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Chunin Exams?!

They were starting already? She remembered that the Chunin Exams in the original story had indeed come not long after this, but she hadn't expected it to be their turn so soon.

Five hundred points and an R-card voucher were tempting rewards, but the penalty for failure—randomly deducting one skill—was way too harsh!

A written test... and she had to answer at least five questions correctly?

She was a transmigrator. When it came to ninja theory, she basically knew nothing!

Cheating without getting caught? That wouldn't be easy.

"Hey, Yue, what's wrong? Why do you look so weird?" Naruto leaned over, eyeing her suspiciously.

Sasuke also gave her a questioning look.

Ling Yue took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and said casually, "Nothing. I was just thinking... shouldn't we take the Chunin Exams?"

"The Chunin Exams?" Naruto's eyes instantly lit up, and he jumped to his feet. "Yeah! We're so strong, we'll definitely pass! I'm going to become a Chunin and shock everyone!"

Sasuke's eyes flickered as well. Clearly, the suggestion tempted him.

Becoming a Chunin meant taking on higher-level missions and getting one step closer to becoming stronger—and taking revenge.

"But..." Naruto looked somewhat worried. "Our injuries only just healed, and Kakashi-sensei still hasn't..."

"Who wants to take the Chunin Exams?" a lazy voice came from behind them.

The three turned around to see Kakashi, who had appeared at some point and was leaning against a tree trunk, reading Make-Out Paradise.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto immediately rushed over. "We want to take the Chunin Exams! Hurry up and sign us up!"

Kakashi closed his book, his lone eye sweeping over the three of them. "Oh? That confident? The Chunin Exams aren't child's play. People die, you know."

"We even beat that bandaged guy! What's there to be scared of?" Naruto waved his fists.

Kakashi looked at Sasuke and Ling Yue. "You two feel the same way?"

Sasuke nodded, his gaze resolute.

Ling Yue also said, "I want to try." Mainly because the system mission was forcing her to.

Kakashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... based on your performance in this mission, you do qualify. Fine, I'll submit your application. But..."

His tone turned serious. "The Chunin Exams are a joint examination. There will be many ninja from other villages participating, and the competition will be extremely fierce—perhaps even malicious. You need to prepare yourselves mentally."

"Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei! Team 7 is the strongest!" Naruto was bursting with confidence.

Kakashi smiled without discouraging him, though his gaze lingered on Ling Yue for an extra second. "Especially you, Yue. Your... little tricks may draw even more attention during the exam. Mind your limits."

Ling Yue knew Kakashi was reminding her not to expose too many system skills. She nodded. "Understood."

A few days later, Team 7, their injuries mostly healed, received official notice. The first round of the Chunin Exams would begin tomorrow morning.

That night, Ling Yue paced anxiously around her small room.

Written test, written test! What was she supposed to do about theory? Copy answers? How had they gotten through it in the original story again?

It seemed Hinata had secretly given Naruto the answers? But that was Naruto. She wasn't close with the Hyuga clan's young lady at all.

Rely on herself? She couldn't even remember all the elemental Chakra advantages and disadvantages!

[Zetsu] could hide her presence, but it couldn't let her peek at answers!

The [Sharingan] could copy them, but that was Sasuke's. She didn't have one.

[Flash Step] was fast, but she couldn't run around the exam room!

Could she use [Basic Trap Knowledge] to rig up some little mechanism beneath her desk? That was ridiculous!

Wait... the system required her to "cheat without being discovered by the proctor," but the note in parentheses said, "excluding the use of one's own abilities"!

Her own abilities? What abilities did she have?

The perfect concealment of [Zetsu]?

The subtle perception of [Paper Arts]?

[Thunder Breathing] enhancing her hearing and vision?

The instant hand speed of [Flash Step]?

Maybe... it wasn't completely impossible?

Her eyes gradually lit up as a bold—reckless—plan slowly took shape in her mind.

The next morning, a huge number of Genin had gathered outside Training Ground One, and the place buzzed with noise.

Ling Yue followed Kakashi to the entrance, where she saw Naruto and Sasuke waiting, along with... two other familiar figures.

"Lee! Tenten! Neji!" Naruto called out loudly.

That was right. The three members of Guy's team were here too.

Rock Lee was still wearing that green jumpsuit, overflowing with youthful passion.

Tenten wore a Chinese-style outfit and carried a large scroll on her back.

Hyuga Neji, meanwhile, had an aloof expression, a Hidden Leaf Village forehead protector resting on his brow.

