Time for more Favor of the Great Spirits.
Chapter 10: ENTER THE TEMPLE OF DOOM...I MEAN FOREST OF DEATH
"Congratulations" Ibiki said as his cold voice turned oddly and unsettlingly warm "You've passed the first test".
"WHAT" it was shouted practically in Unison with the only differences being the varying accents among the Shinobi.
"As a shinobi you will encounter many situations where information is key, and you will have to go to great lengths to discretely get this information" Ibiki explained as he stepped forward and pointed to the proctors "The point of the test itself was to not get caught or at the very least not be too noticeable gathering the information from your fellow Candidates, and as for the final question well the simple yes or no question really is a determination of your will and convictions, because in the field a single decision can boil down to these two factors " Ibiki said as he looked at several of the empty seats that were scattered across the room "Those people that left, they are the ones who couldn't handle it, the ones that will chicken out and end the mission as soon as the going got tough, as a Chunin you'll be leading teams and the traits that are needed they did not have".
A mumble spread through several of the foreign shinobi. A mumble that reached Ibiki's well-trained ears "I hear that some of you believe that Us Konoha shinobi have a home field advantage this year because the exam is in our village that there was unfair treatment of foreign, We'll let me tell you now…When you talk about conflicts between shinobi there never is a home field advantage that's one piece of advice that I'm going to share with all of you". Ibiki just looked over the crowd drinking in their sense of awe as he took off his headband " I got these scars when I was captured as a youth during the last Shinobi war, by a spy ,while I was running documents between the various shinobi offices in the village, let these be a warning to you that as a shinobi you are never safe and that you should always be looking over your shoulder, especially if your carrying important information.".
The gravity of Ibiki's words settled in but were quickly dismissed by a black blur smashing through the window and a banner being tossed into the ceiling. The banner read in big bold text SECOND CHIEF EXAMINATION OFFICER ANKO MITARASHI with a single crouched person standing in front of it. Standing up it was revealed to be a woman, who was without a doubt Anko Mitarashi, wearing a trench coat and fishnet suit with a miniskirt and shin guards. She was obviously braless and gave anyone who looked in her direction a good peek at her bare breasts but the coat seemed to oddly move with her and continually hide her nipples from view. "THIS IS NO TIME FOR CELEBRATION" She shouted in a boisterous tone that sounded familiar to many rookies "I AM THE INCREDIBLY SEXY ANKO MITARASHI, HEAD PROCTOR FOR PART TWO OF THE CHUNIN EXAMS" she stood there arm swung outward and posing dramatically as she pointed out the window, when she noticed no one was moving she just glared at the crowd and began shouting again "WELL LET'S GET MOVING PEOPLE".
"Umm…Anko" Ibiki said calmly as he returned to his cold tone "You may want to try and read the atmosphere".
Anko simply stuck her tongue out at Ibiki before looking over the crowd. She turned back to the scarred man with a confused look "You passed 26 teams?" She scoffed as she looked away smugly "You must be going soft".
"We actually have a remarkable crop of entries this year" Ibiki retorted, obviously offended by the soft comment.
"Whatever softy I'll weed out the rest" she grinned and waved at the crowd to follow her "Come on everyone follow me to the next testing site…THROUGH THE WINDOW" she declared as she exited the room the same way she entered.
Several Ninja followed her through the window, even smashing through other windows so they wouldn't have to wait. Others simply went out the door, refusing to take place in the oddity that was Anko Mitarashi.
FOREST OF DEATH
"So thanks to some piercings and small magnets placed in my jacket I can go braless, wear a see through mesh shirt and still maintain a minimum amount of modesty" Anko explained to those that would listen after someone asked her how her how her jacket moves with her.
"I swear I will never look at you the same way again Sakura" Sasuke mumbled, getting a red faced nod from Naruto who followed his team mates silently.
"What? I was curious, it wasn't like I wanted the full story of her tits, coat and piercings" Sakura said defending herself from her team who gave her accusing glares.
"Don't act like you didn't know that's what she would ramble on about, she behaves like Naruto does when he just lets loose" Sasuke nearly shouted getting Sakura to back up.
"Now if you're all done inquiring about the twins" Anko gloated as she hoisted up her breasts to make them stand out more "I have a few things to go over for your next exam".
"First things on our list is location "Anko announced in a somewhat excited way "Your test will be taking place in the forest of death, the fifth scariest place on earth just behind my bedroom, it is filled with man eating animals, plants, insects and other shit they didn't even bother classifying because they were so damn scary….that's the forest not my bedroom" Anko announced.
"feh….Forest of Death ,so direct not even scary" Naruto mumbled, getting a glare from the proctor.
"What was that you little shit, my forest not scary enough for you" Anko said as she flash stepped behind Naruto "is the little priest that sure that his gods protect him" she said mockingly as she drew a blade across his check.
