One more thing," Said Ibiki, "If one individual loses all ten of his or her points, that person's entire team, regardless of how the other two members do…" He smirked. "Will be disqualified."
That made a lot of people tense up, and Ibiki looked at her again, only for her to scrunch her nose up and smile at him. It was so funny seeing him perplexed with how calm she was.
Kimiko also glanced at Naruto from behind. She saw his hands gripping his hair like he wanted to pull it out. He was rocking slightly, probably mentally spiraling, trying to figure out how to avoid dragging her and Sasuke down with him. With Hinata looking at him wistfully from beside him.
It'll be fine, Naruto. Just be your usual self.
"The final question won't be given out til fifteen minutes before the end of the testing period, you have one hour total."
The faintest click echoed from a stopwatch.
"Begin!"
Kimiko finally reached forward, turned over her paper, and—
Oh, this is ridiculous.
Question 1: "Decrypt the following code using the key provided."
Simple on the surface, but Kimiko could tell by the cipher patterns that it was far from basic. It wasn't impossible, but it would definitely drain time and patience.
Her eyes shifted down.
Question 2: "Line B in the diagram shows the trajectory of a shuriken thrown at enemy C by ninja A, seated atop a tree seven meters tall. Describe and formulate the trajectory required if C were positioned at points D, E, and F. Also, predict the furthest possible range of the shuriken and explain how you arrived at your answer."
Kimiko blinked. Then she sighed.
What was this, a physics exam?
Technically, she could figure it out if she put her mind to it, but the sheer absurdity of it made her eyes roll. Nobody in the middle of battle was calculating the angle of a shuriken's arc mid-throw. You aimed, you threw, and if it missed, you threw again. Sure, for longer-range throws, the concept of angle and momentum came into play, but not with this level of exactitude.
This is a trap question, she thought. A good way to make people panic and burn their time. Meant to daunt them.
She glanced at the third question.
Question 3: "If three shinobi split their rations unequally at a rate of 5:3:2, but one consumes an additional portion, how much...?"
Her eyes narrowed at it, feeling a familiar sense of annoyance.
Economics? Seriously?
She scanned the rest. History. Trigonometry. Advanced mathematics. Tactical scenario breakdowns. The questions only got more ridiculous as she went on. She didn't even bother reading Question 8 in full after seeing the phrase "derivative of chakra energy over time."
Her eyes darted toward the front of the room. She could already see some of the other genin beginning to sweat. People gripped their pencils like they were lifelines. A few glanced around anxiously, eyes flicking like they were looking for help but too afraid to ask.
Kimiko leaned back in her chair, arms crossed as she glanced toward the ceiling.
The first thing anyone with a brain would notice? If cheating really was a problem, then why did they only deduct points for it instead of outright disqualifying them? Because cheating was the whole point.
Her eyes flicked toward Naruto. He was staring down at his test, wide-eyed, shoulders slumped. She didn't need to see his face to know he was freaking out.
If this version of Naruto was anything like the one from the original timeline, this would be his first step toward greatness. He wouldn't solve a single question, and yet he'd pass. He'd get through it on sheer grit and refusal to give up. The thought made her smile.
I'll let you have your moment, Naruto, she thought fondly. But me? I want to play the game.
Her fingers flexed at her sides, and she dropped her gaze back to the test.
Technically, she didn't have to cheat. She could sit there, do nothing, and ride on Naruto's indomitable will to pass the test. But that felt too easy. She had tools at her disposal, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't just a little curious to see if she could pull it off.
Her fingers twitched once under the desk. A hand sign too small to notice unless you were looking for it. The moment her chakra flared, her senses expanded. She felt the sharp presence of chakra signatures all around her, but some of them were peculiar compared to the rest.
The plants.
No genin had perfectly controlled, steady chakra. Not even Sasuke. But two of these people had chakra that felt too stable. Too calm. They weren't nervous. They weren't anxious. They had no stakes in this game.
One of them was right next to her.
Bingo.
Kimiko glanced toward him from the corner of her eye. Tall. Ordinary-looking. He'd done a good job blending in. If she hadn't been searching for chakra, she would have missed it.
Her lips curled into a small grin. Time to work.
