"You have to cheat. This exam is all about cheating. As for Naruto, don't worry about him. He's the protagonist, you're just a side character—watch quietly."
Netizen MuddyTaro commented.
Protagonist?
Side character?!
Sasuke's face darkened. At the same time, a voice echoed in his mind:
[You received a new suggestion: Wait quietly. Adopt and complete this suggestion to earn an F-grade scroll.]
"Yeah, this is Naruto's big moment. 'Speak straight, keep your word—that's my ninja way!' Pretty badass, right?!"
Netizen MichelanCarrot chimed in, engaging with the previous comment.
Badass? Naruto?
Sasuke was stunned. In the Hidden Leaf Village, no one ever described Naruto that way. Everyone just saw him as reckless. But…
"Now, I'll announce the rules for the tenth question!" Examiner Ibiki's voice interrupted Sasuke's thoughts.
"For this question, if you choose not to answer, you'll be eliminated on the spot, and your teammates will leave with you."
"But! If you answer and get it wrong, you'll be banned from ever taking the Chunin Exams again!"
The announcement sparked murmurs and discontent across the room.
"No need to worry, protagonist, huh?"
Sasuke stared at Naruto's back, realizing he couldn't help him here. With this new rule for the tenth question, the earlier questions no longer mattered.
Alright, Naruto, let's see your performance.
"I'm not giving up, no way!"
Naruto slammed his hand on the desk.
"Even if I stay a genin forever, I'll become Hokage with sheer grit!"
"Speak straight, keep your word—that's my ninja way!!"
Naruto's words swept away the room's unease, igniting everyone's resolve.
His speech left Sasuke utterly shocked.
Word for word.
Naruto's declaration matched exactly what that "MichelanCarrot" netizen had predicted!
And, well, it was kind of cool. (Scratch that.)
So, the earlier suggestion to use his Sharingan wasn't just about the Uchiha clan's fame.
Knowing the past, predicting the future…
What kind of ninjutsu was this? Or had it reached the realm of legendary sage techniques?
This "Collective Wisdom" system's benefits clearly went beyond mere scrolls.
Guidance from such wise seniors would surely amplify his training.
With this realization, Sasuke resolved to take these netizens seriously.
Their bizarre speech? Now he saw it as the eccentric flair of otherworldly masters.
"Ramen, ramen, ramen!"
Having narrowly passed the first exam, Naruto was shouting for Kakashi-sensei to treat them.
"Hey, you two, come along!" Naruto called to Sasuke and Sakura, grinning smugly.
"Really? Eating with Sasuke?" Sakura's fangirl mode kicked in.
"No time for pointless stuff," Sasuke said coldly.
"What? What's with your attitude, you jerk!" Naruto snapped, fuming.
As they started bickering, Kakashi placed a hand on each of their heads, calming them.
"This isn't the time to relax. Tomorrow's second exam will be a true test of blood and fire."
"Be at the entrance of Training Ground 44 on time tomorrow morning. Rest well tonight!"
Back home, Sasuke eagerly opened the "Collective Wisdom" system. The first thing he saw was an unclaimed reward.
[Congratulations! You completed the suggestion—wait quietly. Obtained F-grade scroll.]
Compared to the last one, this scroll looked crude, grayish-white, and dull.
[You opened an F-grade scroll. Congratulations, you gained 5 Premium Soldier Pills.]
"This counts as a reward?" Sasuke muttered, unimpressed.
He popped one into his mouth. The taste was surprisingly good.
Unlike the usual sweet soldier pills, these skipped honey for bits of ham and bacon—crisp, savory, and not greasy.
Wait, there's more to it.
About five minutes later, Sasuke felt unusually refreshed, like he'd just woken from a perfect nap.
Before, "soldier pills restore chakra" just meant "you're not hungry anymore." Chakra production relies on stamina, and an empty stomach weakens you.
But these premium soldier pills from the system went beyond ordinary ones, seemingly restoring full vitality instantly!
