Once again, Arashi perform a storytelling to his junior when they are having a lunch together. In the past Chunin Exams, Arashi and Shizuka taking the exams on their own because Raiden is already a jonin. With a special permission from the Hokage, they can compete as a two-man team. They maybe have one less teammate, but their skills can be said otherwise.

(Morning)
(Konoha Academy)
(Classroom)

Once they entered the classroom, there are a whole bunch of genins in that very room who will be taking the exams along with them.

Arashi: Looks like we really got some competition.

Shizuka: Which makes it better.

Some of the genins turn to look at them, even seeing that they are the only team that have two-man.

"Hey, look at that."

"Entering this exams with only two person? Do they even know the rules?"

"Heh. They'll be out fast for sure."

Most of the talks are simply whispers, but they know what the others are thinking.

???: Oh my, looks like we got some old faces we recognizes.

They turn aside and sees their former classmates.

《Yamanaka Touka》
《Age: 13》
《Rank: Genin》

《Akimichi Dama》
《Age: 13》

《Nara Shun》
《Age: 13》
《Rank: Genin》

This is when Touka's team are in the same rank as they are, and they are refer as Team 20. Touka mostly the one who act as the leader to the team.

Touka: Looks like we're the one who will snag the win. Seeing how you guys don't have Raiden with you.

Dama: Touka, at least give them a brag.

Shun: *yawn* I wanna go home... But I want to be a Chunin, too.

Arashi: Never thought we'd see you here.

Shizuka: Didn't you join in last year?

Dama: We did, but we all failed that time. We try to reapply but for the second one, but it was cancelled.

Arashi: So you know most of these people?

Shun: Sure we have. We know some of the guys here, like that guy over there.

Touka: Hey!

When Touka yelled at them for sharing information they can use for this thing, Shun and Dama didn't even mind sharing some information about the previous exams to Arashi and Shizuka. They first look at one group from Amegakure, the Hidden Rain Village. Most of them are wearing cloak, and have gas mask.

Shun: Those guys are genjutsu users. Using deadly poison and needles as their weapons, and they are like assassins. And then those guys from Kusagakure.

They turn the other group from Kusagakure, the Hidden Grass Village. While they appear to be normal, one of them seems to be slightly intimidating.

Shun: I never seen them before, but I do know about their team leader. One year older than us, his name is Sagishi. He always use dirty tactics to win.

Shizuka: Hmmm... Dirty tactics, huh?

Shun: And the last one I remember are those guys from Suna.

They turn to one more team from Sunagakure. Among them, there is one guy who casually chatting with his teammates.

Shun: That guy is Suzume, he's a puppet user. I saw him competing in the final exams last year, but he loses and here he is now. But don't be fooled. Even for a genin, his skill is same as a jonin.

Arashi: Heheh. This is getting more and more interesting. The more stronger opponent around here, the better they be.

Touka: Hey, red head. Don't even think you can even win against us with Raiden not in your team.

Arashi: What do you think we been doing through one whole year? Since we're the one who wanted to not participating in the previous exams.

???: Attention, everyone.

They look ahead and sees a poof of smoke, before revealing several jonin and chunin that wearing special uniform for the exam purpose. In the middle of the jonin and chunin, there is one much taller and muscular shinobi.

《Morino Ibiki》
《Age: 23》
《Rank: Tokubetsu Jonin》

This guy is an expert in interrogation, and one of the best tokubetsu jonin. Ibiki is the leader of the Konohagakure Intelligence Division, and more specifically the commanding officer of the Konoha Tortute and Interrogation Force. Experiencing lots of combat himself, Ibiki is impossible to break no matter what the pressure placed upon him, never revealing any kind of information to outsiders.

Ibiki: I'm your exam proctor for the first stage of this year's Chunin Exams. *smile* The name's Morino Ibiki, a pleasure to meet you all.

Most of them gulp when seeing Ibiki, as the scars on his face is already make him scary.

Ibiki: Those who haven't take their seats, go to any open place left. This is the time when our first stage will start. However, you cannot sit near your teammates.

The other genins start looking the place where they can sit. Arashi and Shizuka walk to the open seat where they can sit. Arashi sat at the back while Shizuka sat at the front. Ibiki signal the chunins to give out some test papers, pencils and erasers to the genins, letting them inspect the papers.

"What is this?"

"A test?"

Ibiki: To those who have first taken this exams, this is the first stage of the Chunin Exams. The written test.

"A written test?!"

"I thought this is an exam where we supposed to be judged to be a chunin!"

Ibiki: And what makes you think this isn't an exam like that? Just the first stage and you already complaining. *narrow his eyes at the genins* Looks like you haven't understand the purpose of this stage. Now then, I will explain the rules of this first stage.

