The middle-aged ninja nodded in approval, then seized the opportunity to glance at the Uchiha member in the same team.
'Hmm, his Sharingan has only recently awakened, but he already wields it with remarkable proficiency. Excellent. There shouldn't be any...'
His gaze shifted to the third candidate.
The Supervisor swallowed the rest of his thought.
'What's with this guy? He clearly doesn't know the answers, yet he's writing everything himself! Why isn't he using his methods to copy the prearranged answers around him? What's he even... He's such a clueless idiot!'
The Supervisor frowned.
After observing for a while, he realized the guy was genuinely honest.
His head never tilted, not even a sideways glance.
'How pathetic. How did Konoha produce such an honest ninja?'
The middle-aged Supervisor sighed.
'This is going to be tough.'
This honest and earnest ninja, who was clearly just guessing at all the answers, had no chance of passing on his own.
But upon closer inspection, the Supervisor recognized him.
'Might Guy's kid.'
Might Guy was a perennial Genin, having remained in that rank for over twenty years while only taking on simple missions.
Most Chunin had some impression of him, though not a particularly favorable one.
'Sigh, his kid finally shows some talent. I should give him a hand.'
The Supervisor felt a pang of sympathy.
Might Guy had absolutely no aptitude for Ninjutsu, but Guy at least had a sliver of potential.
Being placed in the first group of candidates for the Chunin Exams meant he must have decent strength.
If he could help, he would.
'But this honest and earnest personality...'
He shook his head slightly.
Being too honest as a ninja was a disadvantage.
Of course, if one's strength was overwhelming, they could simply turn the tables on anyone trying to deceive them.
Guy started writing down answers, but the more he looked at the questions, the more panicked he became.
The more panicked he got, the more he needed to use the restroom...
He didn't dare ask to go to the restroom, fearing he'd be accused of cheating.
So A'Guy endured until his face turned deathly pale.
"Are you feeling unwell, student? Should I call a Medical Ninja to check on you?"
Finally, a patrolling Supervisor couldn't help but show concern.
This wasn't a Konoha native but a Sunagakure Ninja responsible for monitoring the exam.
Seeing Guy's ashen complexion, she assumed the boy was genuinely I'll.
"N-no, I'm fine!"
Guy gritted his teeth.
'I can still endure!'
"If you feel unwell, just say so."
"Th-thank you, Senior."
The Sunagakure kunoichi cast an odd glance at the Konoha Supervisors moving through the classroom, assuming they were being cautious to avoid suspicion of cheating by Sunagakure.
'Konoha still has some genuinely decent ninjas,' she mused.
Raj was startled awake by the commotion.
He glanced up...
'A Sunagakure beauty with orange-red hair? Pakura of Scorching Release?'
'One of Sunagakure's rare beauties! Too bad Rasa betrayed her later, turning that gorgeous woman into a kunai-riddled sieve.'
A pang of regret stirred in his heart.
'But that's how it is.'
'I'm a Konoha Ninja Cat now. My loyalties must lie here.'
Rin glanced over, assuming Raj was simply curious about the newcomer.
'Cats are always so curious.'
Raj's gaze followed Pakura, then inadvertently met a pair of gentle yet mad eyes.
'Sasori of the Red Sand.'
'Can't mess with that guy. You enjoy the show, I'm out.'
He turned his head and lay down to continue sleeping, hoping to avoid the attention of the big shot.
A moment later, Pakura circled the room and exited through the main door.
By then, most of the ninja had put down their pens, with only a few still scribbling furiously, including Guy, who was desperately answering questions while holding back his bladder.
Having barely endured until the end of the exam, Guy bolted out like the wind without even glancing at his test paper.
'His taijutsu is excellent, though...' The Konoha Supervisor mused inwardly before turning his attention to Guy's paper.
'Hmm, it's completely filled out. We can give him some points.'
With a little adjustment, getting him barely over the passing line shouldn't be a problem.
Most of the candidates participating in this year's Chunin Exams were either there to avoid being targeted or simply to make up the numbers.
After the first round, a large number of "Genin" would be eliminated in the second round.
Following the first round, the arduous task of grading the papers began.
When Guy returned from the restroom, he sat dejectedly in a corner, his spirit crushed.
The overwhelming anxiety and fear he'd felt during the exam had only subsided after it ended, when he realized he'd been surrounded by powerhouses the entire time.
If he had realized sooner, he could have copied from the papers around him and might have actually passed.
He slapped his thigh so hard it went numb.
'I shouldn't have tried to write it myself!'
"Guy, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Let me check..."
Rin immediately sought out Guy after leaving the classroom, suspecting he might have eaten something bad for breakfast.
Raj glanced down at him and said mercilessly, "Only now do you realize everyone around you was copying, huh, meow? They were all at least Chunin.
I warned you before we went in, heh~"
"I... I never even considered that."
Guy's heart was pierced by these words, and his tears burst forth like a dam breaking.
"It's okay, A'Guy. If not this year, there's always next year. It's not the end of the world."
At that moment, Obito rushed over, beaming.
"Rin, I used my Sharingan to copy-uh, what's wrong with A'Guy?"
"Waaah..."
A'Guy sobbed miserably, realizing he was the only one who hadn't noticed everyone around him was a powerhouse.
Even a little copying might have secured his pass.
But then he thought again.
He was still young; he could try again next year.
Besides, he was the Dead Last anyway-getting eliminated was only natural.
So...
"A'Guy, I'm sorr-"
"But Rin, you're right! I can try again next year. I'll study hard this year, and I'll definitely pass next time! Aww yeah! My fighting spirit is burning!"
Guy, who had been sobbing moments ago, now roared with renewed determination, leaving his two companions speechless.
The other ninjas, unaware of the situation,
Simply found the boy's behavior bizarre.
Obito paused, then clenched his fist in a gesture of encouragement and shouted, "That's right! Burn your fighting spirit!
You'll definitely pass next year!"
The surrounding people glanced over at the commotion, then fell silent.
It was their first time seeing someone so fired up after being eliminated.
These two really were partners.
What a pity about that sweet little girl.
As for Little Black Cat...
By the time Guy started shouting about "fighting spirit," "youth," and "burning" nonsense, the cat had already leaped off Rin's shoulder and slipped behind the group to observe from a distance.