"The objective is to collect both a 'Heaven Scroll' and an 'Earth Scroll' and reach the central tower within five days... All forms of combat are permitted during that time, including killing your opponents... The forest itself is also full of venomous insects and ferocious beasts... A high mortality rate..."
"...Finally, every participant must sign this 'Death Consent Form'!"
Mitaraishi Anko waved the stack of documents in her hand.
"If you die in the forest, don't say we didn't warn you!"
The staff handed out the forms, and each squad received one.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Chuan signed his name.
Hinata and Kiba Inuzuka exchanged a glance, then gritted their teeth and signed as well.
After signing and submitting the consent form, Team 8 collected their scroll. It was an [Earth Scroll].
"All right! All squads, get ready!"
Anko stood before the enormous iron gate at the forest entrance and shouted.
"The second exam... begins!"
After entering the forest, Team 8 did not blunder around aimlessly. Instead, they quickly found a relatively secluded thicket and stopped there for the moment.
"Hinata, scout the surroundings," Ye Chuan ordered.
Although Kurenai Yuhi was absent, his position as the team's leader had already been established imperceptibly through the Land of Waves mission.
"Yes!" Hinata immediately replied, forming hand seals.
The veins around her eyes bulged as her pure white pupils scanned the full three hundred and sixty degrees around her, taking in every movement.
"Kiba, have Akamaru sniff out whether anyone else is nearby," Ye Chuan continued.
"Leave it to me! Go, Akamaru!" At Kiba Inuzuka's command, the puppy on his head immediately jumped to the ground, twitching his nose as he carefully sniffed the information carried in the air.
Ye Chuan himself closed his eyes and slowly spread his Observation Haki, sensing any threats and... prey that might be nearby.
The Byakugan provided visual intelligence, Akamaru provided scent-based intelligence, and Observation Haki picked up presences and movements.
Combined, these three scouting methods gave Team 8 an ability to locate enemies far beyond that of ordinary squads.
Soon, Akamaru found something and let out a low whine in one direction.
"Found them!" Kiba Inuzuka perked up.
"There are three people's scents in this direction!"
"I see them!" Hinata immediately reported as well.
"About five hundred meters away, moving fast! They... have a Heaven Scroll!"
A target had appeared! And they had exactly the scroll Team 8 needed!
"After them!" Ye Chuan decided immediately. "Make it quick!"
The three of them and their dog immediately darted through the forest, silently closing in on their targets.
Their targets were a three-person squad from Amegakure.
They seemed to have some skill and moved fairly cautiously.
But against Team 8's specialized tracking lineup, they had nowhere to hide.
In a relatively open forest clearing, Team 8 launched their ambush!
"Kiba, take the front!"
"Hinata, the left flank!"
As Ye Chuan gave his orders, he slipped around behind the Rain Ninja squad like a phantom.
"Who's there?!"
Startled by the sudden attack, the Rain Ninja squad immediately took defensive stances.
But it was already too late!
Ye Chuan drew Wado Ichimonji!
A flash of steel flickered past, barely even stirring the air.
The three Rain Ninja felt only a chill at their necks before the back of the blade struck them there.
In just a few breaths, the battle was over. Team 8 had obtained the Heaven Scroll they needed without a scratch.
"Done! That was easy!" Kiba Inuzuka said with a smug grin.
However, just as they put away the scroll and prepared to leave-
An enormous surge of chakra swept toward them like a tide.
Hinata's Byakugan instantly widened. "Th-this chakra... It's... it's that one from Sunagakure..."
Before she could finish, three figures appeared on a branch in front of them, looking down at them from above.
It was none other than Gaara's trio from Sunagakure!
"Oh? Pretty lucky, aren't you? You just took out a squad and got a scroll."
Temari rested her enormous Three-Star Fan on her shoulder, a slightly amused smile on her face as her gaze swept over the Heaven Scroll in Ye Chuan's hand.
"Kids, hand over that Heaven Scroll and your own Earth Scroll. Since we're all rookies, we can spare your lives."
Kankuro chuckled as well, seemingly certain of victory.
Only Gaara kept his gaze fixed firmly on Ye Chuan, as though he had spotted some interesting prey.
"Kill them."
His tone was flat, yet laden with intense killing intent.
"Hey! Gaara!" Temari's expression changed. She clearly had not expected Gaara to go straight for the kill.
"Looks like there's nothing to discuss." As Ye Chuan looked at the red-haired boy before him, his gaze sharpened as well.
"Hmph, you have a death wish!" Kankuro snorted and prepared to release his puppet, while Temari opened her iron fan.
But Gaara moved faster!
He did not even form hand seals. With a mere thought, the sand in the gourd on his back surged out like a living creature, forming an enormous sand claw that lunged viciously at Ye Chuan!
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
The sand claw moved incredibly fast and was about to seize Ye Chuan!
But Ye Chuan left an afterimage where he had stood and appeared several meters away as though he had teleported, easily evading it.
"He dodged it?" For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed Gaara's browless face.
Before he could launch a second attack, Ye Chuan had already shot toward him like a cannonball!
He did not draw his sword. Instead, he raised his right leg high, its muscles instantly tensing as a layer of Armament Haki coated it!
"Hah!"
With a whistle through the air, Ye Chuan drove a vicious kick toward Gaara's chest!
Boom!!!
A deep, thunderous impact rang out!
Ye Chuan's foot struck squarely against the defensive layer of sand that automatically protected its master!
Although the sand instantly gathered into a thick shield, fine cracks actually appeared across its surface under Ye Chuan's full-strength kick infused with Armament Haki!
Gaara himself flew backward uncontrollably as though he had been struck head-on by a battering ram, only stopping after crashing through a large tree!
"What?!"
"Gaara got sent flying?!"
At the sight, Kankuro's and Temari's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!
They knew better than anyone how terrifying Gaara's absolute defense was, yet... yet this kid from Konoha had sent him flying with a single kick?!
In the instant their shock distracted them-
After just one exchange, the situation had completely reversed!
In the distance, Gaara slowly rose from the ground and brushed the sand and dirt off himself. The way he looked at Ye Chuan had changed completely.
He no longer looked at him as prey. Instead, his gaze was filled with icy killing intent.
"You... what's your name?" Gaara asked hoarsely.
"Ye Chuan."
"Good... Ye Chuan..."
Gaara licked his lips, his eyes filling with bloodshot veins.
"I'll kill you... and use your blood to prove my existence!"
The sand behind him began surging even more violently!
"Anytime."
Watching Gaara get into fighting form, Ye Chuan slowly gripped the sword hilt at his waist.
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