"Rule three: If one team member scores zero, the entire team is disqualified and immediately eliminated!"
The scarred-faced man continued.
At this, Sasuke finally lost his composure.
In other areas, Naruto might still be somewhat reliable.
But in the written exam, that dead-last had proven countless times at the academy that he and zero scores were practically inseparable.
Nearby, Sakura, unsurprisingly, let out a wail.
Damn it.
Sasuke glanced at Gaara.
His plan for this Chunin Exam was to face as many strong opponents as possible to hone his skills.
He hadn't expected the first stage to be so troublesome.
As he racked his brain for a solution, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Three heads are better than one Zhuge Liang. Congratulations on awakening the system: "Collective Wisdom"!]
What was that?
Sasuke warily scanned the room. Examiner Ibiki continued explaining the rules, while candidates, some despairing, others confused, listened intently. Everything seemed normal.
"Is someone messing with me? Who's Zhuge Liang?"
Sasuke wondered.
A flood of instructions followed in his mind, detailing the system's mechanics.
Though some terms were odd, Sasuke, ever the top student, quickly grasped its essence.
"Collective Wisdom" System:
By following others' advice, you can earn scrolls of varying grades.
Opening scrolls grants random rewards: ninjutsu techniques, physical boosts, ninja tools, summoned beasts, or even kekkei genkai to enhance your strength.
Higher-grade scrolls increase the chance of rare rewards.
"Get stronger just by listening to advice?"
Sasuke's curiosity surged.
As Ibiki finished and the exam papers were distributed, Sasuke suppressed his intrigue and focused on the test.
First question: Coded text.
Dense symbols and text, far more complex than any academy exam.
Second question:
"In the diagram, ninja B stands on a 7-meter-high tree along a parabolic path. Draw the maximum range of ninja A's kunai. Identify the traits of enemy ninjas within the kunai's elliptical range, the maximum range distance in planar combat, and provide your reasoning."
This? Impossible!
It clicked for Sasuke. They're forcing us to cheat, aren't they?
And what's with the rule of deducting only 2 points per cheat?
What exam gives you five chances to cheat?
Recalling Ibiki's words, "Take the exam like excellent ninjas."
Like ninjas.
That meant gathering intelligence like a ninja would.
Traditional cheating would likely get you caught and eliminated fast.
With this clarity, Sasuke felt more confident.
Now, it hinged on whether Naruto could figure this out.
Glancing over, he saw Naruto scratching his head, fidgeting like he needed to pee. Sasuke sighed inwardly.
As expected, that idiot was useless at thinking.
With time to spare, Sasuke followed the system's guidance and activated the "Collective Wisdom" system.
His consciousness seemed to slip into a genjutsu, stopping before a glowing frame.
The text wasn't Japanese but felt familiar, grand, and oddly legible despite its foreign grammar.
[Please post your first question.]
Following the instructions, Sasuke posted a new thread.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke, in the first stage of the Chunin Exams. The questions are far beyond scope. Should I cheat?" He paused, then added, "This exam averages scores for three-person teams. My teammate Uzumaki Naruto is terrible at written tests. How can I help him?"
No replies came immediately.
Sasuke looked around. Others were already moving.
Kiba used Akamaru to spy answers, Shino sent his bugs, Gaara employed his Sand Eye—
As expected, everyone realized this was a test of intelligence-gathering.
Then, the system pinged with netizen replies.
"Yup, you're Uchiha Sasuke, and I'm Monkey D. Luffy, hahaha!"
"Believe him or believe I'm Qin Shi Huang?"
Tch.
Luffy, fine, but what's with the goofy laugh?
And who's Qin Shi Huang?
This forum's users seemed a bit unhinged.
A new reply popped up:
"Still browsing forums? Use your Sharingan to copy others' movements. Once they're done writing, you're out of luck. Hurry up, bro."
"Hm?"
Sasuke's eyes sharpened. How did this stranger know about his Sharingan?
Of course—my Uchiha name must be renowned.
Before he could dwell on it, the system chimed:
[New suggestion received: Quickly copy others' movements to complete your answers. Adopt and complete this suggestion to earn an E-grade scroll.]
Exactly his plan.
Sasuke scanned the room, locked onto a candidate writing furiously, and activated his Sharingan. He mirrored their movements perfectly, filling his paper rapidly.
As he finished, the system spoke again:
[Congratulations! You completed the suggestion—use Sharingan to complete answers. Obtained E-grade scroll.]
That's it?
Sasuke closed his eyes, calming his mind. A faintly glowing white scroll appeared in his thoughts.
Unfurl!
He commanded silently.
[You opened an E-grade scroll. Congratulations, you gained Chakra Refinement +1.]
Instantly, Sasuke felt a slight boost in his energy, both startled and thrilled.
Unlike ninjutsu, strength, or seals, which improve steadily with training, energy limits grow slowly.
While practice and habits help, this trait relies heavily on natural talent.
In other words, it's innate.
Take Naruto, Rock Lee, or Guy—those hyperactive types. Always bursting with energy, whether defacing Hokage Rock with paint or running five hundred "youthful" laps. Utterly exhausting.
Yet, as a core component of chakra, energy limits dictate chakra endurance.
The blue bar, essentially.
In high-level battles, this often means life or death.
The tiniest edge can decide a fight between masters.
Feeling his vitality grow, Sasuke was elated.
The boost was small, but far faster than training!
"Swish!"
A kunai flew, piercing a candidate's paper.
"Five strikes, you're out," a proctor ninja said. "You and your two teammates, leave the room now."
The sudden elimination stunned the room.
As more candidates were ousted, Sasuke glanced at Naruto's back, his tension rising again.