The First Stage Exam: Open and Aboveboard Cheating

"What?

A written test?!"

Hearing what the First Stage Exam entailed, Naruto's eyes went wide with terror.

He was worst at this kind of thing. How could it be this?!

Damn it...

"There are several very important rules for the First Stage Exam...

Listen carefully..."

On the podium, Ibiki ignored everyone's varied expressions and began announcing the rules.

[Naruto must be scared out of his mind by now...]

Sasuke glanced at Naruto's trembling back with amusement in his eyes, though his expression inwardly grew a little solemn.

Passing the exam did not mean one qualified to become a Chunin!

His goal was to pass the exam and advance to Chunin, so he had to deliver an outstanding performance and earn high marks in every stage...

Only then could he be absolutely certain!

So...

A few minutes later.

"The First Stage Exam will now officially begin.

Time limit: one hour..."

At Ibiki's command, all the examinees lowered their heads to look over the test papers that had just been handed out.

[*Damn it, this is bad...

How could Naruto possibly answer questions at this level?

No, even Sasuke-kun probably...*]

Looking at the incredibly difficult questions, Sakura instantly felt her head swell with worry.

At this level, among Genin like them, she was the only one who could complete the test!

If this went on, she might very well be dragged down and eliminated...

[*Sure enough, I don't know a single one of these questions...

In that case, Sharingan—activate...*]

After glancing over the questions, Sasuke sighed inwardly as his eyes instantly turned scarlet.

His Two-Tomoe Sharingan locked onto someone scribbling away furiously, beginning to copy their answers...

"That Uchiha brat is fast...

He saw through the true core of the exam in an instant and has already begun acting!"

At the edge of the examination room, one of the Assistant Examiners watching the scene whispered in surprise.

Prompting his colleague beside him to instinctively look toward Sasuke...

"He is an Uchiha genius, after all...

It is hardly surprising that he reacted so quickly. What I'm more interested in is what he plans to do next.

Being a Chunin takes more than talent and strength..."

Another Assistant Examiner muttered quietly before turning his attention elsewhere.

Yet intentionally or not, the corner of his eye remained fixed on Sasuke!

As Sasuke began moving, the other elite Genin also saw through the exam's true nature and started taking action...

The Byakugan, Mind Transfer, insects, ninja hounds, puppets, sound waves, Sand Eye, mirrors, and other methods appeared one after another...

Only those who still had not figured out what was going on remained there, scratching their heads in frustration...

For example:

[*Damn it, damn it...

How could this happen?!

If I get Sasuke and Sakura eliminated because of me, they'll definitely curse me to death...

How am I supposed to ever hold my head up in front of Sakura again?!

Especially if I lose to Sasuke...*]

Naruto stared at his blank test paper, sweating profusely as the pressure in his heart reached its limit.

He felt like he was sitting on pins and needles...

"N-Naruto..."

Seeing Naruto so nervous and unsettled, Hinata called out weakly in a soft voice.

At the same time.

Sasuke, seated in the back row, had also finished answering the questions. When he looked up, he saw Naruto putting on an act as he refused Hinata's help.

He was afraid of being caught, or of Hinata setting him up and getting him eliminated...

[It's starting, Naruto...]

A faint smile curled across Sasuke's lips as he reached out and wrote Naruto Uzumaki's name on his own test paper.

Then, under the stunned gazes of every examiner and examinee, he calmly stood up...

[W-What is he doing?]

The Assistant Examiner who had been watching Sasuke stiffened, completely baffled.

Even if he needed to use the restroom or do something else, shouldn't he notify an examiner first?

[Sasuke-kun...]

Sakura, who had also seen Sasuke move, wore a blank expression as she looked at him in confusion.

"Huh??"

Naruto stared at Sasuke, who had suddenly appeared before him, and instantly froze in bewilderment.

Why had this guy come over here?

Even Hinata beside him paused, staring at Sasuke with a dazed look in her eyes.

"Idiot..."

Ignoring everyone's expressions, Sasuke spat the word at Naruto.

He placed the test paper in his hand onto Naruto's desk, picked up Naruto's paper, then turned and walked away...

"Uh? Ahhh—"

Naruto instinctively lowered his head and saw that the test paper was filled with answers.

And the name at the top was his own:

Naruto Uzumaki...

"Y-You can do that?!"

Staring at the test paper, Naruto cried out in disbelief.

At that moment, Sasuke was practically an angel to him!!

"Stop right there, Uchiha examinee..."

Just as Naruto was overwhelmed with excitement, the Chief Examiner Ibiki Morino's voice suddenly exploded through the room.

Everyone immediately turned to look at Sasuke, eager to watch the drama unfold!

Naturally, except for Sakura, Naruto, and the friends who were close to them...

"What?"

Sasuke, having been stopped, was anything but polite. He looked at Ibiki with a stern face, his eyes filled with confusion.

That blank look made it seem as though everything he had done was perfectly normal!

"Brat, we should be asking you that!

Cheating so openly—do you take all of us examiners for blind idiots?!"

The Assistant Examiner who had been watching Sasuke immediately shouted in anger. He had thought Sasuke was about to pull off something big.

But this was it??

"What were you doing just now?"

Ibiki Morino's gaze darkened as he looked at Sasuke and asked sternly.

"Didn't he just say it? Cheating, obviously.

Or are you really blind?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes and shot back without the slightest courtesy, darkening everyone's expressions.

Cheating? You knew you were cheating??

Who cheated so openly like this??

"Hmph, it's good that you admit it...

I now declare that you and all your teammates have lost your qualifications for the exam."

Seeing how sharp-tongued Sasuke was, Ibiki's face darkened as he announced the verdict outright.

Sakura and Naruto both went pale with shock!

But just as the two of them were about to speak, one look from Sasuke frightened them into silence...

"Examiner...

You haven't already forgotten the rules you set yourself, have you?

Everyone has five chances to cheat. Only after being recorded cheating five times do they lose their qualification.

I have only used one chance so far. At most, you can deduct two points from me.

What right do you have to declare that my companions and I have lost our qualifications?

I followed your rules. There was nothing shameful about what I did.

I was cheating openly and aboveboard..."

Sasuke spoke with utter seriousness and confidence, causing every examinee's eyes to light up.

That was right, everyone had five chances to cheat!

Rather than sneaking around and pitting their wits against the examiners, wasting precious cheating opportunities,

they might as well follow Sasuke's example and use one chance to openly settle everything at once!

How had they failed to notice such an obvious loophole in the exam?!

"Sasuke-kun is right...

Those were rules stated by you, Examiner. You cannot determine that he has cheated five times now.

Therefore, we have not violated the rules..."

Sakura was instantly overjoyed. She immediately stood up and loudly echoed him.

"That's right, that's right, exactly...

Examiner, you can't go back on your word!"

Naruto shouted right after her, making the corner of Ibiki Morino's mouth twitch...

These three brats...

Had he been used?

Interesting. He had not expected that he, the head of the Torture and Interrogation Corps, would be outmaneuvered by examinees...