[Boom—!!!]
[A sudden explosion sounded from the podium.]
[Immediately after, a large amount of white smoke rose up.]
[The white smoke came quickly and left just as fast.]
[Soon, a tall figure appeared on the podium.]
[The man wore a black bandana and a large black trench coat. Combined with his scar-covered face, many of the Genin present felt a chill just looking at him.]
[The newcomer scanned the room and said coldly, "You bastards, shut up!"]
[Whoosh—]
[At the same time, several figures quickly entered through the examination hall doors.]
[Then, as if rehearsed, they took their positions, seemingly surrounding everyone.]
[Their murderous intent was not hidden at all.]
[The shoulders of many examinees trembled slightly.]
[Clearly.]
[Whether it was the figure on the podium or the Ninjas surrounding them.]
[They were all proctors for this Chunin Joint Exam.]
["You're all getting impatient, aren't you?"]
[On the podium, the fierce-looking tall man spoke again.]
[His voice was cold, making those who heard it feel very uncomfortable.]
["My name is Morino Ibiki. I am the chief proctor for the first stage of this Chunin Selection Exam."]
[As he spoke, Morino Ibiki put his hands in his pockets and stepped forward.]
[His cold gaze swept across the crowd.]
[Then his gaze fixed on Dosu and Zaku.]
["Genin from the Otogakure."]
["If there is a next time, I have the right to disqualify you from the Chunin Exams."]
["Sorry, sorry. This is our first time taking the Chunin Exams, and we don't really know the rules. We were just asking this 'veteran' some questions; our method was just a bit rude."]
[Dosu chuckled without a hint of apology.]
[Morino Ibiki sneered, "Let me make it clear to you."]
["The rules of this exam."]
["Without the permission of myself, the chief proctor, and the other proctors..."]
["...all examinees are forbidden from private fighting."]
["Even if permission is granted... hmph, lethal force is not allowed!"]
["If anyone wants to break the rules, feel free to try. The moment you strike, you will be disqualified immediately!"]
[Hearing this.]
[The Sound Ninja Trio shrugged and didn't waste any more words, slowly returning to their seats.]
["Sit down, everyone. Prepare to begin the exam." Morino Ibiki looked toward The Rookie 9.]
["Let's go."]
[Naruto smiled gently.]
[The Rookie 9 naturally weren't going to look for trouble at a time like this.]
[They then dispersed.]
[Each finding an empty seat to sit in.]
[However, just as they sat down, Ibiki spoke again from the podium: "Distributing seat numbers. In two and a half minutes, sit in your assigned seats!"]
[As he finished speaking, another group of proctors entered from outside the hall, quickly handing out seat numbers to all the Genin present.]
[Two and a half minutes later.]
[Everyone's positions were shuffled.]
[After Naruto sat down, he felt something and glanced at one of the proctors standing nearby.]
[That burning gaze...]
[It was like the gaze of someone who had been pent up for years and finally saw a beautiful woman.]
[Naruto maintained a gentle smile and nodded.]
[Fortunately, Naruto was already used to such looks.]
[These people had received the grace of his New Shinobi Sect.]
[Many had even taken it upon themselves to help brainwash others. Their fanaticism for Naruto was completely incomparable to the Will of Fire.]
[Compared to the empty and grand brainwashing of the Will of Fire, the New Shinobi Sect offered not only tangible benefits but also a philosophy many times more advanced than the Will of Fire.]
[Of course... these were all offshoots of the New Shinobi Sect; Naruto's original intention hadn't gone quite that far.]
[By the time he noticed, it was too late.]
[Although there was some deviation, it was generally fine, or even better.]
[So, he let it develop. With the New Shinobi Sect in place, it was impossible for things to escalate out of control.]
Senju Tobirama: "Indeed... putting myself in their place, perhaps I would become quite fanatical as well."
Uchiha Izuna: "Is loyalty to one person any different from loyalty to another?"
Uchiha Izuna: "Of course, comparison is the thief of joy."
Uchiha Madara: "They chose this path themselves, so naturally they will follow it to the end."
Uchiha Madara, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up.
It's just unclear who he was speaking to.
['Great Fox, you didn't do this secretly, did you?']
[Suddenly, Naruto asked within the Sealing Space.]
["What?"]
[The Great Fox blinked, looking completely innocent.]
[Naruto: "..."]
[Fox Church?]
[Forget it, if the Great Fox likes it, let him do it. It's not a big deal.]
[However...]
[Naruto glanced at the other proctors again.]
[He chuckled inwardly.]
[It looks like the Old Thing is destined to be a leader without an army.]
[With the fanatical looks in these people's eyes... forget about asking them to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
[Even if they were told to jump off a cliff, they probably wouldn't even blink.]
[But Naruto was still a bit worried, fearing they might get too excited and couldn't help shouting "Lord Fox"...]
["Quiet, everyone!"]
[At that moment, Morino Ibiki tapped on the desk.]
["Listen up. Next, I will explain the rules for this exam!"]
["It doesn't matter if this is your first time or if you've taken it several times; the rules are the same because they are my rules!"]
[Then, taking advantage of explaining the rules...]
[...Ibiki continued to apply pressure to everyone, constantly giving psychological hints.]
[The atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.]
[But for The Rookie 9, it had no effect.]
[Ibiki's rules were simple.]
[The exam was based on teams, which were units of three.]
[It was a point-based system, with ten points per team, and the result was determined by the group.]
[The content of this stage was a written exam.]
[When the exam content was announced, Inuzuka Kiba was stunned, a look of despair on his face.]
[Similarly, with such a large number of examinees, quite a few Genin were worried about this.]
[If even one of the three failed, they would immediately lose their qualification.]
[There was no "all for one," only "one down, all down."]
["Nothing escapes our eyes."]
[Just then.]
[Kotetsu Hagane appeared.]
[Since he was there, Izumo Kamizuki was naturally by his side.]
[There were smiles in their eyes.]
[Clearly, they hadn't expected to be reassigned here right after returning to their posts.]
[However...]
[After Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki made their presence known... they stopped at the exam hall doors, standing on either side.]
[As expected of Konoha's conceptual Door Gods.]
[They were Door Gods wherever they went.]
[At the same time.]
[Ibiki observed the examinees.]
[The corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly.]
[Dealing with these Genin was simply too easy.]
[He didn't delay, giving the examinees no time to react.]
["Don't count on luck. If one person in a team loses all their points, all three are eliminated!"]
["With so many eyes watching you, heh..."]
[After one last wave of psychological pressure, Ibiki waved his hand:]
["Now, the exam—begins!"]