"No it's just that the name lacks subtlety" Naruto explained as he felt his cheek split open at the blades slide "I mean movie monsters are scary because you don't see them till the end".
Anko stopped, and mulled it over before conceding defeat "Alright you got a point…but don't go insulting my forest" She glared as she walked back up to the front to continue orientation.
"Now if we can get ourselves together for a minute I'll explain your test" Anko announced as she surveyed the crowd "It's pretty simple really, after signing a few release forms your team will be given a scroll, this scroll will either be a heaven or and earth scroll and to pass the test you need both which means that this forest will be a live action survival exercise for the nest week" Anko shouted to the crowd getting cries of outrage in response by many of the local teams and annoyed grunts from those that were visiting.
Meanwhile, while Anko drank in everybody's anger and annoyance team seven was going over there plan of action. "Did you remember to pack the gear Sakura?" Sasuke asked.
"Yep" Sakura plucked a scroll out of her pocket and handed it off to Naruto, who was the most skilled with sealing among the three "All equipment needed for a four day survival exercise and emergency first aid, including a three man tent , a map of every major training ground used for survival, two sleeping bags, Naruto's heavy robes and cushion so he can keep watch, food and a ration guide and cooking gear, not including the things for Naruto's morning tea" Sakura grumbled at the last item.
"You guys like the tea too," Naruto shot back at Sakura "And using the Sage's sense for close to eight hours is mentally exhausting If we play this down to the wire my meditation tricks are going to be useless by the final day, and the tea helps me strengthen my will and mind if only for a little while…so fuck you" Naruto grumbled as he quickly turned back to the crazy woman who was revealing in her audiences hate.
"Your ultimate goal is to get the two scrolls to the large tower at the center of the forest in one week, so either leave now with your tail tucked between your legs or get in line, get a scroll and line up at you gate because I hate all of you punks" She announced quite loudly before abruptly disappearing.
FOREST OF DEATH
Team 7 was hurriedly running through the tree tops trying to make as much headway as they could so they could intercept other teams as they tried to get to the tower. Sakura took up the mid position as the least powerful member, guarded by Naruto in the rear and Sasuke in the front. Spotting a clearing she gave the signal and Team seven stopped and hit the forest floor.
"Alright what's the plan Sakura?" Naruto said as his feet collided with the earth below, kicking up dust.
"Yeah, what's the plan? Sasuke grumbled as he swept the dust off his clothes, shooting a glare at Naruto for his stupidity.
"Well, according to this map of Training ground 44 the only gate that has an actual path to the tower is gate 42, which we are nowhere near" Sakura stated as she took the map from Naruto who was busy fumbling with it after removing it from his sleeves "The training ground itself is massive, but nowhere near a week long journey to get to the center probably half a day at most, what makes it difficult though is the thick canopy making navigation impossible and the hordes of rival ninja gunning for our throats, so we either wait to be attacked or go on the offensive and make a dash for the tower".
"There's no guarantee that the other team we find will have a different scroll and if we stay still multiple teams can ambush us and fight over our gear" Sasuke mused "Having gear though definitely makes us a target among the other local teams, even our friends…I think three days is enough if we do this right".
"Do we pick a scroll carrier?" Naruto asked, as Sasuke took the reins of the operation.
"No that just makes a target…do you still have those blank scrolls" Sasuke whispered.
"Need two fake heaven scrolls, way ahead of you" Naruto commented as he plucked to blank scrolls that had been decorated to mirror the exam scroll from his sleeves and handed one to Sakura.
"Good now if we're separated and any of you two get ambushed hand over the fake scroll and gauge their reaction" Sasuke ordered, clarity coming to both of his teammates.
"And we'll know if they have what we need or not" Sakura mused in a hush toned amazement, why didn't she think of that…why didn't Naruto think of that.
"Why didn't I think of that" Naruto took a more vocal approach to his thoughts.
"You did, you pulled a similar stunt back in the academy three years ago when they promised a prize to whoever could collect all of those silly ninja trading cards" Sasuke smirked, that had been an entertaining week for everybody.
"Oh yeah" Naruto Mumbled as he thought back to those days in the academy "Well, I'm going to go take a piss before we start again" He announced as he head off to a nearby tree.
"You idiot don't say such things in front of a lady" Sakura growled out as she shook her fist at the blonde spirit.
"Oh right, sorry about saying such things in front of you Sasuke" Naruto said off handedly before laughing.
"Shut up you dolt" Both Sasuke and Sakura nearly shouted as they began to quickly grow tired of their teammates wise cracks and idiocies.
Naruto just kept laughing as he ducked behind a tree. Sasuke and Sakura just stood by silently and awkwardly as they waited for their friends to finish relieving himself. Of course they weren't just standing idly by as both of them were keeping their ears open to all the sounds around them. "AHHHH, that feels so much better" Naruto said as he left the brush.
