Two weeks since the last update, check foot-notes for the reason.
The second exam: Enter the Forest of Death
*Training ground #44*Konoha*4 hours to dusk*
It was a beautiful day in the village of Konoha: the birds were singing, the sun was shining bright, the sky was clear and the forests that surrounded the village were full of life.
This image of a perfect day had no value to the 72 students that had passed the first part of the Chunin Selection Exams, who were staring at a monstrosity in the form of a forested training ground.
The first thing that passed through Naruto's mind upon seeing the giant trees was: 'damn, the things are as tall as Kurama'. Indeed, the training ground 44 was house of the biggest trees in fire country, courtesy of the large quantity of chakra that the Shodaime Hokage had imbued in the land.
"Welcome to the place for the second part of the chunin exams maggots" the proctor for the time being, Mitarashi Anko, said, "Konoha's training ground number forty four, or as I like to call it; the forest of Death" as if to put emphasis a big roar echoed from inside the fence surrounding the forest.
Mitarashi Anko was a sadistic person who liked to both mentally and physically torture people, this showed on her style of dress: a mesh suit, a mini-skirt and a trench-coat; this was to torture men in the field, so they would be distracted while thinking of possibilities and had no time to put a defense before they died, it also worked on a small number women.
The reason she was proctoring the second exam was because the Hokage had told her it would take place in 'her home'.
"If I hadn't been in worse places, I would be scared" thought Naruto out loud, to the shock of those around him. His eyes gained a far-off look and he shivered, "Never again"
It was rather unfortunate that Anko heard him.
A shout of surprise left his mouth as a kunai passed inches from his head; it was only his incredible luck that left him with only a line of blood in one of his 'whiskers.'
A kunai appeared in his hand as soon as he felt a presence behind him, and only the kunai on his throat, a hand on his wrist and the soft thing pushing against his back stopped him from stabbing whoever was behind him.
"You shouldn't say such things gaki" he looked to his right to see the purple-haired konoichi resting her head on his shoulder, "after all, this place has a reputation of killing rookies like you" she licked the line of blood on his cheek, slightly surprised to see the wound already closed.
Naruto blushed 'Hinata red.' Across the crowd Fuu thought 'wonder if I could do that with him' a grin spread across her face, making Haku and Hagane to step away.
Hinata's thoughts were along the lines of 'S-she's a slut'. Shino just pondered on what his friend do would. Most males wished themselves on Naruto's position, without the pointy weapons.
As he felt yet another presence com dangerously close to them (he wasn't really sure if he wanted to defend the crazy proctor) Naruto summoned another kunai, this time on his left hand, and used his considerable flexibility to swing it without hurting the woman still pressed against his back.
Anko seemed to sense the approaching person too, since the hand holding his right wrist grabbed the kunai and she thrust it over her shoulder, "It would be good to your continuing health" she said, watching the wo/man who had the kunai she had thrown on her…TONGUE? "If you didn't try to snick up on me, maggot"
'That is WAY too creepy' thought Naruto.
'Agreed,' 'Yes it is' said his tenants
"Sorry, I just wanted to give you your kunai back" IT said, "I got a bit…overexcited" It was even creepier with the fact that he was speaking with the tongue out.
Anko eyed the Kusa gennin wearily, "Just make sure it doesn't happen again"
She shunshined to the top of the fence shortly after the strange human left, "Alright maggots, for the next FIVE days," she started "this forest will be your home; you have to complete a task during that time and head to the center of the training ground as soon as you accomplish it!"
Anko looked for something inside her trench-coat, making some of the men there to gain nosebleeds, "here it is" she mumbled, smirking at the reactions she got, "Your objective is to get one of each of this scrolls, the Tsuchi scroll and the Tengoku scroll," Her smirk turned cruel, "there are only twelve sets of scrolls, but I don't think that all sets will make back to the tower."
"Are there any rules?!" someone asked
"Glad you asked" she smiled an evil grin, "Rule #1: you can't get out of the training ground until after 120 hours since the time you entered have passed. Rule #2: if ANYONE on your team is unable to move on, ALL of you are out. Rule #3: Unless the whole team has both scrolls they won't be able to enter the tower in the center of the forest. Final rule: You can't open the scrolls in the forest, otherwise BAD thing may happen" she counted the rules of her fingers, her grin stretching as they glanced horrified at the forest behind her.
"WHAT ABOUT FOOD?!" asked Choji
"Well, there are lots of different animals in the forest, I'm sure you can find something to eat
The purple-haired woman jumped down, landing gracefully on her feet, "One last thing" she held some papers on her hand "You have to sign this legal papers to make sure the village doesn't get sued"
"WHAT DOES IT SAY?!" a background voice asked.
"Well, it says that we aren't to blame if you die" her brown eyes glinted with sadistic glee, "because trust me, there will be deaths"
Two chunin, Izumo and Kotetsu, shook their head in synch at her antics, before slowly walking around, handing the waiver.
Once everyone had theirs, Izumo spoke "Alright, you have ten minutes to fill it out, after the FIRST bell rings you're going to form a line by teams and we're giving you one scroll."
Kotetsu picked it up from there, "Each scroll has a number, that's the gate you're entering the forest from, you have half an hour to make your way there and make a plan."
The two spoke in perfect synch "When the SECOND bell rings, you'll enter the forest and start your mission, after that, it is free-for-all"
Naruto unsealed some pens from his arms (he really needed to check them, to make sure there wasn't too much junk in them) and passed them to his teammates, they then proceeded to fill it out, Naruto and Hinata both paling at some of the things it said, 'Who would be sick enough to do THAT' the three of them thought, yes, even Shino when his bugs passed the text along.
