"The score for the first exam consists of two components: the written score and the performance score."
"The written test is worth 100 points. After you finish answering the questions, 70% of your raw score will be counted as your final written score."
"Each person starts with 30 points as a performance score. However, if anyone is caught cheating, they will lose 10 points per offense. If caught three times, the examinee and their entire team will be disqualified."
"For a team of genin to advance to the second exam, every member must score at least 60 points in total."
As the chief examiner spoke, the other proctors sat down at different spots around the exam hall, completely surrounding the test-takers.
The examinees reacted in various ways upon hearing the rules.
Soon after, the exam papers were distributed. Aoshi only needed a brief glance to recognize that every question was far beyond the standard curriculum.
Only someone like him—who excelled in theoretical knowledge—could possibly answer them.
In other words, though the rules differed, this exam was ultimately similar to the one Naruto faced in the original series. It was designed to test genin on their information-gathering abilities.
Cheating wasn't outright forbidden—it just couldn't be done clumsily. Still, this exam was significantly harder than the one Naruto took.
Not only was the number of allowed cheating attempts limited to three, but handing in a blank sheet like Naruto did wouldn't work here.
A score of zero on the written test would make it mathematically impossible to reach the 60-point passing threshold. If one member failed, the entire team would be eliminated.
That meant not only did you need to complete the test yourself, but you also had to find a way to help less capable teammates.
Understanding all this, Aoshi immediately glanced at Kushina, who sat just ahead of him to the left. The once-confident girl now looked like a wilted tomato slumped over her desk, her complexion pale and drained.
Clearly, the test was well beyond her ability.
This wasn't surprising—though Kushina was a prodigy in her own right, her talents lay more in combat. Her academic performance was only average.
Shaking his head slightly, Aoshi discreetly performed a summoning jutsu, calling forth a miniaturized version of Katsuyu, the Great Slug Sage.
Katsuyu could perform long-range healing and share vision between its clones—perfect for relaying information in real-time.
And now, Aoshi intended to use the legendary Katsuyu from Shikkotsu Forest, one of the Three Great Sages, as a tool for cheating in the exam. If Tsunade found out, who knew what her reaction would be?
Katsuyu itself, however, had no objection. In fact, it found the experience rather novel and amusing.
"The test will last one hour. Begin now!"
With the examiner's command, some students immediately started panicking, while others—those who had figured out the true goal of the exam—began showing off their skills.
For instance, members of the Uchiha clan quickly located hidden chunin disguised as examinees and copied their writing using the Sharingan.
Afterward, they used genjutsu to relay the answers to their teammates within an illusory world.
Hyuga clan members used their Byakugan to copy answers through x-ray vision, then passed them on to teammates under the pretense of going to the bathroom.
As for Minato, like Aoshi, he was fully capable of answering the test on his own. While a perfect score wasn't guaranteed, 80 or 90 points were certainly within reach.
To assist his teammates, Tomoki and Ayame, Minato cleverly adjusted the angle of a mirror on the ceiling, allowing them to see his answer sheet directly.
Just like Tenten's mirror trick in the original story, it was a simple task for someone like Minato.
Whoosh! A kunai shot through the air, breaking the silence of the exam room.
"Candidate No. 54 has been caught cheating three times and is hereby disqualified. Candidates No. 12 and No. 146 are also disqualified."
A cold, emotionless voice followed the warning.
"You bastards! What gives you the right to cancel my exam?!" roared the exposed candidate, No. 54, full of indignation.
The next moment, he was struck down by the proctor. "Because I'm stronger than you!"
In the shinobi world, power was everything. Those without strength had no choice but to obey rules made by the powerful.
This scene sent a chill through the rest of the examinees.
Kushina was among those shaken. Staring at the incomprehensible questions on her test paper, she fell into utter despair.
By now, she had figured out the true purpose of the exam. But none of her strengths could help her cheat in this situation.
If it were just her failing, she could live with it—but the thought of dragging Aoshi down with her made her feel sick with guilt.
The constant sounds of disqualification announcements only made her more anxious. Just as Kushina was lost in helplessness, Aoshi's summoned Katsuyu finally reached her desk.
Although a slug, Katsuyu's crawling speed wasn't slow. But in its current state—summoned in insect-size and then split into two—it had taken a little time to arrive.
"Katsuyu-sama!" Kushina whispered excitedly.
Since arriving in Konoha, she had lived with Mito Uzumaki and Tsunade, so she was very familiar with Katsuyu.
She also knew that Aoshi had signed a summoning contract with the Shikkotsu Forest. So when she saw Katsuyu, she instantly understood that Aoshi was helping her.
Now it was a guaranteed win just by staying still.
Aoshi, when the second exam begins, I'll carry you for sure! That thought flashed through her mind as she began answering questions with Katsuyu's help.
"Time's up! All examinees must stop writing and leave the examination hall immediately. Results will be announced after lunch."
With the examiner's final announcement, joy and disappointment filled the air in equal measure. But there was no use worrying now—it was time to eat.
"Aoshi, it's all thanks to you. If not, both of us would've failed the first exam—that would've been so embarrassing." Outside the exam hall, Kushina approached Aoshi and gave his arm a grateful pat.
Aoshi nodded and turned to the approaching trio. "Minato, how did the three of you do?"
"Minato was fine, obviously," Tomoki answered first. "And it's thanks to him—otherwise, I wouldn't have answered even a single question."
"Seriously, why do we still have to take written exams when we're already ninja?" he added, trembling slightly. "When I become Hokage, I'm definitely abolishing this rule."
Just barely escaping elimination had clearly left him rattled.
Ayame giggled. "But once you become Hokage, you won't have to take any more tests, right?"
Tomoki blinked in realization. Right... if I'm Hokage, I don't have to do exams—but if I abolish them, won't that be too generous to the next generation of ninja?
"Then I'll just make them harder! This pain shouldn't be mine alone!" As Tomoki abruptly changed his tune, everyone burst into cheerful laughter.
"Alright, let's grab lunch first. We can come back later to check the results." With Aoshi in the lead, the group left the Ninja Academy.
At the same time, Killer Bee and the others were having a quiet discussion of their own. "That red-haired girl… she's our target."
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