"Then let me explain. This is a rule of despair. First, you must choose: will you answer this tenth question or not?" Sensing that the atmosphere in the classroom had reached a peak of tension, Ibiki finally began.
"What happens if we choose not to answer the tenth question?" Hearing his words, Temari couldn't help but ask.
"If you choose not to answer, then that examinee will be judged as scoring zero points… in other words, failing. Of course, your two teammates will also be eliminated together," Ibiki said with a cold smile.
"What's the meaning of this?!"
"Something like that? Then of course we have to choose to answer! A rule where everyone gets eliminated is just too outrageous!" Hearing his words, some Genin below couldn't help but shout out.
"And then, there's one more rule!" Hearing their complaints, Ibiki paid no mind at all. Instead, his tone grew even heavier, and the atmosphere became even more oppressive.
'There's more? Give it a rest already!' Hearing his words, Sakura thought to herself.
Even Ui and Ritsu frowned as they looked at Ibiki. However, seeing Takeru's brimming confidence, the two could only suppress the unease in their hearts.
"If you choose to answer but do not answer correctly, then the person who answered will be permanently barred from ever participating in the Chunin Exams again!" Amidst everyone's anxiety, Ibiki finally announced the rather cruel rule.
"How can there be such a stupid rule? After all, there are people here who have taken the Chunin Exams many times!" Hearing his words, Kiba couldn't help but stand up and protest.
"Fufufu... You all have terrible luck. Today, I am the rules. And besides, didn't I give you a way out? Those without confidence should just obediently choose not to answer and come back to take the exam next year or the year after!" Hearing Kiba's words, Ibiki smirked sinisterly.
Hearing this, many people began to waver. After all, it was one thing for themselves, but this was a team-based format. That meant if one person answered wrong, not only they, but their teammates would also be implicated. It was truly too cruel.
"Well then, let's begin. Those who choose not to answer, please raise your hands. After confirming your numbers, please leave from here." Seeing the atmosphere had been adequately built up, Ibiki spoke again.
Among them, this psychological torture was the most agonizing for Naruto. If anyone was the least confident, Naruto definitely ranked high on the list, as the past 45 minutes of the exam had already put his heart through the wringer.
Apart from him, it was those very familiar with Naruto, like Sakura and the others. Sakura, although extremely confident in herself, had zero confidence in Naruto when it came to this kind of theoretical knowledge.
"I... I choose not to answer!" At that moment, a man next to Naruto raised his hand and spoke loudly. He had pondered this decision for a long time. In the end, he was truly afraid of being a Genin for life and chose to try again next time.
"Number 50 eliminated. Numbers 130 and 111, implicated and also eliminated," Kotetsu quickly announced the eliminated candidates.
The man's action seemed to be a catalyst. Soon, people who lacked confidence in themselves or their teammates began raising their hands one after another, forfeiting. In an instant, a large number of people left the examination hall again.
With these people's choices, the atmosphere in the room grew even more oppressive. Seeing this, Sakura, for once, showed a gentle smile.
Recalling Naruto's past actions, she didn't want Naruto to gamble on this slim chance. After all, if he made a mistake, it would affect him for a lifetime...
Just as Sakura was about to urge Naruto to give up, she noticed Naruto's trembling left hand slowly raising high. Seeing this, Sakura stopped her own action.
As for Naruto, after struggling internally for a long time, he was finally completely overtaken by the fire in his heart. His raised left hand slammed down heavily on the desk.
"Don't underestimate me! I won't run away! I'll take it! Even if I have to be a Genin for life, with sheer willpower I'll become Hokage! It's fine! I'm not scared at all!" As if speaking to others, yet also encouraging himself, Naruto finished speaking, then crossed his arms and sat back down on his chair to await the final question.
Seemingly inspired by Naruto's encouragement, some who were originally ready to give up also solidified their resolve.
"I'll ask once more. This is a choice that stakes your future. If you want to give up, do it now." On Ibiki's side, seeing the carefully built atmosphere dissipate completely due to Naruto's words, he made one final effort.
"To live by the words I speak… that is my Ninja Way!" Hearing Ibiki's words, Naruto spoke again.
