The Forest of Death (Part 1)

The second stage of the Chunin Exams, Forest of Death.

Unlike the usual gloomy and oppressive atmosphere, the entrance today was exceptionally boisterous. This was all because of the proctor standing on the high platform—clad in a white Hokage cloak, with a smile as bright as the sun, the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki!

"Yo! Everyone looks to be in great spirits!" Naruto stood with his hands on his hips, his voice loud and infectious. "I am your proctor for this second stage, Naruto Uzumaki!"

A wave of excited gasps and commotion erupted from the crowd below. Having the Hokage himself serve as a proctor was an unprecedented honor—and a source of immense pressure!

Naruto reined in his smile, his tone turning serious. "The rules for this stage are simple! Do you see the scrolls in my hands?" He shook the "Heaven" scroll and "Earth" scroll he held.

"Just like before, you must seize the scrolls from the other teams, collect a Heaven and Earth pair, and then rush to Laozi Rock on the other side of the forest! The first ten teams to arrive will pass!"

He paused, a sly yet warning smile appearing on his face. "However, don't think that I... ahem, don't think I'll go easy on you! Any means are permitted in this exam! But—causing a opponent's death or irreversible serious injury is strictly forbidden! Whoever dares to cross that line," his gaze instantly turned razor-sharp, and a powerful pressure of chakra permeated the air, "I will personally throw them out of the exam site, and they can forget about ever becoming a Chunin! Do you understand?"

"Yes! Lord Hokage!" A thunderous response rang out. The children's faces were filled with excitement, tension, and awe at being monitored by the Hokage himself.

"Very good!" Naruto nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand. "Now, each team will enter from different entrances at ten-minute intervals according to the drawing order! The exam—begins!"

At his command, the first team, filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation, charged into the forest entrance that looked like the gaping maw of a giant beast.

Kakashi Sakuya, Nadeshiko Haku, and Lian had drawn a middle-order slot. While waiting, Sakuya closed his eyes to rest, Haku quietly wiped her senbon, and Lian checked his ninja tool pouch. The three remained as silent as ever, forming a sharp contrast to the other teams around them, who were either excitedly discussing tactics or so nervous their hands and feet were cold.

Finally, it was their turn.

The moment they stepped into the forest, the humid, stifling air and the rich scent of vegetation rushed toward them, while the massive canopy fractured the sunlight into scattered shards.

"Northeast, one kilometer away, there is a chakra collision. The scale is not small." Sakuya spoke first, his deep purple eyes sweeping across the dense woods. Though his Three-Tomoe Sharingan was not yet active, his powerful perception was already spread out. "Southwest direction, there is the sound of flowing water. The terrain might be complex, suitable for ambushes or flanking," Haku added, concentrating. Lian silently performed hand seals to sense the area for a moment and whispered, "Seven hundred meters directly ahead, there are fresh traces of large-scale man-made destruction to the vegetation. It could be a team that passed through earlier or a battle that took place."

Information was quickly synthesized.

Sakuya did not hesitate. "Avoid all known conflict points. Haku, prioritize scouting high-altitude routes and utilize the canopy for movement. Lian, clearing ground tracks and setting traps is up to you. We won't take a straight line; we'll detour from the west and use the valley terrain to approach Laozi Rock stealthily."

His orders were clear and decisive, not at all like a Genin, but rather like a seasoned commander.

"Understood." Haku and Lian had no objections.

Three figures moved in an instant!

Haku's movements were incredibly light; she leaped onto the branches as if she had no weight, weaving through the dense canopy. Her figure was elusive, making her the perfect scout.

Sakuya advanced rapidly on the ground. His pace was strange yet efficient, always landing precisely on spots least likely to make noise or leave traces, like a ghost in the woods.

Lian followed closely behind. His work was meticulous; not only did he perfectly clear the team's tracks, but he also set up extremely concealed trigger-traps at several key intersections—not the kind that would cause injury, but early-warning devices that would emit a slight sound or create a small-scale chakra disturbance.

They moved through the perilous forest like a perfectly coordinated special forces unit, efficient and silent.

However, exams are never smooth sailing.

Just as they were attempting to bypass a cliff face, intense sounds of fighting and angry shouts erupted from ahead!

"It's those guys from Sunagakure! They have the scroll!" "Take it!"

Two teams were locked in a chaotic battle within the narrow vale; the sounds of kunai clashing and ninjutsu exploding were incessant.

Sakuya's team stopped immediately, hiding behind rocks and bushes.

"Should we detour?" Haku whispered, her ice-blue eyes assessing the situation. A detour would waste at least half an hour.

Sakuya's gaze swept across the battlefield rapidly. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan opened and closed in an instant, having already analyzed the number of people, their strength, their status, and the advantages and disadvantages of the terrain for both sides.

"No," he said coldly. "Wait. Their strength is evenly matched; there is a high probability they will both be severely injured. Once they decide a winner, the victor will be at their weakest. We will strike quickly and decisively to seize the scroll."

This was the calmest and most efficient plan. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, the battle neared its end. One side won a pyrrhic victory; all three members were heavily injured and were exhaustedly searching the defeated for their scroll.

Just as one of them picked up the "Earth" scroll and a look of joy appeared on his face—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three figures shot out from the shadows on the flank like phantoms!

Haku waved her hands rapidly, and countless senbon, like a precise swarm of bees, instantly enveloped the three members of the winning team! They were not aimed at vital points, but precisely at the wrists and leg joints of the hands holding their weapons!

"Argh!" The sudden attack caught the already exhausted trio off guard; they screamed as they were knocked to the ground, instantly losing their ability to fight.

At the same time, Sakuya appeared before the examinee holding the "Earth" scroll as if he had teleported, and under the man's horrified gaze, he easily snatched the scroll away.

Lian quickly checked the defeated team on the ground, found the corresponding "Heaven" scroll on them, and handed it to Sakuya.

The entire process was clean and efficient, taking no more than ten seconds. The two teams that had been fighting were now dumbfounded, staring at these three "fishermen" who seemed to have descended from the sky.

Sakuya didn't even look at the people on the ground. He tucked the Heaven and Earth scrolls away and said faintly, "Let's go."

The three did not linger, disappearing into the dense forest in an instant, leaving behind six stunned and regretful examinees.

Inside the high tower, Naruto, who was watching the battle through the crystal ball technique, stroked his chin with an interested smile on his face.

"Oh? These two kids from Kakashi-sensei's side, and that girl from Nadeshiko Village, their coordination is quite good! Interesting!" His gaze lingered on Sakuya for a moment, and a trace of imperceptible inquiry flashed deep in his eyes.

The competition in the Forest of Death became increasingly intense due to the Hokage's gaze and the intervention of strong teams. And Sakuya's team was steadily advancing toward their destination, Laozi Rock, in their own efficient and cold-blooded way.