"Then open the scrolls."
Everyone opened their scrolls, and a figure appeared among the youngsters.
"Ta-da! Huh?"
A cloud of white smoke cleared, and a formally dressed Iruka made his dazzling entrance. He opened his eyes, wanting to see which team from his class had passed first, only to find...
"Huh? Why are all of you together?"
Looking at the ten children, all from his own class, Iruka briefly began to doubt himself.
"Oh, well, Naruto's team's location was broadcast every day, and we'd guessed where they were right from the start. Once we collected all our scrolls, we headed over."
Ino raised her hand and explained with a grin.
Bonk.
Iruka lightly tapped Ino on the head.
"What the heck? These are the Chunin Ninja Exams! How could you do this?"
"If word gets out, will Konoha have any dignity left?"
Iruka yelled fiercely at Naruto and the others.
"Now, now, it's fine. We all got our scrolls independently, anyway."
Naruto stepped forward with a smile and laughed it off, while Ino put on an innocent look, gazing at Iruka with watery eyes.
"Honestly, you... I... Forget it. Be more careful next time."
Iruka wanted to say something, but under his students' gazes, the stern reprimand he had planned stuck in his throat. In the end, all he could do was gently tell them to be more careful next time.
It seemed he had said that so many times since they started school. Honestly, next time he would have to steel himself.
"All right, everyone passed this exam. Go register in the hall, and then you can leave."
Iruka led his students into the hall at the center of the tower and pointed out the registration staff.
"Oh, and Naruto, Lord Hokage wants to see you."
Iruka had not