'What an interesting kid. He dispelled everyone's anxiety in an instant. 78 people left? More than I expected. Pressing further would yield the same result.'
Looking at the resolute expressions of everyone in the examination hall, Ibiki thought to himself.
Simultaneously, he glanced at the other proctors. After a brief exchange of glances, he also decided to end this stage of the exam early.
"Your determination is commendable. Then, all of you who remain here… I judge you as having passed the first exam!" Looking at everyone, Ibiki finally revealed a gratified smile.
"Huh?!" Hearing his words, Naruto, who had done massive psychological preparation, almost lost his composure.
"Wait a minute! What's going on? We suddenly pass? Then what about the tenth question?" Sakura stood up, finding it hard to believe.
"Hahaha, there never was such a thing from the beginning. If I had to say, the choice just now was the tenth question!" Perhaps because everyone present had gained Ibiki's approval, he showed a gentle smile.
"Then what were the first nine questions for? Weren't they completely useless?" Temari also found it difficult to understand.
"They weren't completely useless. The first nine questions had already fulfilled the exam's purpose: to test each of your information-gathering abilities," Ibiki explained calmly.
He then pointed out that the questions were deliberately difficult, not something ordinary Genin could answer, and that there were plants among the examinees from the start.
"Ahaha, that was way too obvious! It'd be weird not to notice, right?" Hearing Ibiki's words, the slow-to-realize Naruto laughed dryly.
Afterwards, Ibiki further emphasized the importance of intelligence, even going so far as to reveal his gruesome bald head, covered with various scars from attacks. Clearly, he had undergone horrific torture.
Everyone became even more aware of the importance of information. Even Ui and Ritsu looked gravely at Ibiki, having been thoroughly taught a lesson.
He also explained the meaning of the final question: in a Ninja's career, one will always encounter extremely dangerous missions with no prior information, yet someone must carry them out...
It requires immense courage and the ability to break through difficult situations… qualities a Chunin, who acts as a squad leader, must possess.
"The first stage of the Chunin Exams is over. I wish you all success in the exams!" After explaining everything clearly to everyone, Ibiki announced the end of the exam.
"Yahoo! That's great!" Hearing Ibiki's words, Naruto finally cheered excitedly.
Suddenly, Ibiki seemed to sense something rapidly approaching and turned to look towards the window.
Immediately after, a black shadow came hurtling in, instantly shattering the window. As soon as it entered, it released several kunai shot towards the ceiling and the floor. A banner was also unfurled.
Only then did everyone notice the person who had suddenly burst in was a woman. Takeru was well aware that this was the proctor for the second exam, Mitarashi Anko...
Takeru watched Anko with interest. He had sensed her outside earlier, so her sudden arrival came as no surprise.
"Now's not the time to celebrate! I am the proctor for the second stage, Mitarashi Anko! Next up, let's go! For the next stage, follow me!" Anko shouted excitedly, talking to herself. The banner also had her self-introduction on it.
Faced with the excited Anko, the crowd in the room remained completely silent, leaving Anko momentarily stunned.
"Read the room!" Ibiki prompted in a low, helpless voice.
Hearing this, a slight blush appeared on Anko's face.
"78 people, Ibiki? That means 26 teams are left? Your exam this year was way too lenient!" Counting the remaining people in the classroom, Anko complained to Ibiki.
Takeru wasn't puzzled at all, as he had long been aware of the numbers. Although his team of three was added, the total number of people matched the original work exactly.
"This year, there are many excellent candidates," Ibiki replied calmly to Anko's complaint.
"Fine then! For the second exam, I'll cut your numbers to less than half! How exciting!" Hearing Ibiki's words, Anko showed a grin.
"The details will wait until tomorrow. After we change locations, ask your Jonin Instructor about the assembly place and time. That's all for now… dismissed!" Anko quickly announced the dismissal.
As she announced it, everyone slowly left the examination hall. Takeru also took Ui and Ritsu with him, heading towards their temporary lodgings.
The Jonin Instructor assigned by the Reincarnation Space also found Takeru's group, informed them of the location and time, and then hurriedly left again.