Deep in the vast forest, the Tower of Death looked tiny when viewed from afar. But when Sato Hideaka finally reached its base, he saw just how towering and magnificent the structure was.
The Tower of Death had seven floors, growing narrower toward the top. Its base was square, and its walls were carved with all sorts of animals—dogs, cats, monkeys, pythons, Giant Bears, lions, and more. The lowest level was six meters tall, and its square base covered an area four times the size of a soccer field!
The tower had eight round doorways. The four on the north side were closed, leaving only the four on the south side open. Two ninja wearing Konoha Forehead Protectors guarded each entrance. In front of one of the doors stood a team of three examinees, handing two scrolls to the guards...
Sato Hideaka, Hyuga Ningxiang, and Yuhi Kurenai also approached one of the doors and handed the six scrolls to the two middle-aged ninja guarding it. The guards took the scrolls in surprise, opened them, and carefully checked them. Then, with a strange look on their faces, one asked, "Do you three kids belong to three different teams?"
"Mm, mm, yes. We formed a temporary team in the Forest of Death!" Yuhi Kurenai nodded like a bobblehead and answered.
"Haha, a temporary team... Six scrolls. You really are impressive!"
The middle-aged ninja accepted the six scrolls—three Yin Scrolls and three Yang Scrolls—and gave a dry laugh. After examining them carefully for a while, he recorded the three examinees' names, then let Sato Hideaka and the others enter the Tower of Death.
Only after the three had disappeared from sight did one of the guards sigh. "Even though there's a girl from the Hyuga Clan in this temporary team, I still can't believe a team with an average age of less than seven completed such a difficult mission perfectly."
"Yeah. You have to remember, this Genin Exam doesn't just have examinees from Konoha. There are also quite a few from ninja families in other villages, and some of them are even stronger than ordinary Genin. Getting six scrolls wasn't just luck. It was definitely a sign of their strength..."
The other middle-aged ninja shook his head, unable to keep the bitterness from rising in his heart. He suddenly felt like the waves behind were pushing the waves ahead, leaving the ones in front to die on the shore. Those little brats were only around seven, yet they had managed to collect six scrolls during a mission like this. It was simply unbelievable!
In fact, the reason was that Sato Hideaka had wanted to save time, so he had sent Hyuga Ningbo and the others to different entrances. When checking whether the scrolls were genuine, the guards had to examine their material and handwriting carefully, as well as compare the hidden codes in the characters. It was a huge waste of time.
So, to save time, the two teams had gone to two different entrances. Otherwise, the two guards would definitely have assumed that the three of them had passed the test only because Hyuga Ningbo's team had given them special treatment. After all, the average age of their team was just too low!
After the three entered the Tower of Death, staff members prepared a room for them. It wasn't very big, but it had hot water, a table, and a bed. Outside the window was a lush green forest, with flocks of birds and blue-green grass. The surroundings were quite pleasant.
With a look of disgust, Sato Hideaka tugged at his sticky gray outfit, took it off, and tossed it onto the floor. After taking a bath, he lay on the bed and gazed out the window as he studied the Crystal Release technique that could deflect the Uchiha Sharingan Genjutsu.
The deadline for the exam was the seventh day. Sato Hideaka had completed the mission on the afternoon of the fifth day. During the two days that remained, he studied ninjutsu and spent time with Yuhi Kurenai and Hyuga Ningxiang in the designated rest area, watching the blue-green grass, listening to the birds, and smelling the flowers...
Compared to the noisy environment they had been in before, he much preferred this peaceful, serene, natural setting!
Over the next two days, examinees who had gathered both scrolls—and those who hadn't—arrived at the Tower of Death one after another. Once nearly everyone had arrived, the staff announced on the afternoon of the seventh day of the Forest of Death test that all examinees were to gather on the first floor of the tower.
All the examinees gathered on the spacious first floor of the Tower of Death and quickly lined up in neat rows beneath the stage, waiting for the chief examiner to announce the results. The man standing on the raised platform was, of course, Dan Katō, who addressed them in a gentle voice. "This Genin Exam involved not only competition between teams, but also pursuit by experienced Chunin... It was much more difficult than in previous years. Everyone who made it to the Tower of Death deserves praise!"
