The First Exam

Faced with Kabuto Yakushi striking up a conversation, Shikamaru showed the instincts of a strategist and stepped forward to respond. "You... Senior Kabuto, is there something you want to tell us?"

"There is, actually."

Kabuto smiled and pushed up his glasses. "It's a little embarrassing to admit, but this is my seventh time taking the Chunin Ninja Exams. But because of that, I've picked up a little experience that I can share with you."

Shikamaru kept a straight face, turning over many possibilities in his mind before finally deciding to play along with Kabuto.

But before Shikamaru could say anything, Naruto asked first, "Don't the villages take turns hosting the Chunin Ninja Exams? The content should be different every time, right? Is your experience really any use?"

Kabuto's expression stiffened for a moment. He forced himself to explain, "The content may vary, but the goals of the tests are more or less the same. Besides, what I want to share is information about the other participants."

As he spoke, he pulled out a stack of cards. "I've spent four years collecting these, bit by bit. I have information on most of the Genin taking part in this exam."

"I don't believe you."

Naruto was blunt. "Unless you can show me my own information."

"No problem."

Kabuto smiled confidently and drew out a card. He placed it on the ground and spun it twice, revealing Naruto's information. "Uzumaki Naruto, the top performer among the nine Genin who graduated from Konoha this year. Skilled in Taijutsu and ninjutsu, not skilled in genjutsu, and average with ninja tools. He has some Vortex blood and more chakra than an average ninja. So far, he's completed nine D-rank missions and one C-rank mission. His instructor is Konoha's famous Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi."

"Hm?"

Naruto tilted his head. "That's it?"

Kabuto's expression stiffened again. "I can only share this much information for free. If you want to know more, you'll have to offer me something in return, like information I don't already know."

"Never mind, then."

Naruto slumped over the table. "Your information won't help at all in this exam."

The others looked to Shikamaru and saw that he looked troubled, but said nothing. They understood at once and fell silent as well.

Kabuto cursed Naruto for being difficult in his mind, but he'd already achieved his goal of making himself familiar to them. Pretending to look a little awkward, he quietly put away his cards and returned to his teammates.

The classroom fell silent again, and the atmosphere grew heavier.

Fortunately, it didn't last long. A puff of white smoke burst across the teacher's platform, and around twenty examiners appeared at once. None of them looked particularly friendly. In fact, they all wore their ill intentions plainly on their faces.

The man at the front wasn't much to look at. A long scar ran across his face, and even with a smile, he looked a little frightening. "My name is Ibiki Morino. I'm the chief examiner for the first round of the Chunin Selection Exams. Everyone, hand in your application forms in order, then take a number and sit in the corresponding seat."

Once everyone was seated, one of the examiners pulled out a stack of test papers. Ibiki wrote the rules and instructions for the exam on the blackboard, explaining them as he went.

"First, no one is allowed to ask questions. Even if you're confused, you're not allowed to speak. I'm the chief examiner, and I decide the rules for this exam. Anyone who can't accept that can withdraw now and leave early."

Naturally, no one left.

Only then did Ibiki continue his explanation. There were three main rules:

1. The first exam is based on points. Each person starts with 10 points, and there are ten questions. You have one hour to answer them. You'll be placed in groups of three, and your group's total score will be calculated at the end.

2. The examiners will keep a close eye on everyone. If we catch you cheating or acting suspiciously, you'll lose 2 points. If your score reaches zero, you'll be eliminated immediately.

3. If even one person in a group is eliminated, the other two members will be eliminated as well.

After hearing the rules, the atmosphere, which had just started to ease, grew tense once more. Those who weren't confident in their abilities were especially uneasy. The thought of letting their teammates down made them feel as if their teammates' gazes were pricking their backs.

But Ibiki showed no sympathy for the examinees. He finished speaking, handed out the test papers, and announced the start of the exam.

The more perceptive examinees had already deduced the true purpose of the first exam from Ibiki's words: to test their ability to gather and relay information as ninjas.

Once they figured it out, the examinees put their various skills to use, getting answers directly from the papers of "certain people" in the room.

Before long, however, some of the less capable examinees had lost all 10 points and had to leave the room with their teammates.

Naruto filled out his test with ease, hardly paying attention as he did. "Dad, do you know this Ibiki Morino?"

[As I recall, he works in the Interrogation Department of Konoha's Anbu. I can't remember his exact position, but since he's the chief examiner, he must at least be a squad leader.]

"The Interrogation Department, huh? No wonder he came up with rules this torturous. Unless something unexpected happens, this exam will eliminate at least half the participants."

[It also depends on what question he gives them for number ten. In the end, he might leave only a third, or even fewer.]

Forty-five minutes passed in the blink of an eye. By then, 36 people had been escorted out of the room. Those who remained had realized the true purpose of the exam and were capable enough to meet its demands.

"All right. We'll now reveal the tenth question."

Ibiki spoke coldly. "But first, you must make a choice: continue the exam, or withdraw."

"Anyone who chooses to withdraw will be eliminated, along with their teammates."

"Anyone who chooses to continue but answers the tenth question incorrectly will also be eliminated, and will be permanently barred from taking the Chunin Ninja Exams."

At that, someone finally couldn't hold back. "That's not fair! How can one failed exam get you disqualified? Aren't there people here who've taken the exam many times!?"

"You can blame your bad luck for getting me as your chief examiner."

Ibiki sneered. "But this is a one-time thing. As long as you're luckier next time, you should get a more reasonable chief examiner."

Some people clenched their fists in frustration, but there was nothing they could do.

Ibiki said coldly, "Now make your choice: continue or withdraw."

Faced with the enormous sunk cost, more and more people began to find it too much to accept and chose to withdraw.

In just three minutes, half the people had left the classroom.

Ibiki checked the time and said coldly, "It looks like you've all decided to continue. Then listen carefully. The tenth question is—"

Many people were so nervous that they unconsciously held their breath.

"Congratulations on passing the first exam!"

Ibiki suddenly broke into a smile and offered his congratulations. As some of the examinees stared at him in shock, he explained, "The choice I just asked you to make was the tenth question itself, and the correct answer was to continue. That means you've all passed!"

Ibiki then carefully explained the purpose of the exam and the meaning of the final question...