The Forest of Death

The classroom was so quiet that a pin dropping would have been audible. A heavy atmosphere hung over everyone.

The eerie mood was like an invisible plague, quietly infecting every person there!

Would they take the exam again next year, or stake everything on a chance that might never come again to become Chunin?

Since Naruto already knew the answer, he didn't make a desperate declaration about leaving his paper blank like he had in the original story.

Without that impassioned declaration of defiance, the dam that had seemed so solid in everyone's hearts began to erode. Their expressions slowly started to waver.

But just like a rebound from hitting rock bottom, after another group of ninja couldn't withstand the psychological pressure and left,

the expressions of those who remained suddenly grew resolute.

It was as if something had triggered a chain reaction, and an invisible wave of determination spread once again.

They didn't exchange words or gestures, but in that moment, every Genin radiated an aura of determination to see things through to the end!

"Good. Judging by your faces, you've all made your decisions.

I'll ask one last time. Is anyone else withdrawing? Don't regret the decision you make today!"

Morino Ibiki asked again. When he saw that everyone wore the same solemn expression, his face, which had been gloomy all along, suddenly broke into a smile.

"Very well. Congratulations. Every one of you has passed the first exam!"

"Huh?"

Naruto, as noisy as ever, was the first to exclaim in surprise:

"We passed?"

"That's right!"

Morino Ibiki confirmed it:

"The first exam tested your ability to gather information and your willpower.

Those who used crude methods to cheat were eliminated. As for the test of willpower, you endured until the end.

So everyone who's still here is a ninja I recognize!"

At last, the others could breathe a sigh of relief.

But before they could catch their breath, the classroom window suddenly shattered, and a huge cloth ball came hurtling onto the podium.

Before anyone could figure out who had launched the attack, the cloth ball suddenly opened,

revealing a banner that read, "Second Exam Proctor—Mitaraishi Anko!"

A kunoichi wearing a black fishnet bodysuit beneath a long beige coat, with her black hair tied in a high ponytail,

strode out of it with a boisterous air and announced loudly:

"I'm your proctor for the second exam—Mitaraishi Anko!"

Though the proctor was a little eccentric, everyone followed her instructions and made their way to the Forest of Death.

An iron fence blocked the way into the forest, but whether it was the poisonous snakes and insects occasionally visible within or the enormous animals whose bodies could be glimpsed farther in,

everything gave off a sense of danger lurking everywhere.

Anko seemed carefree, but she was clearly a ruthless and twisted woman.

Seeing Naruto making a racket and refusing to behave, she instantly appeared behind him and drew a line of blood across his neck with a kunai.

After licking the drop of blood off the kunai, she looked so thrilled that Naruto nearly wet himself!

After a quick demonstration meant to scare the others into behaving, she handed each team of examinees a scroll and an alarm device, then began explaining how the scrolls worked.

There were two kinds of scrolls: Heaven and Earth. Only teams that collected both scrolls and reached the destination would pass the exam.

As for the alarm device, it was a signal flare that could be used to call for help—but firing it also meant giving up their chance to pass the exam!

"Of course, most importantly, none of you are allowed to look inside your scrolls before reaching the destination."

After sharing the last detail, Anko waved a hand and unlocked the gate, letting the Genin file inside.

"Kazeka, Hinata, let's go over our battle plan..."

As soon as they entered the Forest of Death, Kazeka's team quickly chose a direction and moved out.

After all, no one wanted to get caught in a brawl right at the entrance.

Standing on a branch of a large tree, Kiba Inuzuka stopped and looked at the other two:

"Kazeka, you're the brains of the team. Got any suggestions?"

"There are two requirements we need to meet. First, we have to reach the destination.

Second, we're carrying the Scroll of Heaven, so we need to get an Earth Scroll as well..."

Kazeka stopped and began sharing his thoughts with the team:

"The most dangerous, but also the fastest, approach would be to ignore everything else and rush straight to the destination, then lie in wait.

That way, we could collect a lot of scrolls and eliminate some of the other ninja early.

But that would take formidable strength and involve intense fighting. I also need to observe the other ninja as potential subjects, so I won't waste my time that way!"

Kazeka paused before continuing:

"But the Forest of Death is still huge, and all kinds of unexpected situations could arise.

That makes using our scouting abilities to plan our route in advance especially important.

When we pulled away from the entrance just now, I noticed that most teams were heading northwest or northeast.

Kiba, Hinata and I will scout ahead with the Byakugan. You keep track of the directions we call out!"

After a quick round of scouting, the three of them soon mapped out a route.

With Kazeka in the lead, the team sped off in their chosen direction!

Kazeka's team had been moving for about half an hour when three Rain Ninja suddenly appeared ahead.

They were easy to recognize: they all wore gray combat uniforms.

They also wore specially made masks over their mouths, as if they could release poison at any moment.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Kazeka's team had indeed found their target, but the other side seemed just as skilled at detecting intruders.

Before Kazeka and the others could make a move, the Rain Ninja launched a fierce attack.

A dense barrage of senbon shot toward the three of them.

That wasn't all. Special spherical pouches were tied to the ends of the senbon.

The three dodged the senbon, but the pouches burst around them, releasing a huge cloud of purple poison!

"Hold still!"

At the sudden turn of events, Kazeka flipped his hand, revealing three syringes in his palm. He jabbed one into each of Hinata's and Kiba's arms:

"These injections will make us immune to most poisons for fifteen minutes.

That should be plenty of time for you to take care of them, right?"

"Don't worry..."

Kiba called Akamaru over. Man and dog became two sharp, whirling tornadoes as they charged at one of the Rain Ninja:

"Someone who only knows how to use poison isn't worth my attention!"

"I'll take the one on the right. I'll finish the fight quickly..."

Perhaps because of the drug, the rowdy side of Hinata was back. She spoke dismissively:

"I hope you two aren't so useless that you make me wait too long!"