SHINOBI EXAM

A tense silence fell over the Sand Shinobi as the metallic voice resounded: "Wrong answer."

"Yura!"

"Yura Jōnin!!"

"Damn it!"

"What kind of monster is this?!"

Within the invisible domain barrier, Yura, one of the village's skilled Jōnin, had been reduced to a gruesome puddle of flesh. Blood splattered against the intangible walls as the distortion of space claimed yet another victim.

Another chance lost.

Only one opportunity remained to answer the ominous question. The fate of the Sand Shinobi and the survival of the Third Kazekage's human puppet now hung by the thinnest of threads.

"Damn it! Is this some sort of Konoha conspiracy?" one of the elders muttered in frustration.

Chiyo's voice cut through the commotion. "Calm yourselves. If Konoha truly possessed such power, we would have been annihilated long ago."

But her words did little to ease the growing panic.

"Gaara's 'Absolute Defense' was wrong. So was Shukaku's. Then what is the correct answer?!"

The mounting pressure was evident on every face. Another wrong answer meant another death, and at this rate, they would lose all their chances. If the rules hadn't been so merciless—"wrong answer equals death"—perhaps they could have tried every possible solution.

But such luxuries didn't exist here.

In Sunagakure, despair loomed heavily over the village. Their Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was missing. Gaara, their Jinchūriki, was nowhere to be found. Two capable Jōnin had already died gruesomely in this twisted Q&A game, and the village's morale was crumbling.

In the tense atmosphere, a Chūnin hesitantly stepped forward.

"That… I… I think I might have an idea…"

"What nonsense are you spouting, Chūnin?!" barked a Jōnin, glaring at the subordinate ninja. "If you don't know the answer, shut up and stop wasting time!"

The Chūnin flinched but stood his ground. "I-I'm sorry… but I think it's important. Please listen."

Chiyo raised her hand to silence the Jōnin. "Let him speak." Her calm authority quieted the room, and the Chūnin swallowed nervously before continuing.

"Well… when I bought a teddy bear for my daughter, I remember something Lord Garura once said…"

"A teddy bear?!" The Jōnin from earlier scoffed. "What kind of absurdity is this? Are you seriously bringing up toys at a time like this?"

"I'm sorry!" The Chūnin bowed his head deeply. "But it's connected to what I'm trying to say!"

Chiyo's gaze hardened. "Let him finish."

The Chūnin nodded, trembling. "Years ago, when Lord Garura was still alive and pregnant with Gaara-sama, I ran into her in the marketplace. She was choosing a gift for her unborn child. During our brief conversation, she mentioned something strange—something about how she would protect her child at all costs, even if she were no longer in this world."

His voice softened as he recalled her words. "I will use another form to protect them. I will ensure no harm ever comes to my child."

The room fell silent as his words sank in.

Chiyo's eyes widened slightly. "You're suggesting… that Garura's love is the source of 'Absolute Defense'?"

The Chūnin nodded, his voice gaining strength. "Yes! When Gaara-sama's sand protects him, it feels like a mother's embrace, doesn't it? I believe that power comes from Garura-sama herself!"

The gathered ninjas exchanged uncertain glances.

"Ridiculous!" a Jōnin snapped. "And if you're wrong? Are you ready to pay with your life for this guess?"

Chiyo turned her sharp gaze to the Jōnin. "And are you willing to step up with a better answer? Or will you merely stand here criticizing others while doing nothing?"

The Jōnin clenched his fists but remained silent.

The Chūnin bowed his head again. "I know I'm just a Chūnin. But if my guess can save everyone, I'm willing to risk it."

Chiyo sighed, her thoughts drifting to the past. She remembered the sacrifices her family had made for Sunagakure—the tragic death of Garura, the burden placed on Gaara, and the manipulation of her own grandson, Sasori, who had become a rogue ninja. The memories weighed heavily on her heart.

"Garura…" she murmured. "Are you still protecting Gaara, even now?"

Chiyo made her decision. "We'll go with the Chūnin's answer."

The elders nodded in agreement, though their faces were grim. They had no better options. The Sand Shinobi assigned to give the answer stepped forward, trembling. He avoided looking at the bloodstained remains of Luna and Yura as he steeled himself.

Swallowing his fear, he shouted with all his might:

"The power of 'Absolute Defense' comes from Garura-sama, the wife of the Fourth Kazekage!"

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then, the metallic voice responded.

"Answer… correct."

Relief flooded the room, and the Sand Shinobi collapsed to his knees, trembling.

---

Chiyo's shoulders sagged with exhaustion. "So it was Garura all along…"

The revelation brought a mix of emotions. Garura's unwavering love for her child had transcended death, manifesting in the form of Gaara's protective sand.

"Even after all this time, she's still shielding him," Chiyo whispered.

But there was no time to dwell on sentiment. The barrier dissipated, and the survivors knew they couldn't rest yet. The Q&A game had been just one part of the unknown enemy's scheme, and their village remained vulnerable.

"Prepare to report this to the elders," Chiyo instructed. "We must be ready for whatever comes next."

As the Sand Shinobi moved to regroup, the Chūnin who had provided the correct answer quietly left the scene. He didn't seek praise or recognition; he only hoped his actions had saved lives.

Chiyo watched him go, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "Sometimes, it's the ones we least expect who make the greatest difference."

---

In the shadows, a figure observed the scene from a distance. Their lips curved into a smirk.

"So, they managed to survive after all. How… interesting."

The figure disappeared into the night, leaving behind only an unsettling sense of foreboding.

---

---------------–––--––--------------------------------

Visit our Patreon for more:

patreon.com/Samurai492

.

---