Five minutes of mental torture later, the three had filled out their waivers and were standing a few feet away from the tent that Izumo and Kotetsu had gone into.
"You know guys" the three looked at team 11 as they approached "I really hope we don't meet until the third part of this thing" said Hagane.
"Yeah, I want to fight Reddie one-en-one" said Fuu
"I just want to fight all three of you, I don't care when as long as it's one-on-one" nodded Naruto
"A-ano Naruto-kun" stuttered Hinata, "I-I think we sh-shouldn't fight them in there"
"Indeed Naruto, we don't know if we would win" said Shino
"I must agree with Shino-san and Hinata-san in this, Hagane-kun, Fuu" said Haku.
"Oh come on Ice-princess, you want to fight Reddie too" said Fuu
"You know I don't like fighting friends" the last Yuki answered
"And yet you can be so mean to me" sniffed Hagane
"That's because you're a pervert" said his teammates, and Naruto found himself nodding.
A voice from the tent stopped Hagane from responding "Alright minasan, come for your scroll"
Naruto, Hinata and Shino beat team eleven to the tent, handed over their waivers and got a Tsuchi scroll, along with the number thirty-five.
They went to their entrance after saying goodbye to team eleven, and sat down after arriving.
"W-what are we g-going to do in there?" asked Hinata, slightly unnerved by the atmosphere the forest gave off.
"I say we find a team, have Shino's kikaichku drain them, and you and I finish them" said Naruto.
"A logic strategy, though finding the Tengoku scroll will be mostly chance" nodded Shino.
Naruto agreed, but being himself he said "Meh, we all know I'm a lucky bastard"
The chunin standing near the gate snorted, "Yeah, you have luck alright, though not always good gaki"
"IT WAS ONE TIME!" Naruto didn't remember his first time using itching powder fondly.
"And everyone that was present still tells the story in parties" replied the chunin.
"Ass" muttered Naruto.
'LANGUAGE!' his mother shouted at him.
Kurama just laughed his tails off remembering that day.
Hinata and Shino just watched confused since they didn't know of what the other two were talking about.
Regaining his composure, Naruto looked at his teammates "If we get separated, we'll meet at the tower, OK?" he said.
"It is a logical place to rendezvous" said Shino.
"A-and if one of us gets lost?" asked Hinata.
"Then we search" answered the red-head-
Anko's voice broke through the silence that ensued "ALRIGHT MAGGOTS, THE SECOND PART OF THE CHUNIN SHIKEN STARTS NOW" the bell rang as soon the proctor finished talking and the chunin opened the gates.
"Good luck!" he shouted as they ran past him "you'll need it to survive in there"
Here it is: CoD Black ops 2, NFS Most Wanted 2012, Ninja Gaiden 3, Halo 4 and Assassin's creed 3.
Here are my commentaries on the games as a rabbit fanboy (DON'T READ UNLESS YOU'VE PLAYED THE GAMES ALREADY):
CoD: Die you goddamn zombies, I'll kill you like I killed Menendez!
NFS: OH so I can change my car but not make it look badass? THE FUCK (I least I don't have to buy them, and the in-pursuit repair is a good thing).
Ninja Gaiden: WHAT THE HELL; THE ONLY TRUE WEAPON IS A SWORD?! THE FUCK HAPPENED TO MY TONFAS, I WANT MY TONFAS BACK; ONLY ONE NINPO?! I WANT MY FUCKING WIND-BLADES; HEALING, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE HERBS, TO THE ELIXIRS, TO THE MUSHROOMS?! I WANT THE DAMN FIENDS BACK.
Halo: CORTANA! WHY, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE?! DON'T GO CHIEF! AND WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE REST OF THE WEAPONS?!
AC: "SHHHHH, I'm hunting wabits" (stalks through the forest). Oh he died, damn (Talking about Desmond)
Now, as disappointed as I am at Ninja Gaiden 3 for the lack of fiends, objects, ninpos and weapons, it's actually a pretty good game and the gameplay is only a few ways behind the second game, which is my favorite of the trilogy.
On the Halo front, the only thing I didn't like is the fact that Cortana 'died', that Chief retired (which may mean the end of the games) and that there weren't more weapons aviable, other than that it's an awesome game.
The only thing that could make AC better would be that you could carry a heavy weapon and a sword at the same time.
My only serious comment on NFS is that I do miss the 'auto-sculpt' from the 'Carbon' game and the safe house, even if it could only be used to check stats.
CoD Black ops 2 is honestly the best CoD since 'World at War' in my opinion, especially since Menendez is THE Mindfucker, favorite villian of the games, that's for sure (Woods 'Nah, I'm just lazy as hell,' laughed my ass off in that part).
Now the poll has closed; Fuu won with thirty-seven votes, Karin was second with 28 and Shizuka third with 22.
Honoka will meet Naruto during the three-year training trip, as will Shizuka; the former will be more sister-like and the latter will be more of a rival; only Honoka will go to Konoha (I just noticed that 'Honoka' is 'Konoha' with two letters changed) and Shizuka will only make a second appearance during the Forth Great Ninja World War.
Karin will meet Naruto, but it will be brief and only enough so that she will recognize his 'feel' later on, you'll see what I have planned.
Yakumo will not join the ninja-corps, but she will make appearances from time to time, most likely in a civilian job.
Tayuya will be a surprise, and I will give thanks to 'Gento70' for the idea he gave me on what to do with her.
Ayame will continue appearing as she always has but won't have romantic interest for Naruto, again it's a surprise what I've planned for her.
Temari will make he cannon appearances and maybe some more, depends on how the story advances.
Every other girl won't appear until after their cannon arcs (other than Fuka) as part of a division OR as a medic or volunteer.
Well, That's all for now, stay tuned.
Ja ne
