All the Konoha Genin had the correct answers.
In this situation, even Ibiki himself didn't know what to do.
I didn't expect a Genin to pull off something like this…
Never mind that strange Mist-style technique earlier—the real issue was that someone managed to complete every Genin's test paper in such a short time.
Shadow Clones?
No… compared to Shadow Clone Jutsu, it looked more like a Water Clone, but even then, dozens of clones would be needed.
It wasn't that simple.
Not only that, but the person would need to instantly identify the right answers, memorize them, and then use the clones to fill out every single test paper for the other Genin.
That's the hardest part.
Yet this "impossible" feat was pulled off by a Genin—effortlessly.
It had taken less than ten seconds. Over seventy test papers in ten seconds. That was no small matter.
And Ibiki wasn't the only one shocked.
Everyone in the examination room was dumbfounded.
Shikamaru glanced around, his eyes falling on the Konoha Genin beside him.
He couldn't help but mutter in disbelief: "Seriously? This guy has nothing better to do? He actually went out of his way to help everyone else with their tests…"
His gaze shifted to the proctor ninja, who had sat back down without reacting. A spark of suspicion flickered in Shikamaru's eyes. "If even the examiner didn't notice who did it, then who could've pulled it off?"
If the proctor had known, he wouldn't be sitting there so calmly.
Because this act completely disrupted the balance of the exam.
If the examiner discovered who it was, it wouldn't just end simply.
"Is Konoha really opening the back door for their own people this blatantly?!"
A Rain Village Genin suddenly stood up, glaring furiously at Ibiki, and shouted his accusation.
Ibiki slowly raised his head to look at him.
"Konoha doesn't lower itself to playing favorites for its own."
"Then what about these test papers? Didn't you Konoha just create that strange fog? Is this how one of the Five Great Nations conducts itself?!"
Trouble had arrived.
That Genin's stunt had created a huge headache for the examiners.
But the rules had been set by Ibiki—and technically, no rules had been broken.
It was cheating, yes, but done legally within the boundaries of the rules.
Ibiki let out a faint sigh. "That fog wasn't our doing."
"Not you? Then who else could it be?" the Rain ninja barked.
"One of the examinees," Ibiki replied flatly.
"An examinee?" The Rain ninja sneered, scanning the room. "Don't insult me with such a clumsy excuse. If a candidate used ninjutsu during the exam, he should be disqualified on the spot!"
Ibiki's expression didn't change. "That's an interesting claim. Tell me—did I ever say ninjutsu was forbidden?"
The Rain Genin froze, caught off guard.
"What are you saying? That ninjutsu is allowed?!"
"Of course. I told you to complete the exam like a ninja. And what tools do ninja rely on if not ninjutsu?"
"Then what if I attack someone else with ninjutsu?" the Rain ninja pressed.
"In theory… that's fine. As long as I don't see you do it."
At those words, a ripple of excitement ran through the room.
A written exam where ninjutsu could be used?
What exactly was this test?
"Even if ninjutsu is allowed, you just admitted it was one of the candidates. In that case, his exam—and Konoha's as well—should be disqualified!"
"If I discover who it was, they'll be removed immediately. Until then, sit down and finish your exam, or your qualification will be revoked."
The Rain ninja clenched his fists, his voice rising again. "You're pretending not to know, just to cover for your Konoha brats—"
Bang!
A blur cut across the room.
Before anyone could react, the Rain ninja's body jerked violently as if struck by an invisible force.
He was sent flying backward, smashing into the classroom wall with a sickening crash.
Boom!
Blood sprayed from his mouth as he collapsed, unconscious in an instant.
The entire room froze.
Every set of eyes widened, staring at the Rain ninja lying crumpled on the ground.
"Such speed…"
"All I saw was an afterimage…"
"What just happened? Who attacked him?!"
Even the more seasoned Genin felt their hearts skip a beat.
Gaara's eyes narrowed dangerously, his expression growing colder.
Kankuro and Temari exchanged wary glances.
Shikamaru and the others leaned forward, eyes fixed on the fallen Rain ninja, too stunned to speak.
Ibiki lifted a finger, pointing at the unconscious boy. His voice was calm, but his heart churned like a storm.
"Take him out."
Two proctor ninja immediately moved to drag the Rain ninja away. His two teammates said nothing—fear had sealed their lips shut.
But inside, Ibiki was shaken.
That speed… was that really the power of a Genin?
Even he hadn't clearly seen the attacker. Only a faint image—a flash of black cloth.
But there were several people in the room wearing black.
No one dared to raise another objection. Still, Ibiki, as examiner, had to speak.
"Konoha doesn't hand out favoritism—not even to our own. At least in this room, everyone will be treated equally."
"I admit, my skills weren't sharp enough to see who attacked just now. And yes, I failed to specify that attacking other candidates during the exam is forbidden. So this one time, I'll overlook it. But there won't be a second chance."
His blunt admission left the other villages' candidates dumbfounded.
An examiner openly admitting inferiority to a test-taker? That wasn't something you joked about.
Which meant… it wasn't a lie.
So in this very room, someone possessed such terrifying strength that even Konoha's infamous interrogator, Ibiki, couldn't catch their movements.
Could such a monster really be just a Genin?
In the crowd, Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he watched the Rain ninja being carried away.
"That speed… who did it? Could it be—"
His gaze flicked sharply toward the front row—at Yuichi.
At the same time, Hyūga Neji's pale eyes were fixed on him as well.
"The one who struck just now was wearing a black jacket… Nagano Yuichi, was it you?"
"So this… is your real strength? Then that match we had before—you weren't even trying!!"