Naruto drinking makes me stronger-Chapter 23: Youyu,s Unbelievable ‘’Success’’

The candidates watching Youyu's test-taking process were utterly stunned.

First, he slept through most of the exam.

Then, a disguised Konoha proctor blatantly swapped their own completed test with his blank one.

And now?

The proctor was standing up and handing Youyu's completed paper right back to him in broad daylight.

"...What the hell am I looking at?" one of the foreign candidates muttered, his face twitching.

The moment the proctor placed the paper in front of Youyu, an examiner immediately pointed at him and shouted.

"You there! What do you think you're doing?!"

The proctor didn't even flinch. Instead, he let out a dramatic sigh, returning the written test to Youyu's desk before turning to leave the room.

"Sorry, I guess I've been caught," he said without the slightest trace of guilt.

"You're disqualified from the exam! Get out!" the examiner barked.

The proctor nodded, casually strolling out as if nothing had happened.

The entire room fell into a stunned silence.

"Did... did that just happen?"

"Did Konoha just cheat right in front of us?"

"Do they think we're blind?!"

Murmurs of disbelief erupted throughout the examination hall.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen's temples throbbed.

"This is... without a doubt, the most disgraceful thing I have ever done as Hokage," he muttered.

Orochimaru smirked. "I find it quite entertaining."

Jiraiya was trying not to laugh. "Hey, at least we made sure he passed, right?"

Hiruzen groaned.

Back in the exam hall, the foreign candidates were not happy.

"Who the hell is this guy? The Hokage's son?"

"I want to protest! This is blatant favoritism!"

"They're obviously rigging the exam!"

Despite the complaints, none of them dared to make a serious challenge.

The Konoha examiners gave a simple warning—"If you don't like it, you can leave."

None of them were willing to drop out over this.

"Just wait until the next round. If they want to rig the written exam, fine. But let's see if they can rig a battle," one of the foreign candidates muttered.

The hostility in the room intensified.

They all glared at Youyu, their eyes filled with clear intent—they were going to take him down the moment the second exam began.

"Youyu... you might've gotten through this round, but once we're in the second test, we'll show you what real shinobi are."

Youyu, meanwhile, was completely oblivious.

He stared at the fully completed test in front of him with pure joy.

"Wow... so this is how easy exams are?"

He had no idea why the guy in front of him had helped him so much, but he wasn't about to complain.

"The exam is over! Put down your pens!"

The examiner's shout snapped everyone back to reality.

"The results will be announced shortly!"

As the examiners began collecting the tests, Youyu leaned back comfortably and took another sip of sake.

Minutes later, the results were announced.

A total of 64 candidates passed.

Among them, Youyu... was a one-man team.

The foreign candidates gawked.

"He's... alone?"

"They're sending a single guy into the second round?"

"This doesn't make any sense!"

Even Kisame was staring at Youyu now.

The Mist swordsman's sharp grin widened as he watched the so-called "cheater" lazily stretch his arms.

"There's no way Konoha would rig an exam just to push some random kid forward," Kisame muttered.

"Then why protect him?" his teammate asked.

Kisame's shark-like teeth flashed as he chuckled.

"That's what makes this interesting."

As the candidates waited, a sudden burst of smoke filled the room.

When it cleared, a pale man in a Konoha vest stood before them.

"That's... Orochimaru."

"The legendary Sannin?"

The air grew heavy as Orochimaru smiled.

"Greetings, candidates. I will be overseeing the second exam."

The murmurs grew louder.

A man like Orochimaru overseeing an exam? This wasn't normal.

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes scanned the room, lingering slightly on Youyu.

So this is the one Hiruzen is going so far to push forward?

Fascinating.

He was genuinely curious now.

"I'm looking forward to the second exam," Orochimaru murmured, lips curling into a grin.

"This will be an unprecedented Chūnin Exam."

The candidates were soon led toward the next exam site—Training Ground 44, the Forest of Death.

The rules remained the same.

Each team was given either a Heaven or Earth scroll, and they had to collect both before reaching the center tower.

But first... they had to sign waivers.

Orochimaru's voice echoed through the area.

"Before we begin, you will all sign this form, acknowledging that death is a possibility."

The foreign candidates nodded grimly.

To them, this was just another part of shinobi life.

Youyu, however, lit up.

"Life-and-death contracts? Finally, I don't have to hold back!"

The candidates nearby paused.

"Wait. Why does he look so excited?"

"He... he's grinning at the death waivers."

"Something's not right with him."

A few sweat-dropped as they watched Youyu eagerly sign his name.

Many still dismissed him as an overhyped brat.

But a few... were starting to reconsider.

Especially Kisame.

"Hmm... I might actually want to fight him," he murmured.

Soon, the second exam officially began.

As teams scattered into the Forest of Death, one more shocking detail emerged.

Youyu... was alone.

This didn't go unnoticed.

"Wait. That guy's a solo team?"

"He doesn't even have a squad?"

Even Kisame's teammates looked surprised.

"Why would Konoha let him go in alone?"

Kisame, however, only grinned wider.

"Because they know something we don't."

A few candidates still thought Youyu was just a pampered fool getting special treatment.

But now, for the first time...

Some were starting to realize the truth.

If Konoha was willing to let him enter the exam alone...

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That meant they believed he didn't need teammates.

And that?

That was more terrifying than any rigged exam.

Word Count: 986

Author Notes:

Foreign Candidates: "You cheated through the first exam!"

Youyu: "And?"

Next Chapter: Chaos in the Forest of Death!