2nd Floor Evankhell's Hell

Naruto arrived at a grassy prairie on the 2nd floor, noticing a vast and tall grassy prairie that surrounded him. He felt anxious to know what was coming next. He immediately noticed a cube floating in the sky that started to transmit a voice.

"Test, test... Hello, regulars. Welcome to the 2nd floor of the tower. This testing floor will determine if you are worthy of climbing the rest of the tower. Let's get the first test started. The rules are simple. In total, there are 401 regulars here. Please reduce that number to 200 within the allotted time. Use whatever methods you need. The moment that only 200 regulars remain, the test will end. Also, you can check the number of regulars and the time remaining in your pocket. Good luck, everyone."

A few seconds later, Naruto noticed how the participants started attacking and killing each other whether it was by shooting, piercing, or impaling like uncivilized savages.

'Oh... this sure takes me back. It's almost like the chunnin exams from when I was twelve. Ah, it was such a welcoming atmosphere... all the screams and people trying to kill each other... Good times, good times.' Naruto thought while nodding to himself. It was more enjoyable them he could remember.

But still, here people didn't seem like understand how teamwork was important for survival. killing each other wouldn't get them anywhere. Maybe he should teach them a bit about how terrifying the world could be. If they continued with this mindset, they would never survive climbing to the top.

"Although, the atmosphere here is not as nearly as eerie as the forest of death. Compared to it, this place feels like a perfect place for a summer vacation. Hmm, the voice did say to use whatever methods we need so, let's stir up things a bit, for old times' sake." Naruto clapped his hands together. "Wood style: deep forest emergence!"

Grassy prairie district 1

Baam had just woken up and already was attacked by one of the regulars who attempted to kill him. Fortunately, he was murdered by another regular who pierced him with arrows but it didn't take long for the same to be also murdered by a sniper. He was scared, he didn't want to kill anybody but if he wanted to get to Rachel, he would have to do it...

Baam's internal monologue was interrupted prematurely, for the earth seemed to be shaking and suddenly, trees and tunks started to emerge from the ground. Their roots covered the ground and their giant trunks ascended until covering the whole skies dark, leaving only small beams of light to stop the now forest from being in total darkness. Baam could only think, 'Rachel, where are you?' He thought as he traveled warily through the creepy forest.

Khun Aguero Agnis, who was just having a small chat with a multi-armed red man, was also interrupted when giant trees started to cover the whole place. He could only ask, what in the world was happening? Was this an Administrator's thing?

Rak Wraithraiser, the alligator humanoid, didn't care if trees covered the hunting ground in fact, he was pleased by the change; with this, his prey could easily be ambushed by him. 'Just wait for me, you turtles!' He thought as he left to seek his prey.

District 2

Endorsi Jahad was having an easy time dueling with the regulars around her but that was until the ground started shaking and trees started to sprout out of nowhere. Thanks to all the shaking, her high heel broke, making her fall to her butt on the ground. The regulars who were attacking her saw this as an opportunity to attack her but before they could accomplish their desire, they all got battered across the trees with their necks and spines broken. Endorsi turned to see who saved her and she saw a very large and tall figure alongside a smaller one approaching her.

"How about we work with each other, Miss Endorsi?" The smaller figure asked as it removed its hood, revealing a blonde girl.

On another side of the district, a feminine figure dressed in black tights and a mask was effortlessly taking down some regulars using its staff. It was none other than Hwa Ryun, a guide who was disguised. However, something that she couldn't predict happened. Large trees came out of the ground, surrounding and enclosing the environment that she was fighting on. 'What is this...!? I couldn't see this coming...' She thought, genuinely surprised.

District 3

Anak Jahad was itching for a fight, she was sweeping aside the fodder in the now, woody environment since she couldn't find a worthy opponent in this dark forest but that was only until she sighted a boy who carried two swords. She could feel it, this time it would be different. She immediately swung her Green April to attack him. "Try running from this!" She yelled as she attacked the boy.

The swordsman, Hatz, parried the attack, sending the green whip to impact a rock on the side. "Run? Running is something you do from those stronger than yourself." He stated.

The guy in a purple jumpsuit, Shibisu, started in awe. 'They are strong, and are totally ignoring me!' He thought, sweating, feeling underpowered.

