AN: This story is just coming along nicely, isn't it? I honestly have very little to say in this AN, other than the fact that I really like how fast this stories inspiration is coming along.
And the pairing is being altered a bit, too. I have decided on the girls from last chapter, and may or may not add Madoka. It was pointed out to me in a review that she was still trying to 'earn back' naruto's love, and the reviewer had a point. So I thank you, Lone Swordswolf, for the idea.
Also, Obito/Tobi will be paired with a person, I just don't know who.
Now if only I had a new car...
(Chapter 4- What the Fuck was That?)
Kasumi looked around the large examination room for the masked teen that had occupied many of her thoughts in the recent weeks that they had met in the sea of Genin who were hoping to become Chunin in these exams.
She was brought from her thoughts by Sakura making snide comments about the ugliness of the Genin, and had to bite back a groan as several of the FEMALE participants glared heatedly at her team.
The day before yesterday, her father had shuffled the teams so that an equal number of participants could be placed on each team, and Kasumi had been placed with Satsuki and Sakura on Team 7, while Kiba and Hinata were sent to Team 8 with Shino Aburame. Lee was given to Team 9, alongside TenTen Higurashi and Neji Hyuuga.
It had made little sense to anyone on WHY he hadn't done that in the first place, but they just chalked it up to the stress of work.
The Rookie Nine, plus Team 9, we're talking in the front of the room quite animatedly, when a silver haired, bespectacled teen a few years older than them spoke up.
"You might want to keep it down in here. You're beginning to annoy the other participants."
Kiba immediately had an arrogant reply to the glasses wearing teen. "Who the hell are you, but an even better question is, why the fuck should I care?"
The teen just grinned in a creepy manner. "My names Kabuto Yakushi. And I can give you information on anyone participating in these exams."
That caught the attention of more than a few Genin hopefuls as the Rookies perked up at that. But Kiba, still rather angry over the sudden appearance of a masked Genin into the lives of his former team, asked. "Is there anything on a guy named Naruto?"
Kabuto, for his part, reached into his back pocket and withdrew a card, and after channeling chakra into it, revealed the information on it. "Naruto, no surname, age, thirteen. Currently Rookie of the Year in Amegakure, and considered a Prodigy of the Village. Has high skills in Ninjutsu, and acceptable skills in Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Kenjutsu. His teammates are Jugo and Karin Uzumaki. The total amount of completed missions are-"
He was cut off as a gloved hand grabbed the card and burnt it with fire chakra, making everyone turn and look at the owner of the gloved hand. Standing there was Naruto, in his full glory, with his mask sealed away, revealing his charming and handsome face to everyone, and making all of the girls blush at his good looks.
Kasumi grinned happily at his sudden appearance, alongside his team who looked intimidating. He waved the bits of charred paper off of his hand and mock glared at Kabuto. "Now, now Yaskushi-San, why ruin the surprise like that? After all, information can be misleading."
He looked at the silver haired teen with a piercing look in his eyes, while Kabuto just chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry, but I didn't expect Ame Shinobi to be so observant. And it seems that you're way more so than the pathetic Oto Shinobi."
The team from said village sprang into action at that, only to find themselves captured by Team 0. Jugo had the mummified one, Dosu Kinuta, captured in a headlock, while Karin used her Death Glare of Death (A Trademark of Karin Uzumaki Incorporated.) to make the black haired boy nearly piss himself, while Naruto caught the girl, Kin Tsuchi, by the waist and held her close, making her blush as a devilish smile made its way across his handsome face.
Before anything else could happen, a large plume of smoke appeared, and a gruff voice said. "Knock it off or I'll disqualify you maggots! There is to be no fighting now!"
(Jonin Lounge- AN: I will be referring to Obito as Tobi)
Tobi was sitting in the Jonin Lounge for the Sensei's, watching as the Konoha Shinobi all spoke arrogantly about their teams. One of them, a red eyed woman named Kurenai, was the loudest of them all.
"With Hinata and Kiba on my team alongside Shino, there's no way they can fail. All of the teams participating have no chance against three clan heirs."
A bearded man smoking, nearly making Tobi throw up at the smell, said in a condescending tone of voice. "Now Kurenai, don't count out my team just yet. Shikamaru is a genius, Choji has some serious strength on 'im, and Ino has the cleverness to make it all work together."
