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Kagaya's response seemed to instill some confidence in those present. Subsequently, fewer and fewer people gave up, until eventually, no one else chose to abandon the exam.
Seeing that no one else stepped forward to quit, Ibiki spoke. "I'll say it again. This is a choice that stakes your future. If you want to give up, do it now."
No one responded. Even though Ibiki reiterated that this was a life-altering choice, those who remained at this point were unlikely to back down just because of his words.
Ibiki carefully observed the people still in the exam hall, thinking to himself.
'Eighty-four... More than I expected. Even if we continue, it'll be the same. Those who have stayed won't give up easily.'
Thinking this, he glanced at the other examiners, seeking their opinion.
Seeing Ibiki look their way, the examiners naturally understood what he meant at this moment. They all nodded slightly. They, too, felt it was sufficient.
Ibiki nodded and addressed the examinees. "Your resolve is commendable! Then, all of you remaining here, I judge you to have passed the first exam!"
As his words fell, everyone was stunned, unable to immediately process what had just happened.
What about the promised tenth question?
How were they suddenly declared passed?
Ibiki provided an explanation. "The tenth question itself... such a thing never existed from the start. If I had to say, the choice you just faced was the tenth question."
Following that, Ibiki answered the examinees' questions one by one.
The nine questions before the tenth were actually designed to test their intelligence-gathering abilities as genin. The test questions were created from the outset with the aim of making them "unsolvable." Consequently, for the genin to write the correct answers, they had to cheat—that is, gather intelligence.
During this process, the examiners would filter out ninja whose intelligence-gathering skills were up to standard.
The tenth question was to test the examinees' willpower. Ninja often faced missions with no retreat. In such situations, what was needed weren't people who would back down due to potential consequences, but those who could press forward undaunted, even knowing they might bear severe repercussions.
"If, by chance, you are the type who doesn't dare to gamble with your own fate, who pins hopes on next year or an uncertain future, whose heart wavers and who abandons opportunities—weak-willed trash like that, in my opinion, are unqualified to become chūnin. You who chose to answer can be called the correct respondents to a difficult question like the tenth. You will probably confront future difficulties head-on as well. You have already passed through the entrance. The first exam of the Chūnin Selection is now over!"
At this point, Ibiki smiled slightly. For the first time since the exam began, his voice softened a little.
"Good luck with the rest of the exams!"
Upon hearing this, Naruto jumped up excitedly and shouted,
"Yahoo! Good luck, everyone!"
Kagaya, however, remained as before, continuing to twirl his pen as if nothing had happened.
Just then, suddenly, a cloth-wrapped figure burst through the glass window, crashing into the exam hall. In the next moment, the person unfurled the cloth, pinned it with shuriken, and addressed the examinees boldly.
"You people, this is no time to celebrate! I am the examiner for the second exam: Mitarashi Anko!"
On the red cloth behind her, large characters proclaimed: 'SECOND EXAM EXAMINER: MITARASHI ANKO, ARRIVING!'
She wore a long yellow coat over what could easily be called a suggestive mesh outfit.
Anko waved her hand grandly. "Alright now, let's go! For the next one, follow me!"
Kagaya sighed and muttered under his breath, "This one's an idiot too, huh."
They had just finished the first exam; there was no way the second would start immediately. Besides, Kagaya remembered the second exam was in the Forest of Death. An exam of that scale definitely required a day or two of rest beforehand; Kagaya absolutely believed that.
Ibiki had no choice. He poked his head out from behind the cloth and tactfully reminded her,
"Read the atmosphere, will you?"
Anko's face flushed red as she realized her blunder. She immediately ignored what she had just said. "Eighty-four people, Ibiki? Twenty-eight teams left? You went too easy on them for this year's first exam!"
Ibiki smiled as he replied. "There are many outstanding individuals this year."
Anko put her hands on her hips and spoke dismissively. "Well, whatever. I'll cut that number down to less than half in the next exam. Heh, exciting. Details will be given tomorrow at a different location. For the assembly time and place, ask your jōnin sensei. That's all for now! Dismissed!"
Thus, the first exam came to a close.
Simultaneously, outside Konoha.
In a forest, Itachi suddenly addressed Kisame.
"Kisame, stay here. I'm going into Konoha."
Kisame was taken aback. "Itachi, why are you going to Konoha?"
Itachi replied calmly. "There are some matters regarding the invasion I need to discuss with Kagaya."
Kisame didn't press further.
"Is that so? Then go ahead. Just remember to call me when the plan is set to begin."
In Kisame's view, Itachi and Kagaya were from the same village and clan; it was normal for them to have private matters to discuss.
Itachi nodded. "Alright. I'll be off then."
With that, Itachi vanished from the spot.
During this period, Kagaya stood on the opposing side against Konoha, while Itachi leaned more towards protecting the village. Being together imposed constraints on both Kagaya and Itachi. Conversely, separating freed both Kagaya and Itachi from those constraints.
Did Itachi genuinely have matters to discuss with Kagaya? No, he did have business, but not with Kagaya. He intended to discuss matters with the Third Hokage.
Konoha's barrier passwords hadn't changed since Itachi's defection. The Third Hokage had specifically left a method for Itachi to return and visit his brother. Kagaya had also entered Konoha multiple times using this same set of passwords.
Now, Itachi did the same, entering Konoha with ease.
And soon enough, Itachi found the Third. The two met in a secluded location.
On a street in Konoha.
Karin suddenly jolted, then quickly looked at Kagaya and said, "Kagaya, you were right. He's entered."
Kagaya stopped walking, remained silent for a moment, then continued forward as if nothing had happened.
"Yeah, I know."
After entering Konoha, Kagaya had instructed Karin to constantly monitor two individuals: Danzō and Itachi.
For Danzō, Kagaya hoped Karin could locate his whereabouts. For Itachi, Kagaya simply had Karin monitor whether he entered Konoha.
Now, Itachi had entered Konoha. If, after a while, Itachi didn't come to find Kagaya, then Kagaya could guess who he had gone to see.