Chapter 10 revised and edited. Review or PM me on what you think about this chapter now.

Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the Naruto anime/manga all I own are my original characters and plot twists.

'Talking'

"Thinking"

'Heavily demonic voice'

'Fox talking'

"Fox thinking"

*expression*

Jutsu

Flashback

Chapter 10 – Chunin Exams – Part 1

'All right now, first things first, there is to be no unauthorised fighting in this exam, that includes you, Genin of the Sound.' Announced Ibiki.

Ibiki had a large, imposing figure, which was complemented with a face covered with old wounds and scars. Ibiki's head was covered with the cloth of his forehead protector, and he had a long dark blue cloak on.

'Sorry, it's our first time.' Said the mummy looking Genin.

Ibiki glared at the Genin but continued 'Secondly, this exam starts now. You will each take a piece of paper from one of the Chunin behind me and the number you receive is where you will sit.'

The Genin walked forward in single file, took a number from one of the Chunin, and then found their seats in the modified classroom.

When everyone was seated, Ibiki spoke, 'Now the first part of the Chunin exams is a written test.'

Murmurs broke out, but they were all silenced by Ibiki's glare.

'However, before we begin, there are some rules.' Started Ibiki, who was writing on a chalkboard while speaking at the same time.

'Rule one, the test works on a point deduction system, unlike regular tests, you all start off with a perfect score of ten points. If you answer three questions wrong, your score is seven. Rule two, every time a person is caught cheating, they will lose two points, get caught cheating five times and you fail. That is what the sentinels you see to your sides are for, they will monitor you. Anyone caught cheating doesn't deserve to be here. Finally, you will be scored together with your team and if one person on your team gets a zero, you all fail. The tenth question will be given out forty-five minutes from now.' Finished Ibiki.

Sakura paled and started worrying about Naruto getting a zero, as she still didn't think he was intelligent, but rather, saw him as an idiot, albeit one with brute force on his side.

'Now begin!' Announced Ibiki.

Everyone started to read the questions and many quickly realised that they didn't know the answers for many, if not all of the questions, and came to the conclusion that they had to cheat.
There were many different methods of cheating, such as using Doujutsu, using pets to find answers, a system of mirrors, and even certain other jutsu, like an eye of sand.

Naruto took one look at the test and thought "I'm screwed."

'As much as I enjoy watching you suffer, you could easily just summon a small fox to scout for answers.' Said Kyuubi amused.

"Alright here it goes." Thought Naruto.

'Summoning Jutsu.' Naruto whispered.

A little dark red fox with one tail appeared. It bowed before running off to find answers.

"Now all I have to do is sit back and wait." Thought Naruto.

As Naruto was about to lean back, a kunai whizzed past his face and into the test of the person behind him.

'What was that all about?' Asked the Genin.

'Five strikes and you're out, you just failed the test.' Said the Chunin who threw the kunai.

'What it can't be.' Cried the Genin.

'You and your teammates will leave the room immediately. Candidate twenty-three, fail. Number twenty-seven and forty-three, fail.' Said Ibiki.

Naruto's fox came back yipping quietly, which prompted Naruto to quickly write down the answers he heard, inwardly surprised that he could understand foxes, but chalked it up to having Kyuubi, and possibly due to being the summoner of the foxes, before the fox disappeared in a puff of smoke. The trend of failure continued, and many teams failed, about fifteen in total and now the time of the tenth question was approaching. Kankuro chose that time to walk in, just as Ibiki was getting ready to ask the tenth question.

'Ah, you've returned. I hope your trip to the bathroom was enlightening.' Said Ibiki with a small grin.

Kankuro appeared nervous, but walked back to his seat nonetheless, only the slightest pause in his gait when he dropped a tiny rolled up scroll near Temari.

'Now listen carefully and try not to let the extra rules frighten you.' Said Ibiki, getting numerous grumbles of discontent which were quickly quelled by a quick glare.

'Very well, rule number one, each of you is free to not take the question, it's your decision.' Begun Ibiki.

'Whoa, so what's the catch, say we don't want to take the question?' Asked Temari.

'If you refuse to take the tenth question, regardless of your answers to the other nine, you get a zero, meaning you fail, along with your teammates.' Replied Ibiki.

Murmurs went around of people saying that they would definitely take the question before Ibiki continued.

'You didn't let me finish. If you choose to take the question and answer it wrong, you and your teammates will be barred from taking the Chunin exams forever.' Said Ibiki, giving the group a small grin.

'Hey that's bull! There are lots of people who have taken this exam before!' Complained Kiba angrily.

Ibiki chuckled before responding to Kiba's grumbling.

'I guess you're just unlucky. I wasn't making the rules before, but I am now. Of course, if you don't want to take it, you don't have to. If you're not feeling confident, then by all means, skip it, and you can come back and try again next time.' Said Ibiki, who then laughed.

'Now then, the tenth question, those who don't want to take it, raise your hand. Your number will be recorded and then you're free to go.' Finished Ibiki.

After a while the person next to Naruto cracked.

'I'm out.' He said and apologised to his teammates who offered a few grumbles of discontent before the three were led out of the room.

