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The remaining Genin in the Chunin Exams were staring at a dense, closed off forest before them.
"Alright examinees, welcome to the 44th Battle Training Zone, but we call it The Forest of Death. Soon enough, you'll know why it's named that." Anko informed
"You're not going to scare me away." Naruto pointed at her. "I can handle anything!"
Anko smiled. "So, we have ourselves a tough guy."
She produced a kunai and threw it. It flew past Naruto cutting his check and landing behind a Grass Genin. This Genin had long, smooth black hair and black eyes. She wore a straw hat with her forehead protector underneath.
Hinata looked at the blond Genin concerned. "Naruto!"
Anko appeared behind Naruto. "You tough enough to handle this? You're not afraid, are you? Tough guys like you usually leave their blood all over this forest."
Anko wiped some of the blood from Naruto's wound. She stopped and produced another kunai ready to cut whoever was behind her. She found that the grass Genin was using a long tongue to hand her first kunai back to her.
"I was… just returning your knife." The Genin calmly stated.
Anko smiled. "Thank you, Grass Ninja. You know, I recommend you only stand this close behind me if you want to meet your premature end."
The proctor took back her knife.
"My pardon." The ninja reeled her tongue back in. "With the sight of blood on your blade slicing through my hair; I'm afraid I became a little excited. I meant you no harm."
The Genin walked off.
Hinata gulped. "That Grass Ninja feel wrong."
Naruto held his cheek before trying to imitate what the Grass Genin did with her tongue.
"Seems everyone here is quick tempered." Anko stated. "Must be something in the air. This is going to be fun."
"Quick tempered!" Naruto looked at her. "You're the one who threw the kunai at me!"
Anko walked back to the front of the Genin. "Now, before we begin, I have something to hand out to you all." She pulled out a stack of papers. "It's a standard consent form. Before the test, all of you will have to read and sign it."
"What for?" Naruto asked.
"Some of you may not come back from this test, and I have to get your consent to that risk; otherwise, it would be my responsibility." Anko laughed before handing the papers to Naruto. "Here pass these out." She looked at everyone. "Do note that this is a test of survival."
"Survival, what a drag." Shikamaru thought.
Anko unfurled a scroll for all to see. "First, I'll give you all a description of the terrain on the practice field. The 44th Battle Training Ground has 44 locked entrance gates. There are rivers and a forest inside.
In the center there is a locked tower located 10 km from each gate. It's in this confined area that you'll undergo the survival test which consists of an anything goes battle." She produced two scrolls. "You're tasked with getting your hands on these scrolls.
You'll be fighting to get both a heaven and earth scroll. 26 teams will be taking part so half of you will be going after the heaven scroll while the other half go after an earth scroll. I'll hand over one scroll to each team, so that's what you will be vying for."
"How do we pass?" Sasuke asked.
Anko replied, "Your entire squad must bring both an earth and heaven scroll to the tower."
"That means half of us will fail at best." Sakura spoke up. "More if a team can't get both scrolls."
"I never said it would be easy." Anko stated. "One more thing, this test has a time limit. You must finish within 5 days."
"5 days out there!" Ino shouted.
Choji yelled, "What are we supposed to eat?"
"The forest is full of things to eat." Anko replied. "There's plenty to feed all of you."
"That's not all the forest has plenty of." Kabuto informed. "There are man eating beasts and poisonous plants in there."
"Oh man!" Choji lamented.
"Quiet down." Ino ordered. "This is why they call it survival; you know?"
"That means, with these circumstances, there's no way half the teams will pass." Neji stated.
"The days are getting longer, and the nights are getting shorter. As a result, we will have less time for rest and recovery." Lee smiled. "It is a challenge indeed."
The constant threat of enemies means there won't be time for rest." Sasuke stated. "We'll have to keep constant watch."
"Right." Anko stated. "This test is also to measure your endurance behind enemy lines. It's designed to be grueling. I'm sure some of you won't be up to the challenge."
Shikamaru raised his hand. "Mid exam, can we quit?"
"Of course not." Anko replied, "In the middle of a battle you can't say, 'Sorry I quit'. I mean, I guess you could, but you'd probably end up dead. There are also ways you can get disqualified. One: If all members of a team can't make it to the tower with both scrolls after 5 days.
Two: If a team loses a member or a member becomes incapacitated and cannot continue. Three: None of you are to look at the contents of the scrolls until you reach the tower. That one is the most important rule you must keep in in mind."
Naruto asked, "What happens if it flaps open and you read it?"
