Over the course of the next two weeks, Chihara quietly observed the growing influx of genin from other villages arriving in Konoha for the Chunin Exams. Groups from various Hidden Villages—Sand, Grass, and others—entered the village with a sense of purpose, each bearing the distinctive headbands of their homeland. Chihara, ever the silent observer, paid close attention to the potential competition.
The day finally arrived when Chihara was to meet his team. He made his way to a quiet training ground outside the main village, where two figures awaited him. The first one stepped forward with a friendly smile, extending his hand toward Chihara.
"Hey, you must be Chihara," the boy said, his voice smooth and calm. "I'm Kabuto. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Chihara's eyes narrowed slightly, instinctively sizing up his teammate. Kabuto had pale skin and short silver hair, which framed a pair of glasses that reflected the light just enough to obscure his eyes. His demeanor seemed open and relaxed, but there was something almost too composed about him. Chihara found it hard to pinpoint, but Kabuto didn't seem like someone to take at face value. Still, Chihara accepted the handshake, his grip firm but controlled.
Kabuto continued, gesturing toward their other teammate, who stood silently a few feet away. "And this is Misumi."
Chihara glanced over. Misumi had short, dark brown hair with his face covered by a low hanging mask, he was also wearing rounded glasses like Kabuto. His body language was closed off, his arms crossed, and he barely acknowledged Chihara with a low grunt. Unlike Kabuto, who had at least made an effort to be personable, Misumi seemed distant, his dark eyes flicking over Chihara briefly before looking away.
"Misumi doesn't talk much, as you can tell," Kabuto said with a small chuckle, not seeming bothered by his teammate's lack of enthusiasm. "But don't let that fool you. He has a unique ability to manipulate his body in ways that most shinobi can't. His flexibility is... well, let's just say you don't want to get caught by him."
Chihara studied Misumi, his expression unreadable. He had seen his fair share of shinobi with odd abilities, so this revelation wasn't particularly surprising. He remained silent, waiting for Kabuto to continue.
"As for me," Kabuto said, adjusting his glasses, "I specialize in medical ninjutsu and intelligence gathering. I've participated in the Chunin Exams several times, so I know the ins and outs of what we're up against. With my support and Misumi's unique abilities, I think we'll make a pretty strong team."
Chihara nodded, though he didn't offer any outward reaction to Kabuto's confidence. His turn had come to share, and he knew he had to give them something without revealing too much about his abilities.
"I specialize in close combat and certain advanced techniques," Chihara said, his voice low and measured. "I can also use fire release."
He gave nothing more than that, keeping his blood manipulation and other unique abilities to himself. There was no reason to reveal his full hand yet.
Kabuto smiled, his eyes glinting slightly behind his glasses. "That's fair. We all have our secrets. But I think we'll work well together."
They made their way through the crowded streets of Konoha toward the first test site, Chihara remained silent, his mind focused on the task ahead. The buzz of excitement and nervous energy filled the air as teams of genin from a multitude of elemental nations gathered, each group radiating determination. But Chihara was no stranger to high-pressure situations.
The team entered the large building, joining the group of other genin who had already arrived. The room was dimly lit, and a sense of anticipation seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog. Chihara's eyes scanned the room, noticing a few familiar faces among the unfamiliar. The other teams appeared eager, sizing up the competition with furtive glances and murmured conversations.
As they waited, a faint shift in the atmosphere prickled the edge of Chihara's senses. His keen instincts immediately alerted him to something out of place, a feeling of subtle pressure attempting to wrap around his mind. It was a familiar sensation—a genjutsu.
A moment later, he heard a few nearby genin gasp, their eyes glazing over as the illusion began to take hold of them. The scene before them seemed to distort slightly, as if the walls themselves were shifting. It wasn't anything overwhelming, but clearly enough to shake the less experienced shinobi.
Chihara closed his eyes briefly, and with little effort, he shrugged off the genjutsu. His eyes made breaking through illusions a trivial matter, especially one of this caliber. The illusion wavered for a moment before it dissolved completely in his perception, leaving him unaffected. Around him, however, other teams were starting to panic or express confusion as they fell victim to the subtle manipulation of the room.
