None of the genin examinees present took Anko Mitarashi's warning to heart.
Those with weak resolve had already given up on the exam. Moreover, having carried out missions many times, they had more or less stained their hands with the blood of enemy ninja and were beginning to understand the cruelty of the ninja world.
After surveying the genin examinees present, Anko Mitarashi began announcing the rules of the second exam.
It was a battle to seize the Heaven and Earth Scrolls. Different teams would each hold either a Heaven or Earth Scroll, and only by obtaining both could they advance smoothly to the next exam. This test assessed teamwork.
After hearing the rules, Sasuke returned to Team 7, but his gaze remained fixed on Naruto and Hinata.
Unlike the others, he had entered the Chunin Exams because of an agreement with Kakashi. Kakashi had promised that as long as he successfully became a Chunin, he would tell him information about Itachi Uchiha and the rest of his clan.
He had thought winning the Chunin Exams was already a certainty.
Yet first, a panda-eyed boy had appeared out of nowhere and fought him to a draw. Then two female ninja appeared, capable of healing their own wounds and wielding Ice Release, making him wonder whether Kekkei Genkai were really that rare.
But the one Sasuke was most wary of was the Uzushio Village ninja chatting and laughing with Hinata. He simply could not see through the other's strength.
Soon, as Anko Mitarashi announced the start of the exam, Sasuke, Sakura, and Sai entered the Death Forest. After leaping through the forest for more than ten minutes, they crouched on a tree branch and considered their battle plan.
The Death Forest was a forbidden area of Konoha, filled with poisonous insects