Third Person's POV

The examiners tense and stare at their proctor.

"You, from Hidden Sound Village! No doing as you please before the Exam! You want to be failed at the get go?!" Ibiki said pointing at them.

"Sorry. It's our first time taking the exams so we flipped out... despite ourselves." The one with the bandage all over his body said.

Ibiki smirk at him and then he looks at all the examiners "Hmph. This is a good opportunity, so I'll say this. There will be no battles, competition, and the like without the permission of the proctors! And even if you get permission, actions that could lead to the death of an opponent will not be permitted. Any pig that screws with me will be disqualified immediately. Got it?!" He said as the other Konoha shinobi with him chuckled

"Now then, we will start the first test of the Chunin Exam! Turn in your applications, take one of these number cards in exchange, and sit in the seat matching the number! After that, we will hand out the paper for the written test!" Ibiki said.

Akira sighs and was about to walk toward Naruto when the girl behind her back whispered. "Tch, be thankful the proctor came," She said as she walk past her to go to her teammates.

Akira follows the girl with her eyes, she can see that her other teammate is mocking her. Akira's brows knitted when they all look at her and smirked.

"Geez..." Akira said as she walked toward Naruto who is looking like he had just seen a ghost.

"Naruto?" She said looking at him confused.

"Akira why didn't you tell me that this is a written exam?" Naruto said shaking her.

"Huh? I actually didn't know" Akira said brow twitching as Naruto stops shaking her and bite his nails.

"Okay now pass your applications here!" Ibiki said as they all follow and walk towards him.

"Naruto, come on." Sakura said dragging him.

"Paper test... paper test..." He whisper repeatedly as he was dragged by Sakura.

"Come on Naruto I will give you answers if you don't know..." Akira whispered to him making him perk up

"Really?!" He shouts making the other examiners look at them.

"Yes, yes, now calm down," Akira said as Naruto stand straight. Akira sweatdropped. Well, that's if they were close enough.

-skip-

Akira wanted to punch someone. Just why in the hell is she alone, and what's more awesome is she is sitting along with the other proctors, well there's a few-meter distance, but still.

Naruto looked at the paper. Why in the hell Akira would be seated there of all places?! Ah, I don't know if I could pass this..., he thought as his hands shakes.

"Umm... May I ask why is Akira seated there?" Sakura asks getting all their attention.

Akira wanted the floor to just eat her when they all look at her.

"Well, to make it short there are no available seats since this room is made up for only three genin per team. And this year we have a team that consists of four." Ibiki said making them all look at Akira again as whispers filled the room.

Akira sweatdrop. Ah, mo, why can't they just start already?

"Okay, now listen!" Ibiki said getting all their attention again as the room become silent.

"There are several important rules to this test. I will take no questions, so listen well accordingly!" Ibiki said as he tap the chalk on the board.

"First off is the first rule! You are given ten points each from the start! The written test has ten problems in all! Each problem is one point. And, this test is a point deduction system. You are deducted one point for each problem you get wrong! If you get three wrong, you'll have seven points!" Ibiki said making them all nod.

"The second rule. Pass or Failure will be determined by the total points of three-person teams." Ibiki said making them shocked.

Akira sighs. Then what is her grade supposed to be? She taps her pencil on the table slightly. Well, she will just answer the exam... she hopes she would pass if she doesn't then... Man, she really hates them.

Sakura and Sasuke deadpan on that. Since Akira wasn't included with them in the chunin exam, it means that... Naruto..., they both thought with a sigh.

"If you've got it, here is the most important next rule! Those who are deemed by sentinels as having committed an act of cheating or something similar to that...will have two points deducted for each act. In other words...there may be those who will be dismissed during this test, without waiting for test grading. Know that those who commit awkward cheating...will bring ruin upon yourselves." Ibiki said making them nervous.

"I'll check you anytime" Kotetsu said, making Akira look at him.

"Like I could cheat..." Akira said with a sigh.

"You have many tricks in your hands, and we know that" Izumo said who is on her left side. Akira just ignores the two and looks at her teammate who is looking at Naruto anxiously.

