First Exam: Consent Form

"······"

Naruto and Sasuke both stared wide-eyed at the female Cloud Ninja on the Taiseki.

Is this a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road?

"My name is Samui, and I am the chief examiner for the first round of the Chunin Exams!"

The female Cloud Ninja spoke, her icy gaze sweeping over the faces of the many examinees. She also noticed Naruto and Sasuke, but her expression remained unchanged as she calmly swept them over.

Once everyone had fallen silent, Samui continued, "Enough with the chit-chat. The first test is simple. See the mountain behind me? All you have to do is climb it. Each team will be given a number tag shortly. As long as you carry three number tags and reach the stone tower atop the highest peak, you'll pass."

Very concise, not a single wasted word.

However, the stench of bloodshed contained within this passage is also palpable.

The candidates standing here are no fools; there aren't many oddballs like Naruto and his friends who came to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams right after graduation.

Most of the candidates are fifteen or sixteen years old, and have honed their skills at the Genin level for several years, possessing ample experience.

Each team only has one number plate, but to pass the exam, three number plates are needed, forcing the candidates to compete fiercely...

The atmosphere became heavy. The crowd, which had been somewhat densely packed to hear Samui speak, suddenly dispersed, and the gazes exchanged between people from different ninja villages and teams turned dangerous.

"Let me emphasize again, this mountain is very, very large, covering an area of over two hundred square kilometers, with fourteen peaks of varying sizes. Your target is the highest peak, which is roughly the center of the mountain. Don't stray off course and leave the mountain; once you step outside the mountain, it will be considered a forfeit."

Samui was very satisfied with the candidates' reactions.

"The exam will last for ten days. Today is the first day. If you don't make it to the Stone Pagoda within ten days, you will fail. If you don't collect all the number plates by the time you arrive at the Stone Pagoda, you will also be disqualified."

Seeing the crowd starting to stir, Samui took out a thick stack of papers from his pocket.

"Consent Form?"

A whisper came from the crowd of Konoha. The boy with pure white pupils had sharp eyes and saw the words on the paper from a distance of more than twenty meters.

Samui's ears twitched as he looked among the Konoha examinees. "Looks like some of you have sharp eyes. That's right, this is Consent Form. Before you enter the examination hall, I need you to sign this Consent Form — Consent Form for taking full responsibility for your lives."

"Bear the consequences of your own life and death? Why?"

One test taker asked, "Is the Forehead Protector a ninja from Takigakure?"

Hearing this idiotic question, many people frowned, wondering how there could be such a fool, while quite a few revealed mocking smiles.

Samui's face remained expressionless, as cold as ice.

"Because someone might die on the mountain, I need your consent beforehand. You come from different ninja villages, and I can't bear the responsibility if this causes any diplomatic disputes..."

She explained it very carefully.

"Of course, this isn't mandatory; you can choose not to sign it. However... if you don't sign the Consent Form, it means you've given up your eligibility to participate in this exam. And remember, not a whole team can participate; you're grouped into teams."

After Samui finished speaking, he called over several Cloud Ninja and began distributing the Consent Form to the examinees.

Clutching the thin piece of paper in their hands, the candidates erupted in a cacophony of arguments.

This time, Samui didn't say anything to stop it; he just watched calmly.

"What... what do we do?"

Sakura's hands trembled slightly as she looked at the Consent Form in her hand, especially the part about taking responsibility for one's own life and death, which almost made her cry.

Based on her original understanding of exams, she thought that even if she failed, it wouldn't be a big deal. She never imagined it would lead to someone's death, Kimimaro- sensei hadn't explained the details to them...

Rindou and Miki also looked somewhat surprised. They had learned from their elders that the Chunin Ninja Exams could be very risky, but they never expected the first exam to be so intense.

"Sakura, it's okay, we're strong enough."

Rindou spoke first to comfort Sakura, saying that he and Miki didn't need to worry too much about the three of them, as they both had enough confidence in their abilities.

The one we really need to pay attention to is Sakura. As the girl in the team, she is also the weakest. She has no bloodline, no Secret Technique, and no powerful elders.

"Sakura, if you're really scared... then we won't sign this." Miki said slowly.

Rindou remained calm and had no objection to what Miki said.

Sakura looked conflicted and fell into deep thought.

"Should we sign it?"

"Can't you write? Or do you want me to write it for you?"

Sasuke quickly signed his name in the name field.

Naruto was rebuffed, muttered a couple of things, took the pen from Shuyuan, and signed his name.

"I've kept it."

The three Consent Form were handed to Cloud Ninja together.

"... Uzumaki Shuyuan, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, received."

The Cloud Ninja inspected the situation, smiled at the three of them, and just then, someone from another team called out to them, so they immediately went over.

"Ten days! That's a long time!"

Sasuke looked up at the towering peak ahead.

Besides the mountain peak in front of us, there are thirteen other peaks on the left and right, which together form this mountain range used for the exam.

"It was quite long. I never expected the Cloud Ninja from the start, wiping out more than two-thirds of them with real combat... Tsk tsk! That's terrifying!"

Shuyuan glanced around, wondering how many of the examinees would still be alive ten days later.

"Ten days..."

Naruto scratched his head, looking at the mountain peak, seemingly lost in thought.

"Have you finished signing?"

Cloud Ninja stepped forward and asked the three of them.

"It's all been signed."

The blonde girl carrying a huge fan handed the Consent Form to the Cloud Ninja.

Cloud Ninja inspected the area once and then left.

"Gaara, what are you looking at?"

The blonde girl looked at the boy carrying the gourd and asked.

"Over there, sister, there are two red-haired guys in the Konoha crowd... both with enormous Chakra... I wonder which one is the one Father was talking about."

The boy carrying the gourd had a fighting spirit in his eyes.

"Two... let's see how it goes. Maybe we'll run into them when we go in. We can then see if they're as formidable as Father said."

The blonde girl ruffled her brother's hair, her eyes equally full of curiosity. (To be continued)