~Wow, I am really messing with the story a bunch :D Giving it my own twists! Whenever I write, I always have soft piano music playing in the background. Does anybody else do that too?

The next morning the contestants gathered in the front of a giant gate. Behind the giant gate was.. A forest. And not just any forest, a rather large forest that rinked of evil. Darui and Shee stood by me as we watched our new instructor make her first announcement, "This is the place the Second Exam will take place. The 44th Training Area.. Also known as The Forest Of Death"

"Lovely." Shee teased while crossing his arms, "This'll be good."

"You will be able to experience why this place is called the Forest of Death." Anko spoke with a grin. She knew what we were getting into and was excited for the results. 'Such a creepy person..'

"Oh yeah? I'm not scared at all!" Naruto yelled and mocked the Instructor who just smirked as his actions.

"Really? You sure are energetic." Then in one fast motion, the grinning instructor send a kunai flying past Naruto's face and stuck in the grass behind him. There was a small cut that began to bleed down the side of Naruto's face. His eyes were widened by the awful surprise as she nearly teleported behind him and held his cheek in her hand, "Boys like you die in the forest.. After spilling out that red blood I love all over the place."

Another swift motion and one of the contestants with a large straw hat flashed behind her and returned her kunai, "Here's your knife.." 'Whoa!' I watch in horror at the creepiness of the scene. The mysterious contestant's tongue handed her the kunai. 'What an awful image..'

"Thank you." Anko smirked, excited from the intensity of the moment, "But don't stand behind me like that. That's unless you want to die young." She threatened.

The contestant slithered in their tongue of nastiness and answered back, "Well, I get itchy when I see blood. Also my precious hair was cut, so I got a little excited." He smiled and walked away, "I'm sorry."

"Looks like there are a lot of hot-headed people here today this is going to be interesting." The instructor left Naruto's side to walk up front to her original spot. She continued, "Before we begin the Second Exam, there are these consent forms. Those taking this exam must sign these. From here on people will die, therefore, we need people's consent before we continue." She laughed at our scared faces. I looked over at my teammates as they gulped down their worries, "Now, I will begin the explanation of the Second Exam. To be concise, you will all go through an extreme survival match. First, I'll explain the training areas graphical areas. The 44th training area is a circular region surrounded by 44 locked gate entrances. There is a river, a forest, and a tower in the middle. The tower is approximately 10 km away from the gates. Inside the limited space, you will have to a certain survival program. A competition where anything goes.. Over these scrolls."

"Scrolls?" asked Naruto.

"Yes. The Scrolls of Heaven and the Scrolls of Earth. You will fight over these scrolls." She held out a pair of black and white scrolls, "26 teams passed the first exam, so half of the teams will receive a Heaven Scroll and the other half of teams will receive the Earth scrolls. Each team gets one scroll, so you will have to fight the other teams for the other scroll to make the set of Heave and Earth."

"What is needed to pass?" Sasuke stepped forward to ask.

"You will need to bring both scrolls to the tower with your teammates. But it needs to be done within the time limit, which is 120 hours; or exactly five days."

"What about food?" A fat boy in the front yelled in distress.

"Scrounge it up yourself. There should be plenty of food. Also, people will get hurt in the process of retrieving a scroll, and those who cannot bear this program's strictness will emerge as well."

"Can we give up in the middle of the exam?" Another boy asked.

"As a rule, you are not allowed to give up during the exam. You will spend the five days in the forest." She paused, "While we're on this topic, here are the conditions that will fail you: first, a team that cannot bring both scrolls to the tower with all three teammates will fail; second, the team that looses a teammate or produces and unrecoverable teammate will fail. You are not allowed to look inside the scrolls until you reach the tower."

"And what happens if you look?" Naruto worried.

"That's a surprise. You'll see when you look at it." she grinned again, "If you become a chuunin, you will be handling top secret documents. Its to determine your reliability. We will exchange three consent forms for the scroll at that hut.." She pointed over at a small pavilion with jounins awaiting us, "And after picking your gate entrance, here's a last piece of advice: Don't die." A shudder of fear hit us all. Even me, with a monster inside, harbors fear after hearing this woman speak.