In a critical battle moment, popping one of these could be a game-changer.
With this in mind, Sasuke carefully stored the remaining four pills.
With this system's help, maybe he could…
Lying in bed, Sasuke's thoughts drifted to that man with tear-streaked cheeks.
The mere memory brought flashes of bloody images, suffocating him.
In the dead of night, he'd grown used to this pain.
Feel the pain, affirm his existence, and achieve vengeance—that was his purpose.
Perhaps due to the premium soldier pill, Sasuke felt no trace of sleepiness.
Since he couldn't sleep, he might as well prepare for tomorrow's exam.
"Good evening, esteemed seniors. I'm Uchiha Sasuke, heading to the second stage of the Chunin Exams tomorrow morning. I seek your advice and guidance."
Recognizing the netizens' wisdom, Sasuke's tone grew more respectful.
Soon, replies rolled in.
Netizen 4247: "Here we go, another nutcase."
BaconRice: "Is the admin under that much stress? What kind of questions are these? Can't you give us something juicy?"
MuddyTaro: "I get it! This is basically a TRPG. Dude's got game!"
"Go check the OP's last post. He's timing this perfectly."
BaconRice: "What's that mean?"
MuddyTaro: "TRPG—tabletop role-playing game. Think Dungeons & Dragons. The GM sets the scene, asks questions, players choose, and the story evolves based on those choices."
"Our last reply didn't shake things up, so it followed the original plot. This time, we need a big break. Haha!"
Sepi: "Got it! Watch this!"
"OP, tomorrow morning, take out Sakura first thing! I guarantee you a life of wealth and glory!"
Reading this, Sasuke frowned.
Kakashi-sensei once said, "Those who don't value their comrades are worse than trash."
And "wealth and glory"? Laughable.
A voice chimed:
[You received a new suggestion: Kill Sakura Haruno at dawn. Adopt and complete this suggestion to earn an S-grade scroll.]
S-grade?!
Sasuke was briefly stunned but ultimately ignored it.
MuddyTaro: "You're just trolling, right? Let me think… Second stage of the Chunin Exams… Damn, tough one! Orochimaru's coming for him. Even a sage can't save him."
BaconRice: "What's the big deal? Just skip it. Hide and you're good."
[You received a new suggestion: Skip the Chunin Exams and hide. Adopt and complete this suggestion to earn a C-grade scroll.]
MuddyTaro: "Are you joking? Orochimaru's got two goals here. He's drooling over the Sharingan and will definitely track Sasuke down."
"Besides, a kage-level ninja hunting a genin? Where do you hide? How?"
Orochimaru?
Kage-level?
As strong as a Hokage?
Sasuke's heart sank with unease.
Until now, he'd been focused on dueling Neji, Gaara, or Lee. Even jonin strength felt distant, let alone a Hokage's power—completely out of reach.
He's after the Sharingan?
Without his clan's protection, Sasuke was like a child flashing gold in a marketplace. He clenched his fists in anger.
"Don't chicken out! Orochimaru isn't here to kill. He's just checking Sasuke's potential and might even toss in a Curse Mark for free. What's to fear?!" Netizen DurianMeteorHammer posted: "Fight him!"
This MeteorHammer guy feels like Naruto's twin.
So, Orochimaru isn't here to kill him.
Sasuke exhaled slightly, his fear easing, replaced by rising determination.
[You received a new suggestion: Face Orochimaru in battle. Adopt and complete this suggestion to earn a D-grade scroll.]
MuddyTaro: "There's really no way to break this. Even knowing Orochimaru's goals, the Third Hokage insists on continuing the exam. No choice."
Sasuke browsed the forum a bit longer but got no new suggestions. The few additional replies were mostly curious onlookers intrigued by this "role-playing game."
Outside, the mountain lanterns flickered, and moonlight draped the Hokage Rock in a deep blue glow.
The coming storm of tomorrow didn't disturb the night's calm. Sasuke finally drifted into a deep sleep.