The Chūnin Exam Stage Two: The Forest Of Death!
The remaining Genin candidates all stood in front of a chain-linked fence, surrounding a thick, dense forest. Some teams had knapsacks and small backpacks with them.
"This is the setting for the second phase of the exam." Anko answered. "It's known as the Forty-Fourth Battle Training Zone. But we call it, the Forest of Death. And pretty soon, you're gonna find out why."
Naruto huffed and did a cheap imitation of Anko, mocking her. "Do you worst, you're not gonna scare me away!" he yelled. "I can handle anything."
Anko smiled and threw a kunai knife right past Naruto's face, cutting his cheek. She then appeared behind him, and whispered something in his ear, causing him to stiffen. Her mood then changed when a female grass ninja stood behind her, holding the kunai knife she threw, with her tongue.
Ichiro gulped. "Okay, that's a little weird." Orchi and Miyuki nodded in agreement.
"I thought this forest was creepy." Orchi muttered.
"But some of these candidates are even creepier." Miyuki added, rubbing her arm. "They give me the creeps."
Anko walked back to the front and faced the crowd of Genin. "Now before we begin, I have something for you all." she held a stack of papers. "It's just a standard consent form. Before you take the next test, all of you have to read over the consent form, and then sign it."
"What for?" Naruto asked.
"Some of you might not make it back from this test, and I need your consent to that risk. Other wise it would be my responsibility." Anko answered, laughing.
She handed the stack of forms to Naruto to hand out to everyone, as she went on to explain the rules of the exam.
"Now the first thing you all should know is this exam will test every single one of your survival skills." Anko began. "Now the terrain of the practice field is quite simple, there are forty-forty locked entrance gates, there are rivers and a forest inside, a tower is in the center of the field, and is ten kilometers from each gate. It is in this contained area where you will undergo the survival test." she added. "The test consists of an anything goes battle, to get your hands on these scrolls." Anko held two scrolls, one blue and the other white, and each had a single kanji on it. "You will be fighting get your hands on both a heaven scroll and an earth scroll." the white one was heaven, and the blue was earth. "All together, twenty six teams will be taking part in this exam, so half the teams will be going after the heaven scroll, while the other half will be trying to get the earth scroll."
"Sounds simple enough, if you think about it." Miyuki muttered.
"But how do we pass the test?" Ichiro asked.
"Your entire squad must bring both a heaven and earth scroll to the tower." Anko answered.
"That means at the very least, half of us will fail." Orchi noted. "More if not all teams manage to get both scrolls."
"No one ever said it was going to be easy." Anko said. "Oh and one more thing, the test has a time limit." she added, putting the scrolls away. "You must finish within five days."
"Five days out there!" Ino screamed.
"What are we supposed to do for food?" Choji asked.
"Just look around, there's plenty in the forest to feed all of you." Anko answered.
"But that's not all it has." Kabuto added. "There are man eating beasts and posious plants in there."
"This test is also to test your endurance behind enemy lines." Anko added. "So not all of you will be up for that challenge."
Shikamaru raised his hand, "So let's say mid-exam, can we quit?" he asked.
"Of course not!" Anko answered, glaring. "When you're in the middle of a battle you can't just say 'sorry I quit'. Well you could, but it's probably gonna get you killed." she smiled.
"There are also some ways you can be disqualified." Anko continued. "The first is simple, if all three members of the team can't make it to the tower after five days." she held her middle finger next to her index finger, "Number two; if one member dies or becomes incapacitated and cannot continue." she then went on to say the most important one, "But none of you, absolutely none of you can look at the contents of both scrolls until you reach the tower."
"What happens if it pops open and we read it?" Naruto asked.
"Let me put it this way for you, young man. You. Don't. Want. To. Know." she replied, smiling. "There will be times when a ninja will be asked to carry secret documents. The scroll rule is to test your integrity." she added.
"Alright now each team take your consent forms over to that booth in exchange for your scroll." Anko pointed the booth at her right. "And I have one more piece of advice for you; just don't die!"
The Genin broke into their teams and scattered, careful to avoid everyone else. Squad Nine rested in the shade under a nearby tree, their knapsacks by their feet.
"This next part is gonna test survival skills, endurance, and integrity." Ichiro noted, looking at his two Kunoichi teammates. "It's gonna be far from easy."
"No joke." Orchi agreed. "Our endurance shouldn't be too much of a problem. Nor, should our integrity. I'm worried about the survival portion."
"Well, I have touched on some basics of Medical Ninjutsu, so we should be okay." Miyuki reminded. "Besides, I'm really good at discerning what wildlife is edible or poisonous."
"How basic are we talkin?" Ichiro asked, referring to Miyuki's medical ninjutsu.
The lavender-haired Kunoichi chuckled and rubbed the back of her head. "The basic basics. Like superficial scars and bruising." she answered. "Not the major stuff like the medical corp. But, I do know first aid, that's good, right?"
Ichiro nodded. "Right, so Miyuki you'll be our relief person. Orchi, you'll be in charge of scouting ahead." he assigned.
Orchi and Miyuki nodded. "And you Ichiro?" Miyuki asked.
"I'll be the lookout and leader." he answered, smiling.
The girls sighed and giggled. "Deal." the three placed their hands on top of one another's.
They each signed their consent form, and were one of the first team's to turn theirs in once Anko called for them.