Anko replied, "Let me put it to you this way. You. Don't. Want. To. Know." Naruto groaned. "There will be times when ninja will be asked to carry certain documents. The scroll rule is meant to test your integrity. Ok, we're done. Each team take your consent forms and exchange them for scrolls. After that, you'll picks a gate. Oh, one more word of advice. Just don't die!"
The various teams parted to fill out their forums. Certain members even separated to gather information. Team 7 was about to do the same until they were approached by a Mist Genin. Given what they knew, they guessed this was one of Kanja's teammates.
It was a guy with gray skin, long white hair in a ponytail, and orange eyes. He wore his Mist Village head band around his right arm and had no visible weapons on him. The Genin's attire consisted of a sleeveless, dull green tank top with matching pants.
"What do you want?" Sasuke questioned.
The Genin smirked. "I came over here because I wanted to get a closer look at the Leaf Genin who managed to capture Zabuza Momochi. I must say, I'm not impressed by what I see."
"What was that?" Naruto angrily asked.
The Genin looked at Naruto. "Let's see, you're the idiot weakling that has it in his head he can be more than what he is." He shifted over to Sasuke. "You're the arrogant type that wants to kill someone who's gravely wronged you.
You won't think twice about betraying your team if the chance comes along." Then Daichi. "What do we have here? I'll tell you. You do everything you can to protect those close to you. It's your reason for gaining power. At least, that's what you lead people to believe.
In truth, you're just a kid trying to live up to dead loved ones. Most likely someone who is far stronger than you will ever be." Finally, Hinata. "You're the Hyuga who lost her heiress status and suffers from confidence issue. Yep, not impressed at all."
Naruto was furious, Hinata was saddened and looking at the ground, and Daichi and Sasuke had a calm anger about them.
Naruto grabbed the Genin by the shirt. "I won't have you insulting my…"
Daichi placed his hand on his shoulders. "Naruto, you have every right to be angry, but save if for the exams. For now, remove yourself from the situation and pay him no mind."
Naruto let him go of the Genin and walked away with his form.
Sasuke looked at the Mist Genin. "You remind me a lot of that Hyuga prodigy. I'll tell you the same thing I told him. Only I get to insult my team and only Naruto.'
Daichi nodded. "You will never say anything like that to my team again, or I will show you that I can indeed protect them. This is not a threat, but a promise."
"Oh, I'm shaking in my boots." The Genin retorted amused.
Kanja and another Mist Genin appeared. This other, male Genin was a muscular, battle fit guy with short, spiky gray hair and matching eyes. His attire consists of a dull yellow shirt, vest, and pants with dark blue trim.
The vest had a crest, in the form of two, white wings, imprinted on the back. A Clan? He wore his Hidden Mist forehead protector around his neck. Both Genin seemed displeased with their teammate's actions.
Kanja sighed. "Kuma, I told you specifically not to confront Team Seven."
"Since when do I listen to a self-appointed leader?" Kuma stuck his hands in his pockets and walked off. "I may be assigned to this team, but my reason for being her differ from yours wonder twins."
Kanja chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry about him. He's been cranky ever since the previous Mizukage was killed. He's not too happy with our current Kage."
"You three don't seem to be on the same page." Hinata stated.
"It's a complicated story." Kanja stated. "I think you will find my fraternal twin here more agreeable." she tapped her other teammate's chest with her fist. "This is Kenjo Yagumi. The best brother a girl could ask for."
Kenjo bowed to the Leaf Genin. "I look forward to competing against your team." He looked to Kanja. "We should go after Kuma before he causes more trouble."
"You're right." Kanja waved. "Good luck Team Seven."
"Good luck." Daichi stated.
With Sasuke
Sasuke was leaning against a rock as he scoped everything out.
He looked over at the area, which was curtained off, where they were to get their scrolls. "I see how it is. We won't know which team has which scroll, and we won't know which team member is carrying the scroll. Stealing information is really a matter of life and death.
With Daichi
Daichi sat in a tree, so that he was away from the prying eyes of the other Genin. No use in making plans if there's doubt that they'll be known to the others.
Daichi looked threw his bag. "Extra scrolls. Some of them are the colors of the real scrolls. Paint the correct symbol on them and people won't be able to tell the difference." He pulled out the tools and scrolls tucking them away on his person. "The other Genin are our enemies.
Though I doubt Leaf Village Shinobi will attack us unless things are getting down to the wire. Then again, you can't account for everything. For all I know, Sakura could get her team to gun for us. I'll need to create my limit of two fusions clones. Haku and Hinata should do."