Might Guy, perhaps the only Sensei who took this shit as a shinobi, said in a wise voice. "I may not have gotten him on my team, but I have trained Lee to be a capable fighter through hard work and determination. Despite his handicap of not being able to use chakra, he is capable of being a grade A shinobi."
Kakashi just stared for a moment before saying. "Well, Kushina-Sama and mine team will no doubt blow away the competition, as they have the daughter of the Hokage on their team."
Tobi sighed loudly at them. "Tobi's so bored! There is nothing fun to do! Tobi wishes he could go and train, but Tobi knows that Tobi would get in trouble. Sigh, if only Naruto-Kun were here, he knows how to have fun with Tobi! Maybe...maybe we get Dango! Ooh, or even better, dango made with ramen! Then we could fight and I can use my new Earth Style: Whac-a-Mole Jutsu that I made!"
The Jonin looked at the strange man and all just shrugged at his strange behavior. Who were they to judge? Well, Kurenai was one to judge others based on outward appearances, so she just had to make a snide and rude comment that would have pissed off a normal person. "So, Tobi, why do you wear that mask? Got some heavily scarred face that you don't want to be seen? Or is it that your so ugly, the Amekage makes you wear it?"
Tobi just blinked at Kurenai before turning to Guy and asking as loud as he could. "Guy-San, why is this prostitute in here? Is it a birthday party? Is there cake?! CAN I HAVE SOME CAKE?!"
Guy just laughed as he said. "No, Tobi-San, the reason the prostitute is here is because she somehow managed to give enough head to enough people to be given a team."
All of the Jonin not from Konoha laughed at the burn, while Kurenai glared murder at Guy for that. She smirked cruelly and said in a haughty tone. "I wouldn't be talking, Guy. After all, with that hideous jumpsuit you wear, you look like a freak."
It was Tobi's turn to butt in and make a comment, this one getting roars of laughter. "Miss Prostitute, if I give you five ryo, will you leave and not try and suck my cock?"
Kurenai was nearly to the point where, diplomatic immunity be damned, she was going to strangle the two of them. But, as she was calming down, Tobi made one last comment, that made the entire room, no matter what village they came from, laugh so hard, many had to cover themselves after peeing. "Hey, Guy-San, why is she so red? Did she just orgasm? Is she into S&M and BDSM? Does she like it when Tobi talks dirty? because Tobi can talk really dirty! Watch!" he got right in her face before yelling as loud as he could. "MUD!"
Before the violence that was Kurenai was to start, the TV in the room turned on, and they saw the goings on of the Exam.
(Exam Room- Naruto POV)
The Unknown Uchiha smirked as he looked over the test. The proctor, a mean looking mother fucker named Ibiki Morino, had spread them out around the room, and had explained the rules of this portion of the exam very carefully to the gathered Genin.
The test was a written exam of the knowledge they had, with question ranging from mathematics, to practicals. But the one thing they all had in common, was that they were unbelievably hard. Naruto had answered several already, such as the one where you had to determine what a code meant, by breaking it and finding similarities from others.
But, feeling a bit like a dick at the moment, naruto carefully looked around and saw how everyone was doing.
Jugo was using a pair of socks as puppets, and was doing a one-man play of Hamlet. And from the looks of things, he was doing a damn good job. Naruto watched as Hamlet went through the monologue he was famous for, before he shifted his vision to his female teammate.
Karin was subtly flirting, using her skills in seduction, with the guy sitting next to her, and Naruto saw him shaking as her foot rubbed his crotch. The redheaded Uzumaki was incredibly flexible, and Naruto knew she was driving the poor Genin crazy if his blushing face was anything to go by.
Panning back to the front, as he was sitting in the back, Naruto saw a girl with buns in her hair moving mirrors, and being in a dickish mood, he sent invisible senbon and cut the strings, making her look around in confusion.
Her teammate, a gay looking bitch named Neji, was using his Byakugan to get answers, and it was unfortunate for him that Naruto was in the single blind spot of his vision, as Naruto, quick as lightning and faster than the eyes of everyone could see, shot a rubber band at the poor boy. It didn't hit him immediately. Instead it bounced off his pencil, flew across the room, bounced off of the Kusa genin that had a creepy looking face (Orochimaru in disguise, Naruto thought) face, before it flew and nailed him directly in the Byakugan enhanced eye, sending waves of pain through his head as the sensitive nerves were given a brutal treatment.
