Madame Linh scanned the room after her announcement of the Tenth Question. Some of the applicants were racked with uncertainty and frustration while others were self-assured in their silence. The reaction of some of the students to her assault on Proctor #5 elicited a gasp from a few of the more timid students, but one reaction in particular caught her eye. The Kiri-Nin, the one who had cleverly orchestrated an elimination, had blushed at the sight of her cane. The insolent little welp was even so bold as to wink at her. She knew that look of shame. Yes, she knew it quite well. Linh raised her head at him a bit and for a moment, he'd catch what resembled a look of predation.
Cheeky little brat...someone ought to teach you some manners. She thought to herself. Fortunately for Hisha's rear end, she had a job to do and that took priority over dishing out well-deserved correction.
After her speech, an oppressive aura had settled over the class. Students began to eye each other warily. The tense quiet was suddenly broken by the outburst of two individuals. The first was from Kaori of the Leaf, or rather, formerly of the Stone and presently of the Leaf. The revelation caused something to click in Linh's mind and as the young woman spoke, she grew more certain of her conclusion. Kaori declined to rat out her allies and instead proceeded to take a rather unorthodox course. She informed on herself in aggressive detail. Linh listened quietly without a word noting that Kaori had exhibited significantly above-average levels of espionage and counter-espionage skill. The decision to keep the clone active until the very last minute was undoubtedly impressive and demonstrated strong strategic planning. When she was finished, Linh would look back to the other proctors and raise an eyebrow. They hesitated, unsure of how to deal with this sudden twist of events. A lingered eye from Linh communicated that they ought proceed as previously instructed. All of the proctors gave a single nod. Linh turned back to Kaori. She opened her mouth to deliver her response to Kaori's assessment when another genin interrupted her.
This goddamn pervert. Linh's eyes flickered to the man as he asserted that the last question was bullshit and that all of the genin were locked in a Prisoner's Dilemma scenario. Linh's amusement regarding Hisha's antics evaporated and with it, her patience. She struck her cane of correction against the desk leaving a crack in its surface.
"
Talk out of turn again you runt and I'll send you into the second round on crutches. If you do not wish to inform upon a cheater then you'd best hold your tongue. Consider that your only warning..." Linh turned back to Kaori and considered the woman's words. She had anticipated the possibility that someone would try to tell on themselves but she did not think anyone would be foolhardy enough to risk such a ploy. Certainly not in the first instance. Of course, now that she had had time to become acquainted with Class B, it made perfect sense that Kaori would be the one to take such a risk. Naturally, the ambiguity of the Tenth Question and Kaori's direct analysis of the underpinnings of the first portion had upped the ante for the applicants and even the proctors. Many would be wondering: How would Madame Linh deal with such a response?
"
Come here Kaori"
Linh would point to a spot directly in front of the teacher's desk. The genin would be well-advised to do as she was told. Assuming Kaori now stood before her, Linh would now be standing directly in front of her. She'd rest her bone cane directly on the genin's right shoulder.
"
The proctors and I agree with your assessment. You are correct. Kaori Murai cheated exactly the way you described. Now that creates a bit of a contradiction given the rules of the Tenth Question. You accurately assessed the way that a shinobi cheated but you are the very shinobi whom you informed upon. A risky ploy that, based on your earlier comment, is designed to demonstrate your understanding of the written portion of the Chuunin Exams."
Linh would tap the cane against Kaori's collarbone a few times as if testing its integrity.
"
I will thus provide you with a fair compromise. You will be eliminated from the Exam as I have stated previously but you will still receive two rewards. One which will be sent to you before the second portion and one that will be sent at the conclusion of the Exams. If your intention was to impress me, I'm sorry to say you've failed miserably. A good shinobi does not take unnecessary risks and a ninja must learn that they cannot have their cake and eat it too. Some of you will remain silent....that's good. There is no penalty for silence, but there is no reward for it either. Some of you will opt to betray your comrades or inform on those whom you don't care about....that's fine too, assuming that you are correct you will be rewarded at the cost of your reputation and the enmity of strangers or perhaps even your comrades. Hisha, while insolent, is correct. This is the classic Prisoner's Dilemma that we in the intelligence sector must confront on a daily basis. There is no easy choice but chose you must. By speaking up you gamble....but you must gamble intelligently. Taking unnecessary risks merely to assuage your own ego and to demonstrate your own infallibility will get you and your comrades killed"
Linh placed her cane under Kaori's chin and tilted it upwards just a bit so that her gaze was level with the taller woman's.