"Hmph, I didn't expect you to be here too." Sasuke looked at Neji, his tone provocative. It seemed they had met before and didn't get along.

Neji merely gave him an indifferent glance. His pale eyes showed no ripples. "Just don't hold us back."

"What did you say?!" Naruto immediately bristled.

"Alright, alright, the exam is about to start. Stop arguing," Tenten hurriedly mediated.

Rock Lee, however, looked at Ling Yue with blazing eyes. He suddenly rushed over, gave her a thumbs-up, and flashed sparkling teeth. "Miss Ling Yue! Long time no see! Please go out with me! I will protect you with the fiery passion of youth!"

Ling Yue: "..." She had almost forgotten about this.

Sasuke's mouth seemed to twitch.

Naruto burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Lee, you're still the same!"

Kakashi facepalmed. "What exactly has Guy been teaching his students...?"

Amid the commotion, everyone entered the training ground. Inside, ninja from every village already filled the area in a dense mass—Sound Ninja, Rain Ninja, Grass Ninja... all kinds of people, with quite a few radiating hostility.

"Wow, there are so many people..." Sakura edged closer to Sasuke nervously.

Sasuke and Neji both watched their surroundings vigilantly, their Sharingan and Byakugan unconsciously activating slightly.

Ling Yue also felt many eyes falling on her. Her mission in the Land of Waves had likely earned her some notoriety, and since she appeared to be the weakest member of the team, she drew plenty of scrutinizing and hostile stares.

A Sound Ninja with bandages wrapped around his face and strange mannerisms deliberately bumped into Naruto.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Naruto nearly fell and shouted angrily.

The Sound Ninja let out a hoarse, eerie laugh and licked his lips. "Hidden Leaf Village Genin... you don't look like much."

Sasuke immediately stepped in front of Naruto, his Sharingan staring coldly at the other man. "Looking for trouble?"

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

Ling Yue silently shifted her footing, positioning herself where she could both provide support and observe the entire area.

[Zetsu] quietly activated, reducing her presence to a minimum. At the same time, [Thunder Breathing] silently circulated, strengthening her hearing as she picked up surrounding whispers and movements.

"Hmph, forget it. I'll play with you during the exam." The Sound Ninja seemed to sense something. With another eerie laugh, he backed away.

The small conflict was temporarily defused.

"Everyone is so scary..." Sakura said softly.

"They're just a bunch of trash." Sasuke spoke disdainfully, though his expression remained grave.

Just then, a commotion broke out ahead.

"Ahhh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" a panicked voice cried out.

A bespectacled Hidden Leaf Village Genin who looked timid had accidentally bumped into a tall Cloud Village ninja, scattering documents all over the ground.

"Don't you watch where you're going? Hidden Leaf Village trash!" The Cloud Village ninja had a violent temper. He grabbed the bespectacled Genin by the collar, his fist about to come down.

The bespectacled Genin squeezed his eyes shut in terror.

Suddenly, a bandaged hand caught the Cloud Village ninja's descending wrist.

It was Rock Lee! His face was serious. "Bullying the weak is not what a ninja should do!"

"Let go! Are you trying to meddle in other people's business?" the Cloud Village ninja roared, trying to break free, only to find the other's grip as immovable as an iron clamp.

"Apologize to him!" Rock Lee insisted.

"Looking to die!" Seeing this, another Cloud Village ninja threw a punch at Rock Lee from the side.

Tenten immediately flung several shuriken, forcing him back.

Neji also took the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.

The conflict was about to escalate.

"Enough."

A cold voice rang out.

At some point, a man in a black trench coat had appeared in the middle of the crowd. Deep lines framed his mouth, his eyes were fierce, and behind him stood a group of solemn-looking Hidden Leaf Village Chunin.

It was Morino Ibiki!

A powerful oppressive force instantly blanketed the entire area, silencing all unrest.

"This is the Chunin Exams venue, not a place for you to run wild." Ibiki's icy gaze swept over the troublemaking Cloud Village and Sound Ninja. "Anyone who doesn't want to take the exam can get out now."

The troublemaking ninja's expressions changed. They retreated sullenly, not daring to cause any further trouble.

Only then did Ibiki look at the terrified bespectacled Genin and Rock Lee's group, who had stepped in to help. His tone remained cold, but it seemed to soften slightly. "You're not bad."

He said no more and turned toward the raised platform ahead. His voice, amplified through Chakra, spread across the entire venue:

"I am Morino Ibiki, chief examiner for the first test. I will now explain the rules..."