It turned out that although Nojuro Ryun had never attended the Ninja Academy, his skill level had long since surpassed that stage.
Relying on the many simulations he had undergone, Ryun had also experienced a wide variety of tasks, and he easily wrote out the answers for a series of nine questions.
When he looked up, almost everyone else in the class was still busily writing.
Ryun didn't do anything like handing in his paper early; he was here purely to watch the show.
Therefore, he released his sensory perception and began to appreciate the various methods the examinees were using to display their skills.
Then, Ryun noticed that Sasuke had withdrawn his gaze from him.
Ryun didn't know whether to laugh or cry; he realized that Sasuke had been using his Sharingan to copy his movements.
It seemed that Ryun answering the questions so smoothly had indeed attracted someone's attention.
But it didn't matter, as the proctors had already started making their moves.
They kicked out those using crude cheating methods one by one, making more people realize that this exam tested the ninjas' ability to gather and transmit information.
Just as Naruto was at a loss, Sakura's voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
"Naruto, I'll talk, you write. Start with two easy questions."
Naruto's eyes immediately lit up, and he obediently did as he was told, never once considering whether the voice might be someone's disguise.
Fortunately, it really was Sakura's voice.
The reason Sakura could do this wasn't because she had learned the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques, but because Ryun was teaching her the Formless Wave.
Ino, having the foundation of the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques coupled with Ryun's genjutsu heritage, had quickly learned this technique.
With Sakura, it was much more troublesome; she had to start learning spiritual energy control from scratch.
Even though Ino generously taught Sakura the methods of spiritual energy control, Sakura could currently only manage to condense her spiritual energy to form a voice in a target's mind. She was still two levels away from reaching the Formless Wave's requirement of encoding genjutsu with spiritual energy.
But for now, it was just enough to save Naruto.
Naruto wrote furiously, finally relaxing after writing down the answers to three questions.
Then, more and more people were expelled. Seeing that time was almost up, Morino Ibiki announced the final question.
"First, you must choose whether or not to take this last question."
"If any member of a three-man team chooses not to take it, that team loses the right to take the exam."
"But if you choose to take it, and any one member fails, then all three will lose the chance to become chunin forever!"
"Don't glare at me. It's your bad luck to have met me. I decided to change the rules on the spot."
Ryun looked at Morino Ibiki with slight surprise; this condition seemed even harsher than the original?
But for Ryun, no matter how severe Ibiki's stated conditions were, they were meaningless, only useful for scaring ordinary ninjas.
Any clan ninja or ninja from another village understood perfectly well that they wouldn't permanently lose the qualification for promotion just because they failed one Chunin Exam in Konoha.
The reason was simple: Could Konoha's rules govern the affairs of other villages?
Moreover, Suna-nin and Oto-nin were here for Konoha Crush; who still cared about Konoha's exam rules?
Ryun's sensory perception swept over the expressions of those present, and he suddenly discovered something more interesting.
Then, Ryun sensed Kurenai, Kakashi, Guy, and Asuma sitting together, discussing the exam.
But as they finished discussing Ibiki's character, the conversation shifted to Kurenai.
"Kurenai, have you gotten younger?"
Guy bluntly started the topic, and Kakashi and Asuma, who had been wondering for a while, immediately nodded.
Although Kurenai had always been beautiful, the beauty of a 28-year-old and a 24-year-old were entirely different styles.
The former was mature charm, while the latter still held a hint of youth, with every inch of skin radiating vibrant vitality.
Kurenai blushed.
She had even deliberately worn light makeup before leaving home today, and still, they noticed?
"Is that so? Maybe I've just been in a better mood lately."
Kurenai gave a fake smile, trying to bluff her way through.
But then, the 'Ryun' character on her belly seemed to grow hot... Wait, not seemed, it really was!
A flash of surprise crossed Kurenai's eyes, and she then realized the chakra in her body felt somewhat strange.
Just as she was about to dispel the genjutsu she was under, Ryun's voice echoed in her mind: "Ahem, it's me. Just saying hello."