"If you aspire to become a chunin at all, know that Shinobi should act like exemplary Shinobi. And, in the case of even one person on the team getting zero points... Everyone on that team will fail!" Ibiki said making Sasuke and Sakura hit their head on the table.

Akira just looks at Naruto who is sweating. Naruto laughs as he hugged himself. He can feel two menacing stares and one who is just staring at him. He looked at the person who is calmly looking at him.

Akira smiles and nods when Naruto looks at her. Come on, Naruto. She knows he can do it...err-maybe?

Naruto sweatdropped when Akira gave him an encouraging look. Even he himself doesn't know if he will be able to answer the question in this test.

"By the way, the last problem will be given forty-five minutes after the start of the test! The time for the test is one hour. Begin!" Ibiki said making them all turn their paper.

Akira sighs and turns her paper lazily. She just hopes that this question is not that hard. Her shoulder drops seeing all the questions. This is just bad... what kind of test is this?... Naruto wouldn't be able... Ah, mo, just don't get zero. She takes a quick glance at Naruto.

Akira sighs and starts answering the test paper. Calm down, Akira, maybe later she would be able to find a chance to give him answers. Akira glanced at Naruto after answering the first question. She can see that Naruto is clearly in turmoil as he examines all the questions.

Sakura looks at Naruto. There's no way Naruto can solve this! She means... She looks at Akira, who is looking at Naruto attentively. Hardly anyone except her or Akira can solve this problem!

Akira looks down at her paper again. Now she just needed to finish this, maybe later she would be able to find a chance.

-skip-

Akira leans on her chair and looks around. She can't help but smirk. Now... they probably will start. This exam... is about cheating without being noticed, after all. In other words, to see their ability in gathering information. 'Commit awkward cheating will bring upon themselves', huh. Surely, a shinobi should always be able to gather information in a very secretive manner and make sure they have the correct data. Someone who foolishly cheats will endanger their teammates. On a battlefield, it means endangering their village and its people.

She can hear the other proctors writing on their clipboards as they look around. She takes a glance at her paper before she put her pencil down.

"Umm... Can I go to the bathroom?" Akira said making them all look at her.

"Sure, one proctor should be with you." Ibiki said cautiously. This is the brat who is supposed to take the chunin exam alone. If she passes this first exam, the second test will be completely different from this, which will cause life. Why did the Hokage and the elders allow her to join the chunin exam alone?

Akira stands up as the two beside her have a race on standing up who will come with her.

"I'm first" Kotetsu said making Akira deadpan and Izumo's shoulders drop.

Akira looks at her paper and flips it, as she put the pencil above it. Akira started to walk and take a quick glance at Naruto which make her sigh. Naruto, she knows he has at least something up his sleeves. She can also see the others making movements. They're starting... They walk out of the room to the hallway.

"Getting nervous about the exam?" Kotetsu said teasing her which make Akira look at him.

"I don't know..." Akira said with a shrug.

Kotetsu chuckles and just continues to walk.

Once they reach the bathroom. Akira walks inside leaving Kotetsu outside.

Akira sighs and leans on the wall. Gosh, she can't think of anything she can do to help Naruto or any of her teammates.

She looks at the ceiling. Why is she so unlucky? Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, she knows they all will realize it, the people who knew the answers are just scattered all around the room...

She chuckles. Well, maybe if she is in their position she still will be unable to see their answers, she doesn't have a 20/20 vision, so... she sighs, but it's getting better somehow...? She should probably get glasses...

Akira's brow twitches. Why is she thinking about that during this time...

Ibiki follows with his eyes the genin who walk outside the room with Kotetsu. Now, what is she planning to do? In her position, doing something is really risky...

Ibiki glances at the chair where the brat is sitting. He glances at the proctor who is on her left side. Izumo gave him a look that make him curious.

Sakura looks at the proctor who is looking at where Akira is just sitting a while ago. She can't help but get a bit worried. Akira...

Sasuke looks at the chair where Akira is seated and smirks. He knows Akira realizes it a few minutes ago, besides he thinks Akira didn't have any problem at all, even without cheating. Now, their problem is Naruto. He needed to realize it...realize it, Naruto

Ibiki walks towards Akira's chair. He can feel the other eyes of the proctor looking at him and he can't help but smirk feeling the tense atmosphere coming from the examiners.