"
You gambled poorly but at least you'll receive a consolation prize. Kaori Murai, get the fuck out of my class you worthless cheater."
She'd then remove the whip-cane from Kaori's face and gesture to the door. There was an aura of finality to her actions. The young woman's journey had ended and if she could not accept that then she would simply be escorted out. After the Leaf genin was removed, the silence of the class was deafening. Some of the students were jittering nervously now that Linh had shown she was quite serious about her hatred of cheaters. Those who were smart had picked up on the fact that she had hurled abuse at those who had been caught. It was a cardinal sin to be so sloppy that you could be apprehended and even more sinful that you were so weak, arrogant or hated that you could be snitched on freely by enemies and friends alike.
"
Anybody else care to snitch on themselves?" Assuming no one wanted to follow in Kaori's footsteps, the Kaguya would add: "
Now that we've removed the show-off...I'll sweeten the deal. I will not confirm any answers until all informants have finished stepping forward."
Many continued to say nothing but suddenly a hand was raised and a teenage shinobi bearing the symbol of the Land of Keys jumped out of his seat.
"Madame Linh, I am Tai Razuka from Jōmae no Sato and I have information to report. Chouzu from Jōmae no Sato cheated off another person's Exam. A Steel Release technique was utilized to form a discrete metal mirror at select angles across the room. Advanced geometry was then used to adjust these mirrors in such a way that Chouzu was able to view certain answers but only from his seat and from no other position in the classroom."
Chouzu, a hefty genin with spectacles and a bowl style hair cut, grew pale. He opened his mouth to speak but reconsidered. Instead, he gritted his teeth and stood himself. He dramatically pointed at a third party.
"I only did it because we were squadmates! We were helping each other! I even helped Toromanzo and Tai. I used the morse code they taught us in the Academy to help them out with the Fuuin question!"
Tormanzo, a skinny and orange-tanned shinobi with blonde hair, sat in his seat with his arms crossed. He said nothing but there was an unmistakable look of disgust and irritation on his face.
Linh pointed at Chouzu and Tai before curling her index finger forwards. She pointed to the same spot that Kaori once stood. Each of the genin lined up in front of her. The contempt and rage Chouzu felt was contrasted with the sly smirk that was painted on Tai's face.
"
Anyone else?" Linh asked.
The question had barely escaped her lips when another hand was raised. A tall shinobi with black hair so long it stretched down to his back began to stand. "Allmona Yudai of the Village Hidden in Grass is a cheater. She used a zoom-in feature that was built into her glasses to record answers and then used Fuuinjutsu to transmit them into the glasses of the green haired girl in the back row. I think they're dating or something. I can give you the precise design specifications for her glasses if you require Madame Linh"
The tall shinobi's eyes were as dead as a doe. He gave no hint of emotion and his voice was monotone. He stared straight ahead, the symbol of the Hidden Grass Village emblazoned on his forehead protector, making him as a traitor to his people.
He must have built the glasses for her...... Allmona, a petite and pink haired kunoichi with a beautiful face and a pert bosom stared up at her nameless accuser. Her face a mixture of confusion and betrayal. The long haired engineer did not even bother to look in her direction. He continued to keep his gaze affixed on Madame Linh. Allmona then looked down at her desk, unwilling to participate in the kangaroo court that was Class B. She kept her head bowed and eyes downcast as she internalized what had just happened. When she raised her head, those next to her would see a look of pure hatred in her eyes. The green haired girl, her apparent friend or lover, bore the headband of the Land of Waterfalls and she looked just as distraught. Their snitch triumphantly marched down the aisle to join Chouzu and Tai. Before he arrived at his destination, another Nin stood. He was a redhead in blue armour and steel collar around his neck.
"My name is Modai Kaifeng of Hoshigakure. Yoshi something or another of Otogakure and Tara Fisei of Otogakure cheated. Yoshi entered the Exam with a puppet that posed as a genin. Yoshi also utilized a combination of Genjutsu and Kugutsu to make it appear to everyone that the puppet was a human being that had been eliminated. When this fake individual was leaving, it discreetly passed a miniature scroll which contained all the answers to Tara. They talked a lot of skag about their puppets during the ceremony but they're the sorriest pair of genin I've ever seen. I wish they'd stick around so that my squad had a chance to beat them..... but honestly they aren't worth the effort."
