Chapter 20: The Unraveled Mummy and the Exam of Doom part- 2
I was assigned seat number 23. To my immense relief, Naruto was sitting right next to me. To my immense horror, he looked like he was about to vomit from anxiety.
"This is a written test," Ibiki announced. "There are ten questions. The final question will be given at the end of the hour. You have a team score. If one fails, you all fail."
The room groaned.
"And," Ibiki added, his eyes scanning the room, "if you are caught cheating five times, you are out."
(Cheating. That is the point. We have to cheat without getting caught. I have the Byakugan. I can do this.)
I activated my Byakugan. Veins bulged around my eyes. The world turned grey.
I looked around the room. I could see pencils moving. I could see the answers written on the paper of a guy three rows ahead.
I started writing.
Question 1: Decipher the code... Easy. Question 2: Calculate the trajectory of a shuriken in a crosswind... Done.
I was actually doing it. I was answering the questions.
Then, I looked at Naruto.
He was staring at his paper with blank, terrified eyes. He hadn't written a single word. He was trembling so hard his desk was vibrating.
(Naruto-kun... he doesn't know the answers. If he fails, he can't become Hokage. I have to help him!)
I moved my paper slightly to the edge of the desk.
"Naruto-kun," I whispered. "You can... copy mine."
Naruto looked at me. "Hinata? But... if we get caught..."
"It is okay," I whispered. "My Byakugan sees the proctors. They are not looking right now."
Naruto hesitated. He looked at my paper. He looked at me.
"Thanks, Hinata," he whispered.
He leaned over to peek.
[System Alert: Cheating Event in Progress. Boredom Level: High. Let's add some stakes.]
[Activating Rito Effect Level 3: "The Loud Whisper."]
Just as Naruto leaned in, the leg of my chair snapped.
It didn't just break; it disintegrated as if termites had been feasting on it for a century.
CRACK.
"Wah!"
I fell sideways. Directly toward Naruto.
Naruto, seeing me fall, instinctively turned to catch me.
He caught me. But because of the angle, I ended up in his lap. Again.
However, in the process of falling, my foot kicked up under the desk.
THUD.
My desk flipped over. My test paper flew into the air. It floated like a majestic bird.
"What is going on there?!" Ibiki roared from the front of the room.
The entire room turned to look.
Naruto was holding me in his arms. My desk was upside down. My test paper was currently landing... directly on top of the proctor's head who was standing in the aisle.
The paper slid down the proctor's face. The answers were clearly visible to everyone in the surrounding four desks.
"She is sharing answers!" a Sound Ninja yelled. "Disqualify her!"
I froze in Naruto's arms.
(This is it. I am disqualified. I ruined everything.)
Ibiki marched up the aisle. He looked at me. He looked at Naruto. He looked at the broken chair.
"Broken equipment," Ibiki grunted. He picked up my paper and slammed it onto Naruto's desk. "Sit back down. Get her a new chair."
He leaned in close to my face. He was terrifying. "You are lucky, Hyuga. It looked like an accident. But do not let me catch you 'falling' again."
"Y-Y-Yes, sir!" I squeaked.
I scrambled off Naruto's lap.
"Sorry, Naruto-kun," I whispered, my face burning.
Naruto looked at the paper Ibiki had slammed onto his desk. It was my paper. With all the answers.
"Heh," Naruto grinned nervously. "Thanks for the delivery, Hinata."
I sat in the new chair they brought me. I sat perfectly still. I dared not breathe.
(I survived. I gave him the answers. And I only destroyed one piece of furniture.)
[Ding!]
[Achievement Unlocked: "Tactical Chair Destruction." You distributed information via chaos.]
[Reward: 300 Shy Points.]
............….
Forty-five minutes passed. It was time for the Tenth Question.
"Alright," Ibiki said. "Put down your pencils. It is time for the final question."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy.
"But before I give you the question, you must choose whether to take it or not."
"If you choose not to take it," Ibiki said, smiling sadistically, "your score is zero, and you fail. But... if you choose to take it and answer incorrectly... you will remain a Genin forever!"
People started gasping. Hands went up. Teams started leaving.
I looked at Naruto. His hand was trembling.
(Don't give up, Naruto-kun. You never give up.)
Naruto slowly raised his hand.
My heart sank. Was he quitting?
Then, Naruto slammed his hand down on the desk.
BAM.
"Do not underestimate me! I don't care if I stay a Genin for the rest of my life! I will still become Hokage!"
His shout echoed through the room. It shattered the tension. The fear evaporated.
Ibiki smiled. "Very well. Your determination is worthy. Those who remain... you pass the first exam!"
"What?" The room erupted in confusion.
"There was no tenth question," Ibiki explained. "The choice was the test."
Naruto cheered. "We did it! See, Hinata? Easy!"
I smiled weakly. "Yes... easy."
Suddenly, the window shattered.
CRASH.
A large banner flew into the room, pinned to the ceiling by Kunai. A woman with purple hair and a mesh body suit burst through the glass.
"Alright, you maggots! No time to celebrate! I am Anko Mitarashi, the proctor for the second exam!"
She struck a pose.
"Follow me to Training Ground 44! The Forest of Death!"
"Forest of Death?" I repeated. The name alone made my stomach turn.
As everyone stood up to leave, I felt a strange sensation.
[System Alert: New Character Detected. Anko Mitarashi. Threat Level: Chaos Incarnate. She is loud, unhinged, and wears a trench coat. The System likes her.]
I walked toward the exit. Anko was standing by the door, eyeing the candidates.
"You there," Anko pointed at me. "The Hyuga girl. You look like you're about to faint. Toughen up, or the forest will eat you alive."
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