The written exam clearly put even less pressure on the other members of Hinata's team. Sasuke, with his Sharingan, easily chose an insider who knew the answers, copying their writing motions for alternative cheating.
Sakura was an academic ace; she didn't need to copy others and simply crushed the exam head-on. Kiba relied on Akamaru, and Shino relied on his bugs. Both of them fully demonstrated the importance of mastering a foreign language; copying others' answers through the eyes of insects and dogs was stress-free.
The Ino-Shika-Chō team was slightly weaker. While Shikamaru had a high IQ, it didn't mean his theoretical knowledge was good. Although Ino was meticulous, she wasn't a scholarly type. As for Chōji... asking him to recite different potato chip brands and flavors would be no problem, but when it came to math or geometry, it was best not to trouble him.
However, secret jutsu were clearly not for show. As the inheritor of mind-based ninjutsu, Ino effortlessly used the Shintenshin no Jutsu(mind Transfer Jutsu) to enter her best friend Sakura's body. By copying Sakura's answers, she passed, and then she passed a copy of the answers to Shikamaru and Chōji. Guiding two others was clearly no pressure at all.
At this point, all nine members of Hinata's team had passed the written exam, just as Hinata had predicted.
Meanwhile, outside the village, in the Akihabara office building.
"The last time I could breathe freely on the ground like this was years ago. Now that I recall it, it still evokes many feelings."
Standing by the office window, Danzō gazed at the tall walls and buildings of Konoha Village in the distance. His exposed left eye carried an unyielding gloom and determination. Although he had now gained control of Akihabara through political activities within the village, this was by no means enough to satisfy him.
"Hehehehe~~ This place is excellent. As long as there's prosperous economic activity, it will only take a few years for your Root to recover its strength."
Danzō was clearly not alone. On the sofa behind him sat a rather dangerous guest.
His pale yellow ninja uniform seemed unremarkable, but what was peculiar was a large purple interwoven knot behind his waist. When he raised his head, a horrifying, eerie sensation permeated the air. Although his appearance wasn't strange, and could even be described as sinisterly handsome, his pale, bloodless complexion gave off a chilling, corpse-like impression.
"Orochimaru, you're still the same as ever, annoying in both your words and actions."
Turning around, Danzō coldly stared at the person before him. Clearly, this was Orochimaru, widely known as one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, one of the Third Hokage's three direct disciples, a former member of the Akatsuki organization, and someone who once competed with the Fourth Hokage for the title of Hokage.
"My apologies, I always tend to speak the truth. It's normal to be disliked."
Orochimaru was clearly not afraid of Danzō. Moreover, since he was currently sitting in Danzō's office rather than a prison cell, there was even less to worry about.
Because only words that couldn't be said in a prison would be discussed in an office.
"Let me state this beforehand: I don't care what you do to Konoha. In my opinion, the Konoha that has decayed under Hiruzen's leadership has long lost its value. But..."
Slightly tightening his cane, Danzō's tone became exceptionally cold: "My Akihabara, and the Konoha Publishing House within the Uchiha compound, must not be destroyed by your foolish allies. Otherwise, I don't mind giving you all some exercise. You understand what I mean, don't you?"
This threat caused Orochimaru's vertical pupils to contract slightly. While Danzō's Root ninja had not fully recovered their strength, they were still a force to be reckoned with. Such a force, if it became an enemy, would still cause some inconvenience.
As for the Uchiha compound itself, it was already far from the center of Konoha and mostly deserted now; there was indeed no need to specifically destroy it.
"Naturally. I also don't want to turn a collaborator into an enemy for no reason. My return this time is simply to settle things with Hiruzen-sensei, and then to destroy this Konoha that neither of us can stand. As for whether you rebuild Konoha or become Hokage yourself afterward, that has nothing to do with me."
Standing up, Orochimaru knew that Danzō's instructions were probably limited to these points. Akihabara and the Konoha Publishing House were currently places where large sums of money could be amassed, concerning Danzō's own future development, which was why he specifically called Orochimaru over.
"It's good that you know. Now, there's one more thing."
