Chapter Nineteen: The First Exam Concludes

Chapter Nineteen: The End of the First Exam

“Number 23, disqualified.”

“Number 43, disqualified.”

“Number 27, disqualified.”

...

Using a speed that no one present could perceive, Shuster left only a shadow clone sitting at the lectern. After ten minutes, only about eighty candidates remained in the examination hall. Of course, the twelve sturdy genin from the Leaf Village, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro from the Sand, and the three Sound ninjas were all still among these ninety examinees.

“Well, my work here is done. From here on, it’s all up to you.” Shuster returned to his seat and closed his eyes.

“Alright, Mr. Hatake has closed his eyes. Time for me to start cheating. Sharingan!” Sasuke, watching Shuster with his eyes shut, activated his Sharingan and began to mimic the hand movements of the person in front of him.

Sakura instantly unleashed her full potential, her pen moving like the wind. Clearly, her foundational training had prepared her well for these questions.

Neji Hyuga, a disciple of the Green Beast of the Leaf, Might Guy, remarked, “She seems to have a bloodline limit too. But I wonder what it is—why does it resemble the Byakugan so much?” It was simply that her speed was too fast, you cataract patient.

“What a troublesome guy,” Gaara muttered.

Kankuro added, “Isn’t that the kunoichi from before? Not only is she strong, but her powers of observation are impressive as well.”

Once Shuster dozed off, Sasuke, Neji, and the others began their cheating in earnest. Copying with the Sharingan, peering through things with the Byakugan, spying with the Third Eye—and even, in one case...

Dog Akamaru: Woof! Woof!

–––––––––––––– I am the soon-to-be-announced Question Ten ––––––––––––––

“Now then, I’m about to announce the next, the tenth question!” Ibiki spoke up.

“...” ×N

“But... I’ll also add a rule so despairing it just might break you...” Ibiki deliberately paused, his words heavy with psychological pressure.

“A despairing rule...” ×N

“First, will you accept the challenge of Question Ten?” The pressure came again, cold and subtle.

“What?” ×N

“If you refuse, you and your teammates will all be marked as failing...” Ibiki pressed on. “And... if you accept but answer incorrectly, you’ll be permanently barred from ever taking the Chunin Exams again!”

“What?!” ×N

“Don’t call me heartless—these are the rules I set for this year’s exam. Hmph! If you’re not confident, withdraw and try again next year, or the year after. ...Now, let’s begin. If you choose not to accept the tenth question, raise your hand.” Ibiki turned away, sneering coldly.

“Should I say, no wonder he’s the head of ANBU Interrogation and Torture?” Shuster muttered to himself from the side.

Under such crushing pressure, a few candidates couldn’t bear it and withdrew.

“Damn it! ...Don’t underestimate me! I’ll take the test, even if I spend my whole life as a genin, I’ll show you I can become Hokage! There’s nothing to fear! I’m not scared of you!” Naruto raised his hand, then slammed it down on the desk, rising to his feet and shouting.

“...Let me ask once more. This is a life-changing decision. If you want to leave, now is still your chance.” Ibiki looked at Naruto in surprise, though it lasted barely a second.

“Once I say something, I never go back on my word. That’s my ninja way—Uzumaki Naruto’s path.” Naruto declared from the side.

“Such resolve! Then... I announce that all of you sitting in this exam room—the entire first test... you all pass!” Ibiki spoke slowly, and with the last sentence, his tone shifted to one of congratulations.

“!!” ×N

“Heh~ In my opinion, if you can’t stake your life at a time like this, if you’d rather pin your hopes on some uncertain future next year, if your heart wavers and you miss your chance—such people, lacking in will, are unfit to become Chunin!” Ibiki explained the true purpose of the exam. “You who accepted the tenth question have shown you’ll overcome any hardship that comes your way. The gate has been passed—first round of the Chunin selection exam is over. Keep striving!”

“Hm? Is that Anko?” Shuster suddenly glanced out the window and murmured.

Crash! A huge red sphere smashed through the window, the red cloth tied at two corners to the ceiling with kunai. Written on the cloth: “Second Exam Proctor, Anko Mitarashi.”

“This isn’t the time to be celebrating, brats. The proctor for the second exam, Anko Mitarashi, has arrived!” A kunoichi wearing a white overcoat, a black mesh ninja top underneath, raised her fist and shouted, “Follow me!”

The entire room was stunned into silence by Anko’s entrance, all staring at her in shock.

“No one’s paying attention to you!” Shuster and Ibiki emerged from both sides, speaking in unison.

“...” In an instant, Anko transformed into a chibi, falling into an ORZ pose with both hands on the floor.

“Is she just like that idiot Naruto?” Sakura and Sasuke thought simultaneously.

“Huh? There are still seventy-eight people left—twenty-six teams? This first exam was too easy,” Anko remarked, surprised.

“There seem to be many outstanding candidates this time,” Ibiki said to Anko.

“Well, in the second exam, let’s cut the number down to less than half!” Anko announced to the candidates with a faint smile.

“What?!” ×N

“No way, less than half!” Sakura exclaimed in shock.

“This is going to be interesting! Details will be explained tomorrow at the exam site. The time and location—ask your Chunin instructor. That’s all—dismissed!” Anko declared, her face wearing a mischievous grin.

–––––––––––––– Scene shifts to the second day, at the exam site ––––––––––––––

“What’s with this place?” Naruto stared at the surrounding iron fences, the eerie forest beyond, each segment bearing a sign forbidding entry.

“This is the site for the second exam—Training Ground Forty-Four, better known as the Forest of Death.”

“Forest... of Death,” Naruto repeated.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Sakura said, her voice betraying a little fear—after all, she was still a girl.

“Heh heh~ You’ll soon see why it’s called the Forest of Death,” Anko chuckled coldly.

Snap! “Hm?” Shuster used Body Flicker to appear beside Naruto, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Naruto, people will die in this exam. Be prepared. This is my scroll—if you encounter someone dangerous, crush it, and I’ll come to save you. But if it’s a candidate, crushing it will mean failure for your team!”

“Got it, Mr. Hatake.” Naruto accepted the magical scroll Shuster had made the night before, inscribed with twenty-four lightning shields. He didn’t know why Shuster had given him this, but he accepted it all the same.

“When you crush this scroll, don’t aim it at an enemy—just at your teammates.” Shuster warned before disappearing with the Body Flicker.

–––––––––––––– Scene shifts to the Hokage’s office ––––––––––––––

“Is there something you need, Shuster?” The Third Hokage, still smoking, continued to work through his papers.

“Report, Lord Third. Recently, I’ve noticed some suspicious activity from Sound and Sand. Also, my main body discovered the corpse of the Fourth Kazekage in a corner of the Sand Village!” Shuster answered.

“Hm? Then that wasn’t his real body!” The Third’s eyes sharpened.

“Yes, Lord Third. My main body requests instructions on how to handle the Fourth Kazekage’s corpse,” Shuster’s clone replied.

“His corpse? Send a shadow clone to notify the Sand elders. Tell them not to act rashly upon discovery. Quietly contact those impersonating the Fourth Kazekage and warn them to be cautious. And do not alert him.” The Third quickly wrote a message.

“Yes, sir—poof!” Shuster’s shadow clone dispersed itself.

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