More genin filter in, including two other teams from their graduating class at the Academy. These take seats near Naruto, Sugira, and Chihiro, as familiar faces.

Naruto grins at the other genin in their year, then turns back to people watching. He's practicing trying to figure out what people are at least pretending their specialty is. It's a lot more fun with different villages, and not just Konoha shinobi.

A teenager with long hair tied back in a ponytail and a Konoha headband approaches.

"Sizing up the competition, huh? That's smart."

Sugira is squinting very suspiciously at him.

He's getting a slightly different sense off the boy than he used to off Chihiro, but - 

Before Naruto can answer: "We're not interested. Go away." He's willing to be the token unfriendly ass.

"Wow, harsh," he holds his hands up nonthreateningly. "Just trying to be friendly. This isn't my first chunin exam, you know. Thought I might share some information with you rookies."

Naruto hasn't spotted anything iffy about him yet but Sasuke doesn't like him, so - 

"You just said the room's competition. Thanks for the offer? But we're fine."

"All right," he chuckles. "Let me know if you change your mind."

"Right."

And back to people watching, though he'll keep an eye out in case dude approaches the other rookies. (Not to intervene - but it certainly says a thing if they're the only rookies approached.)

He makes a pitch to the two other rookie Konoha teams, but they both turn him down. After that, he goes to talk with some of the older Konoha genin.

"Man, that guy," complains Shikamaru after he leaves. "Seven chunin exams? What a pain. I'll probably give up if I don't pass this time."

"Shikamaru!" scolds Ino. "Show some motivation for once! This is important!"

Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, Shino contributes his thoughts. "It is highly unusual for genin in their first year to be nominated for the chunin exams, yet here we all are. Why? Our instructors must think we have the talent to succeed."

"Also we're in Konoha - probably safer for us here? More friendly faces at least. And we know stuff like the Academy layout. Even if we're not expected to pass - wouldn't be surprised at sensei using it as a trial run." It's like one of those logic puzzles Sasuke likes, except easy because it involves why people do things. Though Naruto fully intends to pass with the rest of Team Seven, trial run or no.

(And if he was evaluating potential chuunin he'd be evaluating them now including what they think of the exams so that means that while he wants to jokingly brag and play around he should act like Chihiro said was important - )

"Mm-hm," Hinata says quietly, playing shyly with her fingers. "That's- that's a good point, N-naruto."

He grins at her. "'Course, we'll just have to impress them."

She blushes.

There's a loud crack from the front of the room, and a group of older ninja appear in a puff of smoke, led by a tall, scarred man with a bandanna covering his head. "Playtime's over!" he barks. "Listen up! The chunin exams start now. Each of you take a token from this bucket, and sit in the seat it assigns you. The tests will be passed out after." A ninja to his left hold a jar of numbered tokens, and one to his right brandishes a stack of papers.

Tests. Ugh.

Still, he takes a token, and his seat.

He's already planning how to help Naruto cheat as he takes his own token. Fortunately he can change which spells he has memorized...

"My name is Morino Ibiki and I run Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Section. I will be your proctor for the first stage of the examination. Here are the rules; listen carefully because I will not allow questions. First, this test consists of ten questions and each of you begins with ten points. For each question you answer wrong, you will lose one point. Second, your final score will be determined by the total score of your entire team. Third, anyone caught cheating during this test will lose two points for each incidence. Fourth, anyone whose point total is reduced to zero, either through cheating or wrong answers will be ejected from the exam, along with the rest of their team."

- Shit he doesn't want to screw this up for his team.

But - big emphasis on teams.

Leadership, intelligence, courage, dedication, teamwork, resourcefulness, martial skill, and adherence to the shinobi code.

Chihiro's list. 'Test taking' is maybe intelligence, but if they have three exams and the last one's a set combat - 

It makes sense to test multiple things with each exam - 

Teamwork, intelligence, resourcefulness, could all fit here... Maybe they're supposed to - help their teams somehow? But he's not sitting near Sasuke or Chihiro - 

...Wait a second what if he got all ten answers in one cheating incident, he'd only be dropped to eight points even if he did something blatant - 

And they said caught, and Naruto's been enough of a shithead at teachers (and Sasuke) to learn the value of exact words.

Help their teams cheat, then?

"You have one hour," Ibiki growls. "Begin."

The questions on the paper are well above the level that was taught at the Academy. Also, there are only nine of them.

Okay so there'll be something weird with the tenth...

Yeah he can't answer a single one of these. And short of waiting until the end then just cheating extremely obviously to get all nine answers he's not sure...

That math is several levels below what he does on a daily basis; anyone who thinks that's a hard code will start crying when they see the bullshit wizards like to pull; he can't confidently answer all of the others (there's localized knowledge on a few), but the person in front of him is going at a suspiciously steady pace, which Sugira can copy - 

He gets all nine, then as subtly as he can casts Illusion of Calm, takes one of his spell-sheets out of his pocket, memorizes 'Silent Image,' and then projects an illusion of his own page over Naruto's.

Naruto rolls his eyes a bit when the illusion appears, though mentally he thanks Sasuke, and sets to tracing the answers.

Chihiro doesn't seem like she needs any help answering the questions.

About fifteen minutes in, people start getting removed from the room. A few of them try to protest, but the proctors are firm and if necessary, forceful. With ten minutes left of the original allotted time, about three-quarters of the initial contestants remain.

He'd figured she wouldn't.

He keeps his concentration on the illusion for now, to give Naruto as much time as possible.

"Pencils down, maggots," Ibiki growls at the end of the hour. "Time's up."

He lets the illusion dismiss, turning his concentration to Ibiki again.