(A clarification: the previous qualifying figures were wrong. Twenty-six teams, totaling seventy-eight people, passed the written exam. The earlier text has already been corrected. Also, there will be another bonus update today.)
Unexpectedly, the person summoned this time was still Iruka.
"Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto... congratulations on making it through..."
Then came all of Iruka's rambling. Most of it concerned what it meant to become a Chunin, with some talk of the will of fire mixed in.
Naruto fell asleep as soon as Iruka started his second sentence.
Perhaps five years of sleeping through class had become a habit. Just hearing Iruka's voice made him drowsy.
Iruka knew exactly how to handle Naruto's behavior, pretending not to notice just as he had back in class.
The Hokage Building.
The Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned around his pipe as he listened to Anko's report.
"Orochimaru infiltrated the village to find a reincarnation vessel? Sasuke Uchiha?"
Anko nodded gravely. "Orochimaru has probably already given Sasuke the Cursed Seal of Heaven."
"Lord Hokage, should we suspend the exam?"
"No. Continue. This exam concerns the dignity of the Land of Fire. How could we cancel it over a single rogue ninja? What dignity would we have left as a great nation?"
After a brief internal struggle, Anko finally nodded. "Yes!"
About an hour later.
Once Iruka finished rambling and left, Naruto slowly woke up.
"He's gone?" Naruto asked. "What do we do next?"
"Naruto, at least listen when our instructor shares his insights on being a Chunin!" Sakura complained.
"Come on. Let's head to the assembly area."
Sasuke was the first to step out through the doorway as he spoke.
After leaving the doorway, the three soon entered a large gate in the Central Tower.
The interior was empty, and the arena was enormous.
Looking