"Good, now we'll setting up camp about ten clicks north of here and wait for midnight, if we're approached before then we'll take the scroll, want to take second watch like always Naruto?" Sasuke questioned.
"Yeah, sure I'm pretty tired" Naruto stated as he threw in a yawn for effect.
"You can die first" Sasuke quipped before swinging around at a stunned Naruto and hooking him in the jaw and sending him into a tree "So mind telling us where the real Naruto is you imposter".
"How did you know?" An angry glare followed as Naruto poofed away to reveal an Ame ninja with a rebreathe and swooped hair.
"Easy, Naruto always takes watch when camping, thanks to his meditation he doesn't need to actually sleep and as such takes full watch, also Naruto never gets tired when we aren't fighting the idiot once carried both of us on his back for twenty miles just to get home before dinner" Sasuke grinned as he motioned to Sakura and himself, noting Naruto's strength and stamina while he did.
"Well now you forced me to be direct, I hope you die quickly" The Ame ninja mused as he charged forward only to receive a face full of fire jutsu.
The Ninja quickly hopped away, dodging the bursts before clashing with Sasuke and receiving another hook to the face. "Your good kid, but your still not fast enough" The enemy ninja huffed as he leapt back faster than Sasuke could follow and threw a flurry of knives.
Sasuke grabbed a nearby branch and flipped behind it for cover, spotting Naruto tied up in the process. "Damn idiot" He grumbled as he threw his kunai to his friend, slashing the ropes as it stuck into the ground. As he did that a barrage of Kunai flew into the massive tree root sticking with a thunk. Smirking at his own quick thinking he was quickly disappointed when he saw the explosion tag pinned to the Kunai "Shit" Was all Sasuke had time to say as the note went off. Luckily because he was behind the root and the explosion was so low grade the tree took most of the burn but still sent Sasuke flying back and into another tree.
"THIS ENDS NOW ROOKIE" the other ninja shouted as he dashed forward only to collide with something sharp, going right into his stomach with the end poking out his back.
"Lucky guess" Sasuke scoffed as he pulled back his arm, revealing the bloodied claw that had impaled the enemy, the same claw that he had plucked from the corpses of the Demon brothers "Thanks for testing my akai kinzoku nakkuru( Red Metal Knuckle) Technique, it was supposed to go through you but I think this is much better keeps you at a distance and I can see you suffer". Sasuke just picked himself up and walked away towards Naruto and Sakura.
"Was it really nessecary to kill him?" Sakura asked as Sasuke just kept walking away "We could have taken out his team with a numbers advantage if we had gotten their location."
"We always have the advantage of numbers thanks to the monk over there" Sasuke grunted as he pointed to Naruto, who had remained silent.
"He deserved to die, attacking a man with his pants down is unforgivable" Naruto interjected as he followed his team "That aside, did you find a scroll?"
Sasuke just grunted angrily as he walked back to the man who was slowly bleeding out and then walking back. "Nothing, the bastard had nothing".
"Well" Naruto quipped as he thought about the circumstances "Serves him right".
FOREST OF DEATH
After about five hours of wandering through the forest, Team seven decided to start setting up camp using their supplies, being sure to make a lot of noise and to set up the traps to hopefully trigger and stop an ambush. However, after the last separation Sasuke was having a fit of Paranoia "We need a way to identify each other before we get close, if that guy had paid any attention to us he would have slipped through my sights immediately" Sasuke argued.
"Yeah but a pass word, we know each other better than anyone else, how will that help?" Naruto asked genuinely confused and unwilling to memorize a pass word.
"Yeah but some things are easy to imitate and if we notice something wrong it could be too late" Sakura mentioned, trying to make her wealth of knowledge useful in a situation that didn't really suit her.
"Both of you be quite and listen cause I'm only going to say this once" Sasuke Quipped, getting both of his team mates to shut up instantly" Good, now a single word would be too easy so Were going to use a poem" Sasuke took a moment to pause and glare at Naruto who quickly stifled whatever comment he had tucked away "The poem goes : A shinobi strikes when the time is right/ when his enemy sleeps and his guard is down/ When night has fallen and all is quiet/ that is when a shinobi strikes".
Sakura then nodded in recognition "That's one of the twenty Ninki poems right?".
"Yeah that one was my mother's favorite, pops always favored the one about the gate though" Sasuke rambled as he looked over to Naruto to see if he got it.
Naruto however was stuck on something about the poem and decided to voice his problem aloud "Does anyone find it weird that as Shinobi we do none of that shit?"
Suddenly a wind blew through the clearing carrying Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto back, separating Naruto from the rest of team seven.
End chapter 10