Chunin Exam
Half an hour later, as candidates arrived one after another, the first phase of the Chunin Exams commenced.
The first part was a written test, and the exam papers were densely packed with nine challenging questions covering history, mathematics, geography, and other subjects. However, for Naruto, these weren't the main obstacle.
This exam did not forbid cheating outright—rather, it was designed to evaluate a candidate's ability to gather information without being caught. In the world of shinobi, intelligence gathering was an essential skill. However, the true test lay in the tenth question, which determined a ninja's resolve to become a Chunin.
A Chunin may not appear as prestigious as a Jonin, but they are the backbone of the ninja forces, often leading teams on missions. A Chunin can make errors in judgment, but they must never waver in their decisions or abandon their comrades.
Naruto, who had already figured out the underlying purpose of the exam, was in no rush to answer. Instead, he turned his attention to his deskmate.
By what could only be described as 'fate,' he was seated next to Hinata Hyuga. She was using her Byakugan discreetly to copy answers from other examinees.
Noticing Naruto's gaze, Hinata felt a rush of embarrassment. She had been informed about the test's true nature by her clan members, but cheating still made her feel guilty. Under Naruto's quiet scrutiny, her cheeks grew warm.
Gathering her courage, she whispered, "Do you… need to copy my answers? If you really can't do it, I can show you a little."
Naruto shook his head lightly, flashing his usual grin. "I finished a long time ago. I just wanted to chat with a pretty girl."
Hinata's heart pounded. She had suspected yesterday that the mysterious ninja from Uzushio was Naruto. Chakra signatures were difficult to disguise, and scents even more so.
Naruto still smelled exactly like the fox pouch she had once carried.
Suppressing her emotions, she muttered, "Then don't bother me while I finish. We… can talk later."
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
Naruto leaned on his desk casually, showing no concern for the tension in the room.
The Chunin instructors overseeing the exam scowled but remained silent. Their task was to identify those who cheated too obviously—not to reprimand students for their love lives.
Over the years, they had seen every kind of cheating strategy, but they had never encountered candidates engaging in open flirting during the exam. Some examiners wished they could expel them immediately, but technically, Naruto and Hinata had done nothing to break the rules.
One of the proctors, however, glanced at Hinata in deep thought. Isn't she the Hyuga clan's heir? Why is she interacting so casually with a ninja from another village?
As the written exam progressed, their classmates took notice. While Hinata's personality had grown stronger over the past two years, she was never one to speak so openly with unfamiliar male ninja—especially not during an exam.
Sasuke Uchiha's eyes gleamed with sharp curiosity. He committed the face of this so-called Uzushio ninja to memory. While he and Hinata rarely spoke, he knew she and Naruto shared a deep bond. He wasn't about to let just anyone approach her so freely.
However, his immediate concern was passing the exam. Activating his Sharingan discreetly, he scanned the answer sheets of the most intelligent students and copied them.
From a few seats away, Choji turned to look at Shikamaru, only to find him lazily copying answers as well.
"Seriously?" Choji muttered.
Shikamaru barely lifted his head. "Too much effort to figure it out myself. Might as well use external resources."
Choji sighed. In the end, their Ino-Shika-Cho trio always advanced together. If Shikamaru was helping him, he wouldn't complain.
Meanwhile, Karin was completing the test without assistance.
Resting her head on her desk, she suddenly noticed Hinata chatting with Naruto. Her expression darkened.
"Why is she talking to him? Why is she talking to him? Why is she talking to him?" she mumbled furiously under her breath.
Beside her, Haku sighed. "Karin, if you keep this up, we'll get disqualified."
At the front of the room, the chief examiner, Morino Ibiki, observed the candidates with a growing headache. He had the authority to expel any cheaters outright, but this year's Chunin Exam was special. His orders from above were clear: assess, but do not interfere unless necessary.
As time passed, the exam reached its climax—the dreaded final question.
Naruto, unfazed by Ibiki's psychological pressure, confidently declared his determination to continue, showcasing his near-blank answer sheet with only one word written: "Answer."
He had known from the start that the purpose of the test was not to measure knowledge but resolve. Cheating to obtain the answers was unnecessary when he already understood the exam's core principle.
Of course, Kyuubi had offered no assistance—mostly out of disinterest.
With the first phase complete, Naruto prepared to leave with Karin and Haku when Hinata and her team approached.
"So, do you want to team up for the second test?" she asked directly.
Her straightforwardness left Kiba and Shino momentarily stunned. Hinata was always polite but rarely so assertive—especially over a ninja from another village.
Karin, who had been grumbling to Haku about "the white-eyed girl seducing Master Mianma," froze.
Haku, remaining ever composed, simply said, "Karin, I think Master Mianma and that girl have known each other for a long time."
Karin's face turned pale as realization struck. Am I… the third party? Was I too late?
Haku shook his head slightly. Normally, Karin was rational, but whenever Naruto was involved, she lost all sense of composure.
Hinata, now dressed in her full ninja gear, radiated quiet confidence. Though she was still developing, her presence was impossible to ignore.
Naruto, taking a moment to glance at her, smirked. "Alright, let's do it."
Hinata's Byakugan had likely allowed her to see through his disguise. He hadn't expected the combined power of the Hyuga's Byakugan and the Kaguya clan's bloodline to be so formidable.
Talking and laughing, the two teams made their way toward the Forest of Death.
Compared to the number of candidates who had begun the first exam, only about half remained. Nearly fifty percent had been eliminated in the written test alone.
And there were still two grueling rounds to go.
Naruto reflected on the original Chunin Exam in Konoha's history. If Shikamaru had been the only one promoted back then, it meant becoming a Chunin was far more difficult than it appeared.
At that moment, a fierce presence descended into the open clearing.
A female ninja, exuding confidence and authority, landed in front of the Genin. Mitarashi Anko, the second-phase examiner, had arrived.
At this point in time, Anko was in her prime—nothing like the fatigued and demotivated woman she would become in later years.
Scanning the young candidates, she smirked. "I am Jonin Mitarashi Anko, your proctor for the second exam."
"This test is different from the first. Here, you are allowed—no, encouraged—to engage in combat against other teams. Killing is not forbidden."
Her gaze sharpened. "If you have the strength, feel free to eliminate all your competitors. Just be prepared to deal with the consequences—because revenge from their comrades is very real."
The air grew heavy with tension.
Anko's smirk widened. "If any of you are afraid, now is the time to quit. There's no shame in backing out. But if you stay… then be ready."
The second phase of the Chunin Exam was about to begin.
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