Kabuto, who stood beside him, adjusted his glasses with a knowing smile. "I take it you noticed that as well?"
Chihara merely nodded, his gaze cool as he watched the rest of the room. He could tell Kabuto had also broken free from the genjutsu, likely with his own experience in the exams. Misumi, as expected, remained silent, his eyes betraying no signs of being affected.
"It's just a test," Kabuto continued, his voice barely audible amidst the murmurs of the other genin. "They're trying to weed out the weak ones early. Seems like you handled it without issue."
Chihara didn't respond, his eyes still scanning the room, assessing the others. It was clear now that the examiners wanted to create an environment of pressure and confusion. But if they thought a basic genjutsu was enough to faze him, they were sorely mistaken.
The exam room fell silent as a tall, imposing figure appeared at the front. The proctor had sharp features, a deep scowl, and an aura of authority that immediately commanded attention. His headband bore the symbol of Konoha, and a long scar ran diagonally across his face, giving him a fearsome appearance. His uniform was the standard Konoha flak jacket, but his demeanor set him apart—he carried himself with a mixture of discipline and ruthlessness.
The proctor's eyes swept over the room, assessing the genin with a critical gaze. Without warning, his voice boomed across the room, cutting through the lingering confusion like a blade.
"Everyone who broke free from the genjutsu, follow me!" he barked, his voice harsh and demanding, causing several genin to flinch at the volume and intensity.
Without waiting for a response, he motioned toward the door and began walking briskly, his heavy boots echoing against the tiled floor. The remaining genin, those unaffected by the genjutsu or who had managed to break free, quickly fell in line behind him. The others, still trapped or dazed, were left behind, their chances of continuing in the exam seemingly dashed.
Chihara walked alongside Kabuto and Misumi as they followed the proctor down a series of hallways, his eyes narrowing in curiosity as they moved further away from the main crowd. The proctor led them to a classroom deeper inside the building, the tension in the air growing thicker with every step.
Once they reached the classroom, the proctor stopped abruptly at the door, turning to face the group with an expression of grim satisfaction. His gaze swept over the genin once more before he spoke.
"Take your assigned seats. This is where the real test begins," he ordered, his voice low but still filled with authority.
The genin quickly filed into the room, finding their designated seats, each one marked with a number. Chihara made his way to his seat, sitting down as his mind remained focused and sharp, already anticipating the challenges ahead.
The proctor stood at the front of the room, his arms crossed as he surveyed the rows of young genin seated before him. His gaze was sharp and cold, making it clear that this was not an ordinary test. When the last person settled into their seat, he spoke.
"Welcome to the first phase of the Chunin Exams," he began, his voice carrying a sense of authority. "My name is Ibiki Morino, and I will be overseeing this exam."
Ibiki's eyes roamed over the students, his face impassive but his words filled with underlying tension. "This exam will test not just your individual knowledge, but also your composure and your ability to work under pressure. There are ten questions in total on this test. The first nine are standard—though not easy."
He paced slowly, his footsteps heavy and deliberate as if weighing the fate of every candidate in the room. "Each of you will be given a test paper. You are to answer the questions as best as you can. However, cheating is not allowed. We will be watching you closely. Get caught, and you will be dismissed from the exam, along with your team. Each of you represents more than yourself here. You will be disqualified as a group."
Ibiki stopped in the center of the room, his gaze hard. "Be careful. I will be watching your every move."
He let his words sink in for a moment before adding, "After one hour, we'll discuss the final, tenth question. For now, focus on the first nine. Begin!"
As Chihara looked down at the test paper, his eyes scanned over the impossibly difficult questions. Each one seemed to delve into advanced tactics, strategies, and jutsu knowledge well beyond what a genin should know. He quickly realized something was off.
These questions... no genin should be able to answer these.
