Chapter 71: The End of the First Exam
After Naruto finished speaking, he raised his right hand, and a Super Oodama Rasengan gathered in his palm.
Naruto looked at Ibiki Morino with a cold sneer and said, "Sometimes, information can also be... snatched."
"Right! Examiner Ibiki!"
Ibiki Morino felt a surge of fear as he saw the Oodama Rasengan swirling in Naruto's hand; if this Oodama Rasengan were to explode in the middle of the examination hall, few examinees present would likely survive.
Ibiki Morino looked at Naruto with a dark expression and said, "You'd better dispel that Ninjutsu in your hand, or I won't hesitate to disqualify you."
"Oh! Is that so?"
After Naruto finished speaking, he looked toward the center of the classroom with a cold sneer.
Naruto's smile might have seemed trivial, but Ibiki Morino grew tense; he was truly afraid that if Naruto unleashed that Ninjutsu, many people would die.
Seeing the wicked grin on Naruto's face, the examinees also feared he might do something impulsive, so they all silently activated their Ninjutsu, preparing for defense.
"Brat! If you don't dispel that Ninjutsu right now, I'm calling the Anbu."
Naruto chuckled and said, "Aya-ya-ya! Examiner Ibiki, there's no need to be so tense. I was just showing you a way to gather intelligence. It doesn't always have to be done stealthily; there's also a straightforward way. As long as your strength reaches a certain level, getting whatever information you want is a piece of cake."
After Naruto finished speaking, he dispelled the Rasengan in his hand, but three Chakra Chainsappeared behind him, darting straight for the exam papers of the three Otogakure who had provoked him before the exam.
Those three Otogakure had just lowered their defenses and hadn't expected Naruto to pull such a move; their exam papers were quickly snatched into Naruto's hands.
Holding the three exam papers, Naruto waved them in front of Ibiki Morino and said, "See, was I right? Examiner Ibiki!"
Shikamaru, Ino, and Sasuke all felt that Naruto had truly gone mad, actually provoking Ibiki Morino like this.
However, Ibiki Morino was also helpless against Naruto because his exam rules didn't include a rule against openly snatching others' papers.
Ibiki Morino looked at Naruto with a dark face and said, "You've got guts!"
"You flatter me!"
Angrily, Ibiki Morino shouted out the ID numbers of those three Otogakure.
"The three of you are disqualified!"
The three Otogakure stared intently at Naruto, wishing they could fight him right then and there.
But they also knew they were no match for Naruto, and besides, the examiners in the classroom were not to be trifled with. They had no choice but to openly swallow this bitter pill and leave the examination hall.
After the three Otogakure left, there was some commotion in the classroom because some people wanted to follow Naruto's lead and snatch others' papers.
Knowing he couldn't let this continue, Ibiki Morinoslammed the podium in front of him and said, "We will now begin the tenth question. No one is allowed to move recklessly, or you will be disqualified."
Ibiki Morino's words brought the commotion in the classroom to a halt; they also knew they had missed the best opportunity.
After Ibiki Morino announced the tenth question, the atmosphere was even more solemn than in the original story.
After all, Naruto had caused quite a scene and used such a powerful Ninjutsu, causing those Ninjas who lacked confidence to start getting cold feet.
Seeing that the effect was good, Ibiki Morinocontinued to apply pressure on everyone with his words.
Originally, seventy-eight people should have remained, but when Ibiki Morino announced the results, only fifty-four were left.
Sakura looked at Ibiki Morino in confusion and asked, "How did we pass? Where's the tenth question?"
Ibiki Morino said with a chuckle, "The choice you just made was the tenth question."
After Ibiki Morino's explanation, Naruto smiled and said, "Then shouldn't you thank me? If I hadn't caused that trouble, the number of people remaining would probably be much higher than it is now!"
Ibiki Morino glared at Naruto and said, "If you hadn't caused that trouble, maybe those three Otogakure would have passed too."
Just as Ibiki Morino finished speaking, a large bundle of something flew in from outside, smashing through the window.
Immediately after, a fairly good-looking beauty wearing fishnet stockings appeared before them. A cloth slowly dropped behind her, with words written on it.
[Examiner for the Second Exam, Anko Mitarashi.]
Anko Mitarashi crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the remaining examinees, saying, "Now is not the time to be happy. I am the examiner for your second exam, Anko Mitarashi. The next exam is about to begin, follow me."
If Anko Mitarashi had left immediately after saying this, everyone would surely have followed.
But after she finished speaking, she just stood there awkwardly with her fist raised; wasn't that embarrassing!
Ibiki Morino cleared his throat and said, "Don't be so chuunibyou next time; it's very embarrassing!"
Anko Mitarashi also cleared her throat awkwardly, looking at the examinees left in the classroom and said, "Ibiki, you're not that great either, you actually let fifty-four people stay—eighteen teams!"
"Eighteen teams isn't that many! If you eliminate another half in the second round, there will only be nine teams left."
Anko Mitarashi thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Indeed, not many!"
Then Anko Mitarashi announced the location and time for tomorrow's exam.
After all the examinees had left, Ibiki Morino began collecting the exam papers.
Walking to the place where Naruto had sat for the exam, Ibiki Morino picked up the paper and looked at it, saying with a smile, "He got them all right! It seems this kid holds quite a grudge."
After Naruto and his group left the examination hall.
Shikamaru asked Naruto in some confusion, "Why did you have to argue with the examiner during the exam? Weren't you just putting the examiner in a difficult position?"
Naruto smiled and said, "Actually, this exam isn't important. It's mainly to test our courage and ability to gather information. As long as I don't violate the examiner's rules, everything else is permitted. Even if I talk back to the examiner, nothing will happen."
"Even if you're right, you can't just disregard his feelings like that! Between the threats and snatching the papers, I was really afraid he'd kick you out of the exam in a fit of rage."
Naruto smiled and looked at Shikamaru, saying, "Do you think I would be kicked out?"
Naruto's words made Shikamaru pause for a moment, but he soon understood what was going on.
With Naruto's current strength, he clearly already possessed the power of a Jonin. Given Naruto's age, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others must have become wary of him.
To keep Naruto in check within the rules, they would certainly have to raise Naruto's Ninja rank. Otherwise, if they wanted to assign him a reasonable task to keep him in line but his Ninjarank wasn't high enough, it wouldn't make sense.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had to act according to the rules; otherwise, the Great Clans would surely give them trouble.