She reached into her pocket slowly, pulling out her wooden water flask. She twisted it open, took a casual sip, and "accidentally" let a drop spill from the side of her mouth. It fell onto the floor, completely unnoticed, especially with how quiet the room had become.
The chuunin proctors didn't blink. They wouldn't care about something as small as a water spill.
Heh. Mistake number one.
Kimiko pressed her index finger to the desk, forming a single hand sign hidden beneath it. Her chakra pulsed once, flowing through the drop of water on the floor, feeding it like it was soil. The drop shimmered, expanded into a small puddle no bigger than a coin, barely visible against the classroom's wooden floor.
Then she made it rise.
The water lifted from the floor in microscopic droplets, almost invisible. It hovered just over the edge of the chuunin's desk. Slowly, carefully, the water gathered into a tiny, clear sphere the size of a pea. No bigger than a drop of dew.
Kimiko's fingers twitched again, feeding it chakra, shaping it, twisting it into what seemed to be a spy lens.
The curvature of the water bent light, reflecting it back toward her. The spyglass hovered at the edge of the chuunin's desk, tilting at just the right angle to give her a crystal-clear view of his answer sheet.
Got you.
She leaned on her hand like she was bored, her gaze set forward, but her peripheral vision was more than enough.
"Hmm…" Kimiko tapped her pencil lightly, shifting her weight. She glanced up and saw one of the proctors staring at her. A tall, bald man with a face like a hawk.
His eyes met hers.
She tilted her head and stared right back.
The man's eyes lingered on her for a second longer, then turned away.
She smirked, writing down the answers off of the spy glass.
And once she finished, she tilted her flask, letting another bead of water "accidentally" fall off the edge. The small drop reconnected with the floating sphere, reabsorbing into it.
Her fingers twitched, and she dropped the spyglass back down into a simple water droplet on the floor. It shimmered once, then melted into the wood, vanishing without a trace.
Perfect.
"Number one-zero-two, number twenty-three, number forty-three, and twenty-seven — you're all out. Start walking," Kotetsu's voice rang out with sharp authority. Kimiko's eyes flicked to the commotion just in time to see one of the accused rise from his seat, his face twisted in frustration.
"What?! You have no proof I cheated five times!" the boy snarled, his voice cracking under pressure. He jabbed a finger toward Kotetsu, but before he could take another breath, one of the stationed Chuunin blurred into motion.
The next moment, the boy was slammed against the wall, a forearm pressing firmly against his neck. His protests turned into panicked sputtering, feet just barely touching the ground. The Chuunin leaned in close, eyes sharp as daggers, his voice a low, dangerous growl.
"We don't make mistakes," the Chuunin hissed, his words deliberate and cutting. "You're lucky disqualification is all you're getting. Now, move."
The boy went silent. His eyes darted around the room, searching for anyone to back him up, but not a soul met his gaze. Shoulders slumped, he nodded stiffly, his lips pressed into a thin line as he was shoved toward the exit. He didn't look back.
Kimiko clicked her tongue softly. Thirteenth team to be dismissed. The room was thinning out, and not by coincidence. She wasn't entirely convinced that every person being thrown out was an actual cheater. No, if she had to guess, at least one or two of them were probably plants. A scare tactic. Another piece of Ibiki's mental warfare.
Her gaze shifted toward the man himself. Ibiki stood at the front of the room, his hands behind his back, his eyes scanning every inch of the classroom with the casual ease of a predator watching prey. His gaze lingered on her for a moment — sharp, calculating, like he was trying to dissect her without a scalpel.
You see me, huh? Kimiko thought, flashing him a fleeting, knowing smile. Her fingers drummed lightly against the desk. She wasn't about to crack.
Ibiki's eyes lingered on her for a beat longer, then slowly turned toward the clock on the wall.
Kimiko's eyes narrowed.
It's time, isn't it?
She didn't have to wait long.
"Alright!" Ibiki barked, his voice cutting through the room like a kunai through silk. The air shifted as every head snapped toward him, even the ones who had been sweating bullets over their exam papers. Kimiko noticed Naruto's shoulders tense, his hands gripping the sides of his desk. The poor boy looked ready to jump out of his seat.
"It's time for the tenth question ," Ibiki announced, his words hanging in the air like the strike of a bell.