With Sakura
"Well. Well. Well. If it isn't the future failure." Ino stated as she got in Sakha's path. "What's up billboard brow? I thought you'd have washed out of the program by now. Your big forehead alone should have gotten you tossed."
Sakura walked off the other way. "Are you being catty because you think I didn't realize you used your Mind Transfer Jutsu?" She waved her off. "You really don't register on my radar in this outside of the fact that you're after Sasuke. My attention is on a larger prize than you."
Ino was left gritting her teeth and clenching her fist. "I'll show you Sakura."
With Naruto
"That jerk." Naruto angrily stated. "Who does he think he is?"
"There you are Naruto." Hinata stated getting his attention. "I wondered where you ran off to."
Naruto's anger clamed a little. "Hinata, is something wrong?" He became a little angry again. "Did that Mist Genin insult you guys again?"
Hinata shook her head. "No, it just looks like your cut could use some of this healing ointment I made." She produced a small container. "This should accelerate your healing."
Naruto took it. "Thank you Hinata."
"Here, I'll apply some for you." Hinata got a tiny bit on her right finger and wiped it across the cut before putting it away. "There, it should be better in no time."
Naruto nodded. "Thanks."
Outside the Forest of Death
A Leaf Shinobi appeared from behind the curtain. "Alright everyone, we'll be handing out scrolls now!"
Each team walked up to hand in their forms and receive their scroll.
Anko thought, "I wonder if any of them will survive this."
Team 7 handed in their forms and Daichi was given a heaven scroll.
Naruto thought, "We are so going to win this!"
Some Time Later…
All the teams had their scrolls now, so Anko shouted, "Listen up! All the teams have their scrolls, so everybody go to your gate. When the gates open, the test is on!"
Forest of Death, Later…
When the test began, each team had rushed in through their gate. Hinata had her Byakugan active and searching for a while now as Team 7 stopped in a nice, open space.
"Got a team located for us Hinata?" Daichi asked.
Hinata nodded. "There's a team moving far off to the right. All three members are there."
Naruto smiled. "What are we waiting for? Let's get their scroll."
"Hold on, we need to discuss things before doing anything rash." Daichi said as he crouched down removing his scrolls and tools.
"I take it you have a plan." Sasuke said as he crouched down with him.
Soon the other members followed.
"I may not be a wiz with this whole calligraphy thing, but I should be able to whip up something that looks like the kanji for heave on one of these fake scrolls." Daichi stated. "Other than that, I have a few ideas. Especially concerning our targets…
Some Time Later…
Naruto was relieving himself on a tree. In the brush, a Rain Genin was watching him ready to strike.
"This will be easy… " The ninja began only to stop when he was punched in the face by Sasuke sending him into the open.
The ninja flipped to his feet just as Naruto zipped up his pants and faced the enemy. Sasuke walked out to join them.
"Damn it! I took extra precaution to ensure we outsmarted the Byakugan. How did you know I was out there?" The Genin asked.
"You underestimated what a Byakugan was capable of then." Sasuke stated.
Naruto laughed. "We totally caught you."
The Genin regained his cool and charged straight for Naruto with a kunai drawn. "It doesn't matter because I'm still going to get your scroll."
Naruto's training was more than a match for the Genin. He didn't even have to apply any Chakra. This gave Sasuke the opportunity to charge in and kick the Genin in the side sending him flying straight into a tree.
"These Rookies are better than we thought. I have to retreat for…" He didn't get a chance to finish that thought as Sasuke already tied the Genin's hands and brought him to his feet.
"Alright! We caught him!" Naruto cheered.
Sasuke searched the Genin but found no scroll before letting out a shrill whistle.
"What are you going to do with me!" The Rain Genin asked as he struggled.
Daichi and Hinata ran into the clearing.
"Hinata, where's his friends?" Daichi asked.
"They're directly Northwest from here." Hinata replied.
"Answer me. What are you going to do with me?" The Rain Genin asked annoyed
Daichi looked at him. "We're going to tie you up and leave you here with a kunai." He stabbed one of his into a nearby tree while Sasuke tied the ninja's legs together. "If you want to be free, you must get to this knife."
"You can't just leave me here!" The ninja exclaimed.
"Stop complaining." Sasuke stated. "We've left you with a way to get free."
"Let's move out." Daichi stated before jumping into a tree.
The Genin they tied up continued yelling after the group as they left.
Some Time Later…
Team Seven got into position, silently, around the remaining Genin. Soon, bird calls began to come in confirming that all of Team Seven was ready. While the remaining Genin were confused, Daichi gave the signal.
