"Rule 3: If one person in the team scores zero points, all members of that team will be judged as unqualified and eliminated immediately!"
The scarred-faced man continued his explanation.
Hearing this, Sasuke's composure finally cracked.
Perhaps in other areas, Naruto might still have some hope.
But when it came to written academic subjects, the dead-last student had proven countless times in school that he shared an unbreakable bond with zero scores.
On the other side, Sakura let out the expected wail of despair.
Damn it.
Sasuke turned to glance at Gaara.
He had originally planned to fight as many strong opponents as possible in this Chunin Exam to test his own strength.
He hadn't expected the first stage to be so problematic.
Just as he was carefully considering how to resolve this situation, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Three minds outwit a master. Congratulations on awakening the system: "Group Effort"]
What was that sound?
Sasuke looked around alertly. Examiner Ibiki was still explaining the rules. The candidates were either frustrated or confused, but they were all listening carefully. Everything appeared normal.
"Who's playing a prank? And who is this master?"
Sasuke wondered silently.
Immediately after, numerous instructions flooded his mind, detailing the system's specific functions.
Although some of the terminology in the description seemed rather strange, Sasuke, who had been an honor student since childhood, quickly grasped what it was.
"Group Effort" system:
As long as you follow other people's suggestions, you can obtain scrolls of different grades.
Opening the scrolls allows you to randomly acquire ninjutsu secrets, physical enhancements, ninja tools, summoning beasts, and even kekkei genkai and other strength improvements.
The higher the scroll's grade, the greater the probability of obtaining high-level rewards.
"I can become stronger just by taking advice?"
Sasuke felt his interest pique.
As examiner Ibiki finished his explanation, the test papers were gradually distributed to everyone.
Sasuke forcibly suppressed his curiosity and returned his attention to the test paper.
The first question was coded text.
The densely packed characters and symbols were obviously far more difficult than any test questions he'd encountered in school before.
Question two:
"Ninja B in the diagram is positioned on a 7-meter-high tree. The maximum range of Ninja A's shuriken is illustrated in the diagram. Please identify the characteristics of enemy ninja that will appear within the ellipse drawn by the shuriken's range, calculate the maximum shooting range during aerial combat, and provide your reasoning."
This?
Impossible!
Sasuke thought it over and soon understood. Isn't this forcing us to cheat?
Also, what's with the rule that only 2 points will be deducted for each instance of cheating?
What kind of exam gives you five chances to cheat?
Recalling what examiner Ibiki had said at the beginning: "Since you are ninja, take this exam like proper ninja."
Like proper ninja.
That meant obtaining information through ninja methods.
Traditional cheating methods would probably result in quick elimination.
After confirming the situation, Sasuke felt somewhat more confident.
Now it depended on whether Naruto could figure this out.
Looking up, he saw Naruto sitting on his stool, scratching his head and fidgeting restlessly, looking like he desperately needed a bathroom break. Sasuke felt speechless.
As expected, this idiot had no hope of using his brain.
Considering there was still plenty of time, Sasuke focused his thoughts and followed the previous instructions to open the "Group Effort" system.
For a moment, his consciousness seemed to enter some kind of illusion, finally stopping before a glowing interface.
The text in the interface wasn't in Japanese, but it was remarkably intuitive and dignified.
Although it differed from the grammar he was familiar with, he could naturally understand it at a glance.
[Please post your first question]
Following the previous instructions, Sasuke created a new post on the page.
"I am Uchiha Sasuke, and I'm taking the first round of the Chunin Examination. The questions are obviously beyond the curriculum—should I cheat?"
After a pause, Sasuke added: "This exam requires three-person teams with averaged scores. My teammate Uzumaki Naruto is terrible at written exams. How can I help him?"
After posting, no one had responded yet.
Sasuke looked around and found that many people had already begun taking action.
Inuzuka Kiba was using his ninja dog Akamaru to peek at answers, Aburame Shino was using insects, Gaara was using his Sand Eye...
Sure enough, everyone realized this was an exam testing intelligence-gathering abilities!
At the same time, responses from netizens appeared through the system.
"Right, right, you're Uchiha Sasuke, and I'm Monkey D. Luffy, hahahaha."
"You believe him? Then you might as well believe I'm Qin Shihuang."
Hiss.
Just Luffy—why are you laughing?
Who is Qin Shihuang?
The people on this forum seem mentally unstable.
At that moment, a new reply refreshed:
"If you're really browsing forums right now, the way to copy answers is to use your Sharingan to copy other people's movements. Once they finish writing, you copy their answers. Hurry up, bro."
"Huh?"
Sasuke's eyes lit up after seeing this response.
How does someone who's never met me know I have the Sharingan?
Right, it must be due to my Uchiha family's reputation.
Before he could think further, the system's voice sounded in his mind again:
[You have received a new suggestion: Seize the opportunity and copy others' actions to complete your answer sheet. Accept and complete this suggestion to receive an E-rank scroll]
That's exactly what I was thinking.
Sasuke raised his eyes again and looked around, locking onto someone in front of him who was writing furiously. He then activated his Sharingan, perfectly copying the person's movements, and his paper quickly filled with answers.
As he finished answering the questions, the voice in his mind sounded again:
[Congratulations on completing the suggestion—Use Sharingan to complete the answer sheet and obtain E-rank scroll]
That's it?
Sasuke closed his eyes again, calmed his mind, and saw a slightly opened scroll appear in his consciousness, glowing with white light.
Open!
Sasuke thought to himself.
[You opened the E-rank scroll. Congratulations on obtaining Chakra Enhancement +1]
Immediately, Sasuke felt his stamina increase slightly, filling him with surprise and joy.
Compared to attributes like ninjutsu, strength, and hand seals that could be steadily improved through rigorous training, expanding one's stamina limit was relatively slow.
While continuous practice and good living habits could help improve this attribute, this dimension depended more on a ninja's natural talent.
In simpler terms, it was innate.
For example, energetic maniacs like Naruto, Rock Lee, and Gai had been bursting with vitality since childhood. They'd either climb the Hokage Monument with paint buckets when bored, or run 500 laps at the drop of a hat. Their youthful energy was truly overwhelming.
However, as one of the "raw materials" for chakra, one's stamina limit also largely determined chakra endurance.
In other words, the chakra reserves.
Many times, this was often the difference between life and death.
After all, when masters compete against each other, their differences become negligible.
Sasuke felt a surge of joy as he sensed his body's energy clearly increasing with each breath.
Though the improvement was gradual, it was far faster than regular training!
"Swish!"
A kunai flew past and embedded itself directly into a candidate's test paper.
"Five mistakes. You're eliminated," the proctor announced to the unfortunate examinee. "Your two teammates, leave the classroom immediately."
The sudden turn of events shocked everyone present.
From that moment on, candidates began getting eliminated one after another. Watching Naruto's back, Sasuke grew nervous once more.