first exam."
The exam room instantly erupted, and the examinees broke into relieved smiles. Naruto stood where he was, the same confident smile still on his face. He knew he was one step closer to his dream of becoming Hokage.
"Hinata, Sasuke, Sakura... we did it!" Naruto said excitedly, his eyes shining.
Hinata looked at Naruto, her cheeks slightly red and her eyes full of admiration and joy. "Naruto-kun... you really are amazing..."
Sasuke snorted and turned his head away, but the corners of his mouth rose slightly in a rare smile. Hmph, that dead last is finally starting to look the part.
Sakura shook her head helplessly, but her eyes were full of relief. That idiot finally didn't let us down.
Outside the exam room, the Third Hokage stood on high ground, looking at the scene inside with a relieved smile. Naruto, you really didn't let me down... Minato Namikaze's son is destined to become an exceptional ninja.