Kimiko glanced at Naruto. He was frozen, his breathing uneven, his gaze locked on Ibiki like the man had just pulled a sword on him. She could tell exactly what he was thinking. He hadn't copied off of Hinata. He hadn't cheated. He thought everything was riding on this one last question.
Technically, he's right, Kimiko thought with a small smile. Her gaze flicked to Sasuke a few rows back, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp.
"But," Ibiki continued, his voice slower this time, more deliberate, "Before I give you the tenth question…" He scanned the room, letting the pause stretch out long enough for nerves to fray. "There are some more rules you need to be aware of."
Kimiko's nails tapped once more against her desk.
Here it comes.
"These rules are unique to question ten, so listen carefully and try not to let them frighten you," Ibiki smirked, his eyes scanning the room.
The silence that followed was so sharp it could've carved stone. Kimiko leaned back, resting her hands calmly on her lap, watching Ibiki carefully. The man knew exactly what he was doing. Prolonged silence was another classic interrogation tactic — a way to force anxiety to fester in the minds of his targets. He was playing them like a finely tuned instrument.
"First…" Ibiki began slowly, drawing out the word to further stoke the room's anxiety. "Rule number one — each of you is free to choose whether or not to take the final question. It's entirely up to you."
Confusion swept through the room like wildfire. Kimiko could hear the growing murmurs from the genin around her. Some tilted their heads in disbelief, while others whispered to their teammates in low, frantic voices.
Until a voice, sharp as a whistle, cut through it all.
"So what's the catch if we decide not to answer it? What happens then?" Temari's voice was clear and assertive, drawing all eyes to her.
Ibiki turned his gaze toward her, his eyes narrowing with twisted delight. "If you choose not to answer the tenth question, you and your entire team will fail on the spot. All points, gone. No second chances."
More murmurs. Tension climbed. Some genin glanced at their teammates with wide eyes, uncertainty creeping into their postures.
"Then why would any of us refuse to answer that question, then?!" Demanded a random genin.
"Because that's not all," Ibiki continued, his grin stretching just a bit wider. His tone grew heavier, deliberate. "The second rule is even more important."
The room went still. Not a single cough, not a shuffle of paper. Kimiko felt the weight of the silence pressing on her chest like an iron weight.
Ibiki's eyes sharpened as he delivered the final blow. "If you choose to answer the question and get it wrong, you won't just fail this year…" His eyes swept the room slowly, soaking in their growing panic. "YOU WILL BE BARRED FROM TAKING THE CHUUNIN EXAMS EVER AGAIN."
The room exploded.
"That's bull, man!" Kiba shot up from his seat, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He jabbed a finger in Ibiki's direction, his face twisted in fury. "What kind of bogus rule is that?! There's people here who've taken the exams before!" Akamaru barked in agreement, standing on Kiba's head with his ears pointed upward.
Ibiki's eyes snapped to Kiba. He didn't even blink.
"Guess you're just unlucky," Ibiki replied coldly, his lips curling into a humorless grin. "I wasn't in charge those previous years. I'm in charge now."
Kiba froze, his outburst slowly deflating as his legs wobbled slightly. Akamaru gave a low whimper and ducked his head.
Ibiki pressed on, his gaze falling upon each of them like a weight. "If you're not feeling confident, by all means, skip it. Save yourself the humiliation. You'll have another chance next year... if you're lucky enough to still be a ninja by then."
The threat lingered like a bad stench. Several genin glanced at one another, their eyes darting nervously. Sweat dripped from foreheads.
Kimiko's gaze stayed on Ibiki, unwavering. After all, she knew exactly what this was. Just a way to torment them, to weed out the unprepared and weak-willed
And because she knew what was coming, it lost its power. Honestly? She was bored.
Kimiko smiled at Ibiki, and his eyes briefly passed over her, and she noticed his expression shift ever so slightly. It was a flicker of confusion — like noticing something out of place.
You're really stumped about why these aren't working on me, huh?
"Alright… Let's begin," Ibiki announced, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. His eyes scanned every face with practiced precision. "Those who choose not to accept the challenge should raise their hands. Once your number is confirmed, you can leave the room."
