"Alright you useless bastards, listen well since I won't repeat myself."
Ibiki's powerful voice brings everyone's attention to the front. I need to concentrate and listen to everything he has to say.
"First, there are a few rules that you need to follow if you want to have a chance at passing this exam. The first rule is that you have one hour to complete the ten questions. On your sheet, there are nine questions. The final question will be given to you fifteen minutes before the end of the exam. Now, if any of you are caught cheating five times, both you and your team will be immediately disqualified. Your score will be tallied up as a team. However, you will fail if you score zero on the test. Do I make myself clear?"
Five strikes... Why five? Oh well, I'll just make sure not to cheat. I hope Maru and Koji can handle themselves. Ibiki then gives us the signal to start and everyone flips their paper around.
I look over the question quickly. What is this? This is way beyond Genin level. We've never learned this in the Academy. I mean, I know the answers to everything, but that's because I got my knowledge from the dead. I glance at where Koji and Maru are sitting and see them looking at their sheets. There's no way they'll be able to answer any of these questions. The only way is for me to help them. Let's see... I can use Yashamru's jutsu! I mean, if I can control weapons with it, then I can probably control a pen too. All I have to do is control their pens and make them write the answers. Let's hope I don't get caught.
I should first start with Maru. He's prone to be the first one to panic and do something stupid. I look at the pen in Maru's hand and start trying to connect my chakra to it. When I do, I start slowly moving the pen, as to not startle him. To my relief, he doesn't resist too much. I fill in his exam sheet while looking at mine. I complete it as fast as I can and I then release my grip on the pen. Switching my attention to Koji, I do the same thing. As expected, he acts as if he's the one writing the exam to avoid suspicion. Alright, now it's time to complete my own exam.
Done! This is easy. A few people got caught and were forced to leave with their teams. I look around and notice that everyone's cheating in some way. Why aren't they being stopped? I'm sure the Konoha shinobi that are keeping watch noticed them. It is quite strange that it takes five strikes before you're out... Usually, in the Academy, it's one strike and you're out. Are they trying to push us to cheat? I look at Naruto, who's sitting next to me. He's panicking a lot. I bet he can't answer any of the questions. He's not attempting to cheat either. I want to help him, but... I'd be a total hypocrite, since I'll be betraying them. Even if not directly, Sunagakure will, and I'm a part of Suna.
"Drop your pens! I don't want to see any of you writing even one more single letter. There're fifteen minutes left, which means it's time for your tenth and final question."
I gulp, preparing myself for the worst.
"Before I give it to you, there are rules that apply only to the tenth question."
Rules only for the tenth question? What's that all about?
"Rule number one: you are free to choose whether or not to be given the tenth question."
Wait what?! Why would anyone choose not to take it?
"So what's the catch? There has to be a reason why you mentioned such a rule."
Temari's voice comes from behind me. She's got a point. There has to be a catch.
"Well, I'll tell you. If you choose not to take the tenth question, you'll get a zero, meaning that you'll automatically fail. If you choose to take it and answer wrongly, you will automatically fail the exam. Not only that, but you'll be banned from the Chunin exams, forever."
"Wait what?"
I'm not the only one who exclaimed my surprise and protest.
"That's shit, man! Plenty of people here have taken the exam before!"
One of the Konoha shinobi who were with Naruto before says. He's got a dog on his head and is wearing a grey hoodie with black fur at its extremities.
"Maybe you guys are just unlucky."
Ibiki smiles creepily.
"This year is my first as a Chunin exams proctor. It's the first time I apply my own rules. If you bastards are not confident, then, by all means, find the door and get out. I'll be giving the question after everyone's made their mind. Those who want to forfeit, raise your hand and leave."
Right after he finishes talking, a bunch of contestants start leaving. These are pretty harsh rules. If I wasn't fully confident of my abilities, I'd probably leave too. Besides, I have a mission. All of us Sunagakure Genin have the same mission. We have to last as much as possible in these exams.
To my surprise, Naruto raises his hand. I kind of feel disappointed for some reason. He then slaps it down on his desk, startling me. His eyes seem full of confidence and determination.
"Don't underestimate me! My name is Uzumaki Naruto and I swear that I'll become Hokage! A stupid question won't hold me back! Even if I get stuck as a Genin my whole life, I'll still become Hokage!"
That guy's got guts! Either that or he's stupid. It brings a smile to my lips, but I then lower my gaze. I'm feeling more and more guilt about this mission. If these were other circumstances, I'm sure I would've become friends with Naruto and the rest of them. They all seem like really nice people.
After what Naruto said, no one else got up. He gave them hope.
"I admire your determination. For those of you who stayed, I have one thing left to tell you... You all pass."
...Huh?
"Hold on! Where's the tenth question?"
The pink haired girl says. Ibiki then smiles at us.
"The tenth question was whether or not you decide to stay. The fact that all of you chose to stay was the right answer."
"Wait a second! Are you saying that this whole written test was a waste of time?"
Temari sounds outraged. If I knew that, I wouldn't have made any effort to answer these questions...
"Actually, these questions were to test your ability to gather information without getting caught. This is a very valuable skill for a ninja."
So... we were supposed to cheat! I guess I did that part right.
"To be perfectly honest with you, some Chunin were disguised as contestants among you to provide you with the correct answers, since these questions were far too hard for Genin. The reason why the scores are added up together as a team was to see how you handled yourself under pressure, knowing that your decision didn't just affect you, but your teammates as well. Of course, you had to make sure you didn't get caught. Better not cheat at all, than make yourself wide open."
Ibiki then removes his bandana. Under it, his head is covered in scars and burns. I flinch at the sight.
"Information can be very valuable, but you have to know how to handle it and obtain it well. It can be the difference between life and death. You also have to consider the source of your information. Maybe the enemy is just trying to lure you with false information. You have to always be one step ahead. Bad information can lead to the death of your teammates and to your own death."
He then puts the bandana back on.
"I get that part, but what was the tenth question's point?"
Temari keeps asking the questions I have in mind before I even have them in mind.
"The point? It's the point of the whole exam! I gave you two choices. The first was to avoid all danger and save yourself, at the expense of your teammates. The second was to go through the risk of failing. This is the type of decision Chunin have to make every day. Let's say you have a mission where you have to retrieve an important document. You have no idea how many enemy ninja there are, and have reason to believe that a trap is laid out for you. Do you abandon the mission? The answer is no. It might be a suicidal mission if you think about it, but you do it anyway. Discipline is what makes a ninja. If you choose the safer path, you will never become a Chunin. If you choose to save yourself at the expense of your teammates, then you don't deserve the title of Chunin, let alone the title of shinobi. Hesitation in the face of danger, worrying about your own well-being, will be fatal. I congratulate you. You have passed all of my tests, and I am proud to say that you passed the first part of the Chunin exam."
A suicide mission... I hesitated in front of the danger, and put my teammates in jeopardy. Can I really call myself a ninja at this point?