Okay, here we are again. Didn't get this up last night like I wanted too. I was busying logging some screencaps from .Hack//Roots. Remember, Italics are thoughts related to that character.

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Chapter 5: The Second Exam

Anko turned toward the group and began to explain the exam. "Before we begin the second exam, there's something I have to hand out." She pulled a stack of papers at all bore the words Consent Form in big bold letters. "They're consent forms, everyone has to sign one. We want all the details covered before the first deaths occur. Sign before you go in, so we can't be held liable. You wouldn't want me to get in trouble would you? First I'll explain what the second exam entails, then you can sign the forms. Wit the other two members of your cell, bring the forms to the hut behind you and submit them. Now about the exam, to put it simply…it's a no holds barred survival test. Let's start with the topography of this training ground. I'll explain the rest later." Anko unrolled a scroll with held the picture of what the students guessed was the training ground. "Training Ground 44 is bordered by a circular perimeter interrupted at regular intervals by 44 locked gates. There are forests and a river…and in the center is a tower about 10 kilometers from those gates. Within the confines of this carefully delineated area, your going to undergo a survival test. During the course of that test you may use any ninja arts or weapons you have at your disposal. it's a kind of fight-to-the-death version of "capture the flag" or in this case "capture the scroll" There's a "scroll of heaven" and a "scroll of earth" and your objective is to acquire both scrolls. There are 78 of you here, that's 26 three-members teams. Thirteen teams will start with a heaven scroll, and the other 13 will start with an earth scroll. But you'll need both scrolls to pass. So your objective is to hold on to your own scroll, get your hands on one of the other kind, and then bring them both to the tower at the center. But that's not all. You have 120 hours in which to complete this exam--exactly 5 days! As the time shortens the trails will come harder and faster with less recovery time for any mistakes, accidents or injuries. You'll be surrounded by enemies at all times, so you'll have to sleep with one eye open. In addition to those who die in attempts to defend of capture a scroll, some of you are bound to succumb to exhaustion, starvation and dehydration. Now let's talk about what rules and offenses you can be disqualified for. First, the teams that fail to reach the tower in time--as a three-member cell, carrying both a heaven and earth scroll are out. So is any team that loses a member whether to death or severe injury. And under no circumstances can you lave the forest before time is up. No recess. No time outs. Also, you're forbidden to look at the contents of the scrolls until your inside the tower."

"What happens if we sneak a peek?" Naruto asked. Anko smiled and answered him.

"That's for those who look to find out. If any of you make it to the Chunin level, there will be times when you'll be entrusted with top-secret documents so consider this a test of your trustworthiness. That's all the explanation you get. We'll trade one scroll for every three forms. When you've got yours, choose the gate you want to start from. Everyone will begin at the same time. One final piece of advice. Stay Alive!" Ryu, Matt and Corrine and sitting beside a tree during the whole explanation process, talking about what they were going to do.

"I say we spilt up, each of us taking one of the other rookie teams." Ryu told them. "Who you pick is your problem, so make sure you can handle it." Matt looked excited at this.

"I got the perfect one already picked out Ryu. Just leave that Lee kids' team to me." He said, sharpening his katana on a nearby rock. "How about you Corrine?"

"I want the loud mouth in Uchiha's group. The little brat is asking for an ass kicking." Corrine's eyes grew red with fury for no known reason. Ryu noticed this and began to worry.

Corrine's inner beast is bubbling up. If he goes into a rage, everyone here could suffer, including us.

"Let's go get our scroll." Matt told Ryu, getting up. "Anyway who are you going for?" Ryu didn't answer the question, he wished to keep it a secret.

"All right everyone follow your proctors to your respective gates! When the signal sounds in half an hour the exam will begin." Anko said, checking her watch. The teams were led to their gates, and waited. 30 minutes passed, then it was time. "Part two of the journeyman ninja selection exam begins…NOW!"

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Tomarrow the good stuff begins. I'll be doing each person's battle as a different chapter, maybe they'll each have two to themselves, who knows. I'm not even sure who I'm putting out first and who their going to battle from the other cells. Well, later!