Under Shingetsu's outrageously arrogant threat, the three unlucky Genin were deeply resentful, but the Wood Dragon's oppressive presence crushed even the slightest thought of resistance. They could only do as they were told.
The scroll traced an arc through the air and landed squarely in Shingetsu's hand. She tossed it back to Miki beside her, then turned and rode the Wood Dragon away, leaving only a casual remark drifting across the wilderness-
"Thanks."
The three unlucky Genin ground their teeth in fury, but they could only accept their rotten luck. Once the girl and dragon had flown far away, they finally worked up the courage to mutter a curse:
"Arrogant Uchiha!"
On the dragon's head, Miki examined the scroll Shingetsu had tossed her. It was precisely the Earth Scroll they needed. Together with the Heaven Scroll they already had, all the conditions for passing were met in one stroke.
"Lady Shingetsu, it's an Earth Scroll! We can go home for sukiyaki!"
"Hehe, we're so lucky!"
Realizing she could leave this gloomy, insect-infested forest right away, Shingetsu's mood instantly soared. Miki and Chinatsu were delighted too. The three girls sat on the dragon, laughing and chatting as they flew toward the central tower.
With such a relaxed, carefree atmosphere, they seemed more like sightseers than exam candidates.
The majestic Wood Dragon brazenly swooped through the Forest of Death. Along the way, Genin hiding throughout the forest watched in terror as it sped toward the central tower, wondering whether Uchiha Shingetsu had achieved her objective and was finally about to leave.
At last, that little monster was leaving!
"Oh!"
The Wood Dragon flying above the forest slowly lowered its head, delivering the three girls perched on it to the tower's entrance. Just as Shingetsu entered the tower and was about to reach