Ibiki takes a good look at the paper on the table and went to lift it. He wants to know how much this brat already answered. He is curious about what makes the elders allow her to take the chunin exam alone, in most cases if the Hokage himself knows that the genin don't have a chance in the Chunin exam, he will not let them join, especially if they didn't have any team with them. It's been a long time since they have a genin take it alone...

He looks at the paper and smirks. So her name is Akira...No last name?

He went to scan the paper and read what was written on it. He looks at the clock. 15 minutes and she has already answered all the questions, without cheating...Even her answers are right. He puts the paper back and positions it just like how it is positioned earlier putting the pencil on top of it. Maybe that brat is something else...

Sasuke and Sakura smirk seeing the amused look of their proctor. So she is already finished. Now then they needed to do their best.

Naruto looks at where Akira is seated. Judging by it, Akira might have already finished the test or if she is not, she will not have any problem answering it. He took a deep breath and looks at the questions again. He needed to do this, he needed to cheat...

Naruto looks around but sweats seeing the proctor walk in front of the class again. Ah, this is bad, he will not be able to, he thought holding on to his head, hands shaking.

After 6 minutes Akira came back to the room and look around with amusement. Wow, there are so many examiners that got caught. She smiles seeing her teammate doing just fine...well, except Naruto.

Akira sighs and went to her seat and flip her paper. Not bothering how the paper is a bit different from how she left it earlier. Ah, mo, now what should she do?...

She feels the eye looking at her, which makes her look in their direction. She squints her eyes locking eyes with their proctor, the corner of his lips is slightly lifted, as if he is smirking. Did she do something wrong? Oh... maybe he checked her paper and saw all her answers wrong...the thought make her brow twitch as she avert her eyes again to her paper. Well, that is her final answers...

Akira just rests her chin on her hand and looks around, slightly tapping her finger on the table.

"Oi, aren't you going to answer?" Kotetsu whispered, eyes still fixed on the examiners.

"Well, I am done?" Akira said looking at her paper and her answers. To be honest, she didn't know how did she get these answers...

Kotetsu takes a glance at her paper, not believing her. "Oh, well as expected from you..." he whispered with a hint of amusement. The other examiners won't hear it since they are a little far from them

Akira looks at where is Naruto seated and sees him still nervously looking at his paper. Come on, Naruto...she should have learned something about this kind of things. Well, she maybe can do something but it will be too obvious since she is just sitting along with the other proctors and Naruto was too far from her, using chakra at that distance would be so detectable, especially since she still doesn't have proper chakra control.

Suddenly a kunai flew toward Naruto's direction, but it pass him and pierced the paper of the examiner just behind him. Naruto shivers, he thought he got caught. What a relief...

Akira looks at the person who stands up. "W-what was that for, sir?!"

Kotetsu stands up and smirks. "You made five mistakes. You fail!" He said, then he points at him. "His two buddies, both of you get out of the classroom, right now."

They all stand up and walk out of the room with an annoyed look, but they didn't say anything. Akira sighs, she thought it was for Naruto.

The failings again continued as some of them try to talk back but in the end, they just got hurt and forcefully got taken out of the room.

-skip-

Ibiki looks at the genin who is about to fall asleep. Hmph... he didn't expect someone would get bored out of this chunin exam, very well, she is indeed something else despite being a rookie.

Akira looks around as one of the sand shinobi goes to the bathroom. It's been forty minutes since they started. It's only five minutes until they give the last question.

Akira keeps her eyes on Naruto. Whose having a determined look on his face. Naruto looks in Akira's direction and slightly smiles. He will wait for the last question... He needed to answer that last question.

Ibiki smirks. Now, it's been 45 minutes, then they will move on to the main issue.

"All right! Here is the tenth question!" He said getting all the examiners to look at him.

Naruto clenches his hand. Here it comes! He has to put everything on the line for this question!

"But before that, I'm going to add some rules for the last question," Ibiki said.

Akira looks at the proctor attentively. Another rule?

The door opens getting all their attention. The sand genin... she thought as she look at the proctor who accompany the genin to the bathroom.

