The next day.
After a long absence, a light rain fell over Konoha once more.
Drizzle, drizzle.
It soaked through their clothes as it fell upon them, bringing an inescapable chill.
Early that morning, Uchiha Shingen and the other two arrived at the edge of the Forest of Death.
A barbed-wire fence over a thousand meters high stretched as far as the eye could see, completely enclosing the Forest of Death, the site of the second survival exam.
Nara Shikaku, the Jonin serving as chief examiner for the joint Chunin Exams, stood before the candidates and loudly announced the rules.
"The theme of the second exam is survival."
"You will operate in teams, and there are two objectives."
"The first is to reach the watchtower at the center of the Forest of Death before midnight tonight."
"The second is this—"
As he spoke, Nara Shikaku took out two scrolls and waved them before everyone.
One scroll was black and the other white. The black scroll bore the character for Earth, while the white one bore the character for Heaven.
"Before entering, you will each receive a pouch containing one of these scrolls. Your task is to obtain the other scroll within the time limit."
"Simply put, gather both the Heaven and Earth Scrolls and reach the central watchtower in the Forest of Death before midnight tonight!"
"Now—"
"The exam begins!"
As Nara Shikaku's voice fell, the gates in the wire fence slowly opened.
After receiving their scrolls from Nara Shikaku, team after team rushed headlong into the Forest of Death.
Among the crowd.
The Kirigakure group of four did not move immediately, instead standing to one side and observing the ninjas present.
Standing aside, Mei Terumi recalled Nara Shikaku's words and pondered aloud, "The watchtower is at least two hundred