No One Was Willing to Bow Their Head Before the Tenth Question

"Next, I will announce the tenth question."

Ibiki braced both hands on the podium. The test papers for the first nine questions still lay before everyone.

Naruto stared at his blank paper.

"Is it still not too late to write something?"

"You can try."

"Then tell us the questions first."

Ibiki ignored him and turned to write the word "choice" on the blackboard.

"Before hearing the question, you must first decide whether to accept the tenth question."

A Hidden Sand examinee set down his pen.

"What is the difference between accepting and refusing?"

"If you choose to forfeit, your entire team will be eliminated immediately, but you will retain the right to take the exam again next time."

"If you choose to accept, those who answer correctly may continue. Anyone who answers incorrectly will lose the right to take the Chunin Ninja Exams for life."

Several chairs scraped across the classroom.

Temari turned to look at Gaara, but he did not even lift his eyelids.

Kankurō slipped a hand beneath the desk. His fingertips had barely touched the puppet bandages when a proctor was already standing behind him.

"I was just trying to change my sitting position."

"Then put your hands on the desk before changing it."

Kankurō spread both hands across the tabletop.

"Konoha's exam has way too many rules."

Chiba leaned back in his chair, his gaze still fixed on Zaku.

After hearing that he could never be promoted again, the wind-pressure tubes inside Zaku's body had not weakened. Instead, they had begun gathering chakra.

Dosu tapped the edge of the desk with one finger.

Only then did Zaku disperse his power.

They knew the rules were deceptive.

Or rather, Orochimaru simply did not care whether the three of them became Chunin.

A Hidden Waterfall Village examinee raised