"It looks like playing with dolls wasn't a waste, after all?" Ibiki said making the genin tense.

"Anyway, sit down" Ibiki said with a sigh.

"Let me explain! These are the hopeless rules! First, you guys will have to choose whether or not you will take this 10th question! If you chose not to take the exam your score will be zero. In other words, you fail! And of course, the same goes for the other member in the same group!" Ibiki said with a smile, seeing the examiners look at him with uneasiness.

"And...one more rule... If you chose to take it and are unable to answer it correctly, then you will have to...relinquish your right of taking the Chunin Exam forever." Ibiki said making some of the examiners protest.

Kiba stands up and points at him "What kind of ridiculous rule is that?! Besides, there are plenty of people here who have taken the chunin exam many times!"

Ibiki chuckles making the examiners scared. A sadistic smile appeared on his lips "You're just unlucky. I make the rule this year. But I did give you the option to go back! For those who aren't confident, you can choose not to take it and take the exam next year or the year after that." He said as he chuckles again.

Whispers filled the room. Akira looked at her teammates. Now, what would they do...? She can see the frustration on their faces as they look at their papers, deep in thoughts.

No matter what they do, the odds are against them... Akira looks at their proctor a sadistic smile on his lips. Morino Ibiki...? For sure, that name sounds familiar. Her brows knitted as thoughts flooded her mind.

Ibiki takes a glance at the genin on the side and smirks. He averts his eyes to look at the other examiners "Then, let's begin... The tenth question...Those who will not be taking it, raise your hands! Once I confirm your number, I'll ask you to leave!" He said

Ibiki smirks as the genin next to the yellow-haired kid raise his hand and stand up "I... I... I'm quitting! I'm not going to take it!"

"#50 failed! #130, #111 will be failed as well..." Izumo said looking at his clipboard. As soon as he said that others also stands up. The examiners leave the room after their numbers are called a defeated look on their faces.

Akira looked at Naruto. What would he do...? Akira's eyes widen when Naruto looks at her with a determined look on his face. Akira smiles in return for the smile Naruto gave her.

Naruto suddenly raises his hand as he quickly stands up his palm hitting the table. "Don't underestimate me! I won't run! I'll take it! But even if I'm stuck being a genin forever, I will be a Hokage no matter what it takes! I'm not scared!" Naruto said as he quickly sit down and crossed his arms not bothered by all the stares his getting.

Akira chuckles as she looks at her paper. Naruto, you... She knows Naruto would not give up no matter what it takes... that is what makes Naruto, Naruto. She looks up seeing the other examiner's expression change to a determined one.

"I'll ask again. It's a choice that will alter your life. If you want to quit, now is your chance!" Ibiki said.

"I'm not going to take back my words! That is my Ninja Way!" Naruto said.

Ibiki look at the genin. A smile appeared on his lips. 79, huh? Much more left than he expected.

"I like your determination! Then... For those who are still here... The first exam..." Ibiki said as all eyes look at him, waiting.

"You have passed it!" He continues.

Akira's sleepy state disappears. She looks at their proctor with confusion. Really? That's it...They really pass...?

Sakura suddenly stands up "H-Hey, what does that mean? All of a sudden you're telling us that we've passed! What about the 10th question?" Ibiki laughs upon hearing that.

"There wasn't such a thing, to begin with! Well, you can look at the choice you just had to make as the 10th question!" Ibiki said with a smile.

Akira sweatdropped. Wow, she never thought their proctor can smile like that like he didn't just try to torture them mentally. He looks so serious and intimidating the whole time...

"Then! what were all those nine question for! It was just a waste of time!" One of the sand shinobi said.

Ibiki looks out the window still with a smile. "Not a waste... The objective of the nine questions was already accomplished. To test your individual ability to gather information!..." Ibiki said as he looks back at the examiners.

Akira looks at the proctor beside her. Kotetsu feels the eye looking at him making him turn his head towards the person, with confusion. "What?" he whispered, as sweat dripped from his forehead at the way Akira look at him.

"Umm... can I sit beside Naruto? I mean the test is already finished..." Akira said with hesitancy.

"Well, I guess" Kotetsu said tapping his pen slightly on his clipboard.

