Chunin Exams {3}

"Alright, you may begin the exam will last one hour." Ibiki says.

With that said Shikamaru turned over the paper and quickly looked through it before looking around the room only to see to no surprise, that almost everyone was looking at the paper with a clueless expression, he then turned and looked at his teammates only to see them looking unbothered.

Ino was looking around glancing at him from time to time waiting for the signal, while Choji was being Choji and eating ignoring the test in front of him.

Seeing this Shikamaru turned his attention back to the test, and stared at the last question.

'It seems that there is still some kind of trick to this exam, otherwise, I don't know the reason to wait forty-five minutes into the exams to reveal the tenth question.' thinks Shikamaru.

Putting the thought away, Shikamaru quickly answered the questions on the exam, and then discreetly made a sign with his hands on the desk in view for Ino to see.

{Ino}

'Shikamaru is finally done.' Ino thinks as she sees the sign he made and quickly begins to move.

She looked around waiting for the leaf shinobi watching them to shift their attention to someone else.

And her wait wasn't long, about two minutes later the shinobi looked elsewhere seeing this Ino moved quickly using the Mind and Body switch jutsu.

Her body fell limp on the table as her mind invaded Shikamaru's body and took control, she quickly looked at the answers on the paper making sure to memorize everything, making sure not to take too long.

As she was about to withdraw, Shikamaru suddenly spoke to her.

"Ino when the tenth question is revealed don't do anything, until I give the signal, I have a feeling that everything rides on that."

"Huh? So all these questions are for nothing?"

"I'm just guessing so just full in yours and Choji's then wait for the tenth question, for now just go back before you get caught." Shikamaru said.

Ino then quickly returned to her body and filled out her exam, she then waited for an opportunity, and then took over Choji and filled out his as well making sure to tell him what Shikamaru had told her.

The exchange between team ten didn't take long, and before twenty minutes had passed the three members had already finished their exam, and spent the remaining time looking around at the ways the other genin were cheating.

Sharingan, Byakugan, and there were a lot more obvious ones using mirrors and other things, it wasn't long after Genin began to be kicked out after being caught five times.

Shikamaru watched all this in interest.

'It seems I was right since I can spot those little movements, Ibiki and the others should be able to as well, so that means it does depend on how you cheat, a chunin should be able to gather intelligence quickly and discreetly so the ones using the more obvious methods are going to be eliminated.' thinks Shikamaru.

"Now I just need to wait until the last question is revealed." whispers Shikamaru.

{Forty-five minutes since the exam started}

"Alright now that we've gotten rid of the trash it's time for the tenth question." says Ibiki.

"But first it is time to reveal the rules of the last question

1. for the tenth question you must decide if you are going to take it or not, if you decide not to take it your points will be reduced to zero and you and your other two teammates will be eliminated.

2. the second rule, is if you take it and answer incorrectly you will never be able to take the chunin exams again." says Ibiki.

Hearing this the genin in the room were upset and started shouting at Ibiki.

Ibiki smiled.

"You lot are unlucky, this year it's my rules." he says.

"Those who do not wish to take it, raise your hand, and once your number is confirmed you can leave."

{Seconds later }

"I won't take it." a genin raised his hand and stood up.

That seemed to set off a storm as more raised their hand one after the other.

Shikamaru looked on and suddenly understood everything.

'There is no tenth question, this should be a test of your will, those who are ready to give up aren't qualified to be chunin.' thinks Shikamaru.

'Then the exam doesn't matter at all, all that matters is waiting it out.'

Shikamaru made another sign on the table that was spotted by his teammates telling them to do nothing.

Shikamaru then continued to look on watching the show unfolding.

"Huh, that's surprising." Shikamaru mumbled watching Naruto raise his hand.

"I didn't expect him to give up."

BAM!!!!

Naruto slammed his hand on the desk.

"I will not run! I will take it even if I am a genin forever! I'll will myself to become Hokage anyways! I am not afraid." Naruto shouts drawing everyone's attention.

"I'll ask you again, your life rides on this decision this is your last chance to quit." says Ibiki.

"I'll follow my unbending words, that is my ninja way." says Naruto.

"As I thought he didn't quit." says Shikamaru.

Ibiki looked around the room seemingly thinking about something before he spoke.

"Congratulations to all of you that remain, you have all passed the first test of the chunin exams."

'As I thought the questions were a test of our ability to gather intelligence, and the rules of the tenth question were the choice of the tenth question.' thinks Shikamaru.

'Well since we passed, I should start thinking about what the second test is going to be, most likely a test of our teamwork or individual abilities.'

'But that's what we want, after training with Daiki sensei we haven't had a chance to fight someone around our level, fighting Daiki sensei no matter how much he suppresses his strength always ends the same.

'It will be good to be the one dishing out the beating instead of taking it.'