"Whether you're hungry or not is none of my business."
Ibiki shot Sen a cold glance, his eyes full of menace.
"Examiner Senju, know your place."
"The interrogation department runs this exam hall. Drop that spoiled young master act."
Sen picked at his ear, completely ignoring Ibiki's warning.
"Yeah, yeah, you're the boss. Whatever you say."
"Just get on with it. I'm about to fall asleep."
Sen casually pulled over a chair and brazenly crossed his legs. He even fished a handful of melon seeds out of his pocket and began cracking them as though nobody else were there.
Click.
The clock's hand finally reached the forty-five-minute mark.
"Time's up."
Ibiki's voice was low and oppressive, like a heavy hammer striking every candidate's heart.
"Next comes the tenth question!"
He slammed his hand onto the lectern, the scars on his face looking even more savage with the effort.
"But before I give you the question, I must explain its special rules!"
"This is a choice that will plunge you into despair!"
Ibiki launched into his well-practiced routine of psychological pressure.
Things like, "If you answer incorrectly, you'll never be allowed to take the Chunin Ninja Exams again."
And, "If you withdraw now, your entire team will be eliminated, but you can try again next year."
Every sentence was like a sharp blade slicing at the candidates' taut nerves.
If events had followed the original plot, the exam hall should already have been filled with misery by now.
Many candidates who lacked ways to cheat or had weak nerves would have buckled under the immense pressure and chosen to withdraw.
That would have fulfilled Ibiki's ultimate goal of selecting those with unwavering resolve.
But.
Something was off today.
After Ibiki finished that impassioned, deeply intimidating speech.
He folded his arms and