Tara Fisei maintained a poker face during Modai's tirade. However her cheating comrade buried his face in his hands. The sound of whimpering could be heard as tears fell down Yoshi's cheek. None of that seemed to bother the red-headed snitch who took his place alongside the others at Madame Linh's beck.
"
[color:fa2f=#cream]Anyone else feel a burning desire to inform on your peers?"
Assuming no one else raised their hand to answer the Tenth Question, then Linh would move from the desk and walk towards her fellow proctors who huddled next to her. A flurry of sensory activity and weighty glances took place. Some proctors nodded their heads but others would shake them. Once the indecipherable means of communication had run its course, the group would break and return to their original positions. The Proctors standing in a line shoulder-to-shoulder and at attention while Linh walked in front of the snitches.
"
Tai Razuka. The proctors and I agree with your assessment of the methods used. Chouzu is a filthy cheater." Linh swiftly pointed her cane to the right. "
Thanks for the intel soldier, to my right. You will receive your reward as promised"
She then turned to his big boy comrade.
"
Chouzu. You're analysis is deeply flawed. Your comrades apparently don't have the level of trust in your Fuuin-skills as you assumed. They took nothing from you and received their answers elsewhere....Therefore..." Linh lashed out at him with her cane. She struck his thigh, leg and cheek in a zig-zag flurry of a blow. The big boy and his spectacles when down hard. The Dean of Secrecy kicked him in his stomach for good measure. "
Consequences." She left him there crumpled on the ground and addressed the mysterious tall ninja.
"
Solrashi Junior." Madame Linh said, revealing the long-haired nin's name for the first time. "
Your assessment is accurate. Well done....on the designs and on your perceptiveness. To my right." Junior smirked and took his place beside Tai.
"
Last but certainly not least Modai Kaifeng...." Linh said. She drew out his name before speaking again. "Your assessment is wrong." The whimpering that came from Yoshi became curiously louder and more obnoxious. Linh ignored it and continued. "
The genjutsu and puppet were feints designed to draw the attention and suspicion of the stupid. The scroll that was dropped off on Tara's desk was blank. If they cheated, they used means other than what you described."
Yoshi could no longer contain himself. The man burst out in a vulgar laugh, tears continued to pour down his face and it was only when Linh shot him an angry glare that he shut up. The shinobi cuffed his fist against his mouth to keep himself from cracking up but his body spasmed with glee. It was something like
this"N-, that's impossible! I sa-"
Five cane shots later and Modai joined Chouzu on the ground. Despite his impressive looking armour, he clutched his knees and rocked back and forth. He cried bitterly. Except his tears were of sorrow while Yoshi was of joy. Linh sighed and hopped up back on the desk. She sat there for a minute taking in the scene. The Tenth Question was over. Those who had answered had put themselves and their comrades on the line. Those who had remained silent had chosen the safer passage and forgone the blessings that could have been. These were the decisions that she had faced daily as a member of Kirigakure ANBU. She envied them. For unlike the Chuunin Exams, there was almost never a clear winner or loser in spycraft. Fortunately for these genin, those games would come much later.
"
Tai and Solrashi....Leave the room. You are hereby eliminated from the Chuunin Exams. Proctors exit these filthy traitors from my class and take Chouzu with you. Not only was he a cheater and a traitor but he was a incompetent one at that. Modai...you're a dumb tattletale but at least you're loyal. You can stay."
The revelation gave Modai the adrenaline boost he needed to crawl to his feet. He limped to his seat painfully as Linh cleared her throat and addressed the rest of the class.
"
For everyone else here....congratulations. You've passed the first portion of the Chuunin Exams." Linh said. The door would be opened and the traitors would be gathered and pushed out. Protests of pain and shame were ignored as the proctors left the room with the disgraced trio.
"
For those of you who were more cowardly than loyal...allow me to explain. The worst thing you can do as a shinobi is betray the secrets of your comrades and your nation. Many of the methods that you or your friends relied on are connected to Bloodlines, Exclusive Techniques or homegrown knowledge that was taught at your academy. Showing a willingness to sell out your friends and country-men for an illusory reward, makes you unfit for the rank of Chuunin. Note that informing on your peers was not required....it was incentivzed but I never said you'd fail if you didn't do it. Those who chose to tell on their comrades were motivated by greed and a lust for power. These are the exact opposite shinobi that this world needs and wants to promote. You may very well have to fight your fellow countrymen or even your own allies as the Exams progress but you will do so knowing that you did not betray their secrets for your own gain."
