The First Written Exam

Hyuga Kei and the other two made their way to the gathering point outside Classroom 303, where many examinees had already assembled.

There were over a hundred examinees from six villages: Konoha, Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Amegakure, Kusagakure, and Takigakure.

The three found an empty spot and sat down.

Hyuga Kei said, "There's an eighty-percent chance the exam will be written. Karin, use the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to copy the answers, then use a secret technique to establish a mental connection with us and transmit them over."

"No problem." Karin made an OK gesture.

Although Hyuga Kei knew the plot here—during the first written exam, even if one did not answer any questions, they could still pass by enduring the pressure test until the end—he still had to prepare for the worst. Even the Fourth Great Ninja War had happened ahead of schedule; what was impossible now?

"Lord Kei, is the target of this plan Uzumaki Naruto?" Having followed Hyuga Kei for so long, Uchiha Hikari had keenly picked up on his intentions.

Hyuga Kei nodded. "Not just him. There's also Uchiha Sasuke, and my younger brother."

Karin disliked that arrogant Sasuke a little. "Why? He always has that smug look on his face. He's no fun at all."

Hyuga Kei smiled. In the original story, you were head over heels for him. Now you hated him instead.

Then again, that made sense. In the original story, Karin had grown up in an incredibly harsh environment, desperately lacking any sense of security. After Sasuke saved her, it was only natural that she would fall hopelessly in love with him.

But now, after Hyuga Kei had rescued Karin and her mother, they had been well protected all along.

Uchiha Hikari asked, "Is there something special about them? Are they worth so much of Lord Kei's attention?"

Hyuga Kei knew Hikari was a little jealous. She had also been saved by Hyuga Kei, so why did three little brats merit such a grand effort from him?

Hyuga Kei did not explain. He simply rubbed her long hair, and Hikari closed her eyes like a kitten, enjoying his touch.

Uchiha Hikari did not press him further. Since Hyuga Kei did not want to say, she would not keep asking.

A few minutes later, all the examinees had arrived in the examination room. Amid the deafening chatter, a shout silenced everyone.

"Quiet, rookies!"

Bang! A huge cloud of white smoke burst forth from the podium at the front.

The noisy hall fell silent in an instant as everyone looked toward the podium.

Morino Ibiki, a ninja from Konoha's Interrogation Squad, appeared on the podium with numerous chunin proctors.

Ibiki stepped forward. "Everyone, take your seats according to your exam numbers."

The crowd descended into chaos as they searched for their respective seats. A few minutes later, everyone was seated.

And a familiar person appeared beside Hyuga Kei—it was Hyuga Hinata, sitting there timidly.

Hyuga Kei smiled and held out his hand. "Hello, I'm Chiba Kishu."

"My name is Hyuga Hinata."

Hinata slowly extended her hand and shook Hyuga Kei's, then immediately pulled it back.

Hyuga Kei narrowed his eyes and praised, "Hinata-chan is really cute."

"Uuuh..."

At Hyuga Kei's praise, Hinata's eyes turned into spirals.

Hyuga Kei also knew where to draw the line and did not continue talking with Hinata.

Ibiki said, "You may begin answering now. There are nine questions in total. During the last fifteen minutes of the exam, I will announce the tenth question."

Most of the examinees stared blankly at the questions. They were far too difficult.

Then most of the examinees began showing off their cheating methods.

The Byakugan, Sharingan, and Mind Transfer Jutsu were all put to use.

Some used such crude methods that they were directly eliminated.

"Examinee Number 13, you're out!"

That examinee abruptly rose to his feet, refusing to accept the result. "I didn't do anything! What right do you have to eliminate me? I refuse to accept this!"

At that moment, a ninja whose upper face was wrapped in bandages, covering his eyes, suddenly slammed him against the wall.

"Rookie, you need to understand that every proctor here is an experienced chunin—stronger than you. So watch your words and behavior."

Several ninjas then came forward and dragged the troublemaking ninja away.

Hyuga Kei watched the scene with suppressed amusement. Gojo Satoru's prototype had solo-killed a Konoha genin.

While Hyuga Kei was enjoying the show, Hinata beside him noticed that he had not written a single stroke. Kindhearted as she was, she shifted her test paper slightly toward him and softly reminded him, "Chiba-kun..."

