As the joint Chunin Exams drew near, Konoha grew busier than ever. Ninjas and merchants from all over the world poured into this sacred village of the ninja, turning what had once been a quiet little settlement into a bustling place where languages and cultures mingled.
Colorful flags fluttered in the wind along both sides of the streets, and stalls overflowed with all kinds of goods. Merchants called out enthusiastically, showing off their wares, from finely crafted ninja tools to practical gear, rare herbs, and snacks in every flavor imaginable. Ninjas and visitors wove through the crowds, browsing for items that caught their interest. The sounds of bargaining and laughter mingled, creating a festive atmosphere.
Konoha's residents threw themselves into preparing for the celebration, too. They cleaned the streets, decorated their homes, and put up colorful lanterns and banners to ensure every visitor received the warmest welcome. The children were especially excited. They ran through the streets, chatting about all sorts of things related to the Chunin Exams and dreaming of becoming powerful ninja one day.
As the exam day drew closer, ninja from other villages began arriving in Konoha, led by their villages' respective elites. Their arrival brought not only more energy, but also an air of tension and competition. Minor clashes and conflicts between ninja became more frequent, forcing the Konoha Military Police Force to work overtime to maintain order and keep the village safe.
Yet amid all the bustle and tension, Liuxia and Nawaki remained calm and composed. They focused on their regular training and didn't get too caught up in the village's commotion. In their free time, they liked taking Kushina and their other friends around to look for good food and enjoy Konoha's delicious dishes.
Just then, the legendary Otsutsuki Ichiraku and his family arrived in Konoha and decided to settle there. Though Otsutsuki Ichiraku was still a boy, he had already begun working at his family's ramen shop. When Liuxia heard the news, he immediately took Kushina and their other friends to the Ichiraku Ramen Shop. They tried Ichiraku Ramen. It tasted good, but Liuxia didn't think it lived up to the very best in his mind. Tsunade and their other friends, by contrast, seemed to like the shop much more. They often came by to enjoy the food and atmosphere.
As the Chunin Exams drew near, every corner of Konoha was filled with anticipation and tension. Ninjas, merchants, and residents alike were each taking part in the grand event in their own way. Amid all the excitement, Liuxia and his friends enjoyed their own peace and happiness. It was a grand gathering for ninja and a chance for Konoha to show the world its appeal.
Though Nawaki, Liuxia, and the others had arrived at the entrance to the Chunin Exams' first test early, many Genin were already there. These young ninja gathered in groups of three or five, chatting and sharing their nervousness and excitement before the exam. They naturally separated into several areas based on their villages, each group of ninja displaying its own distinctive style and insignia. If this hadn't been the Chunin Exams, they might have already started fighting.
When those present saw Liuxia and the others arrive, they cast curious, appraising looks their way. As ninja from Konoha, their arrival naturally caused a small stir. Ninja from other villages were merely curious because this group looked younger than the average Genin. Konoha's Genin knew more about them: they were a team of prodigies selected by the village for this major Chunin Exam in the Ninja World, and Liuxia had even been specially approved to compete as a team of one. That showed just how much confidence the Third Hokage had in his abilities.
"They're all prodigies from ninja clans. When will we civilian ninja ever have a genius like that..."
"Have you heard? That round-faced girl is the First's granddaughter!"
"Hmph, that Uchiha brat looks pretty arrogant! I've hated the Uchiha Clan for ages. They throw their weight around all over the village, relying on the Konoha Military Police Force! If I run into him, I'll teach him a lesson."
"That girl from the Hyuga Clan is really pretty. Too bad she's from the Hyuga Clan; she won't marry outside the clan."
"Didn't you see the Caged Bird Seal on her forehead? She's from the Branch Family. No matter how pretty she is, she'll still end up at the mercy of those people in the Main Family!"
As Konoha's Genin whispered among themselves, the other villages had also gathered information by various means. It seemed these were all young prodigies from Konoha. If they could defeat or even kill one of them in the Chunin Exams, wouldn't that secure their own future in their village?
"Quiet down, you bunch of useless fools!"
At some point, the examiners had appeared on the platform.
"Next, you'll draw lots to determine your seats. Line up properly. Anyone who causes trouble will be disqualified on the spot."
The examinees below slowly came forward in order to draw lots.
Liuxia and the others were assigned to different seats, and everyone quickly found a place.
The head examiner looked around. Once everyone was seated, he continued explaining the rules of the exam. "I'm Gekko Kuroshiro, the head examiner for this test. I'll explain the rules only once."
"Rule one: the exam lasts sixty minutes and has ten questions in total. Each of you starts with ten points, and the exam uses a deduction system. You lose one point for each unanswered or incorrect question. Get three wrong and you'll have seven points; answer all of them correctly and you'll get a perfect score."
The examinees began calculating in their heads how to get the best results in the exam.
"Rule two: whether a team passes is determined by its average score."
This made many examinees reconsider their strategies. They knew that the team's score was crucial, and any member who might drag the team down began to receive murderous looks from their teammates.
"Rule three: if you're caught cheating, you lose two points each time. Get caught five times and you can take your teammates and get out!"
The examinees' hearts tightened. They knew the proctors were experienced Chunin, and that no little trick would escape their eyes.
"Don't think your pathetic cheating tricks will get past us. The proctors are carefully selected Chunin from Konoha. We won't give you a chance! All right, if you want to pass the Chunin Exams, then pass by the standards expected of excellent ninja!"
"One last rule: if anyone on a team gets a score of zero, the entire team is disqualified!"
This announcement made the atmosphere in the exam hall even more tense. The examinees knew they had to take responsibility not only for themselves but also for their teammates.
The exam began. Silence filled the exam hall, broken only by the sound of pen tips gliding across paper. The examinees focused on answering each question. They knew every point mattered.
As the seconds and minutes passed, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The examinees began to feel the pressure. They had to finish every question within the allotted time while avoiding mistakes.
One after another, people were caught cheating, and their entire teams were disqualified. Of course, there were many more kinds of cheating methods: judging the answers by listening to sounds, using the Puppet Technique, seeing right through things with the Byakugan, and so on.
"Time's up! Hand in your papers!"
As soon as time was up, everyone put down their pens and waited for the proctors to collect the papers.
"The list of teams that passed will be posted this afternoon. Go check it yourselves!"
Before you continue