The Exams Begin! (Most of this chapter is about the exam. Feel free to skip it if you're not interested.)

The first Chunin Exams testing hall was a vast classroom, as oppressive as a cold gladiatorial arena.

Metal desks and chairs gleamed with a chilly light, spaced as far apart as possible to silently emphasize the rules here: cooperation was allowed, but being caught came at a price. Several proctors stood on the platform, their presence as imposing as mountains and their gazes sharp as lightning as they slowly surveyed the room, exerting overwhelming psychological pressure. The blood-red rules written on the scrolls on the walls made the brutal elimination system clear: cheating was allowed, but those who failed would drag their entire team into the abyss with them.

On this silent battlefield, Kakashi Sakuya sat in a seemingly lazy pose, propping his head up as the pen in his hand spun rapidly, as though the tension around him had nothing to do with him.

However, the instant the examiner announced the start of the test—

Beneath his deep-purple disguise, three black tomoe suddenly appeared, slowly spinning as an eerie, icy glint flashed and vanished.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan, activated.

Time slowed to a crawl in his eyes. Every detail magnified until it was crystal clear: the trails of chakra-infused sand seeping from the fingertips of a Sunagakure ninja to his front left, the slight twitch of a Kirigakure examinee's muscles before he formed Hand Seals to his rear right, the invisible web formed by countless faint chakra fluctuations in the air, the frequency and blind spots of the proctors' sweeping gazes...

A vast flood of information surged in, instantly received, analyzed, and processed by those forbidden eyes and his brain.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze meeting Nadeshiko Haku's for an instant from a short distance away.

Ice blue clashed with deep purple. No words were needed.

The battle of intelligence had officially begun!

Shuoyue opened the test paper and began carefully examining its contents.

First Chunin Exams Written Test

Exam Rules:

1. You have 30 minutes to complete the test.

2. The test is worth 10 points in total. Each incorrect answer deducts 1 point.

3. If a proctor catches you cheating during the test, 2 points will be deducted for each offense.

4. (Final rule) The tenth question will use a "team-wide joint responsibility system." If one member of a team answers incorrectly, all three members will permanently lose the right to take the Chunin Exams. You may choose to withdraw now, but your whole team will also forfeit eligibility.

Note: This test is intended to assess your ability to gather intelligence as a ninja.

Questions

Question 1 (Ninja Fundamentals): During a mission, you need to prepare a potent sleeping gas that will keep someone unconscious for at least six hours. The standard amount of "Dream Tapir Stamen" in the basic recipe is 3 grams. If the humidity is over 80% today, how should you adjust the amount? Briefly explain why.

A. Increase it to 4 grams B. Reduce it to 2 grams C. Keep it at 3 grams D. Substitute "rosemary"

Question 2 (Codebreaking): You intercept a piece of enemy ciphertext: "45 78 23 91 16." The key is the Romanized initials of "Where the leaves dance" ("K.H.T.C.H," corresponding to the numbers 11, 8, 20, 3, 8). Decipher the five numbers represented by the ciphertext.

Question 3 (Tactical Reasoning): A jōnin from Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning specializes in Lightning Release Nintaijutsu. He is fast and powerful, but has average defensive ability. Which of the following terrains should you least want to fight him in?

A. An open rocky area B. A dense primeval forest C. A narrow underground cave D. The middle of a lake

Question 4 (Observation and Memory): In this examination hall, what is unusual about the way the chief examiner, Ibiki Morino, wears his Forehead Protector? 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 statements are sometimes true and sometimes false. A says, "B never tells the truth." B says, "C is the one whose statements are sometimes true and sometimes false." C says, "What A said is true." Who is the one who tells the truth?

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

A. The target used Subterranean Voyage B. The target was carried away by a summoned beast C. A sandstorm covered the footprints D. The target moved by clinging to cacti with chakra

Question 7 (Ninja Tool Use): A standard shuriken has a blade angle of 60 degrees. If you sharpen it to 45 degrees, what is the main effect?

A. Easier to throw, but less penetration B. Harder to throw, but greater penetration C. More stable in flight, but a smaller range of damage D. Easier to conceal, but heavier

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

A. Have more powerful chakra than the caster B. Predict the caster's location in advance C. Disrupt your own chakra flow D. Use Fire Release Ninjutsu on the trees

Question 9 (Ethical Judgment): While carrying out an S-rank escort mission with a tight deadline, you come across a civilian who has been attacked by bandits and is near death. What do you do?

A. Abandon the mission and treat the civilian immediately B. Ignore the civilian and continue the mission C. Leave a Shadow Clone to treat the civilian while your real body continues the mission D. Try to quickly subdue the bandits, then continue the mission

Shuoyue smiled faintly. These questions posed no challenge to someone who had thoroughly read all the literature on Obito's bookshelf. His gaze passed over Haku, who seemed just as relaxed, then settled on Lian, whose face was tense and troubled.

Without drawing attention to himself, Shuoyue sent a signal. Lian looked up happily and began deciphering the hand signals her older brother was making.

But when he saw the tenth question, Shuoyue's eyes narrowed.

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

◯ Decline to answer and forfeit your eligibility for the exam

If you choose to answer, write down your answer to Question 10. (The answer itself is not the key; your decision is what is being evaluated.)

Shuoyue pondered. Why had the examiners written a question like this on the test paper...? Was it just to find out what the examinees really thought? No... It couldn't possibly be that simple... After thinking it over, he picked up his pen.

--