The Exam Begins! (Most of this chapter consists of exam content. Feel free to skip if uninterested.)

The first stage of the Chunin Exams was a massive classroom that felt like a cold, oppressive coliseum, suffocating in its tension.

Metal desks and chairs gleamed with a chilling light, spaced as far apart as possible, silently emphasizing the rules of this place: collaboration was permitted, but one had to be prepared to pay the price if caught. On the podium, several proctoring Jonin with presence as heavy as mountains scanned the room with electric gazes, exerting an incomparable psychological pressure. The blood-red rules inscribed on the wall scrolls further signaled a cruel elimination mechanism: cheating was allowed, but those who failed would drag their entire squad into the abyss.

In this silent battlefield, Kakashi Sakuya appeared somewhat languid; he rested his head on one hand, his pen spinning rapidly as if the surrounding tension had nothing to do with him.

However, the moment the examiner announced the start of the exam—

Beneath his deep purple disguise, three pitch-black tomoe suddenly emerged, rotating slowly as a strange, icy light flickered and vanished.

Three-Tomoe Sharingan, activated.

The flow of time in the world slowed down in his eyes. Every detail was magnified infinitely, revealed in stark clarity: the trajectory of chakra-infused sand grains leaking from the fingertips of a Suna ninja to his front-left, the slight muscle tremors of a Kiri candidate before forming hand seals to his rear-right, the invisible network formed by countless weak chakra fluctuations in the air, and the frequency and blind spots of the proctors' sweeping gazes...

A massive torrent of information surged in, instantly received, parsed, and processed by those forbidden eyes and his brain.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze meeting Nadeshiko Haku's not far away for a fleeting moment.

The collision of ice-blue and deep purple required no words.

The intelligence war had officially begun!

Sakuya opened the test paper and began to carefully examine its contents.

Chunin Selection Exam First Stage: Written Test

Exam Rules:

1. The exam duration is 30 minutes.

2. The total score is 10 points; 1 point is deducted for each incorrect answer.

3. During the exam, if a cheating act is discovered by a proctor, 2 points will be deducted.

4. (Final Rule) The tenth question will utilize a "Squad Liability System." If one person in the squad answers incorrectly, all three members will lose the qualification to participate in the Chunin Exams forever. You have the right to choose to give up now, but the entire squad will also lose their qualification.

Note: This exam aims to test your intelligence-gathering capabilities as ninjas.

Questions

Question 1 (Ninja Common Knowledge): During a mission, you need to prepare a potent hypnotic gas that can render someone unconscious for at least 6 hours. It is known that in the basic formula, the standard dosage of "Dream Tapir Stamen" is 3 grams. If the humidity today exceeds 80%, how should you adjust the dosage? Briefly state your reasoning.

A. Increase to 4g B. Decrease to 2g C. Maintain 3g D. Replace with "Rosemary"

Question 2 (Code Breaking): You intercepted a piece of enemy ciphertext: "45 78 23 91 16". It is known that the key is the initials of the romaji for "Where the leaves of Konoha dance" ("K.H.T.C.H" corresponds to the numbers 11, 8, 20, 3, 8). Please decipher the five numbers corresponding to the ciphertext.

Question 3 (Tactical Reasoning): A Jonin from Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning specializes in Lightning Style Nintaijutsu, characterized by high speed and strong attack power, but average defense. In which of the following terrains should you least choose to engage him in battle?

A. Open rocky terrain B. Dense primeval forest C. Narrow underground cave D. Center of a lake

Question 4 (Observation and Memory): In this exam hall, what is unique about the way the chief examiner Ibiki Morino wears his forehead protector? Please describe it precisely.

Question 5 (Logic Trap): There are three ninjas: A, B, and C. One always tells the truth, one always lies, and one's truthfulness is inconsistent. A says: "B never tells the truth." B says: "C is the one whose truthfulness is inconsistent." C says: "What A said is true." Please tell me, who is the one who tells the truth?

Question 6 (Terrain Analysis): In the desert of the Land of Wind, you find a trail of fresh footprints, but they suddenly disappear after 500 meters. What is the least likely reason?

A. The target used a subterranean navigation technique B. The target was taken away by a summoning beast C. A sandstorm covered the footprints D. The target used chakra to adhere to a cactus while moving

Question 7 (Ninja Tool Application): The blade angle of a standard shuriken is 60 degrees. If it is sharpened to 45 degrees, what will be the primary effect?

A. Easier to throw, but penetration decreases B. Harder to throw, but penetration increases C. Flight is more stable, but kill range decreases D. Easy to hide, but weight increases

Question 8 (Genjutsu Theory): What is the core point to breaking the genjutsu "Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death"?

A. Possess stronger chakra than the caster B. Predict the caster's position in advance C. Disrupt one's own chakra flow D. Use Fire Style ninjutsu on the trees

Question 9 (Ethical Judgment): While executing an S-rank escort mission, you encounter a civilian who has been attacked by bandits and is in critical condition. The mission time is tight; what will you do?

A. Abandon the mission and immediately save the civilian B. Ignore the civilian and continue the mission C. Leave a shadow clone to provide treatment while the main body continues the mission D. Attempt to quickly subdue the bandits, then continue the mission

Sakuya smiled faintly. These questions posed no difficulty to him, as he had thoroughly read all the literature on Obito's bookshelf. He swept his gaze over Haku, who also looked relaxed, and then fixed it on the face of Lian, who looked troubled and stiff.

Sakuya signaled without moving a muscle. Lian looked up with joy, matching the secret code from his brother.

However, when he saw the tenth question, Sakuya's eyes narrowed.

Question 10 (Ultimate Decision): Please make your choice: ◯ Answer this question

◯ Give up answering and forfeit exam qualification

If you choose to answer, please write the answer to the tenth question (The answer to this question is not the key; your decision-making behavior itself is the focus of the assessment).

Sakuya pondered. Why would the examiner write such a question on the test paper...? Was it merely to know the candidates' true thoughts? No... it could never be that simple... After thinking, he picked up his pen.