Chapter 175: The Chief Examiner

The nerves of Contact Evolution spread through Yakumo's body. Information reached Tonbo quickly, and she lowered her mental resistance so he could read her memories as well.

Ido resisted inside her mental world. Illusory sealing chains bound it, leaving it unable to interfere. Tonbo extracted Yakumo's memories and sealed the tissue he needed without further difficulty.

Until the genjutsu sustaining her ended, everything about her body appeared real. He detected no abnormality in the procedure. He put away the small scroll. Whether it could become the basis for her return was a question for the future.

Sealing her recent memories came next. He had already prepared for it; manipulating memory was familiar work.

Yakumo woke slowly in her room. "What happened?"

"You fainted for a little while. You've been weak."

She looked around. "Where are Tenyu and Maki?"

"They've gone home. Take care of yourself, and have someone notify me if anything happens. I'll leave you to rest."

"All right."

She remembered nothing of the conversation he had sealed.

Time passed, and Contact Evolution continued to strengthen Tonbo's body. His chakra increased with it. He discovered that his mind processed information faster as the physical changes advanced, giving his research another considerable advantage.

Hiruzen supplied a new duty before he could devote all that advantage to his own work.

"You'll be chief examiner for the coming Chūnin Exams. The others will assist you. You will decide the rules."

Tonbo had once expected the Analysis Team to be moved wherever Konoha needed useful people. That much had proved correct, though his present strength made it unlikely that he would remain an unnoticed analyst during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

The examination itself should not be difficult to arrange.

"Internal or joint?"

Konoha usually assessed its own genin. Only some examinations brought allied villages together.

"Internal," Hiruzen said. "Use your own ideas, but choose people who can actually serve as chūnin. No leniency."

A chūnin might lead a squad on a mission. Promoting someone without the necessary ability would place that person's comrades at risk.

"Understood."

Konoha already had a mature assessment system. Teamwork, cooperation, the bonds within a squad, analysis, and leadership would remain its foundations. Tonbo's task was to give the assisting examiners different ways to test those qualities, not invent an entirely new purpose for the rank.

News spread among the genin. Many welcomed an internal examination. Joint exams might offer the excitement of facing other villages, but they also brought greater danger and fewer chances of promotion.

Learning who would direct this one made some candidates reconsider their relief.

"Captain Tonbo? I hope he doesn't devise something impossible."

It would be his first time as chief examiner. His reputation gave them plenty to imagine.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses and considered the opportunity more quietly. Orochimaru had specifically ordered him to gather information on Tonbo. The examination might give him access, and refusing the opportunity could leave him less prepared for the plan due to unfold the following year.

He had wanted to meet the man behind so many reports. Rumor claimed that Itachi had timed the Uchiha massacre for Tonbo's absence rather than face him. Was there any truth in it? Orochimaru himself seemed to have found Itachi too formidable.

Kabuto wanted to distinguish the man from the legend.

"We'll make chūnin this year," a teammate told him. "You need to work hard too."

Five attempts in five years had left Kabuto a genin. His teammates hoped this would finally change.

He smiled mildly. "A genin can still contribute to Konoha."

"Why did you withdraw last time? You were strong enough."

"Expired milk. An unfortunate stomach problem."

"You won't do that again this year?"

"Of course not."

At the Academy, Ino found a reason to approach Sasuke.

"Tonbo is chief examiner. Shall we go and watch the Chūnin Exams?"

Her cheeks were red. Before Sasuke answered, Sakura pushed past her.

"I'm going with Sasuke."

"You didn't have to shove me."

"Don't try to take him away, Ino."

Other girls joined the argument. Neither Sakura nor Ino had the right to act as though everyone else had ceased to exist. Sasuke sat at the center of the dispute, his popularity doing the work without any help from him.

Naruto woke at the noise. The sight made him jealous at once.

"He's just sitting there. How does he do that?"

Shikamaru sighed beside him. "Looks. If you aren't born with them, there isn't much you can do."

"What about Kiba, then?"

Two or three girls had gathered around Kiba. Akamaru stood on his hind legs with pen and paper, drawing and writing while they watched in admiration.

"Akamaru gets better theory marks than you," Shikamaru said. "Have you forgotten?"

Kiba's strength helped his popularity, but so did his remarkable companion. Naruto seemed to collapse in his seat.

"He's not even a student. Why does he study theory?"

The previous year, Kiba had asked Iruka to include Akamaru's results in the regular assessments. The dog had consistently ranked near the top of the class.

Several students had discovered how it felt to be outperformed by a dog. Naruto was one of them.