"Oh, thanks" Akira quickly said.

The other proctors did a double take seeing the genin disappear from her seat, her paper and pencil was the only thing on her chair. Kotetsu and Izumo sweatdropped at that.

Akira sighs as she was under Naruto's table, thankful that the other examiners didn't see her as they were all too focused on their proctor whose explaining to them the purpose of the first chunin exam.

Ibiki sees a slight movement pass through the examiners as he talks making him take a glance at the Genin at the side. He smiles seeing her gone as he quickly averts his eyes to the examiners again still explaining the exam. The other proctor just also smile seeing a silver-purple hair kid appear under the table.

Naruto slightly jumps as a person suddenly seat beside him. "Yo..." Akira whispered, still thankful that the other examiners didn't notice her. Akira looks forward, their proctor having a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Naruto and Akira's attention turn to the proctor. Ibiki removes his Hitai-ate, making all of them look horrified at him "Information, depending on the time and situation, it will be more valuable than life. And in a mission or on a battlefield, you will always have to risk your life to fight for it!"

Akira looks at their proctor, brows furrowed. Burn marks, nail punctures, and scratches... signs of physical torture.

Their proctor put back his Hitai-ate as the atmosphere become tense again as if they didn't just pass the first test. "When information is gathered and the enemy or a third party finds out about it, that information is no longer guaranteed to be correct. Just remember this. To be given the wrong information can bring ancatastrophic blow to your friend and town. So that is why, out of necessity, we forced you guys to cheat in order to test your ability to collect information. And we filtered out those who clearly lacked in those abilities." He said as the atmosphere slowly become more comfortable.

"However...this 10th question was the main issue of this first exam. The tenth question was to take on the question, or not. Needless to say, it is a painful decision to make. Those who chose not to take on the question would be immediately failed along with their whole squad! Those who chose to answer the question and got it wrong...would be robbed of their chance to take the Exam forever. It really is an unfair question." Ibiki said as he pace in front of the class.

"There are those who cannot risk their own fate, and those who waver and give up their chances because they think they will have another chance. I believe that such fools who don't have strong determination have no right to be chunin! For those who chose to take on the question, you can say that you have successfully answered the difficult 10th question! You've passed through the gates! I wish you well!" He finished as a smile appear on their faces. Ibiki smiled seeing the relief on their faces.

Akira sighed in relief. Man, finally...they manage to pull off the first exam. She can't help but look at Naruto's paper. Her brow twitches seeing it with no answers. Well, they still pass, so it's fine...

"Akira, we passed! Wish us well-dattebayo!" Naruto said getting all their attention, as he stands up and look at Akira happily.

The other genin brows knitted. When did she go there... they thought as they look at the genin intensively.

Akira deadpanned. Naruto, you're really energetic.

She sweatdropped, feeling curious eyes dart toward her, almost burning holes in her head. She laughs awkwardly at them as she slightly waves her hand. Sakura and Sasuke smile at her and gave her a nod which she returns.

Ibiki chuckles. What a funny guy...As he remembers from their applications they were Kakashi subordinates... He takes a quick glance at the four members of the team and chuckles.

Akira looked at the window a shadow reflecting inside the room. The window shattered as two kunai pinned at the ceiling a cloth tie to it.

Akira deadpanned. Wow... such a short celebration.

"You guys! This isn't time to be celebrating! I'm the proctor for the second exam! Mitarashi Anko! Let's move on to the next stage! Next! Follow me!" She said as she raises her fist into the air. The examiners just look at her dumbfounded.

"Read the atmosphere." Ibiki said making Anko blush from embarrassment.

Akira smiles, so she is the proctor of the second stage.

"79?! Ibiki! You let 26 teams slide by? So that also means that the four-man squad passed..." Anko whispered looking around.

"Tch, I guess the first exam this time around was too easy." She continued mocking him.

"It seems like this time, there are a lot of excellent candidates." Ibiki said as he looks around.

Anko looks around purple eyes catching her attention. A smile appeared on her lips remembering their fist met, but it was quickly replaced by a sadistic smile. She is going to drop more than half of them in the second exam! She is getting excited.