Naruto didn't insist any further.
It was clear that Madara was still not convinced.
He could still reveal the truth about Black Zetsu and Kaguya to him, but it wasn't the right time yet.
Naruto knew that patience was important.
The longer he waited, the more power he could gain from the chat group members.
And in a few weeks, he could blackmail Madara once again.
Setting the chat group aside, Naruto walked over to an empty table, where he sat next to Sakura and Sasuke.
Of course, not without first saying goodbye to Hinata, who left with her team for another table.
A few minutes later, the examiner for the first test of the Chūnin Selection Exam, Ibiki Morino, made his appearance.
He handed out numbers to the participants, indicating their assigned seats.
No one was placed next to a teammate to prevent cheating.
Five minutes later, everyone was in their seats, with an exam sheet face down on the table.
Luckily for Naruto, he was seated next to Hinata, his cute girlfriend.
"Naruto, let's do our best. We both have to become Chūnin, okay?"
Naruto nodded, completely agreeing.
Unfortunately, due to the invasion of Sunagakure and Otogakure orchestrated by Orochimaru, no one would be promoted to Chūnin.
Only Shikamaru Nara would ascend, as the examiners recognized his great strategic ability and maturity in battle.
Naruto thought it was unfair that only Shikamaru was promoted, and he would make sure to change that.
He would talk to Tsunade once she became the Fifth Hokage.
After all, he had already reached Jōnin level... No, Naruto was already at Kage level.
Ibiki Morino began explaining the test rules:
1. Participants cannot fight each other during the exam unless ordered by the examiners. Disobeying will result in immediate disqualification.
2. Everyone starts with ten points. The exam consists of ten questions, each worth one point. Each incorrect answer deducts one point.
3. If an examiner catches someone cheating, two points will be deducted for each attempt.
4. If a team member gets a zero, the entire team will be disqualified.
What no one knew—except Naruto and the examiners—was that the real purpose of the test was to evaluate the participants' ability to gather information.
In other words, cheating was allowed.
Naruto also knew that among the examinees, there were two infiltrated Chūnin with all the correct answers.
"I will reveal the final question 45 minutes after the exam begins. You have one hour in total..."
At the command, everyone flipped over their exams.
As soon as they saw the questions, many grimaced in frustration.
"Naruto, are you okay?" Hinata whispered, worried upon seeing her boyfriend not writing anything.
"The truth is... I only know my name. I can't write anything else."
Hinata looked at him incredulously.
But to Naruto's surprise, she simply nodded.
"As expected... studying was never your strong suit."
Naruto visibly slumped upon hearing that.
[Minato Namikaze: Naruto, don't think we're going to help you with the questions.]
[Hashirama Senju: Don't worry, Minato! I don't even know how to answer them myself!]
[Mito Uzumaki: Hashirama, you were never good at studying.]
[Tobirama Senju: What my sister-in-law means is that you're a complete idiot.]
[Hashirama Senju: ...]
[Madara Uchiha: Hashirama has always been an utter fool.]
[Hashirama Senju: ...]
[Might Duy: YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO COPY THE ANSWERS WITHOUT GETTING CAUGHT!]
[Sakumo Hatake: Duy, you forgot to turn off caps lock.]
[Might Duy: I DIDN'T FORGET, MY ETERNAL RIVAL! I JUST WANT YOU TO FEEL MY BURNING PASSION!]
[Sakumo Hatake: Duy is also a complete idiot.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: Minato, can't we really help our son? He doesn't seem to know anything.]
[Minato Namikaze: And could you help him?]
[Kushina Uzumaki: ARE YOU IMPLYING THAT I'M DUMB?!]
[Minato Namikaze: I didn't say that... but you were never good at studying.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: I'M A MASTER OF FŪINJUTSU!]
[Mito Uzumaki: Even the dumbest Uzumaki masters fūinjutsu. If one doesn't, they don't even deserve to carry our name.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: You're cruel, Grandma Mito...]
[Mito Uzumaki: Fufu~ don't take it the wrong way, dear, it's just a fact.]
[Tobirama Senju: Seems like the brat doesn't need help...]
[Izuna Uchiha: TOBIRAMA, EXPLAIN! What is Naruto doing?]
Everyone watched the screen, surprised.
Naruto was answering the questions at an impressive speed.
His hands didn't stop as he wrote.
In just five minutes, he had completed the exam.
Minato, astonished, looked at his son's test—there wasn't a single incorrect answer.
[Minato Namikaze: H-how is this possible...? I thought Naruto was like Kushina...]
[Kushina Uzumaki: SO YOU DO THINK I'M DUMB! Minato, you're sleeping on the couch tonight! No cuddles for a week!]
[Minato Namikaze: NOOO!! WHY ME?!]
[Mito Uzumaki: These two...]
[Might Duy: THAT'S TRUE YOUTHFUL PASSION!]
[Izuna Uchiha: TOBIRAMA, ANSWER ME!]
[Tobirama Senju: I'm sitting right next to you. Why are you talking to me through the chat, idiot?]
[Madara Uchiha: IZUNA! Are you with Tobirama again? Are you stupid? HE KILLED YOU!]
[Izuna Uchiha: TOBIRAMA, YOU BETRAYED ME!]
[Tobirama Senju: ...I'm still sitting next to you.]
[Mito Uzumaki: Since no one else is saying it, I will. Naruto is using the Mind's Eye of Kagura to copy the correct answers from the infiltrated Chūnin.]
[Tobirama Senju: Exactly what I was going to say... IZUNA, GET OFF ME! I'M NOT PLAYING AROUND!]
[Hashirama Senju: Huh? Brother, what's wrong?]
[Tobirama Senju: IZUNA IS BOTHERING ME! That's all, Brother!]
[Madara Uchiha: Izuna? Why are you on top of Tobirama?]
[Izuna Uchiha: IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE! We were just playing...!]
In the Pure Land, Madara rushed over when he heard that Izuna was with Tobirama.
Upon arriving, he found them... BOTH HALF-NAKED, ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER!
[Madara Uchiha: I, Madara Uchiha, hereby proclaim Izuna Uchiha as the gayest man in the entire world.]
[Izuna Uchiha: NOOOOOO...!]
Naruto, after successfully finishing his test, read the chat group and was left speechless.
Was this a joke... or...?
Naruto imagined them together and... they actually made a good couple!
"I wish them a happy marriage."
He silently prayed while Hinata looked at him, confused.
Without hesitation, Naruto discreetly passed the correct answers to Hinata.