She pointed to Nao, Sera and Hibiki.
"
Each of you cheated and helped one another. You weren't the sneakiest of the room but you performed at the level expected of a Chuunin using your natural talents and techniques to apprehend the answers. Furthermore, you refused to rat on each other for personal gain. The intelligence services are rife with betrayal, lies and deceit....as some of you showed first hand, sabotage was a legitimate means of thinning the competition. However, there are some things that even ANBU cannot break. Genuine friendship. Unity. Unbreakable bonds."
Madame Linh could have stopped there but she was a teacher at heart. She gestured with her wild cane and pointed towards Hisha. She had every intention on lecturing them on every part of the Exam. It was important they understand why they passed and why others had failed.
"
For those not motivated by loyalty...consider the following: Information is expensive. Like I said earlier, its like fine wine. You bottle it and preserve it. As time goes on, it may increase in value. If you noticed the cheating methods of a foreign shinobi you may choose to keep it for yourself. If they don't know that you know, you may yet use it to your advantage in the future. You may sell that knowledge to others at a premium. You may hold it safe and gain their trust and respect, especially if you know they hold your secrets in hand. Ninja such as our friend Modai here were could be wrong and bad intelligence will cost you in the real world......but more importantly, he was not a traitor. He gambled against an enemy whom he wanted to destroy anyways. Had he been right....he would have received a reward or perhaps not. The Tenth Question tests how you react to the Prisoner's Dilemma, how you square personal gain with loyalty, the faith you have in your intelligence assessments and your tolerance for risk."
Madame Linh continued to speak. There was a teaching moment to be gained here. Specifically, with respect to a certain entrant.
"
Kaori Murai was by far the most interesting genin out of you lot. She showed remarkable skill. Dare I say, her method of cheating was probably the best out of the class. That said, she was ultimately eliminated. Why? Because it ceased to be about the Exam anymore. She had another agenda. Maybe it was impressing me. Maybe it was intimidating you all. But the reality was, she took a massive risk by informing on herself without clear knowledge of the consequences. By her words, she claimed to understand the truth of this test but her actions demonstrated that she'd rather show-off than secure a quiet victory. These kinds of shinobi are a grave danger to their comrades. They risk capture for a vague reward or even just to further prove their superiority even when its plain to see. Her choice was reckless and stupid....even worse it was poorly executed. If she had remained quiet, she might have gotten others to snitch on their comrades and potentially eliminate themselves thereby reducing the competitors that she or her comrades would have to face. Instead, she was the first to stand and by explaining the inner workings of the Exam, she tipped them off in ways that were against her and her friend's interests."
Linh sighed.
"
That's why she had to go. Let this be a warning to the rest of you. These Exams are for you to highlight your skills but don't assume yourselves to be untouchable. Cockiness will get you eliminated from the Exams or killed. Keep that in mind and good luck in the next portion. Class dismissed."
The doors to Class B would open and the proctors would file out. As they did, they'd give the class instructions on where to go next. They would act as an escort for the next round of festivities. Linh would remained seated but he eyes was settled on Hisha. As he headed to the door, she'd hop off the desk and grab him by his arm, just as the last genin filed out. She'd lean in and whisper into his ear.
"
Come find me after the second round if you're still alive, pervert. Madame Linh'll give you some good grief" The second-to-last word would be punctuated by a smarting smack to his calf. It was hard enough to draw blood and it'd give him a very mild limp for a few minutes. Linh would release him and jerk her head in the direction of the door indicating that he should leave. Of course, if this interaction was in anyway unwelcome, Hisha would be free to file a report for harassment against Madame Linh. The Headmaster would take punitive action against her for her antics and she may even lose her job at the WASP. Linh usually didn't get this carried away when dealing with her female students, but there was something about a naughty young man who was too smart for his own good that just....
incensed her.
Linh smirked and hopped off the desk. She began collecting the exams as she walked down the rows. They were useless now so maybe she'd start a bonfire on the beach with them.
OOC:
Kaori Murai eliminated.
Hisha hit with the wild cane inflicting a (-) to coordination for the time it takes to get to the second portion of Exams.
Everyone else has passed and may proceed to Part II.
