Just like in the original story, before revealing the tenth question, Ibiki Morino presented a choice: challenge or forfeit.
Choosing to tackle the tenth question meant risking everything—regardless of the previous nine answers, a wrong response would lead to immediate elimination and a lifetime ban from the Chunin Exams.
Forfeiting meant elimination too, but with the chance to try again next time.
Hearing these rules, candidates who'd struggled to fill their papers through cheating were outraged.
Under Ibiki's imposing presence, however, they quickly fell silent, grappling with the decision.
"I forfeit!"
Soon, a candidate raised their hand, eyes shut, teeth clenched.
"I'm out too. I'll come back next time."
"No way I'm betting my future on this!"
Once someone led the way, others followed, each offering an excuse.
Since one person's elimination doomed their team, every forfeiture cleared out three.
In moments, the already half-empty exam room lost another third of its occupants.
Propping his face with one hand, the other secretly holding Hinata's under the desk, Izayoi was curious about Naruto Uzumaki's expression, wondering what the guy was feeling.
If Izayoi had turned or activated his Tenseigan, he'd have seen Naruto with arms crossed, radiating ease and confidence.
A closer look would reveal Naruto's paper was fully answered.
Unlike the blank sheet in the original, Naruto, now Sasuke's desk mate, had it easy. He just held the pen—Sasuke did the rest.
Using the Uchiha clan's shuriken manipulation skills, Sasuke turned puppeteer, guiding Naruto's hand with wire to copy answers.
Naruto had no reason to panic.
Without his rousing speech, the first exam saw more eliminations than in the original.
But that was all.
Many foreign candidates spotted the loophole.
A ban from the Chunin Exams didn't bar them from becoming chunin.
They weren't Konoha ninja—outstanding performance could earn them a special promotion from their village leaders.
Forfeiting now, though it preserved their chance to attend future exams in major villages, risked disappointing their superiors.
So, many candidates withstood Ibiki's psychological pressure.
As time ticked down, with no more forfeitures, Ibiki's stern face broke into a smile. "Congratulations, you've all passed the first exam."
"Huh?!"
Shocked gasps and bewildered murmurs filled the room.
Candidates braced for the tenth question were dumbfounded.
Some, unable to accept it, demanded, "What… what do you mean?"
Ibiki explained the test's purpose.
The first nine questions assessed knowledge and intelligence-gathering skills, while the tenth tested team unity.
Even then, many candidates remained dazed.
Crash!
Before they could process it, the sound of a kunai shattering a window snapped their attention.
Mitarashi Anko burst in with a flamboyant flair that felt oddly familiar to Naruto, like looking in a mirror.
Many candidates sweatdropped at the sight.
But Anko's exchange with Ibiki made every candidate's expression shift.
"Ibiki, what's this? Why are there still so many left?"
"This year's genin are exceptional."
"Tch… whatever. In the next exam, I'll cut their numbers by at least half."
Anko's final words came with a predatory scan of the room, her eerie smirk—reminiscent of Orochimaru—and special jonin aura making candidates tense, no longer underestimating her.
Like Ibiki, anyone chosen as a proctor was no ordinary ninja.
"Everyone, be at the entrance to Konoha's Training Ground 44 by three tomorrow afternoon. Latecomers will be disqualified."
With that, Anko left, signaling the end of the first exam.
"Yo, long time no see."
Teams 7 and 8 exited the exam room together.
Before reaching the corridor, familiar voices greeted them.
Turning, they saw Shikamaru Nara, hands behind his head, approaching with Choji Akimichi and Ino Yamanaka.
"Sasuke, it's been ages!" Ino rushed toward Sasuke, only for him to sidestep.
"Ino-pig, what're you trying to do to Sasuke?" Sakura snapped.
"Forehead, mind your own business! Wanna fight?" Ino shot back.
The former best friends, like Sasuke and Naruto earlier, went forehead-to-forehead, ready to brawl.
"Long time no see, Shikamaru, Choji," Izayoi said, ignoring the girls and greeting the boys.
Izayoi teased, "I figured a trouble-hater like you wouldn't bother with the Chunin Exams."
"I didn't want to, but Asuma-sensei and my dad forced me," Shikamaru said with a shrug. "Plus, Ino wanted in. You've probably noticed something off with the applications, right?"
"Mm."
Izayoi nodded, and the new nine rookies left the lecture hall together.
On the way, Ino, having finished bickering with Sakura, sidled up to Hinata. Admiring her white kimono, she grinned. "Hinata, this new look is gorgeous. It suits you perfectly."
"Thank you," Hinata said with a gentle smile.
"Um…" Ino tugged Hinata's sleeve shyly, glancing at the boys, then whispered, "Hinata, how'd you do it?"
Sakura's ear twitched, subtly leaning closer.
"What?" Hinata asked, confused.
"You know, this—how'd you do it?" Ino glanced at Hinata's striking figure, barely concealed by her loose kimono, then at her own modest frame—not flat, but far from impressive. "Hinata, what's your usual diet?"
Hinata's face flushed crimson, her mind racing. She lowered her head, mumbling, "I… I don't know. I just eat more than others."
"Eat more, that's it?" Ino took it seriously but glanced at Choji, munching chips quietly beside Shino as Shikamaru and Izayoi chatted. Her face fell. "Guess that won't work for me."
Though the Yamanaka were the "pig" in Ino-Shika-Cho, Ino had no desire to live up to the name.
Worse, she hated being called Ino-pig.
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