A murmur spread through the classroom as the Chūnin exam began.
"Wait, what? A guy capable of killing three Chūnin is taking this exam?"
"Yeah, and he's only the second most trusted person in that guy's heart?"
Yakushi Kabuto smiled faintly, explaining, "That's because Uchiha Sasuke's team doesn't have a Jōnin instructor. Their leader doubles as their teacher..."
The classroom erupted in disbelief.
Kankuro's eyebrows twitched as he muttered, "What kind of nonsense is this? Their captain graduated with them?"
"That sounds ridiculous," Temari added, clearly skeptical. "New graduates lack mission experience. Even if they're strong, no one makes them instructors."
Kabuto countered with a sly smile, "Unless they defeated an Elite Jōnin in front of the Kage."
The air grew tense as Gaara's expression darkened, his gaze locking onto Naruto, who had just entered with Sasuke.
Haruno Sakura, standing beside them, was dismissed outright in Gaara's mind. "No way that's the master."
Naruto, sensing Gaara's stare, casually glanced back at him. In that instant, Gaara felt an overwhelming sense of danger, so much so that Shukaku, the tailed beast within him, trembled.
Gaara's lips curled into a manic grin. "Even Shukaku fears him? This is perfect. I've found an ideal target."
Temari nervously interjected, "Gaara, think this through. That guy defeated an Elite Jōnin..."
"Shut up!" Gaara snapped, his voice twisted with malice. "Say another word, and I'll kill you."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing more.
The murmurs in the room continued, the candidates struggling to comprehend the kind of monster capable of becoming an instructor right after graduating.
Suddenly, a cloud of white smoke erupted at the front of the classroom.
"Silence, you scum!"
The voice belonged to a scarred, cold-looking man in black, flanked by a group of Chūnin.
"I am Morino Ibiki, your examiner. Sit down and prepare to begin immediately!"
His fierce demeanor silenced the room, and the candidates quickly found their seats.
Among them, one candidate voiced his frustration. "Why does Konoha allow someone who defeated an Elite Jōnin to take the exam? This isn't fair!"
Ibiki's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You. Get out. You've lost the right to participate."
"What? Why? I need an explanation!"
Ibiki's tone was sharp. "As a ninja, your first instinct shouldn't be to question the presence of a stronger competitor. It should be to figure out how to overcome them. Your lack of composure shows you're unprepared. Leave and train for a few more years!"
The candidate clenched his fists in anger but was ultimately escorted out by Chūnin. The remaining candidates, now silent and subdued, focused on the exam.
Naruto sat down and immediately heard a familiar notification in his mind.
[Ding~ Congratulations, Host! C-level task completed: +1 simulation chance.]
"Huh?" Naruto blinked in surprise. Checking his system panel, he saw his simulation chances increase from 2 to 3.
"So, task rewards stack?"
[Ding~ Correct.]
Naruto's interest piqued. If he played his cards right, the Chūnin exam could yield more simulation opportunities than he'd ever received.
Determined, Naruto glanced at the test paper... and immediately felt a headache.
"This... This isn't for Genin," he thought, frowning.
While Naruto had studied diligently after regaining his past memories, the questions were leagues beyond what Genin typically encountered. He could answer only a handful at best.
But Naruto wasn't worried.
He remembered the exam's purpose: intelligence gathering. The real challenge was to gather answers from an undercover examiner without being caught.
This kind of covert operation wasn't Naruto's strong suit. Fortunately, he had Kurama.
Naruto reached out mentally. "Kurama, can you help me spot the answers?"
Kurama huffed indignantly. "I'm not your personal tool, brat!"
Naruto sighed. "Alright, I get it."
A moment later, Kurama grumbled, "Fine. I'll help. But only because I feel like it! Now thank me!"
"Thanks,," Naruto replied cheekily.
"Don't call me that!" Kurama growled.
"I understand, ," Naruto said again, smirking.
"You little—!"
With Kurama's assistance, Naruto discreetly gathered the answers, avoiding detection.
Time flew by, and the first portion of the Chūnin exam ended. Ibiki began his infamous psychological tactics, using intimidation to pressure candidates into quitting.
By the end, those who remained passed, regardless of their scores.
Ibiki addressed the group. "The essence of a Chūnin is to make decisions under pressure and face risks head-on. Those who lack this resolve don't qualify."
The announcement brought a wave of relief, and the candidates began to disperse.
As the room emptied, Ibiki collected the test papers. While the scores weren't the primary criterion for passing, they served as additional metrics for evaluation.
When he reached Naruto's paper, Ibiki's brows furrowed.
"Interesting," he muttered. "He managed to gather all the correct answers without anyone noticing."
Meanwhile, Naruto received another notification.
[Ding~ Congratulations, Host! B-level task completed: +2 simulation chances.]
Naruto's mood soared. With 5 total simulation opportunities now in hand, the stakes of the Chūnin exam had never been clearer.
As he prepared for the next stage, a determined smile crossed his face.
"Let's see how far I can go."
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