His gaze flickered to the other genin scattered around the room. Many of them were visibly struggling, their faces etched with frustration and uncertainty. A few, however, seemed completely unfazed, already writing down answers as though the test was beneath them.
Chihara narrowed his eyes. 'There's no way they know all of this on their own.'
An idea formed in his mind as he observed the test-takers. He kept scanning the room until his gaze locked onto one particular genin who seemed especially confident, scribbling away with a smug expression.
'Let's see what you're hiding.'
With a subtle breath, Chihara activated his Ketsuryūgan. His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he focused on the genin, diving into his mind effortlessly. Memories began to unfold before Chihara, like pages of a book turning rapidly. He sifted through them with precision until he found what he was looking for.
'So, you're not even a genin... you're a planted chunin.'
The realization came quickly. The proctors had set up decoys—chunin planted among the genin to tempt them into cheating. It wasn't about answering the questions. It was about how they approached the test and who could cheat to the best of their ability's without being caught.
A small smirk formed on Chihara's lips. He didn't need to bother with writing anything down. The answers were irrelevant. He placed his pencil on the desk and leaned back, resting his head on his arms.
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An hour passed, and Chihara sat silently, resting his mind while the tension in the room grew. The other genin around him were still scribbling away, some frantic, others more collected, but nearly everyone was on edge. He could feel the mounting pressure even though he had already figured out the game behind the test.
Finally, the proctor stood up at the front of the room, his eyes cold and calculating as they swept over the remaining genin. He smirked slightly, as if enjoying the nervous energy.
"Alright, listen up!" the proctor yelled, his voice cutting through the anxious silence. "It's time for the tenth and final question."
Chihara lifted his head slightly, intrigued by the sudden shift in atmosphere. The other genin straightened in their seats, some glancing around nervously.
"Before we get into the last question, there are a couple of rules you need to understand," the proctor continued, his grin widening as he relished the moment. "First, this question is optional. You can choose to not answer it and leave right now. If you leave, you'll fail the exam... but you can try again next year."
Gasps and whispers rippled through the room. Chihara remained impassive, but his eyes sharpened.
"Now, here's the catch," the proctor said, his voice growing more sinister. "If you choose to stay and take the tenth question... but you get it wrong... not only will you fail, but you'll be banned from ever becoming a chunin again."
The tension exploded. Several genin began to panic, some standing up, clearly overwhelmed by the stakes.
"That's right!" the proctor added, folding his arms. "Make your choice now. You can leave, no shame in that, or you can stay and risk everything. But if you stay and fail, you'll never have another shot at becoming a chunin."
The room erupted with panic. Genin stood up, several already walking toward the door, unable to bear the risk. Chihara, however, didn't budge. His gaze remained locked on the proctor, calculating. This isn't about the answers, he thought, it's about pushing forward, no matter the odds.
Across the room, the murmurs of doubt rose, but they were cut off by a sudden outburst.
"THERE'S NO WAY I'M BACKING DOWN!" Naruto's voice echoed through the room. Chihara's eyes flicked toward the blonde-haired genin standing defiantly at his desk, fists clenched in determination. "Even if I fail this stupid exam, I'm not giving up! I'll take the chance a million times, and I'll become Hokage no matter what!"
A wave of stunned silence followed Naruto's declaration, and slowly, the room began to settle. Chihara felt a flicker of admiration for the boy's raw tenacity, but remained composed.
The proctor leaned forward, scanning the room for any signs of hesitation. "So, who's it going to be?" he taunted. "Anyone else want to walk away?"
Slowly, the room settled as the last of the genin who wanted to leave had filed out. The proctor chuckled darkly, clapping his hands together. "Well, well... looks like some of you still have guts left." His grin widened. "Congratulations. You all pass."
The room was filled with confused stares, and a murmur of disbelief rippled through the remaining genin.
"The tenth question was never about knowledge," the proctor explained, pacing the front of the room. "It was a test of your determination. In the ninja world, you'll face life-or-death decisions, and sometimes, backing down means losing everything. We needed to see who had the strength to stay and push forward, even when the odds were stacked against them."