Chapter 81

Next, Ibiki talked about the exam rules.

"This exam adopts a point deduction mechanism. Everyone starts with ten points. One point will be deducted for each wrong answer, and two points will be deducted for cheating. When a candidate's points are deducted, the candidate's team will be eliminated!"

The cruelty was terrifying!

However, no matter how dissatisfied the candidates were, they could not protest. After all, this was Konoha, and the invigilator was not their relative—everyone had to obey!

As the test papers were distributed, countless candidates began to panic inwardly. They had done a lot of liberal arts review before the exam, but they hadn't expected the questions in the Chunin exam to be so difficult! After a quick scan of the nine questions on the test paper, many couldn't figure out even a single one!

The scope of the exam was supposedly the same every year, so why was it so difficult this time?

Countless math-challenged candidates felt lost, their eyes darting around uncontrollably. But then, they noticed someone calmly writing the answers to the tough questions!

What should they do? They really wanted to copy!

The content of this exam was indeed not easy. Even though it took Kazuki some time to answer five questions, there were still four questions he wasn't sure about, and he didn't even want to attempt them. After all, this exam was less about theoretical knowledge and more about psychology! As long as they didn't quit at the last question, almost everyone could pass the exam. Spending more time on these topics was pointless. It was better to just be in a daze =_=...

Although the test questions were difficult, they weren't much of a challenge for Kazuki and his team. They didn't even need to cheat. However, this exam wasn't about grades; it tested methods and psychological resilience. Kazuki symbolically finished a few questions and then stopped writing. There was no need to do more—it was better to daze off with the others o_o…

As time passed, many candidates were eliminated, mainly due to their poor cheating techniques. Ibiki watched with disdain; their attempts were as clumsy as elementary school students. "You've been attending the Ninja Academy for so many years and graduated as Genin, yet you've learned so little? Have you been living all these years?"

Soon, less than a hundred candidates remained in the examination room. More than thirty were eliminated because of their teammates. This incident only proved how important it was to have good teammates!

"Kazuki-kun, Kazuki-kun, can't you do it? Do you want to copy mine?" Hinata's voice suddenly broke through Kazuki's daze.

Glancing over, Kazuki noticed Hinata offering her answers. He couldn't help but smile. She was so kind. "No, thank you, Hinata. I've got it. You don't have to worry about me."

"Uh-huh!" Hinata nodded obediently and took back her test paper. She believed in Kazuki's strength—after all, he had always been at the top of every subject in school. There was no reason for Kazuki to fail now!

"Time's up, stop writing!" Ibiki's voice snapped Kazuki out of his daze. The next moment, Ibiki announced, "Next, I will announce the tenth question! But before that, there's a new rule. If you choose to answer question ten but fail, you will never be able to take the Chunin Exams again!"

Many candidates couldn't accept these rules. They began to panic, thinking they might remain Genin for life. But Kazuki watched Ibiki's performance with boredom. "Never take the Chunin Exams again? Just because you say so, Morino Ibiki?"

Kazuki didn't think much of it. Even if he didn't want to be a Chunin, with his Kage-level strength, the Third Hokage would practically beg him to take the title. Fear was only a sign of weakness!

The sun was setting when Kazuki glanced out the window, watching eliminated Genin reluctantly leave the school. They had given up, not just on the exam but on a core belief. Cowards! That word would haunt many for the rest of their lives.

By the end, less than fifty candidates remained, many fewer than the original number of those who passed the first exam. Konoha, despite having the most participants, saw the largest number of eliminations. The psychological pressure on Konoha's ninjas was intense; many were more afraid of failing than those from other villages.

Ibiki noted that many Sunagakure ninjas had also quit, though it was surprising. He didn't believe that so many Sunagakure ninjas would be intimidated by Konoha's rules, but it seemed their psychological quality was lacking.

Finally, Ibiki looked at his watch, saw that no one else was leaving, and announced, "The tenth question will now be revealed!"

Everyone held their breath. If they answered incorrectly, they would remain Genin for life!

But then, a surprising turn occurred.

They passed the exam! The entire ordeal was a psychological game designed by Morino Ibiki. The sneaky Jounin of Konoha had played them all!

Kazuki watched with amusement, feeling pity for the poor lambs who had been tricked. As he yawned, the classroom window suddenly shattered, and a flag planted itself on the blackboard.

A woman in fishnet stockings appeared from nowhere. "I am the examiner for your second exam, Mitarashi Anko!!"

The candidates stared at Anko with puzzled expressions. Kazuki watched her with interest

She was known as a beauty in the ninja world before losing her cursed seal. Now, despite her strengths and background as Orochimaru's former disciple, she seemed a bit reckless and lacking in subtlety.

Kazuki couldn't help but think that compared to other Jonin, Mitarashi Anko was indeed a little too carefree.

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