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Ye Dou didn't know what to make of it—the future heir of the prestigious Hyuga clan needing to rely on her Byakugan to cheat during a written exam. Still, the Hyuga sisters were quite the contrast. There was a strange sense of complementarity between them.
Hyuga Hinata lacked innate combat talent, yet consistently ranked among the top academically.
In contrast, Hyuga Hanabi (Huahuo) was exceptionally gifted as a ninja, but her written test results were... lacking.
It wasn't that Huahuo was stupid—she simply lagged far behind her sister academically.
After all, the Byakugan is a divine eye—perfect for spying. When activated, almost nothing within a kilometer escapes its vision.
"Before we begin the test, there are a few rules you all need to understand,"
Morino Ibiki's gravelly voice drew everyone's attention as he tapped the blackboard at the front of the room.
"First, each of you starts with 10 points. There are ten questions, each worth one point. The exam uses a deduction system: for every incorrect answer, one point is subtracted. For example, if you miss three questions, your score drops to seven."
"Second, the team's pass or fail will be judged based on the combined performance of all three members. If even one person fails, the whole team fails."
"Third—and listen carefully—cheating will cost you. Every time you're caught, two points will be deducted. If any one member ends up with zero, the entire team will be disqualified."
Someone asked loudly, "What happens if we get zero?"
Morino Ibiki's cold eyes swept across the room.
"Then the entire team fails."
A tense silence followed, punctuated by whispers and mutters of disbelief.
Whether confident in themselves but unsure of their teammates, or the opposite, many genin suddenly felt their palms sweat.
[An exam that requires cheating?]
As Ibiki's words sank in, the air in the classroom grew heavier.
This was no ordinary written test—it was a psychological battle.
The team-based system used by Konoha, like many villages, was intentionally balanced. Each squad typically had one standout, one average, and one weaker member—to mimic real combat conditions and improve survival chances.
Take Team 7, for example:
Uchiha Sasuke was a standout, easily ranking in the top five of his class.
Ye Dou was average—neither exceptional nor poor.
Naruto Uzumaki, meanwhile, was the classic underachiever, barely understanding the exam questions, if he read them at all.
Under Ibiki's rules, students with strong scores worried about being dragged down, while weaker ones were overwhelmed by anxiety.
This was exactly what Ibiki intended—to eliminate those who lacked composure and teamwork under stress.
And this was only the beginning.
"If cheating only costs points instead of immediate disqualification," Hyuga Huahuo whispered, "then as long as we don't get caught… it's fair game."
Ye Dou nodded slightly. He didn't remember the full details of the Chūnin Exams, but he did recall the essence of the written portion: the questions were deliberately impossible. Designed not to be answered, but to force cheating—testing a ninja's ability to gather intelligence under pressure.
"A ninja's job is espionage," Ibiki had said.
"If you're going to cheat, do it like a real ninja."
Ye Dou understood.
If the exam's purpose is intelligence gathering, then the targets must be planted.
He closed his eyes briefly, extending his Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki) throughout the room.
After a moment, he opened his eyes.
Ten people have stable chakra control... Four are from Konoha. Haruno Sakura can be ruled out. That leaves two who stand out...
He turned and whispered:
"Huahuo, look at the test of the fifth person in the third row. If they're blank, then check the second person in the fifth row. One of them definitely has the answers—possibly both."
Ye Dou was confident in his perception.
Morino Ibiki had definitely planted answer-holders among the examinees.
But he didn't get a response.
Curious, he turned to look.
Huahuo's face was flushed red, her head down, fingers nervously twisting. She was muttering softly:
"Ye Dou... said my name..."
Ye Dou's brow twitched. He raised his voice slightly:
"Did you hear what I just said?"
She jumped slightly, replying quickly, "Yes! I heard! What about you?"
"I have my own way."
He wasn't lying. With his mongoose companion hidden in the shadows, it was easy enough to peek at answers without being noticed—whether from Huahuo or someone else.
Unlike Naruto, Ye Dou didn't plan on submitting a blank paper just to make a dramatic point. He wasn't looking to be the center of attention. He just wanted to pass.
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