The next victim of Naruto's was the dog boy, and Naruto gave a small grin as he silently grasped a small gas pellet that was colorless. Rolling it gently, but firmly under the Genins chair, he laughed as the surrounding Genin scrunched their faces in disgust as Kbia sat their, a complete moron to the people around him.
The one after him was the pink haired whore who...hey, that rhymed! Anyways, he carefully pulled a small sheet of paper from his pocket, and using the origami skills he learned from Konan-Oba-Chan. Making it small, and resembling a fly, he sent it towards the girl and watched as she tried to strike it.
His final target was the girl Hyuuga, whom he used a very special genjutsu on, one he learned from Tobi as a prank, but had applicable uses. What it was a genjutsu aptly called the Unchi Anata no Zuban o no Sakkaku, or the Poop Your Pants Illusion. What it did was trick key points of the bodies digestive tract into becoming immediately relaxed, forcing the fecal matter to be expelled in force. It was the first thing you needed to learn in order to use the Bakuhatsu-tekina Geri Sakkaku, or Explosive Diarrhea Illusion. Then there was the final half of the ultimate pranking Genjutsu, the Tasuke o Karizu ni Ogazumu Sakkaku, or the Orgasm Without Help Illusion. The name left no need for an explanation on that one. When all three combined, they made what Naruto took to calling the Kami Futei Niruvu ana no Anaru Hakai, or the Anal Destruction of the Gods Indefinite Nirvana Illusion. It was this priceless illusion that Naruto was going to use on the unsuspecting girl, for he had heard her comments about Kasumi, and it pissed him off more than when Itachi is denied his chocolate pocky.
Weaving the hand signs under the desk, Naruto watched as the ensuing chaos began.
Hinata Hyuuga was just sitting there, minding her own business as she thought of what she was going to do after the exams and she was a Chunin when IT happened. She suddenly felt as if her anal passage had been loosened, as if she had eaten an entire bottle of Ex Lax. She tried to control the coming flood, but was unable to do so as she literally shit her pants. But that wasn't the worst, as at the exact same time as that feeling came on, she felt as if she had just had an enormous orgasm, making her shudder as she felt herself be carried into the blissfulness of unconsciousness due to the feelings made her lose any semblance of coherent thought.
Ibiki Morino watched as the Hyuuga girl seemed to shudder in an uncontrolled frenzy, even as something smelling horrible filled the class, making him think of only one thing: The girl had been playing with herself anally during the exam, and had lost control of herself, leading to an orgasm that left her with a gaping ass, which then lead to her shitting herself.
Infuriated, he barked out. "Konoha Genin Team 8, you are all dismissed!"
As for Naruto, he was barely keeping himself under control at seeing Kiba, and as a regrettable bystander, Shino being forced to carry the unconscious, covered in shit form of Hinata Hyuuga.
Seeing as the exam was already basically over, Ibiki then went through the entire thing about the tenth question and all that shit, which Naruto ignored in favor of using one of his more sexual Genjutsus. This was a true masterpiece, that he had used before in battle, making his opponent become momentarily disoriented and easily killable. It made him smirk at who he was using it on, as it was even more powerful for girls.
Saidai Burisu no Kyodaina Penisu no Shinto , better known as the Giant Penis Penetration of Maximum Bliss. He had found it in one of Konan's scrolls one day, a few years back, and seeing that it was a jutsu, Naruto set out and practiced it on people until he had mastered it. It was only until when he had been given the talk did he understand that she used it when Nagato was away from the village.
He had been scarred after that.
So, sighting his target, which happened to be the disguised Orochimaru, he went through the handsigns, and was depressed to find that while it did have an effect, the pedo liked the feeling of the Genjutsu that was just used on him.
Disgusting.
Naruto watched as Kasumi stood suddenly, catching his and everyone else's attention as she did so. "I don't care if you hold me back as a Genin! I'll become the most powerful Genin in the world, and then I'll go from Genin to Hokage! Nothing is going to stop me!"
His respect for her, which was already high given how she had suffered through a lot of unjust abuse and mistreatment, went higher as the determination in her voice got him to give a small grin.