Inside the booth, Squad Nine received a Heaven scroll, which Ichiro handed to Miyuki. She slipped it into her ninja pouch and the team waited by Gate 18, awaiting the start of the exam.
"All right, heads up you maggots!" Anko yelled, once her watch showed two-thirty. "The second part of the test has begun!"
The 44 Gates swung open and all the Genin rushed inside, beginning the next phase of the Chūnin Selection Examinations.
Squad Nine grouped together by a large tree with a thick trunk, thick branches, and a dense canopy of leaves.
"Okay, so how exactly do we want to go about this?" Orchi asked. "We have five days to get a scroll and make it to the Tower. Are we going to try to get this done as quick as possible? Or take it slow?"
Ichiro placed his fingers under his chin, "Good questions." he muttered. "We certainly don't want to take too much time getting the scroll."
"But we don't wanna rush things either." Miyuki added. "We need to be cautious."
They each exchanged a glance and a nod, before getting to their feet.
"We need to find some sort of cover before dark." Ichiro noted. "We can come up with our plan then. I'll be in front." he pointed to himself. "Since you're our relief person, Miyuki, you're in the middle." the lavender-haired Kunoichi nodded. "So Orchi, you're in the back." the black-haired girl smiled. "Let's move." Ichiro motioned.
The team broke into their formation and leapt from branch to branch. In the distance, they heard the sounds of screaming, but they didn't waver, they pressed forward.
A few hours later, the team found a shelter made up of above-ground tree roots and set up a small camp.
"Okay, so since I know which plants are edible, I should be the one to find food." Miyuki voted, once the sun was beginning to set.
"One of us should go with you, for extra protection." Ichiro brought up. "We can't afford to let the enemy get to you. As team leader, I should be the one who accompanies you." he volunteered.
"What bro? You gotta crush on Miyuki or something?" Orchi teased, giggling.
"No!" Ichiro rebuked. "I'm quick to think under pressure." he reminded. "If I let you go with her, who knows how long it'll take you to get back."
Miyuki huffed. "I don't really care who comes along." she informed. "But, we do need to act soon, before it gets dark."
Orchi sighed. "Fine." she caved. "I'll get a small fire going, while you two go get some dinner."
Miyuki and Ichiro nodded. Ichiro left his knapsack at the campsite and took off into the forest.
After about ten minutes, the pair found a small stream.
"Freshwater, perfect." Miyuki took out three thermoses from her knapsack and filled them up. "Okay, if we ration this out, it should last us for two or three days." she measured, slipping the thermoses back in her knapsack. "Now, for food."
"How about some fish?" Ichiro questioned, glancing at the stream.
Miyuki nodded and smiled. "Perfect." she agreed. "Freshwater streams flow through all the forests. Sure they're not as tasty as the saltwater fish, but we can't be picky."
Ichiro smiled. "Leave it to me." he said. "Three fish, commin right up."
The two returned to the campsite, where Orchi had a small fire already going.
"Alight, let's get dinner cooking." Orchi voted, sticking the three fish around the fire.
Miyuki giggled. "So, after dinner, who's gonna take first watch?" she asked, glancing at her teammates.
"Well since Ichiro is the designated team leader, I think he should take first watch." Orchi voted.
"I second." Miyuki agreed, sipping from her thermos.
Ichiro gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll go first." he caved. "Then Orchi, then Miyuki."
The two girls nodded and took their fish from the fire. The sun was just about set when they retired to bed, using their knapsacks as pillows.
"Get some rest you two, we'll need it for tomorrow." Ichiro advised, taking a kunai from his holster.
The next morning, Squad Nine packed up camp and continued deeper into the forest, in the same formation as before. This time for their shelter, they chose an opening under a thick tree, near a larger stream.
"This looks like a great spot to rest." Miyuki noted, looking around. "We've been at it since sunrise."
Orchi nodded. "Yeah. Why don't we try to gather something for lunch, then we'll move out again in a few hours."
"Sounds good." Ichiro agreed, glancing at Miyuki. "You ready?"
Miyuki nodded. "Let's go." she took out the Heaven scroll and handed it to Orchi. "It's your turn to guard the scroll."
"Got it." Orchi replied, taking the scroll and slipping it into her knapsack. "Be careful, okay?"
"We will sis, don't worry." Ichiro reassured, ruffling Orchi's hair.
The dark-haired Kunoichi chuckled and watched as her two teammates bolted off into the distance. She placed her things inside the opening and leaned against the bark.
"Sometimes being the one left behind is so boring." she sighed. She opened up her thermos and took a swig of water.
For some company, Orchi summoned Rin, her contracted snake partner.
A few feet away stood a team of Genin wearing headbands with the Hidden Grass symbol. The team was comprised of two girls and one boy.
One girl had medium length, red hair and wore glasses. The second girl had long white hair, with a portion of her bangs covering her right eye. The boy had jet-black black hair pulled into a ponytail and grey eyes.
"Looks like her guard's down." said the white haired Kunoichi, named Ryūzetsu.
The boy, Muku, nodded in agreement. "This should be easy." he noted. He pulled an Earth scroll from his ninja pouch. "Karin, you take the scroll." he tossed it to the redheaded Kunoichi.
"Yeah, of course." Karin stuttered, slipping the scroll into her pouch.
The three Genin approached the lone Leaf Kunoichi. Orchi turned her head and gasped…
To Be Continued…