As soon as this happened, many more quit shortly after. Sakura watched Naruto and thought he wouldn't put his hand up because he was stubborn.

"I can't let you do this to yourself, Naruto." Thought Sakura, while she begun to raise her hand.

Naruto saw this happening and realised Sakura didn't know he had the answers, so he did something drastic, he raised his hand first.

Many people were shocked at this turn of events, but then Naruto slammed his hand down and stood up.

'Don't underestimate me, I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want, it doesn't matter to me. I don't care if I'm stuck as a Genin for the rest of my life, I'll still be Hokage.' Finished Naruto, before sitting down.

"There that stopped her." Thought Naruto in relief.

'This decision is one that could change your life. If for any reason you would rather quit, now is your last chance.' Said Ibiki

'No way, I never go back on my word, that's my way of the ninja.' Replied Naruto confidently.

"Interesting, that little outburst has given the others some backbone. He has persuaded them into staying. Seventy-eight left, more than I expected, but I don't see anyone wavering, I think that's it." Thought Ibiki, while looking around the room carefully.

The Chunin nodded to him, and he nodded back.

'Well then, I admire your determination if nothing else. For those of you remaining, there is only one thing left to do and that's for me to tell you… You all pass the first exam.' Said Ibiki.

'What do you mean we pass, where is the tenth question?' Asked Sakura.

'There wasn't one, or at least not a written one, your decision to stay here was the answer to the tenth question.' Said Ibiki smiling widely.

'So does that mean those other nine questions you gave us were just a waste of time? Is that what you're saying?' Asked Temari.

'No not at all, quite the opposite. They had a very important underlying purpose; the first nine questions were to test your ability to surreptitiously gather strategic intelligence under the most adverse circumstances.' Informed Ibiki.

'Oh, well that clears up everything.' Said Temari, sounding confused.

'Let me explain. My objective was to test how well you function as a part of a team, which is why you were scored as a team, so you would know that everything you would do, or fail to do, would affect your teammates. I wanted to see how you would cope with the pressure. The first nine questions on the test were difficult, or as you may have realised, too difficult for any Genin to be able to solve. I imagined many of you quickly realised you had to cheat to have any chance of passing. In fact, the test was designed to encourage cheating, it almost demanded it. Of course, it would have done you little good if you had no one to cheat from, which is why I had two Chunin disguised to sit in with you. Those who were caught at it failed. Better not to cheat than to cheat clumsily. Information, it can be the most valuable weapon in battle. How well you gather it can be the difference between failure and success. There will be times when you will have to risk your life to get it.' Said Ibiki, taking off his forehead protector and revealing a horribly mangled skull.

'Man what a mess. Scars and puncture wounds, what he must have endured...' Whispered Sasuke.

'Of course, you must always consider the source of your information. Intelligence gathered from the enemy is not necessarily accurate, always bear this in mind, disinformation can be worse than no information at all. It can lead to the death of comrades, or the loss of a village. That's why I put you in the position that you would have to gather accurate intelligence, cheat in order to survive, and that's why those who weren't good enough at it were weeded out, leaving the rest of you.' Finished Ibiki.

'Ok, but I'm still not getting what the whole tenth question thing is all about.' Said Temari.

'You're not, the tenth question was the whole point of the exam, surely you see that?' Asked Ibiki.

'Sure... but explain it anyway.' Said Sakura.

'As I said before, the purpose was to test you as part of a squad, not just individuals. The final question gave you two options, both difficult, play it safe knowing that it would mean you fail, or take a risk and possibly be stuck as a Genin forever. It was a no-win situation, the type Chunin have to deal with every day. Let me give you a hypothetical, you need to retrieve a sacred document. You have no idea how many enemy ninja there are guarding it, furthermore, you have reason to believe they expect you. Can you pass up the mission to live another day? No, of course not. Many missions Chunin take appear almost suicidal if you think about them, but you do not think about them, you think only of accomplishing the mission through courage and discipline. These are the qualities required of a Chunin squad leader. Those who choose the safer of two paths, those whose determination would falter in the face of adversity, those who would put their comrades lives in jeopardy worrying about their own lives, those who would save their necks at the price of sacred honour, will never be able to call themselves Chunin, at least while I'm around. As for the rest of you, you have successfully answered the ten questions I put to you. You have earned the right to continue on with the next step. You have passed through the first gate, and I hereby declare this part of the Chunin selection exams completed. There is nothing left to do but to wish you all good luck.' Finished Ibiki.

Just as he finished speaking, something flew through the window. Two kunai attached to a cloth were thrown into the roof and a person emerged. The person had light-brown, pupil-less eyes and her violet hair was done up in a short, somewhat spiky ponytail. In terms of clothing, it was close to the barest minimum one could wear without being thought to be indecent in public. The woman wore a tan overcoat, complete with a fitted mesh body suit that stretched from her neck down to her thighs, in addition to a dark orange mini skirt. She also had a Leaf forehead protector on her forehead, a small pendant that looked like a snake fang on a thick cord, a wristwatch, and shin guards. Lastly, she wore a dark blue belt around her waist that connected to her skirt, which had an appendage-like sash.

'This isn't the time to be celebrating. I'm your next proctor, Anko Mitarashi.' Said the woman.