Chương 225: 224
Today was the day.
Haruto stood outside the exam building, his eyes scanning the crowd of genin gathered around the entrance. Teams from various villages had come to participate in the Chunin Exams—the Land of Tea, Land of Sound, and Land of Wind were all represented. The unfamiliar headbands and foreign shinobi made the atmosphere even tenser. Haruto didn't recognize any of them.
Most of these teams were older, their members more seasoned than Haruto and his own team. There were at least 50 other genin teams, a lot of them composed of shinobi who looked to be more than double his age. Still, their unfamiliar faces didn't bother him. Haruto had learned early on not to underestimate his own capabilities, even against older and more experienced opponents.
As he walked into the building, the chatter and nervous whispers from the other genin filled the air. No one really knew what to expect from the first part of the exam, but Haruto could feel the tension in every glance exchanged between the participants. His own team—Shisui and Daichi—stood nearby, both of them equally aware of the pressure mounting in the room.
The exam room was already filling up as Haruto entered. The layout was simple: rows of desks with genin nervously taking their seats, and chunin proctors standing watchfully at the edges. At the front of the room, a single jōnin proctor stood with arms crossed, his eyes sharp and calculating. This was clearly the one in charge.
Haruto took his seat near the center of the room, letting his gaze wander over the other teams. They were all focused, but the looks on their faces told him they didn't know what to expect either. He glanced at the older genin teams and couldn't help but feel a little out of place—these shinobi looked like they had been through more battles than he could count, but even still, Haruto was confident in his abilities.
As the jōnin proctor handed out the exam papers, the room fell silent. The tension thickened, the anticipation of what was to come making the atmosphere almost suffocating. Haruto scanned the test, and a familiar feeling settled over him.
This test—he had seen it before, or rather, he remembered it.
The first test from the anime.
Haruto's heart raced for a moment before he regained control. He realized now what the exam was about. The written test wasn't just a measure of intelligence. It was about cheating. The questions were deliberately designed to be nearly impossible for genin to answer without assistance. The real test was in how well you could gather the answers without being caught.
He glanced down at the paper in front of him, skimming the questions. They were complex, far beyond the level of a genin. But for Haruto, who had photographic memory and a Tier 2 cognitive upgrade, they were simple. He already knew the answers, could see the solutions laid out in his mind.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, giving himself time to think. He didn't need to cheat, but he understood that the real challenge here wasn't about getting the answers right—it was about helping his team, Shisui and Daichi.
He glanced over at Shisui, who had already activated his Sharingan, his red eyes quietly scanning the room, memorizing the movements of other genin as they discreetly passed answers back and forth. Shisui was more than capable of handling himself in a situation like this. His Sharingan allowed him to copy the answers with ease, giving him a significant advantage.
But Daichi was another story. Haruto saw him fidgeting a few seats away, his face betraying his anxiety. He wasn't as skilled as Shisui in these kinds of situations, and Haruto knew they would need to give him some assistance if their team was going to pass.
Suddenly, Daichi raised his hand and asked to be excused to the restroom. The jōnin proctor nodded, allowing a chunin to escort him out. Haruto smiled faintly. This was part of the plan, something they had worked out in advance.
While Daichi was out of the room, Haruto quickly folded a small slip of paper with the answers. With a subtle flick of his hand, he passed it toward Shisui, who caught it effortlessly and slipped it into his sleeve. When Daichi returned from the restroom, Shisui made a quick motion, handing the note off to him without drawing any attention.
Daichi, visibly more relaxed after receiving the answers, tucked the note away and continued working on the test. Everything was going according to plan. Haruto allowed himself a moment of satisfaction.
But just as things seemed to be falling into place, the jōnin proctor stepped forward again.
"Before you answer the final question," he began, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere, "you should know—if you get this wrong, you'll remain a genin for the rest of your life. You will never be allowed to take the Chunin Exams again."
The announcement sent a ripple of anxiety through the room. Some of the genin immediately began to panic, their nervous whispers growing louder as the weight of the proctor's words sank in.
Haruto leaned back in his chair, considering the situation. He could feel the nervous energy buzzing around him as other genin struggled to make a decision. Some even stood up, forfeiting their chances along with their teams rather than risk being stuck as a genin forever. Haruto watched as more and more genin left the room, their faces twisted in regret.
For a brief moment, Haruto wondered what would happen if he pulled a Naruto. He imagined standing up, defiant, shouting that he'd never back down from a challenge, that he'd face anything the exam threw at him. It was tempting, but he knew it wasn't necessary. Haruto wasn't Naruto, and this wasn't his style.
He already knew how the exam worked. The final question was a trap, meant to test their resolve. The real challenge wasn't in answering it, but in showing that you were willing to face it head-on without backing down.
Haruto glanced over at Shisui, who gave him a small, reassuring nod. Daichi still looked nervous, but he was holding it together. They were ready.
With a quiet sigh, Haruto turned his attention back to his test. He filled in his answer, calm and confident. There was no need for dramatic gestures. The test was a mind game, and he wasn't about to fall for it.
As the remaining genin sat in silence, the jōnin proctor finally smiled.
"Congratulations," he said, his voice steady and clear. "To those of you who remained, you've passed the first test."
Haruto leaned back, allowing himself a small smile. They had made it through the first stage, but he knew this was only the beginning. The real challenges were still ahead.
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