The Joint Chunin Exams' Open-Book Test

Konoha Ninja Academy, Joint Chunin Exams venue.

This was the location for the first stage of the Joint Chunin Exams: a large, tiered lecture hall.

The windows were bright and clean, allowing sunlight to stream through the expansive glass panes and fall upon the pen tips of the young elite genin from various ninja villages.

However, the questions on the exam papers were like invisible smoke, filled with tactical traps based on real-world warfare, intelligence mazes, and cold, calculated tactical deductions.

Qi Luna looked at the exam questions, which far exceeded the knowledge level of a genin. Although these questions could not stump him, he did not rush to write. Instead, he slowly closed his eyes, folded his hands naturally beneath the desk, and formed the Tiger Seal.

Kagura Mind's Eye, activate!

Simultaneously, his chakra and mental energy condensed to a high degree. Several slender, microscopic chakra threads, like invisible spider silk, quietly extended in eight directions.

Yamanaka Inoichi-senpai, can you hear me?

Yamanaka Inoichi had originally been preparing to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu to extract information from three chunin planted in the exam hall who knew the answers. He was shocked by this sudden telepathic transmission, and even the movement of his hands faltered.

What do you want?

Although his plan had been disrupted, Yamanaka Inoichi did not panic. Instead, he remained calm, using his sensory ninjutsu and an auxiliary application of the Mind Transfer Jutsu to locate and transmit his voice back to Qi Luna.

Seeking cooperation!

Tell me more.

I know the answers, and I can use chakra threads to connect you and your teammates. That way, you can pass my answers to your other teammates, allowing us all to pass the exam smoothly.

The conditions?

Likewise, my teammates also need my answers, so I would appreciate it if you could put in the effort to pass the answers to my two teammates and the other three partners!

Seven people? Since most of the consumption will be your chakra anyway, I have no objections. Agreed!

Pleasure doing business with you!

Pleasure doing business with you!

Soon, Qi Luna and Yamanaka Inoichi reached an agreement. At the same time, seven other chakra threads successfully connected to Namikaze Minato and the others. Through Qi Luna's massive chakra reserves, his precise chakra control, and the unique effects of the Yamanaka Clan Secret Technique, the nine members across three squads quickly completed the sharing of information!

Under the silent and efficient cooperation between Qi Luna and Yamanaka Inoichi, the nine individuals who obtained the correct answers quickly integrated the information. Their process of answering the exam was smooth and fluid, achieving a perfect completion rate without a sound!

In the reception room of the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, watched the scene of Qi Luna closing his eyes in concentration and the tacit cooperation among the companions in the crystal ball. He tapped his pipe with his fingers, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration:

"Under the sunshine of peace, this keen perception and silent, subtle coordination are even more precious than on the battlefield. Uzumaki Qi Luna—this child is a naturally gifted ninja!"

Beside him, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura nodded slightly, expressing their agreement.

Meanwhile, the observers from other ninja villages found their gazes becoming increasingly deep and complex...

"The first exam was really simple. I just wrote whatever and got a perfect score. Isn't this something anyone could do?"

Kushina was the first to rush out of the exam hall. Since this was her first time getting a perfect score on an exam—especially a Chunin Exam—she was currently very excited.

"That's thanks to Qi Luna and Inoichi-senpai. If you had written it yourself, you probably wouldn't have been able to answer a single question, right, Kushina?"

Watching Kushina get carried away, Akimichi Yoshimaru poured a bucket of cold water on her without hesitation, his expression full of mockery.

"Yoshimaru! Are you itching for a beating again?!"

Seeing her bluff called, Kushina instantly flew into a rage. Even her mass of red hair began to dance along with her erupting chakra, creating a sense of oppression that made people involuntarily feel afraid.

Women are truly terrifying...

Nara Shikaku swallowed a mouthful of saliva, unable to help but mutter to himself.

"Everyone is a companion and friend from the village; let's not fight..."

Namikaze Minato felt somewhat at a loss and could only offer a dry laugh as he tried to persuade them.

"Hmph, I'll let it slide this time for Minato's sake. Don't let there be a next time!"

Hearing Namikaze Minato's voice, Kushina finally restrained herself, though she still clenched her fists and issued a threat and warning to Akimichi Yoshimaru.

"Alright, we should go. The second exam will start soon."

Qi Luna's voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. He turned and left first, his red hair tracing a steady arc through the sunlight filtering through the tree shade.

Hayama and Nonou immediately followed. The three moved with a tacit understanding that required no words, like a tightly integrated unit, quietly heading in the direction of Training Ground 44.

Before leaving, Nonou waved at the others:

"We'll be heading off first. See you later."

"Same here. I hope we can cooperate again during the second exam."

After Yamanaka Inoichi offered a polite greeting, he also left with Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza.

"Everyone else is heading over, so we should hurry and follow. The rules for the second exam will be announced in half an hour, so it's better if we get there early to understand them!"

Namikaze Minato suggested earnestly.

Kushina and Akimichi Yoshimaru nodded. Although they would often argue for no reason in their daily lives, they could act in unity when faced with important matters, and both of them were particularly obedient to Namikaze Minato's leadership.

Soon, the genin who had passed the first stage arrived at Training Ground 44, known as the "Forest of Death."

It was a lush, verdant forest. Sunlight spilled onto its edges, yet it failed to dispel the gloomy aura lurking deep within the dense thicket, as if countless unknown dangers lay dormant inside.

Qi Luna clearly sensed that this forest was fundamentally different from any other. It wasn't just the multiple layers of complex sealing barriers cast over the canopy, or the vast array of traps buried throughout as part of the examination.

It was that the forest itself contained a unique form of chakra!

Wood Release... is it?

Nonou followed Qi Luna's gaze and whispered softly:

"Compared to other forests, this one has a completely different 'scent'! Beyond the lingering odors of sealing formulas, barrier techniques, and Explosive Tags, there are at least three different types of biological toxins mixed in!"

As a medical ninja and intelligence analyst, she was exceptionally sensitive to environmental anomalies.

Hayama gripped the hilt of the sword at his back, his eyes sharpening:

"It seems the Sealing Team, the Barrier Team, and the Trap Team have put quite a lot of effort into this! Even with the home-field advantage, we absolutely cannot afford to let our guard down!"

"Mm, let's head to the assembly point to receive our mission first. I think I can roughly guess what this exam will entail."

"It's nothing more than a test of a squad's wilderness survival, intelligence gathering, and teamwork capabilities."

Qi Luna turned and walked toward the assembly point without looking back. As someone who had seen the script of the future, this familiar scene before him was nothing more than a breeze.

By the time they returned to the assembly point, the proctors in charge of the second stage of the Chunin Exams were already taking roll. If they hadn't arrived, they likely would have been considered as having forfeited, and the entire squad would have lost their eligibility to continue the exam!

Supplementary Note:

In the author's memory, the Forest of Death was seemingly created by Hashirama's Wood Release. Although the trees had lost their Wood Release properties over time, they remained much harder than ordinary timber.