10:00 AM, Forest of Death.
All ten teams for the upcoming second exam have arrived, but the examiners are nowhere to be seen. Naoki Senju has a bad feeling; this time, it seems he'll have to wait a long time...
Moreover, Naoki Senju's prediction tragically came true. At 11 a. m., after waiting for more than an hour, the examinees finally saw a flamboyant man with silver hair and a mask.
"Hey everyone, I just helped an old lady cross the street, and I'm a little late because of that."
Is that what you call being a little late? You were a full hour late, and all you did was help an old lady! I don't believe you for a second!
Seeing the unfriendly expressions of the other examinees, Kakashi, who was already used to it, didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he introduced himself with ease:
"Nice to meet you. Let me introduce myself. I am Kakashi Hatake Jonin Konoha, and the chief examiner for the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams. I cannot reveal any further information."
Although their self-introductions were brief, Temari and Kankuro, who harbored ulterior motives, immediately changed their expressions.
Copy Ninja Kakashi!
Every ninja who possesses a unique title is, without exception, an extremely powerful Jonin. Their team leader Jonin Baki, is already considered one of the top Jonin in Sunagakure, yet he doesn't have a unique title in the Shinobi World...
It's easy to imagine the vast difference in skill between the two sides. To think that they could eliminate a top-tier Konoha Genin under the nose of Kakashi the Copy Ninja —regardless of the success rate—is thrilling just to imagine.
Kakashi was certainly unaware of these absurd thoughts. The Third Hokage's instructions to him were simply to maintain the Chunin Ninja Exams as they were to proceed without causing too many accidental deaths among the examinees.
Otherwise, a Chunin Ninja Exams wouldn't need an Elite Jonin as the examiner; Special Jōnin would suffice.
Recalling the Third Hokage's solemnity, Kakashi put aside his usual laziness and even temporarily put his beloved "Icha Icha Paradise" into his ninja tool bag.
"The rules for this Chunin Ninja Exams will be different." Kakashi flipped his hand, and two scrolls appeared in his palm.
"Of the ten teams this time, five will obtain the Heaven Scroll and five will obtain the Earth Scroll. Teams that collect both scrolls and reach the central tower within five days will pass. Additionally, the Heaven Scroll is also hidden in the forest; careful searching will yield further rewards."
The second exam, which was originally supposed to eliminate more than half of the participants, saw a significant reduction in the elimination rate after the addition of extra Heavenly Scrolls. However, compared to searching for hidden Heavenly Scrolls like looking for a needle in a haystack, it was still faster for strong teams to seize scrolls from other teams.
Team 3, to which Naoki Senju belonged, obtained the Heaven Scroll. As the only four-person team, they had an absolute advantage in this exam. Therefore, the three teams from Kirigakure spontaneously gathered together and kept a close eye on Team 3.
The objective, of course, is to eliminate the most troublesome target as quickly as possible. Kakashi subtly cast a pitying glance his way. These unlucky kids, of all people to choose, they picked Naoki Senju. Are they trying to get themselves killed?
However, Kakashi had no intention of interfering. Since they were courting death, he would let them be. He only needed to keep an eye on one of the teams... Kakashi's peripheral vision was always on the Sunagakure area, or more precisely, on Gaara.
One-Tail Jinchuriki, Sunagakure really goes all out...
Given the strength of Sunagakure, the Anbu and Root have already infiltrated it to the point of being like a sieve. Do they really think they can hide the true identity of the One-Tail Jinchuriki from Konoha?
However, the fact that Naruto is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki couldn't be kept secret from the other four great ninja villages either. Oh, Sunagakure might be the only one who didn't know...
Kakashi slowly pulled open the wire gate. The dark and deathly Forest of Death, as it truly was, was already beckoning to the examinees.
"A friendly reminder: the Forest of Death is extremely dangerous. If you encounter any danger to your life, please shout for help. A rescue team will come to your aid. Also, please remember: do not open the scroll, do not open the scroll, do not open the scroll."
Kakashi's serious warning only piqued the curiosity of some people: what exactly was written inside the Heaven and Earth Scroll?
Konoha's Ninjutsu?
A hidden treasure in the Forest of Death?
Or is it something restricted?
Curiosity Genin, I still have basic self-control. Even if I wanted to watch, I could have watched other teams' videos...
The ten teams seemed like a lot of people, but once they entered the Forest of Death separately, they were like rivers flowing into the sea, unable to make a ripple.
" Naoki-kun, where should we go first?"
Tenten asked subconsciously, Rock Lee and Neji, who were standing nearby, also stopped and waited for Naoki Senju to make a decision.
It wasn't just because of Might Guy's parting instructions; without realizing it, Tenten, Rock Lee, Neji had come to regard Naoki Senju Naoki Senju the leader of Team 3, and would subconsciously obey his orders on important occasions.
Naoki Senju accepted command without hesitation; there's no need for courtesy in such matters—the capable should take the lead.
"No need to look for them anymore, they're already here."
Upon hearing Naoki Senju's words, Neji's pupils contracted, and he instantly activated his Byakugan. Sure enough, many unfamiliar Chakra appeared around him, subtly forming an encirclement.
Seeing that their plan had been exposed, and with the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai existence, any attempt to hide would be foolish. The encirclers simply stopped being sneaky and openly surrounded them. After all, they outnumbered them; surely they could win?
"Ninja Art: Rain Shower Senbon "
The bamboo umbrella spun in mid-air, and countless sharp Senbon poured out from under it.
The ninjas of Amegakure... Naoki and Neji instantly recognized the enemy's identity, and their only remaining thought was to defeat them.
Neji stepped forward, blocking the three of them. He assumed the Gentle Fist stance and took a deep breath. This was the first time he had used this Taijutsu in actual combat.
" Gentle Fist: Rotation "
Countless Chakra surged from Neji's chakra points, then began to spin wildly with Neji's movements. The sharp Senbon landed on the Rotation Technique, and apart from a small portion being deflected, the rest of the Senbon were directly shattered by the Chakra of the Rotation Technique!
The Amegakure, Genin had never witnessed Gentle Fist before, were clearly stunned; they had never imagined that such a ' Ninjutsu ' existed.
However, the other group of Kirigakure were clearly not Genin by the mere Byakugan. Their village also had a Byakugan, but he simply didn't know the Hyuga -style Gentle Fist.
" Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique."
The Kirigakure's signature Ninjutsu — Hidden Mist Technique —is only a D-rank Ninjutsu, but when combined with the Kirigakure's Silent Killing Technique, it can achieve the effect of an A-rank Ninjutsu!