Ibiki looked at her for the longest of moments before he grinned widely. "Then...you all pass."
The relief that was felt by every person, aside from naruto and the rest of Team 0, was palpable as they listened to his explanation, which Naruto ignored in favor of examining an approaching black ball of cloth. The ball crashed through the window, it unfurled in front of Ibiki and revealed a scantily dressed woman wearing a trenchcoat. "My name is Anko Mitarashi, and I'll be the proctor for the second stage of the Chunin Exams!"
Complete silence met her entrance, until Naruto stood up and shouted to the heavens. "DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN SAVE 15% OR MORE ON YOUR CART INSURANCE IF YOU SWITCH TO GEICO?!"
To which Gaara replied in an equally loud and random voice. "I KNOW! I SAVE OVER FIVE THOUSAND RYO OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS!"
Anko grinned and joined in. "AWESOME! NOW FOLLOW ME TO TRAINING GROUND 44!"
(Training Ground 44, or as they-)
"...Call it the Forest of Death. It's the training ground they use for the ANBU, and it's filled with all sorts of vermin and creepy crawlies. Now you see these waivers? I need each of you to sign one so that Konoha won't be sued for your deaths, and I can get some dango!" The Special Jonin Anko said in an exuberant voice.
Naruto just mumbled to himself. "And Kaa-San said I was like a spider monkey drinking redbull, Ha! Just wait till she meets this ball of energizer bunny."
Jugo snorted in an attempt to not laugh as Karin had a smirk of amusement on her face. The test was simple to them, just get the fucking scroll they needed, get to the tower, and freeball it up!
Well, the last part was Naruto's idea, as his temporary bout of insanity had yet to pass, making him wonder if he should get himself checked out something. But, even as he thought this, it went away, leaving him to the blessed silence as the funny voices in his head disappeared.
He walked to the pavilion and grabbed a scroll, but not before he passed Anko, who grinned at him, while he smirked in amusement at her. Making his way back to his teammates, he was asked by Karin. "Did you get it?"
"Yup! One Earth, and One Heaven scroll compliments of Miss Mitarashi." Was her reply as they went to their gate. Once there, they went over the plan.
"So we meet up with Itachi and Kisame at the tower, where we swap info from ours of Orochimaru's, to theirs for the contestants files and information. Once done, we prepare for the next, and final round. And since this is Konoha, it means a one-on-one tournament, which gives us a month to prepare." Jugo said. He would be lying if he said he wasn't excited for this portion of the exam, and was practically giddy with anticipation.
"Yeah. The problem is, Orochimaru's already here, and will be entering the forest for Satsuki Uchiha. So, we run interference. It's why I stole another set of scrolls for Team 7." Naruto stated, slightly worried for Kasumi if she were to fight the Snake Pedo. He knew she could hold her own well against strong opponents, and he had been arrogant in the Battle of the Bridge in underestimating her, but Orochimaru was in a whole other league. So much so, that the first thing they were doing was go and get Team 7 from the forest.
Karin grinned mischievously at her friend, teammate, and Captain. "Are you sure this has nothing to do with the cute little blonde that you met in wave, Naruto-Taicho?"
She was rewarded with a blushing naruto who sputtered for an answer. Seriously, first his mother, now Karin?! What was next, three of the girls he had met, befriended, and somehow managed to get to feel healthy and strong emotions for would just randomly appear in the exam, making him feel like an idiot for not noticing them in the first place?!
They saw the gates open and rushed in when the buzzer went off, and Naruto said to the as they started to tree hop. "Alright. karin, use your Chakra Sensing Jutsu to scout for enemies. Jugo, keep Dog in the cage until we need him I'll take point and be the first line, Jugo, be ready to beat down on anyone who we come across. Karin, do you have the medical packs?"
At her affirmative nod, he grinned and looked forward, already sensing where Kasumi was. "Then let's hop to it, guys."
(With Team 7)
They were jumping along and making good time when Kasumi looked up and spotted something. Holding her teammates back, she cautiously approached it, only to nearly scream when a raven haired man and a blue, shark like man appeared. Kasumi immediately knew who the raven haired man was, as he was considered a stain on Konoha's 'perfect' past.
He was Itachi Uchiha, otherwise known as the Herald of the Shinigami.
