The Chunin Ninja Exams (7)

Early the next morning, all the ninja who had passed the first exam arrived at Training Ground Forty-Four: the Forest of Death.

"This is the site of the second exam, Training Ground Forty-Four, also known as the Forest of Death." Anko stood at the front and immediately began trying to scare them. The dense forest really did look unnerving.

Then Konohamaru and his two friends suddenly showed up, saying they were working on the school news and wanted to conduct interviews. Anko gave everyone ten minutes to rest while the three of them interviewed the examinees.

Once the interviews were over, the second exam could finally begin. "This place is called the Forest of Death. You'll soon experience it for yourselves," Anko said with a smile.

"This place is called the Forest of Death. You'll soon experience it for yourselves. You can scare me all you want, but I'll be fine! I'm not scared at all!" Naruto was at it again.

"Is that so? You're certainly full of energy." Anko narrowed her eyes with a smile. Then a Kunai slid out of her sleeve and slashed toward Naruto's face, only to be knocked aside in midair by another Kunai. Both Kunai fell to the ground.

"Let's get the exam started. If frightening Genin makes you feel accomplished, then maybe you should get a different examiner." Yin Xiang looked at Anko expressionlessly.

"Here's your Kunai." Someone suddenly appeared behind Yin Xiang. The long-haired figure wore a hat and extended a long tongue, passing the Kunai from behind Yin Xiang to the front.

This presence... A chill ran down Yin Xiang's back. When had this person come up behind him? And that presence was just like the Sound Ninja from a year ago. Yin Xiang took the Kunai and turned around. It was the Grass Ninja Orochimaru had disguised himself as.

So the Sound Ninja from a year ago had actually been Orochimaru?

After Yin Xiang took the Kunai, Orochimaru walked away, heading toward the back.

Anko finally began explaining the rules. "Before the second exam starts, I'll hand these out to you." She pulled a stack of papers from her clothes.

"These are consent forms. Anyone taking the exam must sign one first," Anko said.

"Why?" Naruto asked curiously. If it was an exam, why did they need a consent form?

"Some of you may die. We need your consent in advance, or I'll be held responsible," Anko said with a smile.

"Now for the second exam's instructions. Simply put, you'll be taking on another extreme wilderness survival challenge." As she spoke, Anko handed the consent forms to Naruto at the front, and he started passing them back.

"First, I'll explain the layout of the training ground." Anko took out a scroll and unrolled it, revealing a map of the Forest of Death.

"Training Ground Forty-Four is a circular area enclosed by forty-four locked gates. It has a river and a forest, with a tower in the middle. The tower is about ten kilometers from the gates. Within this designated area, you'll take part in a wilderness survival exercise. The name of the game is... anything goes. It's a scroll-collection battle."

Anko took out two scrolls, one of Heaven and one of Earth. "The Scroll of Heaven and the Scroll of Earth are the prizes in this battle. Of the twenty-seven teams that passed the first exam, thirteen teams will take a Scroll of Heaven, and the other fourteen will take a Scroll of Earth."

"I'll give each team one scroll. In short, you'll be stealing them from one another."

"What are the passing conditions?" Sasuke asked, looking at Anko.

"Bring both scrolls to the tower, with all three members of your team," Anko replied.

"That means that of the thirteen teams whose scrolls are stolen, half are certain to be eliminated," Sakura said.

"But you'll have to do it within the time limit. The second exam lasts one hundred and twenty hours. You'll be fighting over the scrolls for five whole days."

"Five days?" Ino cried in surprise.

"What about food?" Choji was startled, too.

"You'll have to provide for yourselves. The wilderness is a natural treasure trove, with plenty of food," Anko said, looking at Choji.

"But there are also man-eating beasts, as well as poisonous insects and plants, all over the place," Kabuto added from the side.

"Besides, it's impossible for all thirteen teams—all thirty-nine people—to pass," Neji said.

"The distance you have to travel will increase every day, while the time you have to recover will get shorter and shorter. It really is a grueling challenge," Rock Lee said with a smile, flashing his white teeth.

"And there are enemies all around you, so you can't let your guard down—not even to get a good night's sleep," Sasuke added.

"People will get hurt during the scroll battle. Some will also give up because they can't endure the rigors of wilderness survival," Anko said.

"Um, can we quit partway through?" Shikamaru raised his hand and asked.

"As a rule, no one is allowed to quit once the exam has begun. You'll spend the next five days in the forest."

"Just as I thought. What a drag," Shikamaru sighed.

"Now, the conditions for elimination. First, any team that fails to bring both scrolls to the tower with all three members within the time limit. Second, any team that loses a member or has a member who can no longer move. And one more thing: you must never look at the contents of the scrolls before reaching the tower."

"What happens if we look before then?" Naruto asked.

"When you see what's inside, you can imagine for yourselves," Anko said, enunciating each word.

"If you become Chunin, you may get the chance to access highly classified records. This exam is to see whether you're trustworthy enough. That's all the instructions. Exchange your three signed consent forms for a scroll at the hut over there." Anko pointed to a small hut nearby.

"Then choose the gate you'll be using, and set out together as a team. Oh, and one last warning: don't die!" Anko finished with a sigh.

After that, everyone went to exchange their forms for scrolls. When the person handing out the scrolls saw that Yin Xiang was alone, they hesitated. Only after Anko instructed them did Yin Xiang receive a scroll.

But as soon as Yin Xiang got it, he used Wind Release to tear it apart. It was a Scroll of Earth.

"What does that mean?" Anko asked, watching him.

"There are twenty-seven teams, so the numbers are uneven. If I destroy this Scroll of Earth, there'll be thirteen Scrolls of Heaven and thirteen Scrolls of Earth left. I just need to take out two teams," Yin Xiang said.

"Take out two teams, huh? You certainly have a lot of confidence for the Third Hokage's student." Anko smiled.

Once everyone had their scrolls, at two o'clock, they followed the officials to their assigned locations. They would all set out together thirty minutes later. In the meantime, Yin Xiang marked one team of ninja with the Flying Thunder God seal.

Since Yin Xiang had no scroll at all, he could just target any team. As soon as the exam began, he would use the Flying Thunder God to appear beside them and make sure they died right at the start.