Naruto: Martial God Art

As soon as Morino Ibiki finished speaking, many examinees looked worried, realizing that if anyone in their group did poorly, it could ruin the entire team's score. Haruno Sakura, especially, seemed distressed.

She raised her hand nervously. "Wait, why does our score depend on the total points of each team?"

"Enough questions," Ibiki replied sternly, his cold gaze silencing her. "There's a reason we do it this way. Now listen carefully."

"Here's the most important rule," he continued. "If you're caught cheating, or even suspected of it, you'll lose two points each time. So, be careful."

At this, Lee, Neji, Gaara, Sasuke, and others exchanged thoughtful glances, while Naruto and several others appeared confused and uneasy. They clearly lacked the knowledge to handle such a test without some creative thinking.

Ibiki's voice filled the room again. "If you make obvious attempts to cheat, you'll only ruin things for yourself. Remember, the examiners are watching closely, ready to catch anyone acting suspicious."

One of the proctors, a grim-faced man with a bandaged cheek, stepped forward and added ominously, "We'll be observing you closely. Make even one slip, and you'll pay the price."

Ibiki continued, "And if anyone in your team scores zero, the entire team fails."

The room buzzed with anxious whispers. Even Sasuke, normally composed, looked uneasy. He knew Naruto wasn't academically inclined, and it seemed certain Naruto would struggle with this test. Sasuke thought, If Naruto scores zero, we're done for!

Lee sensed a cold stare from behind him. Turning slightly, he noticed Neji glaring at him, clearly worried. Lee had always struggled with academic tests, and Neji knew that. If Lee failed this exam, their entire team would be disqualified.

Lee met Neji's glare with a calm smile, signaling he had things under control. Across the room, Tenten subtly signaled Neji, reassuring him that she'd find a way to help.

"The final question will be given forty-five minutes after the start," Ibiki announced. "You have one hour in total."

"Begin!" he commanded.

The room fell silent, a heavy tension filling the air as the examinees focused on their test papers. The proctors, meanwhile, watched them closely, ready to catch anyone attempting to cheat.

Lee looked at his test paper, reading the first question with a frown. It was about code signals, something he knew nothing about. He skipped to the second question, hoping it would be easier.

But the second question was even more complex, involving calculations about weapon trajectory and angles. As he read it, Lee gave up, setting the paper aside. He didn't need to go further to know the remaining questions were likely just as difficult.

These questions are way beyond what any Genin would know, he thought. Even though he had graduated from the Academy, he'd never seen questions this challenging. These questions aren't meant for us to actually answer. So, what's the real test here?

As Lee considered this, he recalled Ibiki's words about cheating. The emphasis on cheating seemed strange. It was almost as if they were encouraging it—as long as it wasn't done clumsily.

Suddenly, Lee understood the purpose behind this exam. It wasn't about answering difficult questions; it was about finding ways to gather information without getting caught. The Chūnin Exam wasn't testing their academic skills—it was testing their ability to cheat like a true ninja.

This is an intelligence-gathering test in disguise, he realized. They're evaluating our ability to acquire information while avoiding detection. They want us to cheat… but carefully.

Feeling a newfound respect for the exam's structure, Lee glanced around the room at the proctors, who were intensely focused on the examinees, searching for signs of cheating. They're forcing us to think and act like real ninjas, he thought. This is impressive training.

Lee admired the ninja world's approach to developing talent. Although he had the memories of Sion Mun from the world of martial arts with strong techniques and powerful warriors, the creativity in these ninja exams was unique and effective.

He settled back in his chair, ready to face the exam with this new understanding. They're not just looking for intelligence, he thought. They're looking for resilience, resourcefulness, and subtlety. This is more than just a test—it's a real lesson in becoming a ninja.