When the two fighters were about to clash once again, they were all sent flying by a powerful gust of wind that came from the depths of the forest.

"What is it now!?" Anak Jahad questioned while being knocked back, irritated by the new interruption. She grappled a tree with her weapon so she is not sent flying ten kilometers in. Hatz had to fixate his sword on the ground all the while Shibisu was struggling by attaching himself to one of the trees.

All three districts faced this powerful gust of wind, each faced it in a different way but unfortunately, the remaining weaker regulars were knocked out while only the most proficient ones were able to survive the attack. They were immediately shaken by the change in the environment and asked themselves if all this was part of the test because it was becoming harder and harder and Naruto could only nod to himself seeing the swath of destruction left by the attack. 'Hmm, Hmm now this is a nostalgic sight, It's looking good. Now, how about we add some spice?' Naruto thought.

In each district, the different groups would face a different threat. Naruto would choose a random target so he picked up a stick, positioned it, and let go of it, the direction in which the stick landed, would decide the direction in which he would send a powerful enemy for them to face. "There, huh? Let's see how they handle "that." Naruto spoke, feeling anxious to witness the result. He made a few hand signs, each for a different jutsu.

Lero Ro, who was observing the regulars in the test area, was surprised when out of nowhere the whole test area was covered in woodland. 'This can't be the job of the Administrator, could it? No, that couldn't be. But if it wasn't the Administrator, that also meant that this wasn't the job of some random regular. 'This could only be...' Lero Ro thought with suspicion.

On Anak's side, things weren't looking too good. When she recovered from the gust of wind, suddenly, many enemies, with spiky brown hair, wearing a black jumpsuit which was stitched up in the middle along with a pair of sandals. They also wore a forehead protector that covered his whole head, a rebreather, and a sash around his face that obstructed his eyes started emerging from the ground and the tree trunks.

They were completely surrounded, without an escape route, not that she planned to run anyway.

"Swordsman! Let's make a truce!" Anak said desperately while reading her Green April.

"Right!" A fearful Hatz quickly replied while readying his sword.

"Hey! What about me? Can I join in?" Shibisu asked while pointing at himself nervously, fearful of their answer.

"Whatever!" Both replied and Shisisu immediately rushed to their side. The three stood back to back, ready to attack from any direction the clones advanced.

On Baam's side, he was now teaming up with Khun and Rak to face the three shinobi who appeared before them, one woman and two men. One of the men had bandages covering most of his face, leaving only his left eye and eyebrow uncovered. He also wore a large poncho with long sleeves, a snake patterned scarf around his neck, a straw raincoat protruding from the back of his scarf, and a large amplifier on his right arm. His back was hunched, which made him look smaller than he actually was. He had short black buzzcut hair.

The woman had fair skin, black eyes with very long black hair, almost reaching down to the ground, tied by a violet ribbon right near the end. She wore a forehead protector, a pale green vest somewhat similar to a snake patterned pants with a snake patterned skirt over it, and a snake patterned scarf around her neck, much like her teammates.

The last man had spiky, black hair and dark eyes. He wore a beige shirt with two black stripes and three prints of the kanji for death (死, shi) down the front. His forehead protector had an attached adorned mask that covered his cheeks under the cloth rather than connected to the metal plate he also wore snake-patterned pants and a scarf.

Khun sighed, "It looks like the Administrator has decided to play a prank on us today. First the forest, then the wind, and now this? I hope this is just a joke."

"Whatever blue turtle! I'll take care of that mummy turtle over there, you handle the rest!" Rak stated as he ran at his target.

Khun clicked his tongue. "You shouldn't rush in without a plan! Baam, you think you can handle the girl?"

"Ye-yes!" He answered, a bit insecure.

Hwa Ryun's group was facing a group of three-man in which two of them were already defeated by them but their leader survived. He had short spiky brown hair with a strip of gauze covering his forehead and his mouth partly stitched on the right side. He also had two scars running up his cheek, one of which had blinded his right eye, causing him to constantly keep it closed. He carried an oxygen tank and a sheath for his umbrellas on his back.

The man performed a few hand signs after throwing his six umbrellas into the sky.

