Chapter 30: Chapter 29: Mental Game
Everyone was already in their designated seats, right now the written examination for the Chunin exams was about to begin.
"Now listen up, brats!"
Ibiki began to write something on the board before looking at all the ninjas in front of him.
"Before we start the exam, there are a few rules I need to mention."
With a sharp gaze, Ibiki spoke.
As he explained, he continued to write on the board.
First: Participants enter with ten points to the exam, and their test consists of ten questions, the test is based on point reduction.
If there is a failure, one point will be subtracted.
For example, if all questions are answered correctly, the participant will have ten points. If one fails on three, the participant will then have seven points. The success or failure of the team will be determined by the number of points the team has.
Second: If an examiner realizes that one of the participants is cheating, he/she will be penalized by deducting two points from his/her exam for each attempt.
Third: If a team member gets a zero, the whole team will fail.
Ibiki finished speaking.
At this point, Naruto had buried his face in the table. If his grade was zero, his whole team would fail.
Sakura and Sasuke looked at Naruto with blank expressions, they were almost certain that Naruto would get a zero on the exam.
Not only Sasuke and Sakura thought so, but almost everyone who knew Naruto.
Meanwhile, Toru looked at the sensei with a poker expression on his face.
"By the way, I'll give you the last question fifteen minutes before the end of the exam" Ibiki crossed his arms as a smile formed on his mouth.
"And remember that the sentries will be watching your every move. Anyone foolish enough to cheat will be caught. So, prove your worth as ninja" After saying that, the exam began.
Toru looked at the sheet of paper on the table and sighed.
(These are very advanced questions for the ninja here).
Toru held the pencil between his fingers and analyzed the questions.
(I can solve them, but it will take a few minutes).
Toru dragged the pencil over the sheet of paper and began to solve the questions that seemed more complicated.
Five minutes had passed, Toru had managed to solve three questions, there were only six left, but there was the odd one.
Toru looked up and observed the other ninjas.
Everyone was having trouble solving the exam.
It was at that moment that Toru could tell.
(The high difficulty of the test is done on purpose) Toru closed his eyes and thought.
('Anyone foolish enough to cheat will be caught. So prove your worth as a ninja' So that's what it was all about.)
Toru noticed before anyone else, the sentries, the rules, Ibiki's words.
(In this exam, the purpose is to copy without getting caught) Toru thought.
He was sure he could solve the exam on his own, but what about his classmates?
Toru looked at Ino and Hinata.
(Hinata didn't seem to have any problems, but Ino...)
The golden-haired girl was worried.
Every question on the sheet of paper was extremely difficult, this made Ino feel cornered.
But a few seconds later, Ino opened her eyes in surprise.
(She managed to notice) Toru sighed.
Almost instantly, Ino extended her hands forming a triangle. Pointing at Sakura, the sound of a wolf howling was heard and Ino's mind was transferred to Sakura's body.
(Sorry, Sakura. But this is necessary) Ino said with a smile on her mouth while controlling Sakura's body to be able to see the answers.
While this was happening, Naruto was scratching his head looking for a solution to his own problem.
(What do I do?!)
Naruto was in pain, he didn't understand anything that was on the sheet of paper.
Looking all around, he tried to see anyone's exam, but the sentinels' stares stopped him.
(Why is this happening to me?)
Looking at the blond boy, Toru let out a sigh. Everyone was having trouble with the exam, but the one who was having the hardest time was Naruto.
On the other hand, Hakuto was feeling nervous, as the stares were focusing on his exam paper.
(They're copying me... What should I do?)
Hakuto moved a little closer to his exam sheet so that the others couldn't copy.
(That should be enough...)
The shy Hakuto continued to write on the sheet, while her teammates suffered.
But something happened, they all started to use their different types of skills in order to copy.
This made Toru squint his eyes.
(So everyone already figured it out).
Toru continued to write on the sheet while watching her teammates, but someone stole her attention.
It was Sasuke, who had the Sharingan activated.
(This is perfect...) Sasuke thought as a smile formed on his face.
The Sharingan could copy the opponent's movements, Sasuke used this to his advantage to be able to copy different people's hand movements.
(Having the Sharingan is an obvious advantage) Toru thought as he watched his childhood friend use the Sharingan to be able to copy in an exam.
And so the minutes went by.
Many used their skills, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Dojutsu. They all took advantage of those talents they had in order to advance in this exam.
(Gaara from the Hidden Village of the Arena...)
Toru's eyes moved to another place.
This time it was Gaara, who had created a strange eye using sand.
Gaara raised the eye into the air and began to write rapidly.
Toru was a little surprised to see that jutsu, but he immediately returned to his exam sheet and continued writing.
More minutes passed, Toru had already finished solving all the questions, but it seemed that most of the ninja present had not yet.
(Thirty minutes, in fifteen minutes they will announce the tenth question).
Toru's eyes sparkled as he watched someone leave the room.
(The one with the mummy on his back...) Toru thought.
That guy was accompanied by one of the sentinels, something that was strange, but any form of cheating was valid in this exam, as long as you don't get caught.
(I'm almost done, I only have one question left) thought Ino while trying to find someone to use her jutsu.
(You're the one!) Thought Ino while forming a triangle with her hands, a second later, the howl of a wolf was heard and Ino transferred her mind to Hakuto's body.
(Yes... here it is)
Ino made sure to memorize the answer backwards and forwards so she wouldn't make any mistakes.
Having finished copying, Ino exited Hakuto's body, seconds later continuing to write on the exam sheet.
Meanwhile, Hinata was feeling guilty. Right next to her was Naruto, who was on the verge of tears.
She offered to help him, but Naruto simply could not take advantage of someone as noble as Hinata.
