Chunin Exams (6)

"It's so obvious, how could anyone not notice? Right, Hinata?" Naruto said to Hinata, who was sitting beside him.

"That guy... he didn't notice at all..." Sasuke, sitting behind them, realized that Naruto had completely missed the point of the rules.

"However, those who only know how to cheat using stupid methods will naturally be eliminated. As for why..." Ibiki untied his headscarf, revealing the hideous scars on his head. "Information can be more valuable than life itself. On missions and the battlefield, it is something you must fight for with your life!" Seeing the scars on Ibiki's head, everyone broke out in a cold sweat.

"How miserable. Burn marks, screw holes, and knife wounds—scars from torture," Sasuke remarked as he looked at the marks.

Naruto gulped audibly, and Yin Xiang felt a tightness in his chest as he stared at the scars.

"Information obtained from enemies or third parties is not necessarily true. I want you to remember this: holding onto false information can deal a fatal blow to your comrades and the village."

"In that sense, we allowed you to cheat so you could collect information, and then weed out those with poor ability. That is all."

"But... I still feel like the last question is hard to accept," Temari muttered from the side.

"Are you saying you'd rather be eliminated than accept it?" Yin Xiang placed his hand on Temari's shoulder and whispered.

"What... when did you..." Temari turned around, surprised to find that Yin Xiang had moved from the first row to her side without her noticing.

"The tenth question is the true purpose of this first exam," Ibiki continued, ignoring Yin Xiang's movement.

"What does that mean?" Sakura asked.

"Let me explain. Choosing whether or not to accept is a choice that will make your heart suffer, as I'm sure you know. Those who don't choose will be eliminated along with their teammates, and those who choose to answer but get it wrong will be permanently barred from taking the exam. It is, in fact, a very dishonest question."

"Hey, let go of me," Temari said to Yin Xiang, her face flushing as she struggled slightly in his arms.

"You don't really want me to, do you?" Yin Xiang held her a little tighter.

"Don't... don't what?" Temari asked, confused.

"Don't want me to let go of you," Yin Xiang said with a slight smirk.

"Konoha's genius, Namikaze Yin Xiang, is he actually a pervert?" Temari teased, though she stopped struggling.

"Different people have different opinions of me. Everyone has a lustful heart; if you weren't interested in me, why would you let me put my arm around your shoulder?" Yin Xiang laughed.

"Now, how about this choice?" Ibiki continued, drawing the attention of Temari and Yin Xiang back to him.

"Suppose you become Chunin. Your mission is to steal secret documents. You have no information on the number of enemy ninja, their abilities, or their armaments, and the enemy may have set traps. Would you accept such a mission or not?"

"If you value your own life and leave your comrades in danger, can you keep avoiding such dangerous missions forever? The answer is... no! There will be missions you must accept no matter how dangerous they are. In such times, you must show courage to your comrades and possess the ability to overcome adversity."

"These are the qualifications a Chunin must possess as a squad leader. If there are those who wouldn't even dare to gamble with their own lives, who pin their hopes on next year or an uncertain future, whose hearts waver and who give up the opportunity—I don't think such weak-willed cowards are qualified to be Chunin."

"Those of you who chose to answer are the ones who provided the correct solution to the difficult tenth question. You will surely face future hardships head-on as well. You have passed the entrance; the first stage of the Chunin exams is over. I wish you all the best in the upcoming tests." Ibiki had effectively taught these Genin a valuable lesson.

Yin Xiang had already returned to his seat before anyone noticed. It took Temari a long time to react, and when she looked toward the first row at Yin Xiang's back, it was as if he had never moved at all.

Bang!

At that moment, something smashed through the window, sending shards of glass flying into the classroom.

Swish, swish...

Two Kunai embedded themselves into the ceiling, unfurling a black banner before everyone's eyes.

"Listen up, you lot! This isn't the time to be celebrating!" A female ninja with a ponytail, wearing a brown trench coat and a revealing outfit, appeared before them. "I am the proctor for the second exam, Anko Mitarashi!" Her name was written on the black banner.

"Let's go! Next stage! Follow me!" Anko's entrance left the Genin stunned, and a heavy silence fell over the room after she spoke.

"Read the room, will you?" Ibiki poked his head out from behind the banner, and only then did Anko notice that no one was paying her any mind, leaving her momentarily embarrassed.

What is this? I feel like this proctor is a lot like Naruto, Sakura thought to herself.

"Seventy-nine people? There are still twenty-six teams left. What's the meaning of this extra person?" Anko asked, looking at Ibiki. "The first exam this year was too lenient."

"The extra one is a student of the Third Hokage. There's only one of him, but there are many talented individuals this year."

"The Third Hokage's student? Fine. I'll make sure to eliminate at least half of you in the second exam." Anko's aura shifted instantly, becoming far more intense than when she had first arrived.

"How exciting. We'll discuss the details tomorrow. Once we change locations, ask your respective Jonin for the time and place. That's all. Dismissed." After saying this, Anko left the classroom, and the others soon followed.

Dosu and his team hurried out of the exam hall to tend to their injuries; they had endured the pain throughout the entire first exam. Yin Xiang stretched as he walked out of the hall. Ibiki had left everyone else feeling anxious, but Yin Xiang remained completely unfazed.