Chapter 33 – The Second Stage: Into the Forest of Death

Ibiki chuckled as Anko lead the teams out of the room. He was going to let the jōnin in the lounge who passed and who failed. As he made his way out, he saw a piece of paper under one of the exam papers. Curious, he made his way over and picked the paper up. He unfolded it and read the message.

Ibiki-san,

Please check on Yakushi Kabuto. He has information that he should not have. He may be a spy or you may have a leak.

He looked at the note and back at the spot where he found it. That was where one of Anko's brats sat. This was a serious accusation and he needed to check up on it. He quickly left to go and speak with the Hokage.

XXX

Anko stood in front of the chūnin hopeful and faced all of them with a smile. She had secretly sent a note to the Hokage about Midoshi's involvement in the exams. That could only mean that Orochimaru was somewhere in the village. She couldn't search for him now but she would soon.

"Okay maggots, welcome to the second part of the Chūnin Senbatsu Shiken (Chūnin Selection Exams). I like to call this place my and my team's home away from home. This is the Daiyonjūyon Enshūjō (Forty-Fourth Training Ground), or as I like to call it the Shi no Mori (Forest of Death)" Anko began to speak.

"Why do call it that?" asked Ino.

"You'll soon find out why. I would like to keep that a surprise for you all to see." Anko said with a vicious grin. As she was about to continue, Sakura decided to speak up.

"Wait a minute, you said that this is your team's training ground?" she asked.

"So?" Anko asked.

"Does that give you're a huge advantage? That's cheating!" Sakura exclaimed. Team Anko watched as Anko looked at the girl with a glare. Anko was not happy and walked up to her. Sakura gulped under her stare and felt weak in the knees.

"Do you realize how much of an embarrassment you are right now? You're complaining about an unfair advantage? We're shinobi! We live a life of unfair advantages! Hell, we strive on unfair advantages! You are a kunoichi of Konohagakure, so act like it! If you're so worried about it, then leave! You are a disgrace, acting like a child!" Anko stated loudly. Sakura seem to shrink into herself and the looks she was getting from the others only embarrassed her further. Anko straighten up and looked at everyone else. "Does anyone else have a problem with my team's advantage? Are there any more bitches within this group of wannabe chūnin?"

"No ma'am!" Everyone exclaimed. With a final glare to Sakura, Anko walked back to the front of the group. She faced everyone again.

"Now, I will explain the point of this exam." Anko pulled out two scrolls, a white one and a brown one. "In my left hand, I hold a scroll with the label 'Heaven', in my right hand; I hold a scroll with the label 'Earth'. Each of you will get a scroll, one with 'Heaven or one with 'Earth'. Your objective is to gain both scrolls and make your way to the tower that is at the center of this training ground." Anko said.

"So it's like a capture the flag type of mission?" asked Midoshi.

"Something like that. Since half of you will be holding the 'Heaven' scroll and the other half will be holding 'Earth', you will have to fight each other to get it. As chūnin, you will have to get information by force and return it back to your village while others are after you. If you can't, then you will die. Which reminds me," Anko made a motion and several chūnin who had papers. "These are wavers that you may 'choose' to sign. This dissolved Konoha from any deaths that happen within the forest." Anko explained. Some of them looked a little worried about that but no one left.

"So how long is this exam?" asked Jakken.

"The exam ends in five days." Anko informed them.

"Five days?! What about food?!" exclaimed Chōji.

"There are a lot of animals who can hunt and eat. There are also some plants that are edible." Anko said off-handily.

"Do you have any advice?" asked Yakumo.

"Just one. Don't die!" she exclaimed.

XXX

Hiruzen couldn't believe the trouble that was brewing in just one day. He had just gotten Anko's message about Midoshi. He still did not have too much info about the girl but he could do nothing about her. Otokage, while new, had permission to compete in the Chūnin Senbatsu Shiken. To pull her out to question her, would cause all types of internal problems for Konohagakure and Hi no Kuni. That was something he was not willing to get into. As long as the exams were going on, she was protected.