Team Seven rushed the Rain Ninja before they knew what hit them. Hinata disabled one with her Gentle fist while Naruto knocked him out. Sasuke and Daichi landed simultaneous punches to the remaining Genin's face. With both down, Hinata checked them out.
"They had a heaven scroll." Hinata stated disappointed.
"Ah man!" Naruto exclaimed. "All that work and we don't have the right scroll!"
"We'll just have to head out and continue searching." Sasuke nodded to the Hyuga. "Daichi's got our first Heaven scroll, so you hold onto that one."
Hinata pocketed the scroll.
"Let's get moving." Daichi stated. "We have no idea if their teammate has freed himself or how long these two will be out."
Team Seven nodded in agreement before moving away from the clearing.
Some Time Later…
Team Seven had been traveling for a few hours now when a strong wind began to blow in.
"What's going on?!" Naruto shouted in surprise.
The wind became so strong that it blew all the members of Team Seven various ways. As he was sent flying, Daichi had noticed a kunai attached to ninja wire thrown to him from Sasuke. The Fusion member grabbed it before it was too late.
Once all of Team Seven was gone, The Grass Genin stood where Team Seven had been moments before. "Alright, you two fan out while I handle this myself."
Fair Distance Away: With Naruto
Naruto had collided with a tree and was now just getting to his feet as he looked around. "Where did they all go?" He was snapped out of his thoughts by a large snake slithering into the clearing and looking at him. "That is one big snake!"
He funneled Chakra through his body gaining that red sheen in his hair and matching eyes. The snake lunged at him, but Naruto jumped out of the way while grabbing shuriken.
Naruto threw them at the snake and made the hand signs. "Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A few shuriken became a hundred hitting the snake's body as it wrapped around trying to get Naruto again. Despite those weapons hitting their mark, they weren't enough to kill the snake. The Leaf Shinobi avoided the snake once more and ran off causing it to give chase.
Naruto ran up a tree only for the snake to follow. He then jumped from a branch and turned in midair to see the snake lunge after him with its mouth open wide. The Leaf Genin drew a couple more Shuriken and threw them right at the snake's mouth.
He then wove the hand signs. "Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The shuriken entered the snake tearing it up from the inside until it became limp. Naruto landed on a branch, panting, and watched as the snake's body collapsed onto the ground before dispelling.
"What was that snake? Why did it suddenly poof away?" Naruto shook his head and started jumping through trees. "Not the time. I must find the others."
With Daichi and Sasuke, Same Time…
Daichi and Sasuke hit the ground and immediately hid knowing it had to be an enemy attack. They soon saw Hinata forcing them to act.
Hanta smiled relieved when she saw them. "Sasuke and Daichi, you two are okay."
She ran to them only to stop once Daichi drew one of his swords and Sasuke a kunai.
"Stay where you are!" They both exclaimed together.
Sasuke then asked the question he came up with, during their planning stage, so they would know they were who they said they were. "When does a ninja strike?"
Hinata replied, "A ninja waits until the time is right. When an enemy sleep and drops his guard. When his weapons lay on the ground. That is the time to strike."
Sasuke and Daichi lowered their weapons only to immediately raise them as Naruto seemingly came to join them. "Hey, you guys okay?"
"Don't come any closer." Hinata ordered stopping Naruto in his tracks. "What's the password?"
Naruto asked, "It's Ramen."
Daichi became defensive while Sasuke threw a kunai at the fake.
"What was that Sasuke?" The fake had dodged and feigned anger. "You could have killed me!"
"That would be a shame if you were the real Naruto." Sasuke stated.
The fake smiled. "What do you mean I'm not the real Naruto?"
"We all know you're not. We three had a whole phrase to memorize, but we knew Naruto would never know it. That's why we gave him one word to remember." Hinata stated.
"What you failed to realize is that we each gave him a different password. A single word to remember that's different for each of us. Ramen is what he replies when I ask him that question." Daichi stated. "It was Hinata who asked which means you need a different word."
"Now, what have you done with Naruto?" Sasuke asked. "While you're at it, reveal who you really are."
"Aren't we all just so clever." The fake dropped her disguise revealing the Grass Genin. "This promises to be quite interesting."
The Genin licked her lips before producing an earth scroll. The counterpart to the two heaven scrolls Team Seven has.
Hinata reacted prompting the Grass Shinobi to speak. "Ah, you'd love to get your hands on my earth scroll. It'd go so nicely with your heaven scroll." The ninja ate the scroll whole. "When this is over, one of us will have both scrolls. The other will be dead."