Hyuga Kei gave a slight shake of his head to indicate that there was no need. Only then did Hinata move her paper back.

Before long, Karin's Sound Transmission Secret Technique established a connection with the two of them.

"Brother Kei, Sister Hikari, can you hear me? Nod if you can."

Karin's voice sounded in his mind, and Hyuga Kei gave a slight nod to show that he could hear her.

Karin Uzumaki, seated behind them, saw both of them nod lightly. "Good. Then I'll start giving you the answers."

"First question, the answer to the coded-language question is: If the enemy..."

Hyuga Kei wrote down the answers in a rapid flurry.

Ibiki, who was proctoring from the podium, saw this as well. He secretly thought, This girl can actually use Sound Transmission Ninjutsu?

Before long, Hyuga Kei and Uchiha Hikari had completed all nine questions.

For the remaining time, Hyuga Kei lay sprawled on the desk to rest.

What happened afterward was the same as in the original story. Ibiki's tenth question was a stress test. Those who could not withstand it would be eliminated early, while the teams that held firm would advance directly.

Morino Ibiki wrote on the blackboard, "Rookies, I will now announce the content of the tenth question. Remember, the choice you make next will affect the rest of your lives."

"If you choose to remain here and answer the tenth question, then should you answer incorrectly, you will be stripped of the right to take the Chunin Exams and remain a genin forever."

"But you may choose to withdraw voluntarily now. However, your teammates will be eliminated along with you."

"This is a decision that concerns the rest of your lives. It is not too late to withdraw now."

It had to be said that Ibiki had a strong grasp of human nature. He truly deserved to be the Interrogation Department Captain.

On one side was their future, and on the other was causing their teammates to fail this exam along with them.

Ordinary people would naturally weigh the pros and cons and choose the less severe outcome.

Inuzuka Kiba slammed his hand on the desk and rose to his feet. "What kind of stupid rule is this? Plenty of people here have taken the Chunin Exams more than once!"

Ibiki sneered. "That only means your luck is bad. I am this year's examiner, so I am the rule."

"Anyone without confidence can obediently take the exam next year or the year after."

After nearly three minutes of silence, someone finally could not bear the pressure any longer and raised his hand. "I withdraw voluntarily. I'm sorry... Yuto, Fuyuki."

A chunin proctor looked at the report in his hand and said, "Candidate No. 91 has withdrawn. Candidates No. 76 and No. 48 are eliminated as well."

"There's nothing to apologize for. Even if you hadn't raised your hand, I would have withdrawn voluntarily," one of that candidate's teammates said without blaming him.

His two teammates followed him out of the examination hall.

Once one person took the lead, others began raising their hands as well, unable to withstand the pressure, and left together.

Hyuga Kei raised his head, yawning as he looked in Naruto's direction. He wanted to see whether this classic scene would still happen.

Naruto's hand trembled slightly as it slowly rose. His gaze was firm and resolute, as though he were making one final stand against the fear in his heart.

Those around him all turned to look at him, each person guessing what he would do next.

Just when everyone thought he was about to forfeit, Naruto suddenly slammed his hand down on the desk before him, the sound echoing throughout the examination hall.

"Don't underestimate me! I will never back down! I'll continue taking the exam! Even if I can only be a genin for the rest of my life, I'll still become Hokage!" Naruto stood up, straightened his back, and shouted.

His voice was filled with conviction and determination, like a sharp sword piercing through the stifling atmosphere of the examination hall.

The ninjas who had still been hesitating and considering withdrawing voluntarily also had a trace of resolve flash through their eyes upon hearing those words. They no longer wanted to run away.

"I will keep my promise. This is my Nindo!" Naruto's words were like thunder, exploding in everyone's hearts.

Ibiki continued pressuring all the examinees, asking whether anyone else wanted to withdraw. However, this time, no one chose to back down. Their eyes were filled with courage and determination.

Hyuga Kei found it quite amusing. Naruto's skill at talking people around had already begun to show itself at such a young age. Just a few words had been enough to make so many people firm up their resolve.

With an Uzumaki Naruto like this, he did not know whether his own skill at talking people around would work, but one had to try.