(I wonder how well Toru is doing then?)
Hinata looked at the exam sheet as she remembered Toru.
She couldn't see him since the Asahi clan boy was in the farthest seat, but she was sure he wouldn't have any problems, still she couldn't help but worry.
(I just have to wait until they announce the tenth question) Hinata closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
"Tell me the four Akamaru" Kiba whispered to his canine friend, who was lying on his head.
At once, the pup began to look at the different test sheets, comparing the answers so as not to give wrong information.
"Good boy."
The puppy growled silently so as not to be heard, at once, a smile formed on Kiba's mouth before continuing to write.
(Let's see, I must find a way to copy, but I can't summon Kumagoro here, if I do I'll be caught) Enko thought as she tried to find a solution to the problem she had been presented with.
If she summoned her little bear friend, she would be caught instantly, so performing a summon was out of the question.
(It's going to hurt, but...)
Enko bit her finger, causing small drops of blood to start coming out.
(I hope I don't bleed to death) Enko thought as she threw a small drop of blood into the air.
(Good! It worked!)
Enko said as she saw the reflection of the exam sheets in the drop of blood.
After all she has excellent vision, like the eyesight of a hawk.
(Looks like most of them are finishing copying) Toru thought as he saw that most of the ninjas were no longer dragging the pencil over the sheet of paper.
(I must admit, this is a very creative way to measure our ability to gather information) Toru's eyes flashed dangerously as he looked at the sensei.
Ibiki noticed this, and a smile formed on his face.
Five minutes left before the tenth question was revealed.
(Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. I've had enough! Why the hell don't they put up a digital clock!) Naruto shouted internally.
It was less than ten minutes until the tenth question was revealed, but he hadn't managed to solve any of the exam questions.
(Damn! I'm going to fail! And then Sasuke and Sakura are going to kill me!)
Naruto scratched his head with despair on his face.
(It won't be long now...) Toru thought, looking at the wall clock.
It was three minutes before the tenth question would be revealed, Toru was ready.
(What kind of question will it be?) Toru asked himself as the gears in his mind began to turn.
Almost everyone had finished copying, but....
*wooden sound*
They all looked at one spot, just the seat behind Naruto.
A kunai buried itself in the table.
"Hey, what the hell!"
The purple haired boy stood up from his seat completely freaked out.
"You and your team, get out of here" Said one of the sentries.
"Why?!" The boy asked.
To which the sentry, with a smile on his mouth said:
"I could see you, more than five times, you copied more than five times, do you know what that means?" said the sentry with a smile on his mouth.
The boy knew he had been found out, however, he didn't want to admit it.
But when he saw his teammates leave with a disappointed expression on their faces, he gave up, and left the room as well.
Everyone was shocked, but that was only the beginning.
One by one, more than fifteen people were caught copying.
Many refused to leave, but the sentries showed no mercy and used force.
"I didn't cheat! Damn it! I didn't cheat!" Said one of the ninja who were caught, who was being dragged out of the room by two sentries.
(More than half, huh...) Toru looked at the empty seats, many ninja had been caught.
This showed that this test was for real.
(So, it's about time) Toru's eyes sparkled for a second as he prepared for the tenth question.
Everyone kept silent, no one wants to be expelled, but what they were going to hear next would ruin everyone's mood.
"Okay, get ready for the tenth question" Ibiki said.
Ibiki stood at the front and with a serious expression on his face, he spoke.
"First of all, you guys will decide whether to answer this question or not" Ibiki said.
"What do you mean, sensei?" Sakura asked.
This made Ibiki smile mischievously.
"I'll explain it in a way that everyone will understand."
Ibiki placed his hands behind his back and with a dangerous glint in his eyes, he answered.
"The tenth question consists of the following. If you decide to withdraw, you will get a zero, even if you have managed to answer everything perfectly and your whole team will be expelled" Ibiki said.
At that moment Kiba stood up from his seat and protested.
"Huh? What kind of crap is that? It's too unfair. I bet he's making it all up."
"Hm... You should know that I didn't write the rules before, but now I do..." Smiling, Ibiki looked at Kiba, causing a shiver to run through the boy's body.
"Now, if you decide to answer the question and fail, you'll get a zero instantly and your whole team won't be able to take the Chunin exam ever again."
"What!"
"That's possible."
"That's unfair, sensei!"
Everyone started to protest, but the words of the ninjas in front of him were music to Ibiki's ears.
"So, basically. If you withdraw now you can take the exam again in six months, but if you decide to answer the question and fail, you will lose the chance to become Chunin!"
Everyone was scared, they didn't know what to do.
Ibiki was serious.
Little by little, the ninjas were losing their fighting spirit.
Y...
"If this is going to be like this, I... quit" Raising his hand, one of the shinobi present spoke.
"I don't want to lose the chance to become Chunin" He said.
After that, many of the other shinobi began to leave the room.
This only made those who still wanted to answer the question lose motivation.
(Many left...) Toru thought, but his eyes widened when he saw Naruto raise his hand.
(Him? Really?)
Even Toru couldn't believe it, someone like Naruto quitting was... interesting.
But instantly, his thoughts were tucked away in the deepest part of his mind as he saw Naruto slam his hand on the table before speaking.
"I'm not going to give up!" said Naruto.
"Someday I'm going to become Hokage and this is a challenge I'm willing to overcome!"
With a serious expression on his face, Naruto spoke, causing everyone to regain their spirits.
"Hahaha..."
Ibiki started laughing, this made everyone freak out.
"All of you, you passed" Ibiki said.
At that moment, Naruto could feel his soul leaving his body due to the feeling of surprise and relief.
(So that was it) With a dangerous gleam in his eyes, Toru sighed.
Weekly Power Status
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