The Second Exam

"Then, should we try to capture someone during the second exam?"

Motoi asked, eager to try.

But Killer B rejected his idea, "No, this is Konoha, after all. Our current mission is to gather intelligence on the enemy."

"However, during the exam later, we can interact with her a bit to understand what's so special about her that the village is going to such great lengths."

Shortly after Killer B was born, the Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki Clan were destroyed.

So, he didn't know much about the Uzumaki Clan members.

"That's perfect. I saw earlier that the old man from before is on her team. Killer B, don't interfere then. Let me teach that old man a good lesson."

The old man Motoi was referring to was Qingshui.

Killer B didn't refuse his request this time.

Killer B knew Motoi, his childhood friend, very well.

Although he couldn't compare to Killer B himself, he could hold his own against ordinary Chunin.

A mere aging Genin from Konohagakure would definitely not be his opponent.

"Alright, I'm hungry. Let's go eat."

At this moment, Shiko said, walking towards the outside of the Ninja Academy.

She was the only female ninja in Killer B's squad, and her strength was also considerable, otherwise, she wouldn't have been chosen as Killer B's teammate.

After lunch, Qingshui and the others returned to the Ninja Academy and saw the posted results.

As expected, they all passed and could participate in the second exam.

"Great! I didn't do much in the first exam, but I'm going to put on a show in the second exam!"

Kushina declared energetically.

When it came to fighting, she had never admitted defeat.

In school, the boys who bullied her were all beaten by her until they peed their pants.

And then she got the nickname "Blood Red Chili."

"Okay, I'll let you perform later, but for now, we need to head to Training Ground 1 of the Death Forest."

Below the results announcement, it stated that this would be the location for the second exam, and participants had to arrive before 2 PM, or they would be considered to have forfeited.

Soon, it was 2 PM, and all the candidates who passed the first exam had gathered there.

"Not bad. A total of 89 people from 30 teams participated in the second exam. I originally thought there would only be about 60 people. It seems I underestimated you all."

The reason there were 89 people was that Qingshui and Kushina formed a two-person team, one less than the normal three-person team.

"However, your luck ends here. In the second exam, at least half of you will be eliminated."

As soon as these words were spoken, those who had luckily passed the first exam immediately became nervous.

"But before the second exam officially begins, you need to sign a life-and-death agreement, because..."

"People will die in the second exam!"

"If anyone is scared and doesn't want to participate, you can forfeit and leave now."

This chief examiner for the second exam was also very good at manipulating people's hearts. In just a few words, he made everyone tense.

Only a select few, like Qingshui, who were confident in their own strength, were unaffected.

However, as ninjas, no one truly retreated in the face of battle.

"Very good. It seems you all have guts. I hope that after the exam ends, all of you can still stand before me alive."

"Next, all of you will sign the life-and-death agreement, and then I will explain the rules of the second exam."

After receiving and signing the life-and-death agreement from the examiner, everyone finally learned the content of the second exam.

Each ninja team would receive either a Heaven Scroll or an Earth Scroll. They would have five days to steal the other type of scroll and then all members must reach the central tower in the Death Forest.

Failure to collect both scrolls or failure to reach the designated location within five days would result in elimination.

These rules clearly encouraged combat, and even slaughter, among the Genin.

The Heaven and Earth Scrolls were randomly distributed from a tent, ensuring that other teams could not directly discover which scroll their own team had obtained.

Qingshui and Kushina received the Heaven Scroll, which Qingshui was responsible for keeping.

After all the ninja teams had received their scrolls, the examiner led them to different entrances. The exam would begin once they all entered the Death Forest.

"Kushina, we'll head straight for the central tower. If we encounter an Earth Scroll along the way, we'll snatch it directly. If not, we'll wait by the tower."

After entering the Death Forest, Qingshui shared his plan with Kushina.

Kushina did not object.

With their combined strength, they were confident they could defeat any ninja team.

Roar!

A Giant Bear suddenly attacked, but both of them easily dodged it.

The Death Forest, so named because it is inhabited by many ferocious beasts, is extremely dangerous.

The Giant Bear that was attacking Qingshui and the others at this moment was one of the dominant beasts in the area, standing over ten meters tall, its movements causing the ground to shake.

For an ordinary person, facing such a beast would be a sure death.

But unfortunately, it was facing two ninjas.

Without even needing Qingshui to act, Kushina directly punched the Giant Bear's abdomen, successfully knocking it down. After it got back up, it fled in a sorry state.

"Uncle, you really aren't capable, huh? You need a girl to deal with a mere wild beast."

At this moment, a teasing voice rang out.

Qingshui and Kushina looked in the direction of the voice and saw three ninjas wearing Kumogakure forehead protectors standing on a large tree, looking down at them.

It was the Killer B Trio, whom Qingshui had met before.

The one who had just spoken was Motoi.

As soon as they entered the Death Forest, Killer B and the others had been searching for Qingshui and Kushina. The commotion of the Giant Bear attacking the two had just attracted them.

And so, the scene before them unfolded.

"Uncle, I told you before, if we met again, I, Motoi, would defeat you."

As he spoke, Motoi and the other two leaped down from the large tree and landed in front of Qingshui and Kushina.

This scene was also captured by surveillance cameras scattered throughout the Death Forest.

"These two have rather bad luck, running into Killer B's team so soon."

The person speaking while watching the surveillance footage was an ordinary Jonin from Kumogakure.

He was unaware that Killer B's team's true mission in Konoha was to kidnap Uzumaki Kushina. This was a secret mission, after all, which was why he thought Qingshui and the other had bad luck.

"That's right, their luck is indeed terrible. If they were sensible, they should hand over the scroll directly and avoid suffering."

Another Kumogakure Jonin immediately agreed.

In their eyes, Killer B, who partnered with the Raikage's son, Fourth Raikage, was undoubtedly the strongest in this exam.