"Ninja Art, Senbon tempest!" The man yelled and then, the umbrellas spun at great speed, releasing thousands of needles/senbon towards them.

Hwa Ryun gasped, there were too many of them. "You two, gather around me. We need to block those immediately, we don't know if they're poisoned." She stated, and then, her teammates did as asked. She spun her staff at high speed and deflected all the senbons she could while Goon used his spear to deflect one of the directions and Yung Changsoo did the same with his pair of swords. When the rain of needles stopped, they all rushed to attack the caster. Hwa Ryun smashed the staff into his head, Yung cut off his arms and Goon struck his heart with his spear. In the end, the man started to change his appearance, he now was entirely white, saved for his hair and eyes, zig-zag patterns running down his midsections and legs, green hair, and yellow eyes.

The team was confused, Hwa Ryun the most. She looked at the bodies of the man's teammates and they also assumed the same appearance. 'Just what was going on on this floor?'She asked herself. She knew this place was called Evankhell's hell but she didn't expect that the devil would play pranks on her. She couldn't see anything related to this event. For the first time in a long time, she felt blind.

Anak never felt this furious in her whole life since she swore revenge against the persecutors of her mother. The enemy that she was fighting not only didn't seem to take damage but also seemed to be numbered in the thousands.

"You disgraceful bastards, I'll kill all of you!" Anak spoke furiously as she initiated Green April's ignition.

"She lost her mind," Shibisu spoke, scared of his companion.

"I don't blame her, I'm also almost losing it," Hatz spoke, as he swung his swords to cut through a group of clones but it to no avail, they seemed to regenerate from each attack.

On Endorsi's end, things would soon look terrible. As soon as she accepted Rachel's offer, a huge smokescreen exploded before them, and from it, a woman who had long smooth black hair and black eyes. She wore a traditional straw hat on her head with her forehead protector underneath and attire that consisted of plain beige garbs with a black polo and black pants underneath, a thick purple rope belt tied in a large knot behind her back, the jumper legs matching the jumper's top half which covered her calves and ankles.

"Tell me, silly... do you think this is a fashion show?" The woman asked, which annoyed Endorsi.

'Huh...? Who is this quiff?' She asked herself, already annoyed, yet fearful by the woman's presence. Unnerved by the feeling she was getting from it, she decided to make a pun. "If it is, congratulations, you came in last, darling." She stated, trying to dissimulate the feeling of dread.

"Ku, Ku, I expect this to be as entertaining as your jokes, little girl. When we're done here, one of us will pass the test, and the other will be dead..." The woman spoke ominously as she showed her slitty eyes to Rachel and Endorsi.

Immediately, at the first gaze onto her eyes, Endorsi could witness her own death. It seemed like an illusion, but the feeling was almost palpable. She always considered herself strong but at this moment, she felt as vulnerable as a baby.

Rachel wasn't much better. Her first glance made her shiver her whole spine from the overwhelming killing intent that the woman had leaked. Her fear was so intense that she swore she saw a giant serpent project itself before her, trying to swallow her whole; it made her fall to her knees, scared to death, and throw up, sweating heavily. How was she supposed to beat this abhorrent demon of a woman? These tests were so unfair. For a moment, she just wanted to go back to that cave with Baam and never get out of there; this didn't seem worth it. Her body trembled she slowly moved her hands and grabbed a knife she had in her pocket and started to direct it at her own throat. This was unbearable, suffocating, she needed to get away, she need to be freed from this torture. Before she could fall into total despair, Akryung, her bodyguard, positioned himself before her. 'Of course, the bodyguard the first floor Administrator assigned to me...' She thought while panting, relieving herself a bit from the fear.

Endorsi tried to move, but it was in vain. This woman had triggered an innate fear that she had deep inside her from her past that even she was unaware of. There was something about her that triggered this reaction. It didn't take long for her to understand why. As soon as she questioned it, the woman lifted one of her sleeves, revealing a strange marking on her arm. She bit her finger and painted the markings with the blood that leaked from it. She made a few hand signs at incredible speed and said, "Summoning Jutsu!" from the smoke that said technique caused, emerged the reason why her fear was being triggered, a snake, a giant one to be more precise, appeared before them. She gritted her teeth really hard. Her fear turned into uncontrollable anger. The blood of Jahad that ran through her veins boiled. She slowly turned her gaze at the woman on top of the snake who smirked at her.