After the jonin and chunin stands at each side of the walls, facing toward the genins, and Ibiki look at them.

Ibiki: In this first stage, you will be taking written exam. Within this one hour, you be answering the nine questions on that test paper. After the one hour is finished, there will be a tenth question where you must be taking that is not in the paper.

When the genins look at the papers, they view it is a hard question. Even the veterans are having hard time to understand the questions.

Ibiki: In this exams, you cannot cheat. If you are caught cheat five times, even one person is caught, the whole team will be disqualified. And that is final, no redo.

This just cause the genins to feel even more uneasy. Ibiki take out a clock and put on the table. Even most of the veterans feels the same. Though Arashi and Shizuka seems not to be bothered about it. The genins all speaking quietly or whisper with each other about the first stage they will take.

"Hey, how are we supposed to deal with this?"

"This isn't going to be easy."

"If we cheat, we still off the hook, but..."

"Cheating five times will get ourselves disqualified."

Ibiki: Take your pencil, look at your test, and...

He press the timer at the clock.

Ibiki: ...Start.

The examinees grab their pencil and look at their own test paper, and start to do the test. Most the genins are basically having a headache just looking at the first question, trying to find a way to answer the question. Team 20 are having a trouble themselves, because the questions they answered before in the previous exam are different and their genins are different shinobi as well. Shizuka look at the test paper, and casually answer the questions. Arashi look at the test paper and scratch his head in confusion, before starting to answer each of the questions.

"Seat number ten, fail."

"What?! How did you even--?!"

"When I said fail, you're out kid. Sorry, better luck next time. You and your team are out."

The Konoha genin sigh and get up from the seat, and leave the room along with his teammates. After the door closed behind them, some voices can be heard being mad at the genin who failed their team. As the exam continues again, a hand slammed in front of an Amegakure genin and she look up at the Konoha chunin.

"Sorry, missy. You're out."

"Th-That's impossible! What proof do you have?!"

"We're all here are professional here, young lady. The proctor maybe changes, but our skills doesn't change at all. Better luck next time."

The kunoichi groan as she and her team left the hall. As the time passes, more and more genins ended up getting disqualified. Touka able to use her Mind Transfer Technique which allow her to perform telepathy and telling her teammates which and how to answer the questions. After half an hour passes, there are much less examinees that disqualified but their numbers are still quite high.

Ibiki: *in mind* Looks this year doesn't give as much as impression to me, just like previous exams. Hmm?

He look at the row table at the middle, he notices Team 14 who doesn't seem to bothered about the exams. Shizuka is using nail clipper to cut her nails, and Arashi practically sleeping with his head on the table, quite for some time before the first half of the hour finish. Ibiki signal two familiar jonin, Izumo and Kotetsu, to inspect them. They nod and walk to one genin each.

Izumo: Miss, the written exam isn't over yet.

Shizuka: It may not be done, but I am.

Izumo confuse at first before looking at her test paper, and it is fully answered correctly without any errors.

Shizuka: See? I'm already done.

Izumo: *in mind* This girl is good... There's no single mistake, no, she didn't even erase anything on the paper! No erase marks at all!

Kotetsu: Hey, kiddo, wake up.

Since Arashi sat at the left edge, it is easy to get him. Kotetsu shaking him slightly, allowing him to wake up and stretch his arms.

Arashi: *yawn* Good morning... *turn to Kotetsu* Is the first stage finish already?

Kotetsu: There's half an hour more. Don't fall asleep and finish your test work.

Arashi: I'm already done.

Kotetsu: What?

He look at the test paper and surprise to see that Arashi did finish answering all the questions. Kotetsu did saw some erase mark at the paper but all of the question are answered in the correct answer.

Kotetsu: *look between the paper & Arashi* How did you...? But you Academy report says...? And your result was...? Huh?

Arashi: *groan* Not if my friends forced me to study for a whole year to make sure my intellect didn't disappear.

Kotetsu: *in mind* Aw, crap... This is the kind of person that people usually wanted to avoid... Turning some idiot into an smart one.

Arashi: If you'll excuse me, I had a nap to catch.

He slam his head back into the table and falls asleep quickly, making Kotetsu sigh and simply walk away. Both chunin give report about Shizuka and Arashi to Ibiki, making the tokubetsu jonin think of what will be happening next.

*ring*

With a whole one hour has passed, the written exam has finally over. Ibiki press the button on the clock and stop it ringing. While many are unable to completely answer all of the questions, the next one is the one that they must face. Ibiki looking around the room and sees that many genin team are still in the hall.

Ibiki: Looks like most of you able to endure the hardship of using your mind. Good for you. But this is the true test you must face, the tenth question.

All of the genin look up from their test paper and all eyes at Ibiki. Because Dama is just next to Arashi, he nudge him and make the red haired boy wake up. Shizuka finally finish cleaning her nails and look forward.