Silence reigned. No one moved at first, every eye darting around, searching for someone—anyone—to be the first to break. Tension crackled like static in the air, but it didn't last long.
"I'm quitting. I'm sorry, Gennai, Inaho!" a voice rang out from the other side of the room. One of the genin to Naruto's right raised his hand, his face taut with shame and regret.
"Number fifty, failed!" barked Izumo from the side. His voice was sharp, unforgiving. "Number one-thirty and number one-eleven, you fail with him!" The sound of footsteps followed as three genin slowly made their way to the exit, heads down, eyes averted from the crowd.
More hands went up. Slowly at first, but like a chain reaction, genin all across the room began surrendering to their doubts. One by one, they filtered out of the room, muttering apologies to their teammates or bowing their heads in quiet defeat.
Kimiko's gaze remained steady, her face a mask of calm detachment, she didn't even glance at the exits. Her focus was on Naruto, watching him closely as his whole body trembled. His hands shook on the desk, fingers tapping the wood in an anxious, uneven rhythm.
Her chest tightened. She knew what this moment was. She knew he was at war with himself. She knew how badly Naruto hated being seen as a failure. And knowing that she could just tell him the point of the exam….but no.
This wasn't her fight to win for him.
This was his.
His eyes flicked toward the ceiling, toward his teammates, and then to his own hands. It pained her to see him like this, struggling to choose between fear and faith. But she didn't flinch. Not once. Her belief in him had never faltered—not even when his hand began to rise.
Naruto…
Her heart didn't waver. She trusted him. She believed in him. Even as his hand twitched higher and higher—
BAM!
His hand slammed down on the desk like a thunderclap, rattling it so hard the sound echoed through the room. Every head whipped toward him.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" he roared, his voice raw and fierce. His blue eyes burned like twin suns, unwavering, unyielding. "I DON'T QUIT, AND I DON'T RUN!"
Everyone watched him now. Everyone. Even the ones who had been on their way out stopped to stare.
"I'll accept your stupid question!" he continued, his gaze locked on Ibiki with a defiance so fierce it could crush stone. "Even if it means I stay a genin for the rest of my life, I'll still be Hokage someday! And I know Kimiko and Sasuke will back me up, no matter what happens!"
Kimiko's breath caught in her chest. Her heart fluttered, warmth spreading through her like a ripple in still water. Before she even realized it, her lips moved on their own.
"That's right," she said firmly, her voice carrying through the room like a bell. Her eyes gleamed with pride as she glanced toward him. "I'll support you no matter what."
Then, something surprising happened.
Sasuke, still calm, still cool, still Sasuke, leaned forward, his eyes locked on Ibiki's with a fire that matched Naruto's. "I'm not quitting either," he said, his voice quiet but firm, each word carrying the weight of steel. "I'm not letting any of my teammates down."
Kimiko's eyes widened just a little. She turned toward him, and for a brief moment, Sasuke's gaze flicked toward her, a subtle confirmation of everything she knew about him but rarely saw him say outright.
The whispers started. Murmurs and glances passed between genin from every village. Faces turned toward them — curious, surprised, some impressed, others skeptical. But they were all watching them.
Good, she thought. Let them watch. Let them see what a real team looks like.
Ibiki's eyes narrowed as he took them all in—Naruto, Sasuke, Kimiko. He leaned forward, his scarred face twisted into something sharp and dangerous. He stepped forward, his eyes on Naruto.
"I'll ask you one last time," Ibiki said slowly, letting the silence stretch long enough to crush anyone with doubts still lingering in their hearts. "This is a decision that will affect you for the rest of your life. It's better to quit while you still have the chance."
Naruto didn't flinch. His hands gripped the sides of his desk, knuckles white with tension, but his eyes never left Ibiki's.
"No way," Naruto growled, his grin returning, sharper than ever. "I never go back on my word. That's my ninja way. "
Kimiko's grin matched his, a slow, satisfied curl of her lips as her eyes flicked to Ibiki. And that, she thought, is why you'll never break him.
Naruto's outburst spread through the room like wildfire, snuffing out any lingering thoughts of quitting. It was infectious — his love, his confidence, and his unshakable determination. His words alone managed to inspire an entire room of shinobi, even if he didn't fully realize it himself.