Kurenai's breathing became heavy with anger, and she said in her heart, "I won't ask what ability you just used for now, but this is how you say hello?"
"I... missed you."
Hearing the doting tone in Ryun's voice, Kurenai didn't know whether to be annoyed or amused. She subconsciously dropped her serious demeanor and said, "Stop fooling around. Once the Chunin Exam is over, I'll go back—go home. After I've dealt with everything that night... you can do whatever you want."
"I'm working now. No disturbing me while I'm working."
"Okay, wife."
Ryun withdrew his spiritual energy. He had just remotely released a Formless Wave, stirring the True Spirit Seal on Kurenai, which was why she had that strange feeling.
Kurenai withdrew her focus, only to realize Asuma was looking at her.
She asked, puzzled, "Asuma, is something wrong?"
Kakashi and Guy exchanged glances, and finally Guy said, "Kurenai, you just spaced out."
"Ah, sorry. I'm a bit worried about my students."
Kurenai found an impeccable excuse, and Asuma, regaining his composure, repeated himself: "After the first exam today, why don't the four of us go grab a drink?"
"Well—"
Kurenai had just promised Ryun she'd go home after the exam, and now faced with Asuma's request, what should she do?
Asuma's invitation was also reasonable; refusing it now seemed a bit impolite.
But she had no choice; she had promised Ryun.
Although she insisted work was important, if it came to a choice between work and Ryun's happiness, she would unhesitatingly choose the latter.
Ryun disliked loneliness, and Kurenai felt the same.
Now that she had her own family and home, Kurenai would never let her family down.
So she shook her head and said, "Sorry, I'm not free today."
"Ah, I see..."
Asuma scratched his head, gave a dry laugh, and said, "Let's do it another time then."
Kakashi and Guy beside him remained silent. They had indeed noticed Kurenai's recent activities; Konoha was, after all, a small place.
But regarding such matters, they truly weren't in a position to say anything.
Guy couldn't even bring himself to ask Tenten about their situation, especially since he was still a confirmed bachelor.
Back to Ryun: he withdrew his perception, and the next second, Naruto's loud shout reached his ears.
"Don't underestimate me! I won't run away!"
"So what if I can't become a chunin? Even if I'm a genin my whole life, I won't be afraid of you!"
"Who says a genin can't become Hokage? One day, I'll become Hokage and show you!"
Normally, Ryun wouldn't have much feeling for Naruto's brand of passionate encouragement.
But when he heard "genin Hokage," he almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Although Naruto didn't become Hokage as a genin, he did reach the level of a Six Paths-tier powerhouse as a genin.
One could only say that in the year 68 of Konoha, the protagonist duo's power-ups went through the roof.
Ryun would have to rely on even greater power-ups to catch up to or even surpass them by that year.
The road ahead was long!
Then, Morino Ibiki announced that the final test was simply not being crushed by his intimidation tactics, and that everyone present had passed.
Amidst the chorus of boos, Mitarashi Anko made a flamboyant entrance.
"You all seem pretty happy, huh? Too bad you're celebrating too early."
"Everyone remaining, follow me to the second exam. I'll make sure less than half of the remaining 28 teams make it through!"
Mitarashi Anko's two sentences silenced everyone.
Tenten and the others, who knew Anko well, were startled; they were used to Anko being impudent and even shameless on normal days.
But now they realized: Mitarashi Anko was a Tokubetsu Jonin, her rank just below Jonin, easily placing her in Konoha's top hundred.
Then, led by Anko, the remaining ninjas arrived at the Forest of Death.
"You'll understand soon enough why this place is called the Forest of Death..."
After saying this, Anko frowned and looked in a certain direction.
Over there, three Kusagakure ninjas stood together. One of them had disheveled hair, and even wearing a hood, he looked particularly conspicuous.
Anko didn't recognize him, but she vaguely felt her cursed mark react.
Standing in a corner, Ryun looked at this person's back and could clearly sense that he was Orochimaru.
Although he had hidden his chakra well, that twisted spiritual energy couldn't fool Ryun.