Ibiki: This is the moment of truth to all of you. Listen, the tenth question is the utmost important when it comes to this first stage. If you fail to answer this question, you will be deemed unfit to continue to take the future Chunin Exams. Or should I say, you will be banned to join the Chunin Exams forever.

"Huh?!"

"Hey, are you kidding me?!"

"If we fail this, we can't become chunin?!"

Ibiki: That's right. So if you want to be assured that you will become chunin, those who feels unable to take the tenth question is allowed to quit. Feel free to do so, and you will be able to take the next Chunin Exams.

Because of this intimidation, this just make most of the genin team feeling nervous. In just few seconds, one genin raise their hand.

"I-I'm quitting..."

Ibiki: Then you may leave, good luck in the next one. May I am not your exam proctor that time.

A team from Suna the first to get up and walk out from the room. Shortly after, some more team begin to getting out from the room one by one. After few minutes, half of the entire examinees that taking this exams are all left. The one that are left at the ones who able to face the fact they might remain genin forever.

Ibiki: *glancing around* No one more wish to leave?

They become even more nervous because if they failed, they will be genin forever. Though for unknown reason, Arashi and Shizuka barely break a sweat. Seeing that no one is leaving anymore, Ibiki simply smile and look at the genins.

Ibiki: For the tenth and final question of this first stage...

They become even more nervous.

Ibiki: You all have passed.

*silence*

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

All of the genins all are so speechless by this sudden turn of event. They expecting something really fearsome, but then Ibiki said that they have passed.

" *stand up* Wait, sir! What are you saying that we've passed?!"

Ibiki: I already said what is needed, you all passed.

"What?"

"What do you mean? Then what about the tenth question?"

Ibiki: There is no tenth question. The question is simply that you choose to stay or leave. And because you choose to stay, that means you passed this stage. You choice to stay is the correct answer.

"Then what about the first nine questions?! Are you saying that the test paper was a waste of time?!"

Ibiki: No, that test paper is indeed part of the first stage. Because this purpose of this exam was to make you cheat.

He snap his fingers, and a group of genin stand up from their seats. They put a hand seal and they engulf with poof of smoke, reveal themselves to be Konoha chunin.

Ibiki: I have these chunin disguise themselves as genin, and because they know the answer, it give you chances to see their paper and cheat. However, the cheat itself is not the key. The key for this exam is for critical thinking. Think of this a battlefield, and the only way to win against a smart enemy is to find out what they could be thinking.

He takes a test paper and hold it to the genins.

Ibiki: Take this paper as your enemy, and that pencil you uses is you. By taking a breath of time to think, it allow you to find a way on how to take on enemy who are either stronger or smarter than. Rather than focus on what is in front of you, focus on what could be happening after you get through.

He take off his bandana and show them the scars all over his head, making them surprised yet slightly scared.

Ibiki: I face multiple torture before during the Third Great Shinobi War, and face multiple interrogation of those who trespass this village. All of these scars is something I gain, and not once I reveal anything to those who tortured me. These scars might be painful, but it also the proof I am alive and choose to think ahead. I choose to think for the village rather than my own life. But don't forget that your life is precious.

He put back on the bandana and look at the genins, making some of them felt relaxed.

Ibiki: However!

He just make them slightly frightened as he look at them with serious expression.

Ibiki: This is simply the first stage. There are two more stages you must face. If you don't try to face this stage, then you have no qualification to become a chunin. The second stage is much harder. That's all.

???: Yahaa!

Just as Ibiki finish speaking, a kunoichi entered the room by crash in from the window and landed on the floor, in front of the genins.

《Mitarashi Anko》
《Age: 21》
《Rank: Tokubetsu Jonin》

The one who showed up is the student of former member of the Legendary Sannin. Anko is an excellent shinobi, allowing her to reach the level of being a tokubetsu jonin. Even after Orochimaru left the village, Anko remain loyal to the village and do her best as a shinobi of Konoha.

Anko: All right, you brats! Those who have finished the first stage, follow me! *turn to Ibiki* Hey, did I get in the right time?

Ibiki: *sigh* Yes, Anko. I just finish talking and you arrived.

Anko: Hmmm...

As she turn back to the genins, she notice the numbers of them are quite low and only half of them passes. Though their numbers of team are still very less like usual, in order to keep things right for the exams.

Anko: Okay, so like I said, you all come with me! I am the proctor for the second stage, Mitarashi Anko! *smirk* The real fun of the Chunin Exams will starting there.

And just like that, the first stage of the Chunin Exams is over. Along with their proctor, they head out for the second stage. If the first stage is to test their intellectual, then the second stage is to test their survival skills.

To be continued...