Seeing this scene, a trace of playfulness flashed in Mamoru's eyes, and he suddenly spoke up again, "I have a question."
He used two fingers to pick up his own exam paper, waving it back and forth nonchalantly.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face as he asked loudly, "Can you pass the exam even if you turn in a blank sheet?"
Naruto instantly paused. With a howl, he clutched his head in panic, nearly shrinking under the desk.
Sasuke cast a puzzled glance toward Mamoru, his brow slightly furrowed, his mind filled with confusion.
What on earth is this guy trying to do?
"A blank sheet..." Ibiki was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
He hadn't thought deeply about this question before. But the rules were set. Since he had announced that everyone passed, there was no point in obsessing over the content of the exam papers.
Having thought it through, he nodded and spoke with certainty, "Yes, for this exam, even if you turn in a blank sheet, you are considered to have passed."
As soon as he finished speaking, a loud cheer erupted in the classroom.
"Awesome!" Naruto suddenly bounced up from his seat, dancing with excitement, almost jumping onto the desk.
This overly conspicuous behavior undoubtedly announced to everyone present that he was the "idiot" who turned in the blank sheet.
Sasuke and Sakura almost simultaneously held their foreheads in resignation and sighed, feeling incredibly troubled by his eccentric behavior.
Mamoru tossed the exam paper onto the desk casually, a faint smile returning to his face. It seemed some plot points weren't so easily changed just because one wanted to.
Ibiki's tone shifted, his voice deepening. "However, those with clumsy cheating methods, as well as those caught five times by the examiners, won't be so lucky. They will be disqualified."
As he spoke, he slowly untied the bandana on his head. "As for why... because intel is sometimes more important than life itself. It is something you must fight for with your life on the mission and the battlefield."
As he finished speaking, he completely removed the bandana, revealing a head covered in hideous, shocking scars.
A collective gasp instantly sounded in the exam room. Those dense scars, like the cruelest of brands, immediately stunned everyone. The quicker-witted candidates realized at once that these were all traces left by harsh interrogation.
These scars silently told of the inhuman torture Ibiki had once endured, and the fact that he could stand here so calmly and steadily was enough to prove what a resilient and admirable ninja he was.
Mamoru stared at those scars, letting out an involuntary hiccup from his throat, and muttered, "I... have seen enough."
Ibiki retied the bandana, his tone solemn. "You must remember, once intel is incorrect, it is highly likely to push your comrades and the village into an abyss of eternal damnation. Therefore, this exam uses this method to test your intelligence-gathering abilities and eliminate those who are unqualified."
Temari frowned slightly, still finding it a bit hard to accept. "But the way the final question was handled feels a bit..."
Ibiki interrupted her, "In fact, the tenth question is the true core of this exam."
"What exactly is going on?" Sakura's face was written with confusion as she couldn't help but press for an answer.
"Let me explain." Ibiki said, putting his hands into his trench coat pockets.
He spoke unhurriedly. "When facing the tenth question, the premise I set was that you are already Chunin. The mission content is to seize classified documents, but all intel regarding the number of enemy ninjas, their strength, weaponry, and even possible traps is unknown. In that case, would you accept this mission, or not?"
"Any normal person would choose not to accept, right?"
Mamoru shook his leg impatiently below, muttering in a voice only he could hear, "So wordy, can't you just keep it short?"
This subtle mutter once again drifted into Gaara's ears, and he cast a strange glance at Mamoru, his eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, who had been secretly watching Mamoru, also had an imperceptible look of surprise flash across his snake-like pupils.
Ibiki's voice echoed in the classroom with unquestionable power. "Do you give up on dangerous missions because you're afraid of death, or because you don't want to put your comrades at risk?"
"You cannot do that. Sometimes, there are missions you must accept even when you know they are dangerous. In such critical moments, being able to show courage to your comrades and having the confidence and ability to lead everyone out of a predicament is precisely the quality required of a Chunin acting as a squad leader."
"If they tell you to go, you have to go. Even if you're afraid of death, you have to go."
Mamoru couldn't help but whisper-roast again, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his lips. "Heh, making being cannon fodder sound so refined and noble, he's quite the talent."
Gaara finally couldn't help but turn his head to look directly at this outspoken fellow, his heart in a state of confusion.
What is with this person? Why do deep-rooted ninja values become so cynical and biting when they come out of his mouth?
"If, in the event of an emergency, someone doesn't even dare to gamble their own life, and instead pins their hopes on next year or an uncertain future, wavering in their heart and easily giving up on an opportunity, I believe such weak-willed trash has no right to become a Chunin at all!" Ibiki's voice suddenly rose, filled with resolve.
"And you who chose to answer the question can be said to be the correct solvers of the difficult tenth question!"
Mamoru couldn't help but chuckle.
How did this Chunin Exam turn into a multi-level marketing pitch? Just how many people has this 'will of fire' poisoned so far?
He looked around, seeing the inspired expressions on the faces of more than half the Genin in the exam room.
He sighed inwardly, 'This kind of speech really never fails.'
"...The first part of the Chunin Selection Exam ends here! I wish you all success!"
As Ibiki made his final summary, the first exam officially came to a close.
"Best wishes to everyone!"
As an active successor of the "will of fire," Naruto pumped his fist high-spiritedly and shouted loudly, "Awesome! Yeah!"