Early the next morning, at the Forty-Fourth Training Ground.
Outside the Forest of Death.
High walls enclosed a wire fence. Beyond it, the gloomy woods stretched farther than the eye could see, and even the wind slipping through the gate carried a damp, cold, rank smell.
Quite a few people had already gathered outside the main gate.
They were all candidates who had survived yesterday's written exam: some from Konoha, some from Sunagakure, and plenty of unfamiliar faces, wearing all sorts of forehead protectors.
The air was thick with guarded scrutiny and murmured conversations.
When Hayashi arrived at the gate with Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura, there was still no sign of Mitaraishi Anko, the teacher who had smashed through the glass yesterday.
Everyone could only stand around waiting.
But standing around waiting was far too boring.
Hayashi performed his routine sweep with the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
At some point, two little bugs had appeared on his shoulder.
They were so small they were almost invisible, lying there without moving.
Kikaichū.
Without so much as lifting an eyelid, he traced where the bugs had come from and glanced at Shino nearby.
-He remembered that look Shikamaru had given him yesterday perfectly well.
Fine. He would just pretend not to know and treat them as two extra accessories.
Besides, he wanted to know what Shikamaru was up to, too.
As the wait dragged on, Naruto was the first to lose patience.
"What's going on?!" he shouted, hands clasped behind his head. "Why is this teacher just like Kakashi-sensei? Why do they love being late so much?!"
"At least Kakashi-sensei says he got lost on the path of life!" Naruto grumbled. "This teacher hasn't even sent word!"
Three people stood a short distance away.
The instant they heard the name