Kimiko could feel it. The tension in the air shifted. Doubt was replaced with resolve. The energy was palpable. She glanced around, catching glimpses of the other genin straightening their backs and gripping their pencils a little tighter. The fear had left their eyes, replaced by something far more dangerous — belief.
Even Ibiki noticed it. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his scarred face impassive, but Kimiko caught the brief flicker of realization behind his eyes. He knew, as well as anyone, that no one was quitting now. Not after that .
"Alright," said Ibiki, his gruff voice commanding the room's attention once more. "I admire your determination, if nothing else." His eyes swept over the remaining participants, weighing each of them as if he could see their resolve laid bare. "To the seventy-eight of you still here, there's only one thing left to do."
He paused, drawing the moment out. Kimiko knew exactly what was coming, but her heart still pounded with anticipation.
"And that's for me to tell you…" He let the silence linger, soaking in every drop of tension the room had to offer. His grin slowly widened.
"You've all passed the first exam!"
The room exploded.
" HUH?! " one genin blurted out, his chair scraping against the floor as he shot up to his feet. His wide eyes darted around, searching for an explanation. "W-Wait, what do you mean we all passed? Where's the tenth question?!"
Ibiki chuckled, his grin turning into a full smile. Somehow, the shift in his demeanor was even more jarring than his earlier threats. The hardened interrogator, the man who had made them all sweat with fear, now looked like someone's doting uncle after a long-winded prank.
"There never was a tenth question," he said with a shrug. "Not a written one, at least."
Gasps rippled through the room like the aftershock of an earthquake.
"What?!"
"Are you serious right now?!"
"Then what were we even doing this whole time?!"
Ibiki waved his hand to calm them down, his grin never faltering. "Actually, you deciding to stay was the answer to the tenth question. The final test was your choice to stay and face the unknown consequences."
A blonde kunoichi from Suna, Temari, raised her hand, eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Wait a minute," she said slowly, her tone sharp. "So you're telling me all those questions we were breaking our heads over... they were just a waste of time ?"
Ibiki barked a short, sharp laugh. "No, no, not at all!" He shook his head like a teacher correcting a particularly clueless student. "Quite the opposite, in fact. The first nine questions served a very important purpose."
He folded his arms, his scarred face taking on a commanding edge once more. "They were there to test your ability to gather information under extreme duress. To see if you could obtain vital intel in high-pressure situations without getting caught. That's why we set the rules the way we did." He motioned to the proctors standing at the edges of the room.
A murmur of realization spread through the room. Heads nodded in understanding, some reluctantly, some begrudgingly.
"Like I said," Ibiki continued, "I wasn't just testing you as individuals. I was testing how well you function as part of a team. That's why you all shared points. Because every mistake you made, every wrong move, would affect your whole team. Just like in the real world. There are no solo shinobi in a mission."
Kimiko glanced around the room, noting how the realization started to sink in for the others. The Sound Trio were scowling, arms crossed and visibly irritated. Kiba muttered something under his breath, clearly upset that he'd fallen for the deception. Temari had her arms crossed, her lips pressed into a firm line, as she tapped her index finger against her arm. Lee just sat there, arms folded, nodding like he'd known the whole time — which he absolutely had not.
"Mmhm," muttered Naruto, arms crossed as he nodded like a sage on a mountaintop. "Yeah, I figured it was something like that. That's why I stayed calm the whole time."
Kimiko pressed her hand against her lips to stifle a laugh. Liar. She could still remember the panic in his face when Ibiki mentioned the tenth question would be the final test. Still, she couldn't help but feel proud of him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hinata covering her mouth, her eyes darting toward Naruto. She giggled softly, her shoulders shaking as she peeked at him from the side, like she was afraid of being caught watching him.
Naruto must have noticed, because he tilted his head toward her, flashing that boyish grin of his. "Huh? You laughing at me, Hinata-chan?" he asked, his grin playful but his voice gentle.
Hinata's face lit up like a firecracker, her blush creeping all the way to the tips of her ears. She shook her head so fast she nearly knocked her head against the desk. "N-No, Naruto-kun! I-I wasn't laughing at you!" she stammered, her hands waving in front of her face.
