The next morning, the sun rose bright and early, casting a warm glow over the Hidden Leaf Village. Naruto was up and ready, feeling the electric tension in the air. Today was the day of the Chunin Exams, and he could feel it in his bones. It was an exciting, intimidating, and thrilling day all at once. He met up with his team outside the academy, his usual grin plastered across his face.
There were many other genin from various villages gathered around the academy entrance, all with the same determined, nervous energy. A sea of faces from every corner of the Shinobi world. Naruto couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and a little pride. He was here, standing among the best, ready to prove himself.
"Ready for this, guys?" Naruto asked his teammates, his voice loud and upbeat.
Sasuke nodded, his usual cool demeanor in place, though there was a flicker of focus in his eyes. Sakura, ever the supportive teammate, offered a nervous smile.
"I guess..." she muttered, though her tone betrayed a bit of uncertainty. "It's kind of nerve-wracking, huh?"
"Yeah, but we've got this!" Naruto grinned, nudging her with his elbow.
Their team walked forward, splitting off as they reached the entrance to the testing halls. The corridors inside were bustling with other genin and their instructors. Naruto followed his teammates to their designated testing area, where they sat down and waited for the exam to begin.
Naruto glanced around the room, assessing the other students with a quick sweep of his eye. He could already tell who was confident, who was nervous, and who was pretending to be calm. His tactical mind kicked into overdrive, already planning, scheming, and plotting. His Chimera-gan eye flickered momentarily, its many abilities now second nature to him.
"I'm gonna ace this," he muttered to himself, scanning the room again. He'd dealt with tests like this before. He wasn't going to rely on studying—he had a better plan.
Naruto's hand subtly slipped into his pocket, where he had prepared a small clump of cells. He quickly and silently manipulated them into tiny, microscopic creatures—four flies and twenty-three ants. They weren't anything grand or powerful, but they were perfect for what he had in mind.
He spread them out across the room, one fly landing near the exam proctor, Ibiki, and the rest weaving through the desks and corners of the room. His plan was simple—sneak a peek at the answers through the creatures and relay them to himself. If anyone could pull it off without being noticed, it was Naruto. He was used to thinking outside the box.
As the proctor, Ibiki Morino, started handing out the tests, Naruto adjusted his posture, making it look like he was concentrating on the exam in front of him. But in truth, his focus was entirely on the ants and flies he'd scattered.
Ibiki began his usual introduction to the exam, and the rules were clear: no cheating, no looking at others' answers, and no passing notes. Of course, Naruto smirked inwardly. Cheating was exactly what he had planned. The ants scurried across the floor, each one finding its way to the various test papers of the genin around the room. One ant found its way to a particularly easy answer, another to a difficult one. He'd relay the answers back through the fly, and his Chimera-gan would let him quickly and discreetly analyze them.
Naruto kept his eyes on his paper, his hand moving as if he were writing the answers, but in reality, he was collecting the information, piecing it together through his microscopic army.
Minutes passed. Naruto's mind whirred with activity as the test went on. The flies buzzed, landing on the test papers of nearby candidates, while the ants scurried across desks, bringing back their information. It was flawless, a well-executed plan that no one would notice.
Naruto glanced at his paper. He filled in the blanks quickly, writing down answers that he hadn't even studied for. His confidence grew as the test continued, knowing that, once again, his ability to think and adapt had given him the upper hand.
It wasn't long before Ibiki's voice boomed through the room, signaling the end of the first part of the exam. Naruto sat back in his chair, a smug grin on his face as he placed his test down.
"Done," he muttered under his breath, already feeling like he had it in the bag.
The proctor walked up to collect the papers, scanning the room. Naruto kept his usual calm demeanor, letting nothing betray the satisfaction he felt inside. With his Chimera-gan, he'd outsmarted the exam without breaking a sweat.
He couldn't wait for the next part of the Chunin Exam. He knew there were bigger challenges ahead—but that wasn't going to stop him.
As the clock ticked down, Naruto continued to sit back in his seat, barely containing his excitement. His plan had gone perfectly so far, and he was ready to move on to the next stage of the exam. The room was filled with the low murmur of other genin trying to finish their tests, some hastily scribbling in their answers, while others appeared resigned to their fates.
Then, without warning, Ibiki's voice boomed over the room. "Alright, time's up!" he declared, and the room fell into silence.
Naruto leaned back in his chair, trying to hide the smirk that threatened to spread across his face. He had finished his test well ahead of time, and from the looks of it, the others were struggling. The tension in the air was palpable as Ibiki collected the tests, a grim expression on his face.
Once the last test was handed in, Ibiki stood in front of the class, his cold, calculating gaze sweeping across the room. "Now, let me explain something to all of you," he began, his voice carrying authority. "There is one more question in this exam. The 10th question."
A ripple of confusion spread across the room, and Naruto sat up straighter, eyes narrowing. He'd expected something like this.
"You've all been working under the assumption that there were only nine questions," Ibiki continued, his voice echoing off the walls. "But, the real question is not one you'll write an answer to. It's a test of your resolve. A test of your will to continue."
Naruto's eyes flicked to the other genin, observing their reactions. Some were nervous, some were confused, and others were already giving up, the weight of the unknown test sinking in.
Ibiki smiled, a cruel smirk that sent a shiver down Naruto's spine. "The 10th question will determine whether you have the right to continue in the Chunin Exams. If you answer the question, you will stay in the exam. If you refuse to answer, you will be eliminated immediately. You can't take the test again, and you won't be able to reapply for another three years."
The room was silent for a long moment, the words sinking in. Naruto's mind raced as he processed what Ibiki was saying. The stakes had just gotten higher, but Naruto wasn't worried. He had confidence in himself, in his abilities—and most importantly, in his ability to think his way out of tough situations.
Ibiki continued. "The question is simple. Do you want to continue the Chunin Exams? Do you have the resolve to continue despite the risks and challenges ahead?"
He paused for effect, eyes scanning the room. "Answer, and you'll stay in the exam. Refuse, and you're out."
The atmosphere grew heavy. Naruto's hand clenched into a fist under the desk. He was eager to move on, but the tension in the room was thick. Some of the genin were already starting to break under the pressure, muttering to each other.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke, who met his gaze with a sharp, determined look. Sakura was sitting still, trying to process everything, but her face was tight with anxiety. Naruto knew his teammates, though—they wouldn't back down. They were ready for whatever came next.
Ibiki walked down the rows, and the room remained tense as each genin was forced to make their decision. Some said yes immediately, their voices strong and unwavering. Others hesitated, fear written across their faces.
Naruto raised his hand, the first one to do so. His mind was already racing, thinking ahead, calculating his next steps. "I'm in," he said loudly, without a hint of hesitation in his voice.
Ibiki raised an eyebrow but nodded in acknowledgment. "Good. The rest of you?"
One by one, the other genin followed suit, some reluctantly, others with the same determination that Naruto showed. Sasuke and Sakura stood by him, both answering without question.
Finally, Ibiki gave a sharp nod. "Very well. You all pass the first round of the exam."
The tension in the room began to lift, but only slightly. Everyone was still on edge. They had passed the first trial, but the next stages of the Chunin Exams would be even more grueling.
Naruto leaned back in his seat, allowing himself a small, victorious grin. He had made it through the first round, no problem. Now, onto the next challenge.