Chapter 56: Yamanaka Ino's Request for Guidance

Chapter 56: Yamanaka Ino’s Request for Guidance

Just as in the original story, Ibiki Morino presented the examinees with a choice before revealing the tenth question: to accept the challenge or to quit.

Choosing to take the tenth question meant risking everything. Regardless of whether the first nine answers were correct, a single mistake on the final question would result in immediate elimination—and permanent disqualification from all future Chūnin Exams.

Choosing to quit would also lead to elimination, but at least the examinee could try again in the next exam.

Hearing this rule, the candidates who had barely managed to fill their papers through cheating erupted in protest. But under Ibiki’s oppressive presence, the noise quickly died down, leaving only tense silence.

“I quit!”
A candidate shouted, eyes shut tight, hand raised like a blade.

“Me too! I’ll just try again next time!”
“I’m not gambling my future on this!”

Once the first voices broke, others followed, each clinging to excuses.

Since eliminating one team member meant disqualifying the entire team, every resignation removed three candidates at once. Soon, the already half-empty classroom lost another third of its occupants.

Leaning on one hand while gently squeezing Hinata Hyuga’s fingers beneath the table, Izayoi glanced curiously at Naruto Uzumaki’s expression. He wondered what was going through the blond’s mind.

If Izayoi had turned his head or activated his Rinnegan, he’d have seen Naruto sitting relaxed, arms crossed, his face glowing with confidence. A closer look would reveal his paper already filled with answers.

Unlike the blank sheet in the original story, this time Naruto needed only to hold his pen. Seated beside Sasuke Uchiha, he became a puppet for the Uchiha’s wire technique. With the precision of the Uchiha Clan’s Shuriken Handling Technique, Sasuke manipulated Naruto’s hand to write the answers.

Naruto, naturally, felt no anxiety at all.

Without Naruto’s usual rallying speeches, the first exam eliminated more candidates than in the past. But the foreign ninjas quickly spotted the loophole. Being barred from the Chūnin Exams didn’t mean they couldn’t rise to chūnin rank through other means. Most weren’t Leaf ninjas—proving their worth to their villages would earn them promotions regardless. Choosing to quit now might disappoint their superiors, but it wouldn’t end their careers.

Thus, many held firm against Ibiki’s psychological pressure.

As time ran out, the room fell silent. No one raised their hand. Ibiki’s stern face cracked into a rare smile. “Congratulations. You’ve all passed the first exam.”

“Eh?!”
Gasps of shock echoed. Candidates who’d braced themselves for the final question stared blankly.

“What do you mean?!” one demanded, voice trembling.

Ibiki explained: the first nine questions tested knowledge and information-gathering skills, while the tenth evaluated team cohesion.

Before the stunned examinees could process this, a kunai shattered the window, drawing all eyes to the intruder.

Anko Mitarashi burst in with a flourish so exaggerated that Naruto felt like he was staring into a mirror.

The room darkened with sweatdrops. But when Anko exchanged words with Ibiki, the atmosphere shifted.

“Ibiki, what’s this? So many survivors?”
“This year’s genin are exceptional.”
“Hmph. Whatever. I’ll cut their numbers in half during the next exam.”

Her gaze swept the room like a predator. Gone was the theatrical entrance—now, the Special Jōnin’s serpentine smirk and chakra pressure silenced all doubt.

“Report to Training Ground 44 tomorrow at 3 PM. Latecomers forfeit.”

With that, Anko vanished, ending the first exam.

“Long time no see,” Shino Aburame greeted as Team 8 and Team 7 left together.

Before reaching the hallway, they heard a familiar voice.

Turning, they saw Nara Shikamaru with his hands behind his head, flanked by Akimichi Chōji and Yamanaka Ino.

“Sasuke Uchiha! Long time no see!” Ino called, lunging toward him. Sasuke sidestepped, dodging her.

“What do you want, Ino-pig?” Sakura Haruno snapped.

“Forehead girl! Mind your own business! Want a fight?” Ino shot back.

The former best friends clashed forehead-to-forehead, mirroring Sasuke and Naruto’s old rivalries.

Ignoring the squabbling girls, Izayoi greeted Shikamaru and Chōji. “Thought you’d skip the exams, Shikamaru. You hate trouble.”

“I didn’t want to, but Asuma and my father forced me,” Shikamaru shrugged. “Ino insisted on joining too. You must’ve noticed something odd in the application forms.”

Izayoi nodded. The new generation of Konoha’s strongest walked out together.

Later, after Ino finished bickering with Sakura, she sidled up to Hinata, eyeing her white kimono. “Hinata, this new look suits you. Very elegant.”

“Thank you,” Hinata smiled softly.

Ino hesitated, tugging Hinata’s sleeve. Glancing at the boys, she leaned in. “Hinata… how did you do it?”

Sakura’s ears perked up, inching closer.

“Do what?” Hinata blinked.

Ino’s eyes flicked to Hinata’s generous curves, then down at her own modest frame. “How did you… develop like this?”

Hinata flushed crimson, lowering her head. “I… I just eat more than others.”

“Eat more? That’s it?” Ino frowned. She glanced at Chōji, munching chips nearby, and groaned. “Guess that won’t work for me.”

As the Ino-Shika-Cho heir, she hated being called “Ino-pig” even metaphorically.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end