Chapter 168: The Debt-ridden Red Bean [Part I] (Patreon)

Chapter List: Naruto: Sakura Blizzard

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"We give up..."

Another group of candidates hesitated before raising their hands, opting to quit the exam.

"Is there anyone else wishing to back out? If not, I'll pose the next question. Remember, answer wrongly and be prepared to remain a Genin forever..."

Ibiki surveyed the entire classroom, an intangible pressure weighing heavily upon the candidates. The indecisive among them began to waver, thoughts of quitting flashing across their minds.

"That's enough..." Naruto suddenly slammed his hand on the desk, rising to his feet with a determined expression. "I, as the future hokage, will not give up on this exam!"

"Are you sure?" Ibiki arched an eyebrow, replying, "Fail this, and you'll be a Genin for life, never advancing further."

"Even if I remain a Genin for my entire life, it doesn't matter. Whether one is a Genin or Jōnin is never the key concern for a ninja. What matters is the unwavering spirit, to press on regardless of challenging decisions. That's what it means to be a ninja, right?"

Locking eyes with Ibiki, Naruto declared solemnly, "Keeping my word and moving forward relentlessly, that's my ninja way!"

Naruto's passionate words alleviated the stifling tension in the room. Those who had been contemplating surrendering discreetly lowered their hands. Observing this, a hint of amusement twinkled in Ibiki's eyes, though he remained stoic.

"Congratulations, you've all passed!"

After a prolonged silence, Ibiki burst into laughter. "All candidates present, you've successfully completed the first round of the exam and are eligible for the next stage!"

"What?" Temari exclaimed in disbelief. "But we haven't answered the tenth question yet!"

"In fact, everyone already has," Sakura interjected calmly, engrossed in her book, Icha Icha Paradise. "The so-called tenth question was the choice just now. The first nine questions tested your intelligence-gathering abilities, thus allowing a certain number of cheat attempts. The tenth question, on the other hand, assessed the will of a ninja."

"Indeed," Ibiki continued, "as ninjas, we often face difficult decisions. Whether to persist or to evade is a choice we make. A ninja's true will is evident especially during torture interrogations. Do they endure the pain to protect village secrets or betray their comrades out of fear?"

Many in the room were taken aback by Ibiki's words, especially those who almost quit, now filled with deep shame. If not for Naruto's heartfelt speech, they would have indeed surrendered.

"Sakura, why did you ask me to speak up and inspire them?" Naruto whispered, puzzled by Sakura's sudden prompt to address the group.

"I had no choice; I'm also a ninja of Konoha," Sakura sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. "Many of those who wanted to quit were from Konoha. Had they continued in that manner, Konoha's reputation would've been tarnished. By having you step up, we managed to save face for our village."

"All right, since you've passed the assessment, let's introduce you to the proctor for the next round of the examination," Ibiki announced, glancing briefly at Naruto and Sakura. He felt a twinge of surprise at Naruto's earlier outburst, but he couldn't help but feel heartened by his words. Such determination was reminiscent of the legacy left by the Fourth Hokage.

Lost in thought, Ibiki tapped his earpiece, signaling for the second phase's examiner, a renowned unreliable figure among Konoha's Jōnin: the sweet-toothed Anko.

Suddenly, a robust musical score heralded a figure crashing through the window, shouldering an immense weapon. The sight of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade had the entire classroom gaping in astonishment.

"Do all Jōnin of Konoha behave so peculiarly?" Temari blurted out, a mix of amusement and confusion evident in her voice.

"No, only she does. Don't lump the rest of us in with her antics," Ibiki retorted, visibly annoyed by Anki's dramatic entrance.

"Silence, brats," A figure dressed in a netted outfit, complemented by a cloak, declared. Setting the Green Dragon Crescent Blade with a thud on the ground, Anko pointed forward authoritatively. "I am your proctor for the next phase, Anko of Konoha's Jōnin. Now, follow me to the site of the second test."

A heavy silence enveloped the room. Seeing Anko's actions, Sakura facepalmed, regretting ever suggesting the idea of the dramatic blade entrance. What she considered as a joke was taken literally by Anko.

"Wait, why are there still so many of you? Weren't there supposed to be only a few left?" Anko remarked, genuinely puzzled by the number of students in the room.

"You must be living in a dream," Ibiki shot back, struggling to maintain his composure in the face of Anko's antics. "We had a large number of elite candidates this year. It's only natural that many would remain."

"Whatever. The numbers don't matter. Many will be eliminated in the next phase anyway," Anko responded dismissively, then addressed the students, "Stop staring and follow me."

"Anko-senpai, may I ask, why did I hear so much of shattering glass sounds just now?" Sakura inquired with a tilted head.

Anko paused, caught off guard. A sheepish grin spread across her face. "Ah, well, there are multiple examination rooms. I sent several shadow clones to the other classrooms. They used the same entrance method as I did. You probably heard the sound of glass breaking from the other rooms!"

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Next Chapter >>Chapter 169: Deep in Debt, Anko [Part 2]