Bleach x Naruto: Shinigami in Konoha

A few days later, the Chunin Exams were held as scheduled, and the shadows of the other four major ninja villages had already arrived in Konoha.

The exam process remained consistent with the original—beginning with a written test.

In the classroom, proctor Ibiki Morino explained the rules to the examinees. Sasuke Uchiha glanced calmly around the room. The classroom had been enlarged to accommodate all the Chunin Exam candidates from various villages.

After the exam papers were handed out, Sasuke stared at the questions and fell into deep thought—not because he couldn't understand them, but because he already understood what this exam was really testing.

Most examinees were dumbfounded as they looked at the test questions.

Sasuke simply rested his head on his hand and closed his eyes. Although he knew the process and could copy others' answers using the Sharingan, he also knew the real purpose of the test: only the final question truly mattered. As long as he didn't raise his hand to forfeit, he would pass.

Thwack!

A piece of chalk struck a ninja squarely in the forehead. Cold sweat trickled down his temple as he swallowed hard.

"Candidate No. 38 has been caught cheating three times. You're disqualified from the exam. Additionally, all of your teammates are eliminated with you," said one of the proctors coldly. "If you have any doubts, I'll happily demonstrate just how pathetic your cheating attempts were."

The accused ninja clenched his fists but said nothing. Resigned, he stood and exited the classroom, followed by his disqualified teammates.

That one example served as a warning to the rest—many who had only just begun to cheat froze in fear and gave up.

As time passed, however, some of the examinees began to understand the hidden intent of the test. The questions were deliberately unsolvable for most genin. The true purpose was to evaluate their information-gathering abilities under pressure.

Once this clicked, various creative cheating methods emerged. But most were still detected, and whether the cheaters were eliminated depended entirely on how skillfully they cheated.

After 45 minutes, Ibiki clapped his hands to signal attention.

"Alright," Ibiki said, his tone like a razor's edge. He glanced toward Sasuke, who still rested his head casually on the desk. The Uchiha hadn't even picked up a pencil. Was it arrogance? Or cold certainty?

Ibiki sighed, then stepped forward to announce the final question.

"The tenth question will now be presented," he said with a slight grin—though the two brutal scars across his face made it look more like a grimace. "But before that, there are a few special rules."

His voice darkened. "First, you must choose whether or not to accept the final question."

The candidates looked at one another in confusion. This was unlike any test they'd ever taken.

"Wait, we have to choose whether to answer it or not?" Temari asked, raising a brow. "What happens if we decline?"

"If you forfeit the question," Ibiki replied, "you receive a zero. You fail. And because you're in a team, your teammates fail as well."

Chaos erupted in the room.

"What kind of rule is that?!"

"This is totally unfair!"

"We have to try the question no matter what!"

Candidates began to panic—but some began using the distraction to discreetly copy answers.

Sasuke silently observed them. A few were smart enough to use the distraction window, but most were just floundering. His Sharingan activated briefly, recording subtle hand movements and answer codes from behind him.

Ibiki waited for silence, then smirked again. "But there's more. If you do choose to answer the tenth question… and you get it wrong… you will never be allowed to take the Chunin Exams again."

That was the true killing blow.

Inuzuka Kiba jumped up in outrage. "What kind of idiotic rule is that?! You expect genin to gamble their entire future over one question?"

A murmur of agreement rippled across the room.

Ibiki let the uproar build for a few seconds before barking out a laugh.

"Heh… You're just unlucky. This year, I'm the one who makes the rules."

He narrowed his eyes at the crowd.

"But hey… I'm giving you a way out. If you're not confident, just walk away. Take the test again next year. Or the year after. Or never."

His voice dropped to a sinister hush. "Stay a genin forever."

The room froze. Everyone was paralyzed with indecision. Raise their hand and their whole team is out. Try the question and risk their ninja future. It was psychological warfare.

"Alright," Ibiki said. "Those who wish to forfeit, raise your hand now. Once confirmed, you can leave."

Hands trembled in the air—some halfway up, some hovering indecisively.

Sasuke remained stone-still. He wasn't worried. He looked over lazily, half-wondering if Naruto would still act like the hotheaded idiot from before.

Ibiki gave the candidates time. Then, slowly, Naruto stood. People began murmuring—was he giving up?

Instead, Naruto slammed both palms on his desk, glaring straight at Ibiki.

"Don't underestimate me! I'm not quitting!" he shouted. "Even if I stay a genin forever, I'll become a ninja greater than any Hokage! I'll answer your damn question, and I won't run away!"

He dropped back into his seat with determination blazing in his eyes.

Ibiki's face remained impassive, but deep down, he respected the kid. That raw resolve… it wasn't just bluster. It reminded him of someone.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Hn… still the same idiot," he thought—but even he acknowledged Naruto's guts.

Naruto's outburst lit a fire in the others. The hesitation faded. No more hands were raised.

"No one else quitting?" Ibiki asked again. The room was silent.

He gave a rare smile and nodded. "Congratulations. You all pass the first test. Prepare yourselves for the second stage."

Gasps spread across the classroom.

"Wait… what about the tenth question?" someone asked.

Ibiki replied, "That was the tenth question. The question was: do you have the will to continue, despite overwhelming odds? That belief is more important than any answer."

He removed his headband, revealing the dozens of scars on his shaved scalp—marks of torture he had survived without breaking.

The room fell silent in awe.

Then, crash!

A figure burst through the window, two kunai flying outward to pin a banner dramatically against the wall.

It read: "Second Exam Proctor: Mitarashi Anko!"

A grinning woman in a brown trench coat stood in front of the banner, hands on hips.

"Now's not the time to celebrate, brats!" she shouted. "I'm the proctor of the second exam—Mitarashi Anko!"

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