Then Ibiki came in and told him about an accusation that was made by one of the chūnin hopefuls. Apparently, there was a leak within his office. A genin was able to gain information that he was not supposed to have. He checked the name Yakushi Kabuto and did find it suspicious that he had participated in seven exams and always forfeited after the second exam. Sure, he could have gotten the information after all those exams but that just couldn't be. He launched an investigation into the boy and hoped that he wasn't a spy.

He released a sigh and leaned back in his chair. He wondered what else could happen today. He heard a knock on his door and gave them permission to enter. He cursed mentally as he saw his rival enter his office. He could only wonder what Danzō wanted now.

"Hello, old friend. What can I do for you today?" Hiruzen asked.

"I heard that Orochimaru might be within the village." Danzō said.

"Nothing is confirmed but I have been informed of that girl participating in the exams." Hiruzen said.

"Are you sure that it is wise to allow her to continue? Her objective includes your student who is also in the exams." Danzō said.

"Naruto can handle himself. I also trust his team to watch his back as we did during the wars." Hiruzen said.

"You are not handling this seriously Hiruzen. I also thought it was idiotic that we allow other villages into ours but you are risking the life of our weapon and placing your trust in that woman." Danzō said.

"I have warned you before Danzō. He is not a weapon and you will never refer to him as such in my presence again. Also, I trust Anko much more than you do. She has raised this team to be one of my best. I dare say that they can even surpass my team without falling to the events that led to two of them leaving. I cannot touch Midoshi because she protected by the guidelines that make up the exams. Until they are over, I can do little." Hiruzen said.

"I still see that you are too soft Hiruzen." Danzō said.

"And yet, I was chosen and not you. Do you wish to know why?" Hiruzen asked. He watched as Danzō's lone eye narrowed. He just turned and left the office without another word. He walked out of the tower and made his way to his home. Once home, he tapped his cane and a shinobi appeared.

"Danzō-sama." The shinobi said and bowed.

"I want you to send a team into the Sho no Mori and bring a girl named Midoshi here. Capture her team as well, including the jōnin sensei." Danzō ordered. The shinobi bowed and vanished. Danzō just sat and waited. If Hiruzen wasn't going to do anything, then he would as it was to protect the great tree that is Konoha.

XXX

Naruto, Jakken and Yakumo were making their way to a familiar place within the forest. It was somewhere that they could rest and plan their opening move. As they moved along, Naruto suddenly felt something. He turned to his team and did some signs.

(We got a tail. Three kunoichi, Takigakure symbol, they move like a complete unit. Dressed like ANBU, strapped with weapons.) Naruto signed.

(They must be thinking about taking our advantage away. What's the plan?) Jakken signed.

(We lure them into a trap. I can use my clone technique and a genjutsu to tire them.) Yakumo said.

(Let's lead them to that area where those spiders are. You know how they are.) Naruto signed.

(That's kind of cruel, isn't it?) Yakumo signed.

(Don't worry about that. We aren't going to let the spiders kill them. So are we in agreement?) Jakken asked. They nodded and began to make their way to the spiders nest. They were followed by the three Takigakure kunoichi. Yakumo did some seals and did her jutsu.

"Oboro Bunshin no Jutsu. (Haze Clone Technique)" Three clones appeared that looked like them. The originals ducked and covered while the clones went forward. They watched as the three Takigakure girls fly pass them. They waited a while before following them. Yakumo kept up the technique as they followed the three. They reached the spiders nest but they would not know about it as Yakumo did another set of seal. "Magen: Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu. (Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique)" Instead of the nest, the area looked like a simple open field.

When Yakumo's clones landed, that's when the three attacked.

"Katon Renkeijutsu: Karura! (Fire Release Co-Operation Technique: Garuda)" They all spat out streams of fire that combined and formed a dragon. The dragon crashed down on the clones, burning the area. The three ended the jutsu and looked over the area. The one with silver grey hair had an evil smirk.

"I guess that they weren't as tough as we thought." She said with amusement. The other two chuckled with her. That's when the fire died down to reveal that team Anko was not harmed. They were shocked and confused until a long and sticky substance shot through one of team Anko and wrapped around the silver haired kunoichi. She screamed as she was pulled toward the ground. The other two made a move to help before they were attacked as well. They were gripped with fear when they realize that they were being attacked by some big damn spiders.

