Chunin Exams (4)

Kabuto, just like before, made a familiar appearance in front of Sasuke, showing off a stack of ninja identification cards before returning to the other examinees.

This person… I absolutely cannot let him escape.

Naruto couldn't sense any malice from Kabuto, which chilled him to the bone… This person's disguise ability was terrifying! Even someone with the Uzumaki Clan's special abilities like himself was completely unaware.

Perhaps, when Kabuto was playing the role of harmlessness, he had truly become that person.

He was the best spy, which was why Orochimaru valued him.

"You degenerates! Stop your noise!"

The first examiner, Ibiki Morino, along with other examiners, instantly appeared at the front of the classroom. Their powerful aura immediately silenced the previously chaotic scene.

"...Heh, I can't answer a single question."

Sasuke looked at the nine questions on the test paper and finally realized this.

So he fell into thought: Naruto's theoretical grades aren't much better than mine. If I can't answer a single question, he shouldn't be doing much better... Since he doesn't seem worried at all...

He rapidly recalled what the chief examiner Ibiki had said before the test:

Remember this, committing shameful acts of cheating is self-destruction!

Ninja must grasp the truth of matters!

Be like a great ninja!

Considering the strange rules about point deductions for cheating in this exam, the clues in Sasuke's mind began to connect.

Hmph... I get it. The real test here is the ability to gather information, which means cheating without being discovered!

Sharingan!

Sasuke instantly activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan. Since this was a test for Genin abilities and it tested information gathering, there should be Jonin planted by the examiners among the candidates in this classroom... Found him!

Copying jutsu!

Sasuke's right hand automatically followed the candidate diagonally in front of him, who was writing answers at lightning speed, as he wrote on his own test paper.

Byakugan!

Hinata had also figured out the requirements of this exam. Her 360° transparent vision allowed her to easily find the test paper filled with answers, and she silently copied them onto her own paper.

Hm?

Since they were in the same team this time, Naruto and Hinata were not sitting together. Noticing that Hinata in front of him had suddenly started writing furiously, Naruto chuckled and began writing on his own blank test paper...

In an instant, the Genin in the classroom who had understood the true purpose of this written exam began to use their unique abilities.

Releasing dogs, releasing insects, releasing eyes, releasing mirrors, releasing confidence, releasing intelligence, releasing crows...

Is Ino still not done yet...? Shikamaru had figured out the key point before Ibiki finished speaking. He couldn't be bothered to do these questions and was listlessly propping up his chin, waiting for his teammate's assistance along with Choji.

Meanwhile, others were being successively removed from the examination room for being caught cheating five times.

Soon, after finishing most of the questions, Hinata thought, I wonder how Naruto-kun is doing? She was slightly worried, so she activated her Byakugan and saw the paper on Naruto's desk not far behind her.

Her face turned red upon seeing it.

Naruto's test paper was completely blank except for a large, chibi-style drawing of Hinata's face.

Naruto was grinning foolishly.

Hinata was both embarrassed and anxious: Naruto-kun, hurry up and do the test...

Just as Hinata was thinking of ways to help Naruto, the chief examiner Ibiki spoke, "Alright, now we will proceed to the tenth question..."

Oh dear, it's finally going to end...

Naruto thought as he sat in his seat, glancing at a Genin from Kusagakure with a sinister expression in the corner of the classroom. He focused his senses: No strong malice. Orochimaru, as expected, is only mixing in before the second exam...

The Jonin instructors of the three rookie Genin, Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai, along with Might Guy, were rushing to the assembly point requested by the Third Hokage.

"I heard the chief examiner for the first test is Ibiki Morino..." Asuma said as they moved.

"The chief examiner is that sadist..." Kakashi sweatdropped, remembering Mizuki who had been thrown to Ibiki.

Back then, Naruto had come to ask him to use his Sharingan to plant a genjutsu suggestion on Mizuki, which led to all those events. After Mizuki, Orochimaru's discarded pawn, was caught, he was naturally handed over to the interrogation expert Ibiki.

The outcome... Kakashi couldn't bear to think about it.

"Sadist?" Kurenai asked curiously.

"Kurenai, since you're a newly promoted Jonin, you don't know much about that person..." Asuma said.

Might Guy, standing nearby, added, "That person is the village's master of torture and interrogation..."

"..." Kurenai couldn't help but sweat. Using such a talent to deal with a bunch of Genin, the village's arrangements were too much. Could Sakura and the others really endure it?

Kurenai placed a lot of importance on Sakura, the only one in her team who could inherit her genjutsu.

"Speaking of which, why would Lord Hokage summon us at this time..." Asuma wondered, a cigarette in his mouth. Shouldn't they, the Jonin, be gathered for tea and idle chat at this hour?

Kakashi: "..."

Since he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, the Third Hokage had informed Kakashi about Orochimaru's infiltration of the Chunin Exams. After all, within Konohagakure nowadays, especially among the Hokage lineage, there were very, very few combat powers that could reach the Sannin level. Kakashi, possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan, was an indispensable combat force.

Orochimaru... Kakashi rested his right hand on his forehead protector, covering his left eye.

The tenth question, if one knew the details, was incredibly easy. Naruto hadn't taken Ibiki's various threats seriously at all. Sasuke, naturally, wouldn't give up on answering either. Hinata didn't want to be a burden, so she stayed as well. Thus, Team 7 successfully passed the first stage of the exam.

With a crash, the classroom window was smashed by a mass of something.

Naruto rubbed his forehead.

"I am the chief examiner for the second stage, Anko Mitarashi! Hurry up and proceed to the next exam!" Anko, wearing a cloak, made a cool entrance... Yep, her fashion sense was top-notch today.

"No one's paying attention to you..." Ibiki quietly reminded the crazy woman from behind the screen Anko had unfurled.

Anko was flustered.

"So many people? Ibiki... wasn't the first stage of this exam too easy?" Anko taunted him in return. Ibiki smiled faintly, "Because there are many excellent candidates this time..." Anko waved her hand dismissively, "Hmph, whatever. I'll cut the number of participants in half during the second stage anyway!"

Most of the examinees shivered inwardly at her words.

"It's about to begin, Kurama."

"Hmph, finally able to cut loose and give it my all..."

Naruto knew that everything had only just begun.