Mamoru really couldn't listen to Ibiki's long-winded speech anymore. He knew full well that these test questions were just for show, the final passing standard didn't lie here at all.
Thinking about how Naruto passed in the original story even with a blank paper, he couldn't muster any interest in this written exam.
At the thought of Naruto, he instinctively began to search among the candidates. Within a few seconds, he found that familiar back diagonally in front, as well as... the petite figure sitting next to Naruto.
Are you kidding me? WTF!
Now, Mamoru really couldn't listen to whatever bullshit rules Ibiki was talking about. His attention was entirely focused on Hinata, his gaze locked on tight, as if trying to see through that direction.
"Begin!"
As Ibiki loudly announced the start of the written exam, the atmosphere in the classroom changed abruptly.
Most candidates immediately lowered their heads and began writing furiously. A "rustling" sound of pencils rubbing against paper suddenly erupted all around, like dense raindrops.
Time passed bit by bit, and strange expressions gradually appeared on the faces of the proctors on site. This was because a complete outlier had appeared among the candidates.
Other Genin were either concentrating on answering the questions, buried in deep thought, or sneakily looking around, trying to use various means to get answers. Only one person had remained in almost the same posture since the exam began, motionless.
Mamoru propped his chin with one hand, his gaze seemingly welded shut, firmly locked onto the front diagonal. Except for an occasional blink, even his expression didn't change in the slightest. The only thing moving was probably his leg, which was constantly shaking under the desk.
Tap, tap, tap... tap, tap, tap...
The rhythmic sound of shoe soles lightly tapping the floor echoed weakly yet continuously in the exceptionally quiet classroom, like an auditory hallucination. This sound made several nearby, uneasy candidates even more irritable. They looked up dissatisfied, trying to find the source of this annoying noise with their gazes.
Mamoru was completely oblivious to all this. He had been staring intently at Hinata's profile since the start of the exam, a surge of irritability and anxiety rising uncontrollably in his heart.
Fortunately, until now, he had not discovered any communication between Hinata and Naruto. Did this mean that there was absolutely no possibility between them anymore?
He wasn't some cuckold. If Hinata already had her eyes on Naruto, then it was fine. But now that her attention had shifted to him, he couldn't bear to give her up.
Mamoru put aside his chaotic thoughts and picked up the pencil on the desk. The pencil barrel turned nimbly between his fingertips as he looked down at the test paper.
Question one: Code decryption.
He tilted his head and thought, 'Since everyone is doing the same test paper, doesn't that mean the code systems of the Ninja Academies in various countries are all universal? Then how can this be considered a code?'
Question two: Physics.
The question described a ninja standing on a treetop throwing a Kunai, asking how to throw it the farthest.
Mamoru curled his lip, thinking, 'How would I know without throwing it once myself?'
Question three: Multiple choice.
He glanced at the options and unhesitatingly chose the one with the most words.
Question four: Chemistry.
He gave up, turning his head to glance at the scientific ninja next to him. Wasn't this his forte?
"Are these really questions meant for humans?" Mamoru muttered softly, the pencil turning irritably between his fingers.
Except for the first question where he managed to write a few strokes, the remaining questions were simply like a foreign language to him—he didn't know them, and they didn't know him.
Looking up, he saw that Hinata and Sakura were both focused on answering, their pen tips rustling on the paper.
Mamoru couldn't help but grumble, 'Is it that those with a "love brain" all have high IQs?'
Just then, he felt an uncomfortable gaze. Turning his head, he saw Orochimaru staring at him intently with those snake-like eyes, the gaze filled with greed and heat, making him feel as if his whole body were being coiled by a cold snake.
Mamoru tossed the pencil onto the desk with a crisp sound, "Sister, don't keep staring at me. I know I'm good-looking, but there's an age gap between us, it's impossible."
"Hehe..."
The response was still that sinister laughter, the corner of Orochimaru's lips curling into a weird arc.
Mamoru rolled his eyes and cursed in his heart, 'What a freaking pervert.'
"Number 23, eliminated." The proctor's cold voice rang out in the classroom.
"No, let me go!" The named candidate struggled but was picked up by two Chunin proctors on both sides and dragged out of the classroom.
"Number 43 and Number 27, eliminated."
"Number 59, eliminated."
"Number 33 and Number 9, eliminated."
...
Unknowingly, half of the exam time had already passed. More and more candidates were eliminated, mostly those Genin who wanted to cheat but had clumsy methods. This also proved from another angle that their strength was still far from enough.
Of course, there were also a few reckless Genin who tried to bluff their way through, and some even demanded the proctors show evidence of their cheating. For such candidates, the proctors naturally showed no mercy, making them taste physical pain.
At this time, the candidates in the examination hall who couldn't write the answers but wanted to stay began to show their own special skills.
Beside Mamoru, Gaara closed one eye with a cold expression, holding two fingers vertically in front of his chest. Fine grains of sand slowly gathered in the palm of his other hand, eventually condensing into a lifelike eyeball.
"Whoa—"
Mamoru leaned over. "Your sand can even create organs?"
Gaara didn't want to pay any attention, but Mamoru's next words made his finger tremble. "Haven't you left your test paper blank? It turns out you're an idiot just like Naruto."
"Noisy."
Gaara suddenly crushed the Sand Eye in his hand, and the sand grains splattered through his fingers.
At that moment, Kankuro suddenly raised his hand. "Excuse me."
A nearby proctor asked, "What is it?"
"I want to go to the bathroom."
"If you're going to the bathroom, we'll accompany you."
The proctor stood up and, like escorting a prisoner, put a pair of silver handcuffs on Kankuro and tied a rope to them.
Mamoru watched Kankuro leave to cheat under the guise of 'Urine Release' and said to himself, "Your guy's skills aren't much, but he's practiced his Urine Release quite smoothly. That proctor's disguise is too second-rate, it's clearly a puppet."
"Urine... Release?"
Hearing this term, Gaara, who had maintained a cold expression, couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, softly repeating this unfamiliar term.