Narrowing his eyes, Danzō's tone was exceedingly cold: "I have no interest in you taking Uchiha Sasuke's body. However, the other two in that Uchiha remnant's team, Hyūga Hinata and Uzumaki Naruto, you are not to lay a hand on them."
"Ah~ I know. One is a lovable genius money-maker, and the other is the important asset, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I understand the crucial points here. Well then, if there's nothing else, we'll see each other next time. I must prepare for the banquet."
With a sinister chuckle, Orochimaru melted into the ground and disappeared from the office. Shaking his head slightly, Danzō turned his face back towards the Konoha area, his sinister eye fixed intently on the still clearly discernible Hokage Rock faces there.
"Soon... My own face will also appear up there."
"Nahahahahaha~~ So this is the Chunin Exam~~ It's so ridiculously easy~~"
Naruto, with his hands clasped behind his head, displayed a "once bitten, twice shy" attitude. Although Morino Ibiki's psychological tactics were indeed intimidating, and a considerable number of people did forfeit due to the pressure, for these young rookies, this psychological pressure was clearly a joke.
"You really don't think with your brain, do you~ There were a total of 153 participants in the exam initially, but now only 78 remain. Half the participants have been eliminated directly. If you ask me, an exam that cuts off half the people right at the start is already terrifying me, okay?"
Shikamaru was clearly getting a headache from Naruto's remarks, and the pineapple-haired boy's words also garnered agreement from other members of the group.
"Indeed, although we passed, considering the overall standard of this exam, its strictness certainly lives up to its reputation."
Shino pushed up his glasses. He clearly agreed with Shikamaru's sentiment: "With an elimination rate of almost 50% in every round, how far we can go is still unknown."
"And... that female examiner who has the same hairstyle as Shikamaru looks so suspicious, ugh~"
Sakura also shivered and rubbed her arms, feeling a chill. As the examiner for the second stage, Mitarashi Anko had made a high-profile appearance in the classroom earlier. Besides her provocative attire and delicate face, the most striking impression she left was an undeniable sinister aura.
"That's right, Akamaru told me that woman examiner has a strong smell of blood on her. She must have killed a lot of people; she's definitely a dangerous person. Even though they're both female Jonin, that Anko is the complete opposite of Kurenai-sensei."
Kiba was also a bit scared. His instructor, Yuhi Kurenai, was very strict when teaching, but her personality when interacting was undoubtedly gentle and considerate. However, Mitarashi Anko lacked that gentleness; as a direct disciple of Orochimaru, she had undoubtedly inherited a significant portion of his sinister nature.
At this point, everyone paused, then looked at the Byakugan girl walking in front of them. Without a doubt, they had fully expressed their opinions, and it was now up to her to draw a conclusion.
"There's no need to panic. Our strength is absolute. Even if someone needs to be eliminated, it will never be us. I just checked; the location this examiner is sending us to is a large primeval forest. If I'm not mistaken, this exam should be a survival test."
Closing her Byakugan, Hinata had just been checking if Karin's team had passed. Fortunately, they were indeed among the second wave of examinees, and that pale golden Sage Mode chakra was very easy to find. Even after entering the Forest of Death, Hinata was confident she could find her with her Byakugan.
"Eh? A survival test?"
Ino was surprised: "Doesn't that mean we might have to sleep outdoors? Tsk... that's really bad for the skin..."
"Not just that. I think they'll likely add some difficulty, for example, allowing free-for-all combat within the forest. That way, only those who pass in the end will be considered qualified."
Sasuke, the most battle-hungry, also spoke up, eager for action. The previous written exam clearly didn't interest him. He now really wanted to compete with other Genin to gauge his own strength.
"Exactly. If it's about surviving while also being wary of enemies around you, it's quite a high level of difficulty for an exam. If you also consider the dangerous animals and terrain within the forest, death is quite possible."
Hinata frowned slightly, her tone particularly decisive: "Therefore! If it really is a survival test, they will definitely make different teams act separately. So! No matter what, after entering the survival grounds, quickly rendezvous around Shikamaru's team! Once all members are assembled, then we'll take other actions!"
"I want the victory of this exam to fall firmly and absolutely into our hands!"