Itachi gazed passively at the girls in front of him, and locked eyes with a shocked and stunned Satsuki. His eyes softened and held a sadness in them that would have shocked anyone who didn't know the reason why he became a Nuke-Nin.
You see, when Itachi was thirteen, he overheard his father speaking to the Fourth about something having to do with their plans for Konoha. They had made schematics for a super jutsu capable of obliterating entire villages in one move, but before they could implement them, Itachi had stolen them, before memorizing them, and finally burning them, scattering the ashes to the wind.
When he was found out, he had left the village, swearing to never let anyone, no matter who they were, get a hold of it. And so, he became an S-Rank Nuke-Nin, being branded a traitor for stealing high class documents, which was partly true.
The two groups stared at each other before Itachi spoke. "Imouto, it has been a while."
The Younger Uchiha nodded. "Yeah, it has Nii-San. You look...good, considering everything."
"Thank you. But now that the pleasantries are over, we have business to discuss." At their look, he elaborated. "Orochimaru has infiltrated the exams, and is hunting Satsuki down as we speak for her sharingan. The Amekage makes it a special mission to deny everything Orochimaru could get from his possession, and as such, sent Genin Team 0 here to participate."
"Although." Kisame began. "It could have something to do with Naruto's relationship with the Namikaze Brat here. After all, the reports did say that they were 'in a relationship' as of two weeks ago."
Kasumi blushed and looked away at that.
"Either way, we must wait for Naruto's team to arrive before we make our next move." Itachi said cooly.
Further conversation was halted as a deep green salamander appeared, wearing a katana on it's back. "Itachi-San." The amphibian began. "Naruto-Sama is in danger! Orochimaru targeted him! He knows the 'secret'!"
Itachi cursed as he looked in the direction the Salamander came from, seeing the smoke that came from there. "Dammit! Kisame, let's go! we have to get there immediately!"
The two took off, but not before Kasumi and Satsuki did as well, leaving Sakura to stand there dumbly, before Kasumi came back and sealed her into a scroll, before running to catch up with the others.
(At that moment-With Naruto and Team 0)
He had no fucking clue where the asshole came from. One minute, they were making great time, the next Karin was unconscious, Jugo was sent flying, and Naruto was fighting Orochimaru by himself.
"Ku ku ku, Naruto-Kun. You never cease to amaze me. When I was a member of the Akatsuki, I recall how you would play in Pain-Sama's office, or train, or even go and watch as the others trained as well. It took some digging, but I managed to find out about your dirty little secret, about your..." He licked his lips when he said the next part. "...Sharingan!"
Naruto scowled and his eyes morphed into the first stage Sharingan, the tamoe spinning in anger. "So you know. Big deal. It's not like you can do anything about it. And I have no intention of letting you cut my eyes out so you can become some kind of sick, fucked up piece of shit!"
The Snake Pedo laughed as he said. "Oh, no need for such language, Naruto-Kun. I have no intention of taking your eyes. I just want to know...what is the secret of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan? What is it? Tell me!?"
Naruto gave a feral grin, laughing as he stood to his full height. Unstrapping his gunbai, he rested it on his shoulder, closing his eyes as he did. "The Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, huh? Is that what you want? well then..." His eyes snapped open, revealing his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to Orochimaru. "...You're gonna have to make me tell you, you piece of worthless shit."
The Snake Sannin looked mesmerized as he looked at the eyes he craved for. The eyes had changed drastically, and looked like a yin and yang symbol, with a smaller, shuriken shaped pupil spinning inside the dots of either side.
He had gained the Mangekyo Sharingan on complete accident when an old pet of his was accidentally killed by him. The shock of seeing it die because of him had made his Sharingan activate, showing the second version. he had gained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan after Madoka had gotten the pair her older, lesser known brother, Kakuso, had when he gained the Mangekyo Sharingan. She implanted them in his own when he was twelve, and the last year and three quarters was spent learning to use all of the abilities.
And, like other EMS's, his had a special ability, like his mother's, Itachi's, and Tobi's, all who had been given the EMS. His mother's was it allowed her to use the Izanagi twice without repercussion, before the third made one of her eyes close forever, given by her younger brother, Izuna. Itachi's allowed him to implant thoughts and memories in another's head, at the cost of 80% of his chakra, compliments of Shisui, the true traitor of Konoha. Tobi's was gained from an unknown Uchiha which allowed him to become intangible for up to ten minutes, the downside being he couldn't touch anything.