"Aw, don't worry about it," Naruto said with a wide grin, scratching the back of his head. "If I'm making you smile, then I'm doing something right, huh?"
Hinata practically melted, her eyes wide, her entire face red as she lowered her head to the table to hide her expression.
Smooth, I taught him how to treat a woman early.
"That said, the first nine questions were intentionally beyond the level of what a genin could reasonably solve. Most of you likely realized that early on," Ibiki's voice boomed through the room. His eyes scanned the sea of genin, lingering on those who looked the most uncomfortable. "And so, there was no doubt in our minds that you only had one viable option to retain your points—cheating."
A ripple of murmurs spread throughout the room. Kimiko glanced around, catching glimpses of panic and realization dawning on some of the genin's faces.
"Of course, to ensure there were suitable targets for you to cheat from, we planted two chuunin operatives among you," Ibiki continued, a wicked grin forming on his face. "They were given the correct answers in advance and scattered throughout the room as bait."
"Y-Yeah!" Naruto laughed, hands behind his head like he'd been in on the whole thing. "Only a total doofus would fall for that, huh, Hinata?" His grin was as wide as ever, brimming with self-assurance.
Hinata's eyes darted toward him, her cheeks turning pink. "R-Right, Naruto-kun," she stammered, her fingers poking together nervously.
Kimiko let out a short snort, one mirrored by Sasuke.
Ibiki's gaze lingered on them before his hands reached up toward his head. "Of course," he said, slowly unclasping the headwrap covering his scalp, "anyone caught cheating failed. But those of you who cheated without getting caught? Congratulations." He pulled the cloth away, revealing a scalp crisscrossed with scars, burns, and puncture marks, each one a grim reminder of the life he'd lived. The silence was palpable. "Cheating without being caught? That's called reconnaissance. And reconnaissance is an essential skill for any shinobi worth their headband."
The room was dead silent as every genin stared at Ibiki's exposed head. No one dared to make a sound, not even Naruto.
"Make no mistake," Ibiki continued, his voice low "If you're ever caught during a mission, it won't be as simple as being 'disqualified.'" He turned his head slowly, letting each genin get a full view of the horror etched into his flesh. "No, being caught can cost you far more than your life. You'll pay in pain, in your will, and in your mind. Piece by piece. Over days. Weeks. Years. They will carve you apart until there's nothing left to take."
Kimiko's eyes sharpened at that. It was one thing to know the scene ahead of time, but hearing it spoken aloud from the man himself hit different .
"Your mistakes don't just end with you," Ibiki continued, turning his head back toward the crowd. "If you bring back flawed intelligence or fail to properly analyze information on a mission, you aren't just failing yourself—you're jeopardizing your entire team. Your village. Everyone who's depending on you."
He finished re-wrapping his head, tugging it tightly into place. " That is why we forced you to cheat. We maneuvered you into using your espionage skills, baited you into deception, and set the stage to expose those of you too unskilled to manage it."
"Okaaay?" Temari drawled, arms crossed, her sharp eyes narrowing. "But I'm still not getting what the tenth question thing is all about."
Ibiki raised an eyebrow, his smirk curling. "You're not?" His gaze swept the room. "The tenth question was the main purpose of the whole exam. Surely, you see that?"
Temari's eyes rolled. "Explain it anyway," she muttered, though the curiosity in her tone betrayed her.
Ibiki chuckled, "As I said before, the goal was to test you not only as individuals but as part of a team. The final question gave you two choices, both difficult. You could choose to play it safe and skip the question, though it meant both you and your teammates would fail, or you could try to answer it, knowing that if you got it wrong, you'd be banned from ever taking the Chuunin Exams again." He let the words hang in the air, letting their weight sink into the minds of the genin. "It was a no-win situation."
He scanned the room, pausing just long enough to meet the eyes of a few tense-looking genin. "But that sort of situation is exactly what Chuunin face every day."
The words hit like a slap to the face, and the murmuring resumed among the gathered ninja. Kimiko could feel the weight of his words sinking into the room, filling the air with an almost oppressive gravity. But she remained still, arms folded, eyes forward. This was expected. It was all too familiar.