"Of course, those of us experienced Chunin who tested you didn't truly get serious. Otherwise, no more than twenty of you would have passed..."
"Everyone knows that being a ninja is dangerous. When facing a difficult mission, every ninja must conceal their tracks. If an examinee can't even manage the simplest task of hiding in the forest, we Chunin are responsible for eliminating them."
"Fifty-six people passed this Forest of Death section of the Genin Exam. After some of our elite Chunin and Jonin observed you in secret, we selected a group who performed exceptionally well in the Forest of Death. They include Uchiha Kaoru, Hyuga Ningbo, Aburame Hakushou, Uchiha Kenichi, Sato Hideaka, Akimichi Shinichi, Yamanaka Sanae, Nara Kinji, Inuzuka Jin... and others!"
Hearing Dan Katō announce the names of the outstanding examinees, Yuhi Kurenai felt both disappointed and happy. She was disappointed that, as expected, her name wasn't on the list, but happy that Sato Hideaka had made it.
Hyuga Ningxiang tugged at Sato Hideaka's sleeve beside him and whispered, "Wow, Hideaka, you're amazing. You're the only one under ten who made the outstanding list!"
Hyuga Ningbo, standing in the row ahead, seemed to have heard Hyuga Ningxiang whispering to Sato Hideaka. He turned around and glared at her, making her shrink her head in fright and quickly shut her mouth!
"Those who passed the test and performed exceptionally well will compete against one another at Konoha Stadium a month from now. The audience will include the Lord Third, the Konoha Advisory Council, and the major clans of Konoha. Even the Land of Fire's daimyo will send a trusted aide to attend. So I hope you'll make the most of this opportunity..."
The examinees erupted into an uproar. Those who had performed exceptionally well would have another competition in a month—and the Land of Fire's daimyo had even been drawn into it! Konoha's top brass would be there to watch, too. They were taking this far too seriously, weren't they?
Sato Hideaka was also taken aback by Dan Katō's words. He was surprised that Konoha placed so much importance on the Genin Exam. But when he looked at Hyuga Ningbo, who was standing in front, he saw no trace of shock or surprise on his face. He had watched the platform the whole time with an impassive expression...
Looking farther away, he saw Uchiha Kaoru, Uchiha Kenichi, Shimura Masao, and Inuzuka Jin... None of them were whispering to one another like the ordinary examinees, or showing shock, excitement, or surprise. Their faces had remained calm, as if they had expected this all along!
It seemed this exam wasn't simple. Sato Hideaka rubbed his chin with his right hand. He still didn't know whether being named one of the outstanding examinees was a blessing or a curse. But if he had to take part in such a major competition a month from now, there was no doubt his exposure would increase.
Dan Katō raised both hands and pressed them down, signaling for everyone to quiet down. Then he continued, "Those who passed this test but weren't named to the elite list will take a written exam in fifteen days. It will cover the regular curriculum of the Ninja Academy. Once you pass, you'll become Genin!"
"Of course, this Genin Exam was unusually difficult. Those who didn't pass don't need to be discouraged. In five days, we'll hold a retest near where you live. The retest will offer thirty Genin spots. It will be a chance for you to show your individual abilities!"
Only after hearing Dan Katō explain what would follow the exam did Sato Hideaka realize how carefully the people who designed it had planned everything. The Forest of Death competition made it possible to identify elite examinees, mission-oriented examinees, and those with strong individual abilities. Not a single type was overlooked:
Elite examinees, as the name suggested, had to complete the mission and be among the strongest of those who did. They were examinees with well-rounded abilities and great potential. Mission-oriented examinees, on the other hand, could work together to complete the mission, but had only average strength!
As for holding a retest for those who hadn't passed, Dan Katō had clearly intended to pick out those who had failed the mission but were strong, then cultivate them over time...
Like hyenas hunting for prey, they weren't leaving even a single scrap behind!