Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

As the test papers were handed out, Morino Ibiki picked up a piece of chalk and started writing on the blackboard with swift, deliberate strokes.

"For this first stage, there are a few crucial rules. I won't answer any questions after this, so listen carefully."

"Rule one: Every examinee starts with a score of ten points. There are ten questions on the exam, each worth one point, and the scoring works on a deduction basis, one point will be deducted for each incorrect answer."

"Rule two: Pass or fail is determined by the cumulative score of each three-person team."

"Rule three: Cheating, or anything that resembles cheating, will result in a two-point deduction each time you're caught. Simply put, some of you may be forced to quit the exam before the final score is even given."

"You are someone who wants to become a Chunin after all. Since you are a Shinobi, you should take the test like a good Shinobi. If one person in the team gets a zero, the whole team will be disqualified."

"Also, the final question will be given 45 minutes after the exam begins. The total exam time is one hour."

When he finished explaining, a proctor holding a score sheet said with a playful smile, "Anyone shameless enough to cheat will only bring about their own downfall. Remember, I'll be watching you closely."

Ibiki glanced at the clock and saw that it was 3:30 in the afternoon. He waved his hand and announced, "The exam begins!"

The string of rules and warnings had everyone feeling tense to some degree.

Of course, unlike in the original work, Naruto wasn't the most anxious this time.

At this moment, Naruto was sitting back, leaning on his desk with his head turned, gazing at Hinata, who was sitting to his right.

"Naruto-kun, aren't you going to start answering the questions?"

Hinata's voice was as soft as a whisper, her cheeks flushed pink, "If you don't know how to answer, I can lend you my answers once I finish."

"No need to worry about me and just focus on your own test. I just… wanted to look at you for a bit."

Naruto replied, smiling warmly.

This was the first time he had been so close to Hinata, and he could even catch the gentle fragrance from her.

'The scent was intoxicating, sweet and delicate!'

'The fragrance of a young girl is always so irresistible.'

Growl!

Just as Naruto was enjoying the moment, his stomach growled loudly, which really ruined the mood.

"Naruto-kun, are you alright?" Hinata asked with concern.

"I'm fine, just a little hungry since I skipped lunch," he replied, "By the way, what's your favorite food?"

Hinata didn't understand what Naruto meant, but she still answered honestly, "Ichiraku Ramen."

Hearing this, Naruto was slightly surprised.

'Shouldn't girls like to eat sweets and snacks? Why ramen?'

But he soon remembered that in Boruto, Hinata held the Ichiraku Ramen record, eating a jaw-dropping 46 bowls! Even Choji, known for his appetite, had only managed 42.

"Well then, give me a moment," Naruto said with a grin.

Under Hinata's puzzled gaze, Naruto slowly raised his right hand.

"What is it? Giving up on the exam already?" Ibiki asked coldly.

Naruto shook his head. "I'm just hungry, so I was going to send a shadow clone to bring me something to eat."

Ibiki's expression grew stern, his voice laced with disapproval. "If you're thinking of sneaking out to gather intel for cheating, I'd advise you to give up now."

"Give up? You are kidding. You must be kidding. Your rules were clear, you never said I couldn't eat during the exam, right?"

As he said that, Naruto lifted up the test paper and said with a playful smile, "And besides, to make things easier for you, I'll just be upfront: I have no intention of answering these nine questions. I'm planning to turn in a blank test. Satisfied? No need to suspect me of cheating now, right?"

"You... do whatever you want," Ibiki muttered, somewhat taken aback by Naruto's audacity. But as Naruto pointed out, he hadn't actually broken any rules.

Bang!

Naruto formed hand seals, and accompanied by a puff of white smoke, Naruto's shadow clone darted out of the classroom, heading straight to Ichiraku Ramen.

In no time, the clone returned with two steaming bowls of ramen. Dispelling the clone, Naruto placed one bowl in front of Hinata.

"Ramen should be eaten hot. Once it cools and the noodles go soggy, it's just not the same."

"But, Naruto-kun, we're in the middle of a test…" Hinata said hesitantly.

Naruto winked and whispered, "Don't worry, I've got this. Just eat up."

"Oh, okay."

After a moment's thought, Hinata accepted his gesture. Though the timing and situation were far from ideal, her heart fluttered at Naruto's thoughtfulness.

Besides, she trusted Naruto when he said he'd make sure she passed.

Slurp, slurp!

Naruto happily dug into his ramen, glancing around the room.

'The exam has been going on for fifteen minutes now, and everyone is starting to make their moves.'

'Perfect timing… I could enjoy his ramen and watch a free display of everyone's skills.'

Tap tap tap tap!

The soft hum of pencils scratching paper soon filled the room.

The performance has begun!

The first to attempt cheating was Shino, who released a small fly from his hand. The insect circled the room, gathering information, and then returned to him, allowing him to jot down answers.

Next in line was Kiba, with Akamaru perched on his head. Akamaru's little barks signaled the answers, and Kiba wrote at a steady pace.

This was the perfect example of the importance of knowing a second 'language'. Even bug and dog language could prove invaluable.

With Shino and Kiba making progress, the bandaged Otogakure's Genin wasn't far behind.

The ears of the Otogakure's Genin twitched slightly, and a smug look appeared in his eyes.

By listening to the sound and identifying the strokes, he can clearly judge what others have written.

The Otogakure's Genin's 'listening tactic' had him finishing his test first.

At this point, Naruto had only finished a third of his ramen.

The show was far from over, and now it was the 'props team''s turn to shine.

Using steel wires, Tenten manipulated tools and a mirror she had discreetly placed on the ceiling beforehand, angling it to reflect the answers to her teammates. This allowed her to help Lee, who relied solely on Taijutsu and otherwise would have been at a loss.

Still, the boldest cheater was yet to come.

Kankuro unleashed his puppet, Karasu, which is disguised as a proctor. The puppet roamed around, gathering information, and then he would sneak off to the bathroom under the pretense of a bathroom break to double-check the answers.

Naruto found himself marveling, 'Whether in the manga or here in reality, how did Kankuro get away with such blatant cheating without penalty?'

But the best was saved for last, and now it was time for the main act.

Ino started by performing her signature hand seal. With a sudden 'thud', her body slumped over the desk, while Sakura's expression shifted to one of mild amusement. She picked up her own test paper and tried hard to memorize the answers. It was clear that Ino had possessed Sakura's body with the Mind Body Switch Technique.

Naruto chuckled to himself. The Mind Body Switch Technique had been one of his favorites in his previous life.

'Imagine all the things you could do by taking over someone else's body…'

Just thinking about it made Naruto chuckled wickedly.

Still, Ino's secret technique was just a warm-up. The best techniques were yet to come from Sasuke, Neji, and Gaara.

Almost simultaneously, Sasuke and Neji activated their Dojutsu. Sasuke's Sharingan allowed him to replicate movements and copy answers, while Neji used his Byakugan to see through the test sheets around him directly.

It was no wonder that these two Dojutsu, the Sharingan and Byakugan, continued to stand out above the rest. Their innate abilities placed them on a level far beyond regular ninjas.

But the most impressive cheater had to be Gaara.

He created a third eye by manipulating sand, connecting it to his optic nerve to act as an all-seeing surveillance camera, allowing him to cheat effortlessly.

'Good guy.' Naruto couldn't help but marvel at his peers.

'Just to cheat, these Genin really used all their abilities...'