Passed the First Exam

Shibi Aburame and Tsume Inuzuka both turned to look at Kazan.

"Just one question, Kazan. How are your grades in the classroom subjects?"

He had no trouble with those.

He had always studied hard, especially when it came to survival.

But

the point of this exam wasn't to test what they knew. It was to test their ability to gather and relay intelligence.

In the original story, the first stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams had seen everyone pull out their own tricks.

Some had copied answers with the Sharingan.

Some had sent their eyes flying up to look around.

Some had simply used the Byakugan to copy the answers.

"Don't worry. I have my own way to pass."

Most likely.

Even if Kazan handed in a blank paper, he could probably pass this exam.

That was the advantage of playing on home ground. Since Hiruzen Sarutobi had personally chosen him for the Chunin Ninja Exams, he wouldn't let Kazan get eliminated in the first round.

In the end, the results were entirely up to the examiner, Shikaku Nara. There probably wouldn't be a problem.

Still,

Kazan wouldn't leave his fate in someone else's hands.

As a precaution, he had slipped a Shadow Clone into the building before entering. Now he only needed to wait for his clone to find the answers.

"Now, the first stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams begins!"

The candidates took their seats and hurried to read the questions.

Within moments, sharp intakes of breath filled the classroom.

The questions were too hard!

It was like asking a group of average students to sit an exam for the top scholar's title. Anyone who passed would have to be a genius at academics.

Yet a few people wrote as though inspiration had seized them.

From the moment the exam began, their pens never stopped moving.

Those three must be the ones.

With his Observation Haki, Kazan picked out three people in the classroom who were different from the rest.

Observation Haki did more than predict attacks. It could sense other people's emotions, among many other uses.

These three might be the "intelligence sources" Shikaku Nara had arranged for the candidates.

Their emotions were unusually calm. They didn't seem like people taking an exam.

A few sharp candidates had noticed that too.

Kazan's two teammates, for instance, sent their insects and dog to peek at the answers and report back.

Kazan sat motionless, still waiting for word from his Shadow Clones.

He had sent ten of them to search the building. Surely they would find something soon.

If they didn't, he could always wait for Shibi Aburame's insects to help.

"Found it!"

In an office somewhere in the building, one of Kazan's Shadow Clones found the answers.

After memorizing them all, the clone dispelled itself and passed its memories to Kazan.

Almost at once,

Kazan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, began to write. The proctors took notice, but none could spot any sign of cheating.

"Oh, there he goes."

Shikaku Nara grew interested too. He wanted to see how Kazan was cheating.

He watched for a while but couldn't figure it out either.

Then the door opened. His assistant came in and told him someone had searched his office, and Shikaku Nara finally understood.

"Lord Nara, someone searched the office where you hid the answers," the Chunin whispered in his ear. "The person on the surveillance footage was Yugito Nii from Kumogakure."

Well, look at that. He even knew to disguise himself.

Shikaku Nara was amused. "Were the answers destroyed?"

"Torn to pieces."

Not bad. The boy had the makings of a good ninja.

The Shadow Clone Technique had originally been created to gather intelligence without putting the user at risk.

Kazan had put it to good use.

What Shikaku Nara didn't know was when Kazan had sent his Shadow Clone out of the classroom.

But... it didn't matter. If he hadn't caught Kazan doing it, it didn't count as cheating.

"Number forty-four, disqualified!"

A proctor seated by the wall called out.

A candidate had been caught cheating on the spot. By the rules, he lost his exam eligibility.

"Someone at that level has no business becoming a Chunin."

Shikaku Nara watched impassively as the proctors escorted the cheater and his teammates out of the room.

The contents of the Chunin Ninja Exams weren't fixed most of the time.

They depended on how the examiner chose to run them.

Different personalities and different kinds of ninja came up with wildly different questions.

Shikaku Nara demanded that candidates be smart.

Fools tended to die first.

He had planted several "answer sheets" with perfect scores in the building and in this classroom. The question was who could find them and "steal" the answers without anyone noticing.

One team had been eliminated.

The atmosphere in the classroom grew even tenser.

Those who had already been hesitant were now even more afraid to make a move.

Shibi Aburame had planned to help Kazan through this round. But when he saw Kazan close his eyes briefly, then begin writing at speed, he relaxed.

Tap.

Several dozen minutes passed. Time was up.

Shikaku Nara rapped on the desk, and every candidate stopped.

"Time's up. Everyone, put down your pens."

Kazan had already put his pen down and was waiting for the exam to end.

"Stay in your seats. The results will be out soon."

There were only a few dozen candidates, and the questions were multiple choice. Grading them would be easy.

Less than thirty minutes later, the proctors returned with the results.

Shikaku Nara leafed through them.

As expected, everyone who had shown skill at cheating had passed.

"Shin Kazan, Shibi Aburame, Tsume Inuzuka—pass!"

At Shikaku Nara's announcement, Tsume Inuzuka finally let out a breath and affectionately stroked her beloved dog, Kuromaru.

"Nice work, Kuromaru!"

"Woof!"

Kuromaru narrowed his eyes in pleasure.

"Don't get careless, Tsume. The exam isn't over. We've only passed the first stage." Shibi Aburame kept his hands in his pockets.

"You really know how to kill a mood. When you're happy, you should smile. Right, Kazan?"

"As long as you're happy."

The candidates who had passed breathed sighs of relief. Those who hadn't could only leave with their heads hanging.

Some Genin who had been dragged down argued with their teammates. Others encouraged each other and vowed to pass next time.

"All right, now that they're gone, it's time to meet your examiner for the second round."

Rattle.

The door opened again. Kazan didn't recognize the person who came in this time.

"Thanks for the effort, Shikaku!"

"It was no trouble. I'll leave the rest to you, Senior Mitarashi."

Mitarashi merely nodded.

Then he turned to face all the candidates. His first words put them on edge.

"In the second stage, I'm going to eliminate more than half of you."

What?!

More than half?

A chill ran through the candidates. More than twenty of the sixty-odd candidates had already been eliminated in the first round. Around forty remained, and now more than half of those would be cut.

Only about twenty of us will make it through!