Here we are again. I don't own Naruto or any of its stuff blah blah blah. The only thing I own is Takashi Corrine. Your no doubt not even reading this section, so I'll just shut up and continue to fight my lawsuit for control of the Naruto empire.

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Chapter 4: The Reasons Why

"What….what do you mean passed? When did that happen, and what about the tenth question?" Sakura asked, completely confused.

Ibiki smiled. "There is no tenth question, beyond the whole accept or reject thing. Your thinking the other nine questions were a waste of our time, am I correct? Well they did have a purpose, which they've already served. Our goal was to test your skills…at spying. Remember the rules at the beginning? You pass or fail as part of a three-man cell. With that rule, I pressured you with the fear that anything you did wrong…would bring your teammates down with you. However, the questions are beyond the level that the junior level ninja could be expected to handle. So most of you.. Having reached that same conclusion had only one way of retaining your points--- by cheating. In other words, we set up the test on the assumption that you'd cheat. And, to ensure there would be suitable targets for you to cheat from, we snuck in a pair of ringers…two journeyman ninja who already knew all the answers. Of course, anyone who cheated in an clumsy or abvios way failed." Ibiki removed his headband and cap, revealing a completely destroyed skull that was his. "Because there may be circumstances were being caught in the act of espionage can cost you more than you life. You can pay in ways that can be taken from you little by little, time and time again. When many lives hand in the balance."

"Burn scars, punstures from where screws were used, long slash marks…he's been tortured!" Sasuke though to himself

"The information you obtain can't be trusted…if you can't keep your presence secert from the enemy." Ibiki put back on his cap and retied his headband. "Learn that and learn it well. If you bring back intelligence from a suspect or source from a compromised operation, you'r doing you enemies' work for them, putting those you serve in danger. That is why we maneuvered you into using your espionage skills to cheat, it was the quickest way of weeding out the students whose skills aren't yet up to snuff. Now, the tenth question was the first real test on the exam. It was a choice between two options…Both difficult and dangerous. Those who rejected were failed, and their friends along with them. Those who couldn't answer it lost any chance of every trying again. It was a nasty no-win set of options. So why did I present them? Let's suppose you all go on to attain the rank of Chunin. You are assigned to steal a vital document...knowing nothing about the skills, deployment, or military preparedness of your foe. You may have to cross a territory that has been heavily mined and set with traps. Now…accept your mission or reject it…rather than place your own life, or the lives of you companions in jeopardy? Could any Chunin get away with only taking the safe jobs? Of course not! No matter how dangerous the risk…there will be missions that you cannot decline. A ninja must demonstrate valor that inspires tose around him, helping all to overcome their fear. This is the talent we test for. Those who can't gamble with their own fate…who would trade today's certain risk for tomarrow's uncertain future…never taking the chance that lies before them…are weaklings who make only weak and easy decisions. In my opinion they don't belong in the ranks of the Chunin at all! By choosing to accept…you answered the almost insoluble tenth questions correctly. If you keep that spirit, you can probably conquer all of the many doubts and difficulties you'll face. You've passed the first hurdle, part one of the Chunin selection exam is now concluded. I'll pray you fight the good fight." Suddenly the window shattered, and in flew a black object. Kunai were thrown at the celling, raised a banner. "Her….oh spare me." Ibiki said.

"NONE OF YOU ARE IN ANY POSITION TO CELEBRATE!" Said the women just appeared from inside the banner. "I AM THE SECOND CHIEF EXAMINATION OFFICER…MITARASHI ANKO! TIME'S A-WASTEN PEOPLE. LET'S GO!" Complete silence filled the whole room.

"Can't you sense the mood in here?" Ibiki asked, stepped out from behind the banner.

"This new officer almost reminds me of Naruto…" Sakura though.

"Seventy-eight of you are still here? Ibiki! You passed 26 teams! Obviously you went way to easy on them. Heh, anyway I'll cut down the number by half before the next test is done. I get charged up just thinking about it. Let's get going to our next location." Ibiki walked around the empty testing room, picking up the tests. He stopped at Naruto's and looked at it. "He's the kind of person who thinks he can pass the exam with a completely blank answer sheet. Uzumaki Naruto is a very intriguing young man…"

Outside, in front of a giant forest, that looked like it came from the depths of hell itself, stood in front of the teams. "This is the arena for the second exam. Training Ground 44. Almost know as.. The Forest of Death!"

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One more quick chapter and we're ready to hit the good stuff. I'll upload the fifth one tonight for sure, but don't expect the sixth tonight. Maybe tomarrow if I get lucky otherwise it'll be sunday sometime.