She clenched her fists with all her strength until her made nails tore through her flesh, turning crimson from the blood leaked from her palms." You reminded me of something extremely unpleasant. I can't wait... to get my hands on that face of yours." She spoke bitterly in a dangerously soft tone.

Rachel paled. Even at this distance, she could feel Endorsi's rage as if it were alive. The atmosphere around these two figures was excruciating at this point.

"Ku, Ku, Ku. Blond girl, you play the part of a clever manipulator in the shadows but that's nothing more than sophistry to hide your own weakness, yet you are smart enough that you are aware of the lie you are living; so you convert your self-loathing to anger, and lash out..." The woman spoke while mocking Rachel.

Rachel swallowed hard. While her fear kept her mouth shut, her anger came out with everything upon the woman's statement "Save me your analysis you freak! What do you know about me!?"She yelled furiously.

"And you, poor little thing, the name Jahad must be crying right now...It must be difficult for you, with your petty, insignificant concerns such as keeping a soft skin and your makeup. A painted smile for your fans, the cold shoulder for those for whom you truly feel... Do you not wish you could cast off this burden, and fly?" The woman said while inclining her head in demonstration of superiority, mocking Endorsi.

"Rachel!" Endorsi yelled. What drivel was this fiend speaking? She would prove she was wrong.

"Yes!?" Rachel replied immediately.

"Tell your friend to take care of the snake. I'll get that whore myself." Endorsi stated.

"You are brittle and too clever for your own good. Your destruction will be most entertaining."

Endorsi leaped into the air, she went straight at the woman who immediately received a punch to the face, sending her crashing violently to the ground. Rachel could feel the strength of the punch from where she was. She made a mental note to never piss her off. But Endorsi wasn't finished. She landed with an impact on top of the snake woman and punched her many times with all her strength. Each punch sank the woman's skull deeper and deeper into the rocks below. When Endorsi finished, she was panting heavily from the effort. The woman's face had been butchered by her and now lay unrecognizable.

Rachel was relieved. It looks like they were alright now. Her bodyguard also made short work of the snake who now lay with its head cut off.

Before they could commemorate any further, a shadow appeared behind Endorsi. Rachel gasped in shock. "Miss Endorsi, behind you!" Endorsi was unbelieved, she turned to face the threat once again, only to witness how the woman, somehow remove her skin, revealing now a pale man with a purple makeup around its slitty snake eyes mocking her for her failure. 'How can it be still alive!? I made sure to beat it with all my strength...' She turned to look at the corpse who she thought was the woman's corpse but then, it turned into mud.

The man now revealed to be Orochimaru laughed mockingly. "You sure took your time with my mud clone. You pack quite a punch for such a pretty face. That wasn't very ladylike you know? Ku, Ku, Ku. But this ends now." The man spoke as he made hand signs. "Earth Release: Antlion Technique." The pronounce jutsu caused the ground and everything on and around it to be sucked in towards the middle of a large pit. Endorsi and Rachel started to fall into the pit. They saw how the man left by disappearing in a puff of smoke, leaving them to be stuck.

Back with Baam, Khun, and Rak, the team was having a hard time dealing with the abilities of the sound trio.

Khun multiplied his knives using his bag, sending them towards Zaku, who simply shouted, "Slicing Sound Wave!" And repelled the incoming knives.

Khun clicked his tongue in frustration. 'This guy keeps repelling everything I throw at him. If this keeps up we're done for. How are the Gator and Baam doing?' He turned to look at Rak who was fighting Dosu.

"Stay where you are so I can hit you, mummy turtle!" Rak was trying to stab Dosuk who kept dodging his attacks.

Dosu found an opening in his attack and quickly unveiled his arm where a gauntlet was hidden. He went for a punch but Rak dodged it, and before he was hit by him, he jumped back.

"You little turtle... I already told you to stop dod...! Huh!?" Rak suddenly started to see blurry.

