Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece-Chapter 58. Test

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The room went dead silent.

Ibiki's voice echoed through the written exam hall like a guillotine falling.

Every Genin froze. Even the proctors leaned in, their interest piqued. The trap had been sprung, and the fear was palpable.

Classic Ibiki, many thought.

Psychological warfare at its finest. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Neji twirled a pencil between his fingers, bored. His exam sheet was already filled line after line with precise answers. Child's play.

And for the last time, he thought dryly, don't ask how a blind guy writes.

It's all about spatial awareness. If you weren't born blind, writing in straight lines isn't that hard.

It had been a while since he'd felt this kind of tension. Almost nostalgic, But seriously, he mused, if I could punch the guy who made this test, I'd feel way better.

Then it happened.

The pressure finally broke someone.

A trembling hand rose, slow and hesitant. The candidate's forehead was dripping with sweat, his breath ragged.

"I... I can't do this anymore."

"I forfeit!"

He stood. "To Genai, to Inoue—I'm sorry!"

Naruto's eyes widened as the man beside him walked out.

What? You're quitting? Just like that?

He couldn't understand it. Why give up so easily?

Ibiki's voice cut through the air like a blade: "Candidate #50 has forfeited. Candidates #100 and #111 are disqualified as well."

There was no leniency. No second chances.

Just cold, hard finality.

And like that, the dam cracked.

More hands followed. More voices surrendered.

"I'm out..."

"Same here..."

"I'm sorry, everyone..."

And with each exit, the pressure on the rest intensified. Doubt seeped into even the most determined hearts.

Even Sakura felt it. She looked at Naruto.

'Maybe... maybe he should give up. I'll get another chance. But him?'

She hated how loud he was, how he always talked about becoming Hokage like it was some joke.

But if he failed here, that dream might shatter forever.

I don't want to see that happen.

Her hand slowly began to rise.

But before it could reach full height—

WHAM!

Naruto's palm slammed down onto his desk.

"Don't write me off so easily!"

"I'm not quitting!"

His voice rang through the hall like thunder. Every eye turned to him. Even Ibiki paused.

"I'm not backing down-no matter what!"

"Even if I stay a Genin for the rest of my life, I'll still chase my dream of becoming Hokage!"

"So bring it on! I'm not afraid of your stupid question!"

He was panting now, fire in his eyes.

Sasuke sighed. He's still completely ignoring us. Typical.

But Sakura... smiled.

That's the idiot I know.

Ibiki stared at him, unreadable.

"You still have time to change your mind," he said coldly. "This choice will affect your entire career."

Naruto stood his ground.

"I already said what I needed to. That's my ninja way."

A murmur swept through the remaining candidates. That unshakable fire in Naruto's voice, the raw conviction, hit something inside them all.

Walls that were about to crumble suddenly held strong.

Neji's lips curled into a smirk. So this is his so-called "Talk no Jutsu." Gotta admit it works.

He's reckless, naïve... but honest. Youthful. Reminds me of a time when I was the same.

When hope hadn't been shattered yet.

And just like that... no one else raised their hand.

Ibiki looked around, surprised.

Seventy-eight left.

Not bad.

"...Your answer was correct."

He straightened.

"In that case, I declare all remaining candidates have officially passed the first stage of the Chūnin Exams."

Gasps. Confusion. Disbelief.

Wait—what!?

No grading? No final question? What about the first nine!?

Sakura stood up, flustered. "W-What do you mean!? Everyone passed!? What about the tenth question!?"

Ibiki, finally smiling, a strange sight on his scarred face,, replied calmly.

"There was no tenth question."

Everyone went still.

"That choice I gave you at the end was the tenth question."

Temari shot up. "Wait, what!? Then what the hell were the first nine for!?"

Ibiki's tone shifted from less interrogator to more professor.

"They had a purpose," he explained. "To test your ability to gather intel under pressure. Cheating without getting caught. A skill vital for a ninja."

The room groaned.

Temari covered her face. "This village is insane..."

Neji chuckled quietly.

Ibiki continued, explaining it all. The absurdly difficult questions, the planted candidates with correct answers, and the final question that forced a psychological crisis. All of it was a filter. A way to remove those who lacked resolve.

He'd expected a higher dropout rate.

But Naruto... ruined that expectation.

The students sat stunned.

That exam was psychological warfare.

And this guy's a damn villain.

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