"For example," Ibiki began, stepping forward, his heavy boots thudding against the wooden floor. "Let me give you a hypothetical mission. Your objective: steal a critical document from an enemy stronghold. You have no idea how many enemy shinobi are inside, nor how heavily armed or prepared they are. Furthermore, you have good reason to believe they expect you, and you might very well be walking blindly into a trap." His eyes narrowed like the edge of a blade. "Now, tell me—do you have the option of saying no to that mission? Can you refuse it? Can you turn back because it's too dangerous?"
His silence was sharp and cutting, like the pause before the strike of a blade.
"No," he answered for them, his voice a grating growl. "You can't. You move forward. There will be many missions that seem almost suicidal if you think about it too much, but you do not think. You act. You push forward with unwavering resolve. That's what it means to be a Chuunin. A squad leader. A commander."
Kimiko's eyes flicked over to Naruto, watching the realization dawn on his face. She could see it in his eyes—the shift from confusion to understanding. His face hardened with newfound determination, lips pressed into a thin line. Good. He understood.
"Those who hesitate, those whose resolve falters, those who prioritize their own survival over their comrades' lives," Ibiki's voice became razor-sharp, cutting deeper with every word. "They have no right to call themselves Chuunin. Not now, not ever—not as long as I'm here."
The room was dead silent. No more whispers. No more side glances. Every genin sat at full attention, watching Ibiki like he was the executioner about to pass judgment.
"But," he continued, his tone shifting just slightly, softer but no less commanding. "As for the rest of you…" He let the silence hang for just a moment longer. "You have successfully answered the ten questions I put before you."
Ibiki scanned them all one more time, his gaze falling on Kimiko, Sasuke, and Naruto for a moment longer than the others. "You have earned the right to continue on to the next step. You've passed through the First Gate." His grin widened. "I hereby declare this portion of the Chuunin Exams… completed. There's nothing left, but to wish you all good luck!"
"YEAH! WE DID IT! THAT'S ONE DOWN! YEAH YEAH!" Naruto hollered, leaping onto his chair and punching the air. His triumphant roar echoed through the room, filling every corner with his boundless energy. Kimiko couldn't hold back her grin, the warmth of it spreading to her cheeks. Even Ibiki's normally grim face twitched with the faintest hint of a smile.
But just as quickly as it came, the warmth faded. Kimiko's smile dropped, her eyes narrowing as a shift in the atmosphere sent a shiver down her spine. It was subtle at first — like a slithering presence that slipped into the room unnoticed. A slow, encroaching tension, as if a predator had just entered its hunting ground.
Her fingers flexed on the desk.
Crash!
The windows at the front of the room exploded inward, glass shards scattering like falling snow. A rush of air swept through the room as the sound of two kunai piercing wood followed a heartbeat later.
Thunk-thunk.
Both kunai embedded themselves in the ceiling with precision, carrying a large, fluttering banner between them. As it unfurled, Kimiko barely noticed the words on it because her attention had already been drawn to the figure that had entered through the window.
She didn't need the words. She knew exactly who it was.
A tall, curvy woman landed with perfect grace, her purple hair tied up in a spiky ponytail, her beige overcoat swishing behind her as she rose to her full height. The way she stood radiated control — like a storm ready to snap at any moment. Her fishnet top and battle gear were bold choices, but somehow, it worked for her. She didn't just wear the uniform. She owned it.
The woman's sharp eyes scanned the room, locking in on each and every person as if she were assessing how long it would take to break them.
"None of you are in any position to celebrate," her voice was crisp and cutting, every syllable clear as a kunai's edge. "I am the second chief examination officer, Mitarashi Anko!" she boomed, letting her words wash over the room like a gust of cold air. Her eyes narrowed with predatory intent. "You ready for the second test?!"
The suddenness of it all left most of the students frozen in place.
Before anyone could react, a heavy sigh echoed from behind the large banner. From the side, Ibiki Morino stepped out, his scarred face twisted in exasperation. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed as if he'd seen this play out a thousand times before.
"You're early," he said flatly, staring at Anko with deadpan exhaustion. "Again."
Anko blinked, her gaze flicking to Ibiki. For a moment, she resembled a child caught sneaking sweets before dinner. Her cheeks flushed red, and she scratched the back of her head, letting out an awkward, breathy laugh.
