In the valley.
As time passed, the lake water gradually drained through the gaps in the valley and spread across the island.
Watching the occasional corpse of a Mist Ninja genin float to the surface, Darui rubbed his head and told the Cloud Ninja, "How dull. Let's go find some food first!"
"The water here should drain away in another two hours. Let's get our food ready, then come back and set up camp."
"Tomorrow, we'll search the island for the Konoha ninja. There can only be one winner in these Chunin Ninja Exams, and that'll be us Cloud Ninja!"
With that, Darui looked up at the dark clouds circling overhead.
It's going to rain.
Animals are sensitive. Once they sense a change in the weather, they'll probably all hide.
Judging by how thick those clouds are, once the rain starts, it'll probably keep falling for days.
If we don't hurry now, we'll probably go hungry for the next few days.
What a drag!
Not a single Cloud Ninja showed any resistance to Darui's orders. They answered in unison and prepared to carry them out.
Darui had always been the Cloud Ninja's acknowledged rising star.
Before the exams, Blue B had also instructed them to follow Darui's command.
Not to mention the astonishing strength Darui had just displayed before their eyes. In Kumogakure, might made right.
But just as they left the valley to get moving, Baki arrived with the Sand Ninja, and the two groups ran straight into each other.
In fact, when Baki noticed that the sounds of fighting in the valley had stopped, he knew he was too late.
He felt guilty for failing to help their allies, but his own group was in dire straits. Another ninja had fallen ill in those few short minutes.