Like them, he had one of the special abilities. His was...different than others. It allowed him to...bend the laws of nature for as long as his chakra let him. The most he was able to use outside of battle was two full minutes. In battle, it was cut in half.
But, Naruto was confident that he wouldn't need to use the, as he called it, Riariti.
orochimaru made the first move, leaping in his attack to swiftly knock Naruto unconscious for easier transport to Oto. naruto dodged by sliding off of the tree and freefalling to the forest floor, where he had more of an advantage due to the rainforest like atmosphere. He quickly scanned for Itachi's chakra signature, and found him Two minutes away.
Figuring that beating the snake man wasn't possible, he decided to go with stalling.
He activated his susanoo.
Deep green chakra began to form around him as a massive skeleton appeared. It had the appearance of a grinning dragon, baring its fangs as Naruto pumped even more chakra into it's creation. Soon, flesh began to form on the bones, making it look even more dragon like as six arms formed, covered in the muscle.
Orochimaru was transfixed as he watched, unable to look away as the boy created his susanoo.
Each hand was either wielding a katana, or a dual bladed katana. The beast roared as it was dispersed, and Naruto fell to the ground, exhausted from using it so much. The damn thing took a shit load of chakra to make, and very little to maintain, but he still needed to take off his restraining seal to use all of his Ninjutsu and abilities, something he refused to do until he made it to the Finals of the Exam.
Orochimaru chuckled and walked to Naruto, kicking him and sending him sliding into a tree, where he sat up. He grinned and licked his lips, before he stopped at Naruto's smirk. His eyes widened and he made the ram seal before sending out his chakra. "Kai!"
The forest disappeared only to reveal Naruto's gunbai send a massive gust of wind at him, the blades of wind sharper than a kunai. Dodging, he cursed himself for looking Naruto in the eye. His eyes widened even more when suddenly, everything went black, and his other senses went haywire, telling him danger was everywhere.
Once again dispelling the genjutsu, his eyes widened when he saw several Naruto Shadow Clones go through several handseals. Altogether, the Uchiha's took a breath before saying. "Fire Style: Extreme Hard Work!"
Large flaming balls of fire were launched at Orochimaru, who dodged, but watched in horror as each of the balls divided and became two medium. Everywhere one of the balls landed, it divided and blew up, destroying several hundred yards of the forest, and no doubt getting the attention of the people and contestants of the Exams.
But he wasn't given a break as Naruto made two handsigns and the fires that had been started quickly grew into medium sized dragons made of flames. "Fire Style: Many Dragons!"
The dragons converged and Orochimaru didn't have time to react as he was engulfed in flames.
naruto looked at the burnt corpse, before jumping back in revolt when the mouth split open to reveal Orochimaru, 100% fine. The man laughed as he looked at Naruto. "Well...those were some interesting Ninjutsu."
"Yeah? well how about this one!" A familiar voice said.
Orochimaru dodged as a shark made of water collided with his old position, making Naruto thank Kami that the cavalry had arrived. The snake man glowered at the newly arrived group, before smirking and had this to say. "Well, it's been fun, Naruto-Kun, but I must leave. But before I do, I have something to say." He gave a creepy grin at that. "I will be coming for you soon, naruto-Kun. And when I do, the Akatsuki won't save you. But before I go, here is a little gift for you...ku ku ku...girlfriend."
He wove through handsigns faster than anyone could follow, before a medium sized ball of fire came from his mouth, heading for Kasumi. Without thinking, Naruto substituted with her.
The fire burned, yeah, but it was the damn fucking tree he collided with due to the momentum of the kawarimi and the force of the fireball that made his arm snap as he hit it with a sickening crunch.
...
...
...
...
...
"FUCK!"
AN: And that's a wrap!
yes, Naruto did mainly use Ninjutsu to fight Orochimaru, but that's because he knew he was outmatched from the beginning, choosing to level the playing field by only using Ninjutsu.
As for why I've been updating so much, it's because my keyboard is finally replaced, so I can actually write things faster now, so yay!
Next chapter features the end of the Forest of Death, plus the Preliminary Round.