As the final minutes of the written exam ticked away, tension hung thick in the air. The sound of pencils scratching against paper began to fade, replaced by the occasional sigh of resignation from students still struggling to find answers.
Naruto sat at his desk, staring blankly at his paper. The questions swam in front of his eyes, blurring into an incomprehensible mess. He had tried to focus, to recall anything that might help him, but the words seemed to mock him instead. I can't believe this! he thought, feeling a mix of panic and frustration. I'm gonna fail!
Hinata watched him from across the room, her heart aching for her friend. She had done her best to help him, but even with her guidance, Naruto's mind just couldn't grasp the concepts.
Sakura sat nearby, stealing glances at both Naruto and Hyuk. She noticed Hyuk had finished his exam long ago and was casually leaning back in his chair with a confident smirk, while Naruto's frantic scribbling only seemed to grow more desperate.
As the timekeeper's voice announced, "Five minutes remaining!" a wave of panic washed over the room. Naruto scribbled random letters on his paper, hoping against hope that something might stick.
Ibiki, observing the room with his typical stoicism, noted the growing desperation among the students. He moved through the aisles, his eyes locking on students who were clearly struggling. When he reached Naruto's desk, he raised an eyebrow.
"How are you doing?" Ibiki asked, peering at the blank paper.
"Uh… I'm fine!" Naruto replied with an awkward grin, trying to mask his embarrassment.
The proctor's expression shifted to one of skepticism. He moved on, continuing his rounds as the minutes slipped away. Finally, the timekeeper announced, "Time's up!"
Pencils dropped like stones, and the tension in the room reached a boiling point. Ibiki stood at the front of the class, folding his arms as he surveyed the results. "You all have done your best, but not everyone will make it to the next stage. I'll be grading your papers now."
As he collected the exam papers, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. His gaze shifted back to Hyuk, who had confidently finished early. The boy's paper had showcased a remarkable level of understanding. But then there was Naruto, who had practically submitted a blank sheet.
Once the grading was completed, Ibiki returned to the front of the room, holding the results tightly in his hands. "Now, let's see who passes!"
He began to announce the names of those who had successfully passed the first exam, his voice echoing in the silence. "Team 7… Hyuk Haruno, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and… Naruto Uzumaki!"
Gasps rippled through the room. Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, I passed?" he exclaimed, his jaw dropping in shock.
Ibiki narrowed his eyes, glancing at the paper he had just graded. He had assumed the worst when he saw the blank sheet but quickly realized that Naruto's indomitable spirit had somehow led to his success.
Naruto's teammates erupted in cheers. "I knew you could do it, Naruto!" Hinata beamed, her face lighting up with pride.
"Yeah, believe it!" Naruto shouted, pumping his fist in the air, his confidence soaring.
Sakura, feeling a mix of relief and disbelief, added, "I can't believe you passed! I thought you were going to fail for sure!"
As the applause subsided, Ibiki regained his composure. "Don't let this be a reason to slack off. The next round will be even more challenging!" He glanced at Hyuk, who simply shrugged, unfazed by the commotion around him.
"Let's just get on with it," Hyuk muttered, rolling his eyes.
Ibiki then shifted his attention back to the rest of the room, noticing the mixed expressions of relief and frustration among the other teams. "The second exam will begin shortly. Make sure you're prepared for what's coming."
As he dismissed the candidates, the students began to filter out of the room, their thoughts racing ahead to the next phase. Naruto couldn't stop grinning, because of his unexpected success.
With Hyuk walking alongside her, Sakura felt a surge of determination. Whatever awaited them in the next round, they were ready to face it head-on.