Yakumo dropped her genjutsu and clone technique to show them where they were. They screamed some more as some more spiders were coming out of the burning nest.

"Hey, you guys look like you need some help." Jakken's voice shouted. They looked up to see the team unharmed.

"You bastards! How did you know?!" shouted the silver haired kunoichi.

"I don't think we'll tell you. How about you tell us what type of scroll you have." Jakken asked.

"Screw you!" shouted the brunette.

"Have it your way but you should know that the web that they are wrapping you with will suffocate you. Once you're no longer breathing, they will eat you. Not to mention the venom that is running through your system when they bit you. You must be feeling pretty tired right?" Naruto informed them. They were feeling the venom of the spider and were losing consciousness.

"Please… please… help… us." One of them begged.

"What's your scroll?" demanded Jakken.

"H-Heaven." The silver haired kunoichi said. With that said, Naruto did some seals.

"Doton: Yomi Numa. (Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld)" Naruto said. He created a muddy bog, which made some of the spiders sink into the ground. Each team member jumped down and used the Suimen Hokō no Gyō (Water Surface Walking Practice) to stay on top of the muddy water. They grabbed the kunoichi before fleeing the area quickly. They knew from experience that the spiders would be pissed that they lost their lunch. The got pretty far before stopped to rest.

The three kunoichi were out cold, the effects of the venom taking effect. The cut what webbing was on them and searched them from the scroll. They found it and they were all smiles.

"We are the greatest. We got the scroll we needed. Now we can head to the tower." Naruto said.

"I think that we should wait until nightfall before we do that. It would be easier to stay hidden at night." Jakken suggested.

"We can also use the forest as cover as we move. I agree with Jakken on this." Yakumo added.

"Hey, I'm not going to argue. Jakken is the hunter of the group." Naruto said in agreement.

"Okay, let's get these guys to the river and hide them. They should wake up by nightfall and we would be long gone by then." Jakken said. They picked them up before making their way toward the river.

XXX

Anko was practicing her sword movements. She didn't want to let up on her sword training as she was advancing in the Odori Konoha-Ryū (Dancing Tree Leaf Style). Right now, she was mastering the Yanagi (Willow) technique and was getting pretty good at it. She was preparing to do it again when someone appeared before her. She turned and recognized the guy as Mozuku.

"Anko, you need to come and see this. We have a situation." Mozuku said with urgency. Anko sheath her sword and followed him. She arrived where Izumo and Kotetsu was waiting. She walked up to them and waited.

"So, what's up guys?" the two moved out of the way and showed her what they found. She looked at the bodies with shock. Izumo showed her some files.

"We checked it out. This is the team from Kusagakure. What's wrong with this picture is that this team is supposed to be in the forest. I saw them to the gate myself." Izumo reported. Anko didn't answer him and continued to watch the bodies that had no faces on them. She knew of only one person who knew how to do such a thing. She might have been a changed person since becoming a jōnin instructor but that man was still the bane of her existence. She still had that drive to make him pay.

Anko turned to Mozuku.

"I want you to get to the Sandaime and tell him that Orochimaru is in Konoha, disguised as a Kusa genin. Go now!" Anko ordered and Mozuku left via Shunshin. She turned to Izumo and Kotetsu. "I need you to get two squads of the ANBU and send them into the forest after me." They nodded and were gone. Anko turned toward the forest. 'I don't know why you're here but you won't be leaving here unhurt. It's time that we settle things Orochimaru!'

XXX

The Konoha genin's head hit the ground with a thud. Midoshi flicked the blood off her sword before sealing it. Kotohime walked over to her as did Kagerō who was wearing the face of one of the genin that they just killed. In Midoshi's hand was an 'Earth' scroll. She was about to pocket it and make her way to the tower when she felt something in the air.

"You can come out." Midoshi said. She waited as five men in mask surrounded the group. Midoshi looked at them and smiled. "Well now, what do we have here?"

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: Here you go. A new chapter on my birthday. Hope you enjoy it.