The Third Exam Whose Rules Were Changed

The inside of the tower was even more spacious than it looked from the outside.

After passing through the heavy iron door, the first thing that came into view was a circular hall.

Gray-white stone walls stretched upward, narrowing into a dome twenty meters above. A huge chandelier hung in the center, spilling soft light into every corner.

Several corridors branched off around the hall, leading to different areas—lounges, the infirmary, supply points.

Under the guidance of an examiner wearing a Chunin forehead protector, Menma and the other two crossed the hall, turned into the corridor on the left, and stopped before a door marked "07."

"This is your temporary lounge." The examiner expressionlessly handed over three keycards. "Before the exam ends, you may use all public facilities inside the tower, but you are forbidden from entering other teams' rest areas. If there is an emergency, contact the command room through the communication device at the end of the corridor."

"Understood." Menma took the cards.

The examiner nodded, turned, and left. His footsteps echoed down the corridor, gradually fading away.

Naruto was already too impatient to wait and pushed the door open.

He let out an exaggerated gasp of amazement, rushed in with quick strides, and plopped down on the bed by the window.

The mattress bounced a few times. He followed the motion and flopped backward, spreading his limbs wide into a starfish shape as he let out a deep breath.

"Finally, we can rest—"

Hinata followed him inside, looked around, and gently pressed her lips together.

It was a standard three-bed room.

Three single beds were lined up side by side against the wall, their snow-white sheets and bedding folded neatly beneath the fluorescent lights.

Each bedside had a small wooden cabinet, with a desk lamp and water