"You know, spears are an out of fashion, it's a past thing; I'll be sincere, you're fast for your size but I'm faster since my attacks travel at the speed of sound. Maybe you can avoid my punches, but you won't be able to avoid the next one. I don't need to hit you with my punches, I can attack you with the power of sound." Dosu went for another attack and Rak couldn't dodge properly. He tried to defend using his arm but that was useless. The speaker on Dosu's arms started to release sound waves which he used his chakra to direct directly into his ear, causing him great pain.

"Aaaargh! Don't... be so haughty... you mummy turtle...I'm Rak Wraithraiser...I'll hunt... you... turtles..." Rak spoke weakly as he kneeled without strength, covering his injured ear in pain.

"Honestly, you've only got size, you don't make justice to your height; you wouldn't make a decent shinobi, it's a mystery how you still haven't gone extinct." Dosu spoke mockingly.

" !" Baam yelled, concerned while dodging and deflecting as he could Kin's rattles.

"Gator!" Khun yelled in desperation as he was pushed back by Zaku's sonic wave.

"Haha, an alligator who got only brawls and no brain, an assassin who only does cheap magic tricks with a bag and a crybaby. What a sorry excuse for a group. The alligator is done for, a creature with only direct attacks and no talent." Zaku spoke mockingly and Khun's expression hardened. "There's no point in making a face like that is there? Because this is where you'll disappear! These are the rules..." Zaku spoke evilly as he readied for a large-scale sonic attack. "Weaklings like you can barely attack. Your defenses will now break and disappear. Boy, you should be grateful we're being so kind. Now get ready to disappear!" He said as he opened his hands to charge his sonic wave.

A sweat fell through Khun's face."Damn... is this it...?" Khun asked, losing his hopes. 'What good is being a genius is if I continue to take this long to make up my mind!?' He cursed mentally. He didn't change, even after all this time.

Baam cried in desperation. He felt useless. He couldn't stop Rachel from leaving and now his new companions needed him and once again, he could do anything.

"Ultrasonic Wav-" Before Zaku could finish his line, a communication was made.

"Survivors, congratulations. By the way, anyone still fighting after the time limit ended will fail the test. The second test will now begin. Please find two allies within five minutes. As long as all three teammates are touching when the countdown ends, you pass."

Naruto sighed. "Well, at least I was able to fully test them; I wasn't planning to kill anybody anyway but still, I think I overdid it a little. I'll be sure to excuse myself with Baam and his friends later".

'Let's see... some of them surpassed my expectations like that girl, Endorsi, she got me surprised with her strength but Rachel, she was too dependant on others' strength. The woman in tights also surprised me with how quickly she got through the clones. Baam and his team had impressive resilience, so much so that I had to increase the amount of chakra I was sharing with them to make them stronger than their original counterparts... And Anak Jahad's team... well, since I have to find a team, I guess I'll find out once I get there' He thought as he made all the clones disappear.

As soon as he reached their location, he saw all the three exhausted on the ground, with scratches all over them and their clothes ragged. Naruto scratched his cheek awkwardly. 'Maybe I overdid it here a little?' He approached them and with his hand, he used medical ninjutsu to treat their wounds.

'Ughh... what, what's happening...?' Anak asked, half awake. She felt her strength returning and pain disappearing.

"C'mon, wake up. We don't have much time." Naruto spoke while he touched them to wake them up. They slowly opened their eyes.

Anak, Hatz, and Shibisu opened their eyes and the first thing they witnessed was a blond boy with whiskers right in front of them.

"Who are you?" Anak asked. She gazed at the place and immediately stood up in a fighting stance. "Where are they!? What happened to those bastards!?"

"Calm down, they're all gone. My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I want to make a team with you two." He said, directing himself at Anak and Hatz.

"Hey! I met them first, pal! You can try climbing the tower next time!" Shibisu complained.

"Shut up, jumpsuit," Anak spoke irritated. "You healed us?" She asked Naruto and he nodded.

"A healer... that's a quite useful ability. Let's form a team with him." Hatz stated.

"Hey! What about me!?" Shibisu asked irritated.

"You can also come with us of course!" Naruto spoke as he touched Shibisu's shoulder, absorbing him into his right eye, surprising Anak and Hatz. "Now, let's hurry and shake hands, time is almost up." He spoke and Anak and Hatz both nodded slowly, speechless.

This new teammate promised many surprises. That's what the two regulars thought.

Chapter End

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