Under the heavy, viscous mental pressure deliberately cultivated by Morino Ibiki, time seemed to stretch, and every second was as unbearable as a dull knife cutting into flesh.
Immense fear and confusion about the future eroded the will of every candidate.
Finally, one candidate could bear it no longer.
He sat to the left of Naruto, his face as pale as paper, cold sweat trickling down his forehead, his lips trembling uncontrollably.
After a long internal struggle, he tremblingly raised his hand.
This action seemed to exhaust all his strength.
He knew that raising his hand meant the entire three-man team would be eliminated.
Choosing not to answer the tenth question meant a score of zero and the disqualification of his teammates.
But... but...
He squeezed his eyes shut, with only one thought screaming frantically in his heart: Failing the Chunin Exams once is still better than never being able to take them again!
Getting it wrong meant losing the qualification forever; he dared not take that risk, and he dared not take it for his teammates either.
He would rather bear the infamy of being "cowardly" and "dragging his teammates down" than continue this overly cruel gamble.
"I... give up... answering the tenth question."
He said these words in a voice that was barely audible.
Ibiki's gaze locked onto him like a cold arrow, along with his two teammates who were also deathly pale beside him.
"Candidate Number 50, you have chosen to give up."
Ibiki's voice held no emotional fluctuation, as if he were reading a pre-written verdict.
"Along with your teammates, Candidate Number 130 and Candidate Number 111, the first exam is a failure. Now, please leave the exam hall."
Concise and unquestionable.
Those three candidates stood up as if their spines had been removed, looking distraught. Under the gaze of countless others—some sympathetic, some disdainful, some relieved—they walked out of the exam hall with unsteady steps.
The heavy sound of the door closing struck the hearts of everyone remaining.
This was just the beginning.
Like the first domino being pushed over.
In the time that followed, one candidate after another could not withstand the pressure and tremblingly raised their hands. Every time a hand was raised, it was accompanied by Ibiki's cold, ruthless pronouncement and the dejected departure of a team.
"Candidate Number XX, failed."
"Candidate Number XX, failed."
"Candidate Number XX, failed."
...
Since the rule was "choosing not to answer results in the whole team being wiped out," every elimination cleared an entire team, and the number of people in the exam hall decreased at a steady and cruel pace.
It actually avoided the awkward situation of numbers not being divisible or single candidates being left behind.
The atmosphere in the exam hall became even more oppressive as people kept leaving.
The remaining candidates looked solemn and did not even dare to make eye contact, fearing that seeing hesitation in the other's eyes would trigger their own internal collapse.
Time ticked away, second by second.
Less than five minutes remained until the end of the exam.
Morino Ibiki's gaze swept over the seats of the remaining candidates below once more, silently counting the number of people in his mind.
His expression remained as calm as an ancient well, but deep in his eyes, a subtle, imperceptible assessment flashed.
'78 people?'
It was more than the number he had initially anticipated would make it to the end.
It seems that among this year's Genin, there are more people with firm wills who dare to fight with their backs to the wall than he expected. This is a good sign.
His gaze swept over the proctors holding scoreboards in the aisles on both sides of the exam hall, observing the candidates.
These experienced Chunin or Special Jonin were also closely monitoring the candidates' states.
Ibiki's gaze met theirs, communicating silently.
One by one, the proctors nodded slightly at Ibiki.
This meant that they also approved of the performance and willpower of the candidates currently remaining. The expected goal of the assessment had been reached.
Ibiki understood.
'Continuing to persist is the same.'
He mused. Those who were going to collapse had already collapsed, and those who could hold on until now had basically withstood the test of their willpower.
Continuing to apply pressure had little meaning and might even crush some seedlings who could have become excellent Chunin.
It was time.
He took a deep breath, and the expression on that scarred, perpetually icy-hard face suddenly underwent a subtle change.
He looked around at the young faces below who were still tense, waiting for the final "judgment," and spoke slowly. His voice was no longer cold and ruthless, but instead carried a hint of... appreciation?
"Your... determination is very good."
This sudden evaluation, so different from before, left all the candidates stunned. Determination? What did that mean?
Before they could react, the corners of Ibiki's mouth curled upward, revealing a hearty, even slightly gratified smile that was completely different from his previous "sinister grin."
He raised his voice and announced clearly and forcefully:
"Then..."
He paused deliberately, keeping everyone in suspense.
"...everyone remaining here..."
His gaze swept over every bewildered yet expectant face.
"...in the first exam..."
"All pass!"
"Congratulations!"
"Hahahaha!"
The moment the words fell, Ibiki could no longer hold back and let out a burst of extremely hearty, almost heroic laughter.
The laughter was deep and powerful, instantly dispelling the gloom and despair that had accumulated in the exam hall for so long.
The candidates' questions and confusion followed one after another.
Ibiki did not care.
This written exam, called the "Chunin Exams First Round," was essentially a large-scale mental interrogation scene led by him for all the candidates.
He enjoyed the process of personally setting up psychological traps, enjoyed watching these fledgling young Shinobi struggle painfully under pressure, hesitate, and eventually collapse and give up.
Every candidate who raised their hand to give up, every candidate who suffered in fear but ultimately held on—every subtle change in their expression, every quickened breath—was within his observation and "enjoyment."
This exam did not just test knowledge or information-gathering ability; it also tested will.
And he, Morino Ibiki, was the "interrogator" holding the mental whip and candy, coldly and precisely whipping and testing the hearts of these young people.
Watching the chaos and various reactions below, the satisfaction of his "prank" succeeding and the pleasure of being an observer reached its peak in Ibiki's heart. This was much more interesting than simply interrogating a prisoner.
Naruto gently released Hinata's small hand, which he had been clutching tightly and was no longer cold. He felt his own palms were a bit sweaty, so he naturally raised his hand and wiped the sweat off on his pants.
This action was subtle and ordinary, yet it made Hinata, who had just calmed down from the huge emotional fluctuation, blush slightly again.
"Great, we passed."
Hinata looked up, meeting Naruto's clear, sky-blue eyes.
There was no haze in them, only pure happiness and encouragement for her.
The last trace of tension and panic in her heart was dispelled by this smile.
She nodded vigorously, a shy yet bright smile blossoming on her face, and responded softly but firmly:
"Mm!"