The Chunin Exams (6)

"It's so obvious. Who wouldn't notice it, right, Hinata?" Naruto said to Hinata beside him.

"That guy... didn't notice at all..." Sasuke, behind them, realized that Naruto hadn't noticed the rule in the slightest.

"But of course, anyone who only knows how to cheat with stupid tricks will be eliminated. As for why..." Ibiki untied his headband, revealing the gruesome scars on his head. "Information can be more valuable than life. On missions and battlefields, it's something people have to fight over, risking their lives to obtain!" Everyone saw the injuries on Ibiki's head and broke out in a cold sweat.

"How awful. Burns, screw holes, and knife wounds—marks from being tortured," Sasuke said, looking at the scars.

Naruto swallowed hard. Yin Xiang looked at the scars and felt a pang of unease, too.

"Information obtained after being discovered by an enemy or a third party isn't necessarily accurate. I hope you'll remember that. Holding incorrect information can deal a fatal blow to your comrades and your village."

"In that sense, we had you cheat so you could gather information. Then we eliminated those with poor abilities. That's how it works."

"But... I still feel like the last question was hard to accept," Temari muttered beside them.

"Would you only accept it if you were eliminated?" Yin Xiang rested a hand on Temari's shoulder and spoke softly.

"What... When did you..." Temari turned around. She had no idea when Yin Xiang had moved from the front row to her side.

"The tenth question was the true purpose of the first test," Ibiki continued, paying no attention to Yin Xiang's actions.

"What does that mean?" Sakura asked.

"Let me explain. Whether you choose to accept or refuse, it's a choice that will torment you. Those who don't choose will drag their teammates down with them and be eliminated. Those who choose to answer but get it wrong will be barred from taking the exam forever. This was, in fact, a very unfair question."

"Hey, let go of me," Temari said to Yin Xiang, blushing as she struggled lightly in his arms.

"You clearly don't want me to," Yin Xiang said, holding her a little tighter.

"D-don't want what?" Temari asked, confused.

"You don't want me to let go of you." Yin Xiang's lips curled into a faint smile.

"The genius of Konoha, Namikaze Yin Xiang... So you're a pervert?" Temari teased, looking at him. Fortunately, she stopped struggling.

"Different people have different opinions of me. Everyone's got a bit of a lecher in them. If you weren't attracted to me, why would you let me put my arm around your shoulder?" Yin Xiang said with a smile.

"Now, how about this choice between two options?" Ibiki continued. Temari and Yin Xiang turned their attention back to him.

"Suppose you become Chunin, and your mission is to seize a secret document. You know nothing about the enemy's numbers, abilities, or other military resources, and they may have set a trap. Would you accept such a mission or refuse it?"

"If you want to protect yourself, you'll expose your comrades to danger instead. Can you keep avoiding dangerous missions like this forever? The answer is... no! There will be missions so dangerous that you'll have to accept them regardless. At times like that, you need the courage to show your comrades and the ability to break through adversity."

"These are the qualities a Chunin needs as a squad leader. If someone doesn't even dare to risk their own life, puts their hopes in next year or some uncertain future, loses heart, and lets an opportunity slip away, then I don't think someone so weak is fit to become Chunin."

"Those of you who chose to answer can be said to have answered the tenth question correctly. You'll face whatever difficulties may come with the same resolve. You've already made it through the entrance. The first Chunin selection test is over. I wish you all the best in the next test." Ibiki had given the Genin a good lesson.

At some point, Yin Xiang had returned to his seat. It took Temari quite a while to realize it. She looked at Yin Xiang's back in the front row. It was as if he had never been there at all.

Crash!

Just then, something came flying through the window, and shards of glass scattered into the classroom.

Whoosh, whoosh...

Two kunai embedded themselves in the classroom ceiling, suspending a black cloth in front of everyone.

"I'm talking to you! Now isn't the time to celebrate!" A kunoichi with a ponytail, wearing a brown trench coat and a revealing top, appeared before them. "I'm the examiner for the second test, Mitaraishi Anko!" Her name was written on the black cloth.

"Come on! The next test! Follow me!" Anko's entrance left the Genin dumbfounded. After she finished speaking, they fell silent.

"Read the room," Ibiki said, popping his head out from behind the black cloth. Only then did Anko realize no one had responded, and she was left awkwardly standing there.

"What's with that examiner? She kind of reminds me of Naruto," Sakura grumbled to herself.

"Seventy-nine people, and there are still twenty-six teams left? What does it mean that there's one extra person?" Anko asked Ibiki. "The first test was way too lenient this year."

"The extra person is the Third Hokage's student. There's only one of him. There are a lot of promising candidates this year."

"The Third Hokage's student? Fine. I'll eliminate more than half of them in the second test." Anko's demeanor changed completely.

"This is getting exciting. I'll explain the details tomorrow. Ask your Jonin about the gathering place and time once you've changed locations. That's all. Dismissed." Anko left the classroom, and the others soon followed.

Dosu and the others hurried away to get treated for their injuries. They had all endured the pain and finished the first test. After leaving the exam room, Yin Xiang stretched. Ibiki had left everyone else on edge, but Yin Xiang hadn't felt nervous at all.