Her eyes settled on the crowd. "How many did you pass, Ibiki?" she asked, tilting her head like a curious cat. She slowly began counting heads, eyes flicking from group to group with casual precision. "Seventy-eight, huh?" She side-eyed Ibiki, giving him a lopsided grin. "Twenty-six teams passed?"
She clicked her tongue, tilting her head toward him. "You went soft this year."
Ibiki's eyes narrowed just a fraction. "This year's applicants are exceptional," he said plainly, his arms crossed.
Anko's eyes sparkled with mischief as she scanned the group once more. " Exceptional , huh?" She slowly turned, one hand on her hip as she tapped a finger against her waist. Her gaze lingered on Team 7 for just a second too long, and Kimiko felt it like a spark of static against her skin. "I'm not impressed. Trust me, by the time I'm done with them…" Her grin widened to something feral. "I'll cut this group in half."
Murmurs rippled through the room, anxiety hanging in the air like a low-rolling fog. The jubilant mood was crushed just as quickly. A few glanced at each other, some with nervous chuckles, others with thinly veiled concern. No one was sure if she was bluffing. And that was the point.
"Alright," Anko declared, her voice snapping. She clapped her hands together, "I'll explain everything in detail once we're at the next location. So get up, follow me, and keep up." No one moved still, as if they were unsure.
"MOVE IT!" she barked, and the room immediately erupted into a scramble of movement. Chairs scraped back. People grabbed their belongings in a rush. The wave of panic was instant, and the clattering of chairs echoed through the room like a sudden downpour.
"See ya, Ibiki," Anko called over her shoulder with a quick wave, her grin still intact. "Try not to get too bored without me."
Ibiki huffed, shoving his hands in his coat pockets. "Don't kill them all," he muttered, watching her lead the crowd out of the room.
Kimiko stood up slowly, stretching her arms as she glanced over at Sasuke and Naruto, who immediately walked towards her, taking her hands with their own automatically
Heh, they're really liking that holding hands thing.
"She's intense," muttered Sasuke, his gaze following Anko with mild interest. His eyes narrowed like he was analyzing her every movement. "Bit much, though."
"Yeah, but she's cool," grinned Naruto, hopping down from his seat. "Kinda reminds me of Kimiko, actually."
Kimiko snorted, unable to hold in a laugh. "She's a little more 'blunt force trauma' than me, don't you think? She's more like you, now that I think about it." she teased. "But thanks, Naruto. I'll take it as a compliment."
"Yeah, yeah," Naruto waved it off, adjusting his headband. "I just mean she's got the same 'I'm not here to play around' kinda vibe."
"Come on," said Sasuke, walking toward the door. His eyes shifted toward Anko as she led the group ahead. "We should move."
Kimiko glanced around one last time, her eyes catching sight of a few familiar faces. Her gaze lingered on Neji for a moment, the stoic Hyuga's eyes flicking toward hers like he'd noticed her watching. They exchanged brief, unreadable glances before Neji turned away.
Before they could leave, Ibiki's voice echoed through the room.
"Miss," he rumbled, his eyes narrowing as he focused on her. "You have exceptional mental fortitude. None of my tactics worked on you. Cool as a cucumber."
Kimiko turned her head, arching a delicate brow before offering him a small smile. "Thank you. It means a lot coming from you, Ibiki-san," she replied, bowing her head slightly, her dark curls swaying with the motion.
"Mm…" Ibiki hummed, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer. "Do well on the next exam. What's your name again?"
"Kimiko, Yuhi Kimiko," she answered clearly, her voice calm but firm.
"Ah," he nodded, his rough features easing into something akin to acknowledgment. "Well, you're free to go."
With a final glance at him, Kimiko turned to leave, her movements fluid and steady. Sasuke and Naruto followed close behind, their gazes darting to her briefly before locking onto the path ahead. The three of them walked together, step by step, hands linked like an unbreakable chain.
Their figures followed the back of Anko's group, her wild energy palpable even from this distance, but Kimiko's mind lingered on Ibiki's words. "Cool as a cucumber," huh?
She glanced down at her hands, feeling the warmth of Naruto and Sasuke's grips. Her lips quirked into a small grin. Her two boys looked down at her, smiling.
Yeah. Cool as a cucumber.