The Grass Genin looked at the three of them, and they saw a vision of their own deaths shocking all three to their very cores. They stumbled, and their breathing became haggard.
"That was Killer Intent. A large amount of Killer Intent." Sasuke fell to his hands and knees.
"That was… horrible." Daichi fell to one knee tearing up. "I'm shaking all over. I'm terrified."
Tears were streaming down Hinata's eyes. "That was horrible. This Genin's a monster."
Sasuke tried to get up but fell to his butt. "Who is she? What is she?"
"I have to do something. I-I can't let them die. I refuse to let them die." Daichi slowly got to his feet, still trembling, while tears fell from his eyes. "I-I have to protect th-them." Daichi's voice shook. "S-Sasuke, get Hinata out of here. I'll buy you time."
"He can't be serious! He may be moving, but he's as scared as Hinata and I! What does he hope to achieve?" Sasuke thought shocked that Daichi was going to take on this monster.
The Grass Genin was amused.
Daichi slowly reached for his sword. "If I can just get my sword, I know I'll at least be steady enough to make an attempt."
The Fusion member gripped the handle and pulled it out causing his shaking to reduce while his tears ceased. He was still terrified, but at least he could move now.
"Are you deaf Sasuke!? I told you to take Hinata and run!" Daichi yelled before charging at the Grass Genin.
"I would say I'm impressed that you are still able to move, if it weren't for the fact that you're still terrified." The Grass Ninja taunted.
Daichi swung his sword down attempting to hit the ninja, but she was fast. Fast enough to appear right behind him. The Grass Genin landed a kick to his back sending The Fusion member straight into the trunk of a tree hard.
He fell to his feet, sheathed his blade, and rapidly began to collect lightning in his hand. "Lighting Beast Tracking Fang."
The wolf charged at the Grass Genin, but she avoided it before charging Daichi and grabbing him by the throat. Despite this, he smiled and lifted his hand revealing a lightning leash. The Grass Genin realized to late as the wolf slammed into her back shocking her.
Daichi chuckled. "Lightning was still controllable."
It didn't have nearly as much of an effect as Daichi hoped because the Genin was more than able to slam him into the ground. She then kicks him over to Sasuke and Hinata who hadn't left.
"You'd stand a better chance if you attacked without fear." The Grass Shinobi stated. "I will give you credit that you at least hit me."
"Daichi! He fought, but it accomplished nothing! We have to get away!" Sasuke thought panicking.
Daichi slowly got to his feet again until he was standing like Sasuke who had drawn a kunai
"Very Good." The Grass Shinobi stated. "Now what happens?"
Sasuke and Daichi found they were having trouble moving any further.
The Grass Genin drew three kunai and advanced on them. "Don't worry, I'll make it quick." She looked at Sasuke. "You know, I expected you to be a challenge instead your teammate was the only challenge I got." She threw her kunai. "Pity."
Sasuke stabbed his leg, activated his Sharingan, and tackled both his teammates out of the way. The kunai imbedded themselves in a tree. This was enough to snap Daichi back into action. He grabbed Hinata and followed Sasuke as they ran.
"So that's how it is." The ninja commented.
Some Time Later…
Daichi and Sasuke had climbed a tree. The Fusion member had then set Hinata down as Sasuke removed the kunai still in his leg.
Hinata blinked after looking at the wound seeming to come to. "Sasuke, you're leg!" She hung her head as the memories came. "Daichi took on that ninja and tried to give us a chance to escape. What did I do? I did nothing. I was useless."
Sasuke looked around. "My leg will be fine. For now, we need to…" A large snake came at them. "…run!"
Sasuke activated his Sharingan again, and the three Genin jumped away. Hinata and Daichi landed on a safe branch while Sasuke was still in midair with the snake boring down on him.
Sasuke saw the grass ninja and it terrified him. "No! stay away!"
He threw shuriken down the snake's throat killing it. Its body fell onto a tree branch limply while Sasuke landed on another branch catching his breath.
He didn't get much reprieve as the Grass Genin began to come out of the snake's corpse. "I can sense your fear and desperation. It's only natural. The pray must never let down its guard in the presence of its predator"
The Grass Genin curled along the tree heading straight for a terrified Sasuke. She was stopped by kunai and shuriken thrown in her path.
Everyone looked up and saw Naruto standing on a higher branch. "Looks like I'm here just in time!"
Hinata happily shouted, "Naruto!"
Daichi was relieved to see him as his fear became manageable. "I'm glad you're here buddy."
"By the way, the three passwords are Ramen, Teme, and Clone!" Naruto shouted.