In a low-lying swamp in the eastern region of the Forest of Death, the air was thick with the sickening stench of rot mixed with damp vapor.
Temari leaned against a crooked old tree, her Three-Star Fan fully spread open. The three-star pattern glowed faint purple as it was infused with wind-nature chakra.
Her breathing was rapid and uneven. Her shinobi outfit had been torn open at the right shoulder, blood staining the edges of the fabric. Chakra exhaustion had begun to weaken her limbs.
Two meters behind her, Kankuro knelt on one knee, his left arm hanging at an unnatural angle as he gritted his teeth and performed rough first aid on himself. Parts of the Crow puppet lay scattered all over the ground.
Gaara stood beside Kankuro. The stopper of the gourd on his back had already been removed, and sand slowly revolved around him. Yet he did not attack. His pale green eyes remained fixed on the group across from them, as though he were suppressing something.
There were six people standing opposite them.
Six, not the usual three-man squad assigned for the exams.
The Amegakure shinobi at their head wore a respirator mask, his wet hair plastered against his forehead. In his hand, he held a glass tube filled with dark purple liquid.
"Little girl from Sunagakure, hand over the scroll if you know what's good for you. Amegakure didn't enter these Chunin Exams for some promotion. We're here to carry out a task assigned by our superior."
Temari held her fan across her body. The blood blisters rubbed raw by the handle sent sharp pain through her palm.
"Six of you surrounding three genin. Does Amegakure have no shame?"
The leader of the Amegakure shinobi laughed, though the sound came out as a muffled buzz