Next thing to do was sign those forms she mentioned. I thought over if I thought this was worth it and realized what a stupid question that is. I'm a ninja, therefore, every mission I have ever gone on and will go on always have the risk of dying. That's normal in the ninja-world.

I followed my teammates over to the wooden hut and quickly signed my papers, "Let's do this!" Shee yelled with an intense pose.

"If you raise your hand a little higher in your pose, then it will make a nice angle." Darui thought out loud.

"Shut up!" He punched him.

"Haha!" I pointed at their show. They both turned to look at me; I hadn't seen them tease each other like this before.

"You laughed.." Darui stared blankly.

"Oh.. So I did. Heheh!" they were just so funny, it was what I needed since I we were just about to head into a forest of death. I could use all the cheering up I could get.

I walked over to Naruto who was debating to sign his consent, "Naruto,"

"Nee-chan!"

"I wish you good luck and I hope we won't have to fight at any point. I almost forgot.. I am Jinchuriki too." His eyes widened, "I am the two-tails from Kumogakure, the demon cat."

"Did people hate you too?" He asked still in a bit of a shock.

"Yes. I grew up being hated like every Jinchuriki. But the Raikage took me in and made me his personal pupil. Also, his brother gave me training as well, that is how I was able to come here and be an examiner."

"I'm the demon fox, the nine-tails."

"It is said that the nine-tails is the strongest."

"Really?"

"Yep. Mine isn't all that strong, but it is still pretty awesome. And wanna know a secret?"

"What..?"

"I can control my bijuu in battle."

"Eh?"

"I went through special training to do so, I can control the chakra as I please and fight with it."

"No way.. I have to learn that!"

"Not till your older. There's no way you could possibly handle the training. Come find me when you're my age and I'll show you."

"Yeah!"

"Anyways, I have to meet with my team and find a gate entrance, you should probably do the same. Good luck!" And with that I left him to rejoin my teammates for the start of the Second Exam.

The exam instructor made her final announcement, "If you have received a scroll, follow the person in charge and move to your designated gates. We will begin in 30minutes!"

We all followed a jounin to a gated area and waited for it to begin. I began to feel butterflies turning in my stomach as we waited, "How shall we do this?" I asked my team, "This is my first time fighting with you guys. I don't know your abilities and jutsus yet. So let me explain a little of what I can do, I am a Jinchuriki like Bee, so I can control the bijuu like him. It aids me in my most difficult battles. I use a sword like yourselves for kenjutsu and act heavily in taijutsu. I steal chakra from the bijuu and gather it to my fists or sword for maximum strength and power. It is very reckless in battle, and can easily destroy the terrain around me, but can beat many enemies easily. So I'm offence."

"Ah, good to know." Darui started up, "I am offence mostly, with taijutsu and kenjutsu. I use my chakra nature of lightning to aid me in battle too, so watch out, it can get a little crazy. Also I am the executive for our team. I can think things through better than Shee."

"Psh.." He glared at his friend, "Oh yeah, and I'm heavy defense, but also offence often. I'm big in kenjutsu more than ninjutsu which I can do too. I have a genjutsu that clouds the enemies mind and provides a quick escape for emergencies."

"Great, that's awesome. Thanks for sharing, I just wanted an idea of what I'll be working with." I smiled, thanking them for telling me.

"You.." Darui whispered, "Have a beautiful smile."

"I was just thinking the same." Shee gazed at me.

"T-Thank you? Heheh.." I blushed at their complements.

"Alright, " We looked over at the jounin standing by the gate, "The Second Exam had now begun." He unlocked the gate and opened the door for us.

"10 km?" Shee asked.

"Yep, we better start running now." Darui answered.

"Ok, let's go!" We all charged in, ready for anything.

An hour went by and I began to feel anxious. I gripped my katana and began to feel slightly paranoid. Something was going to happen soon and I didn't know what, but something bad. I could feel fate poking me and telling me that there's danger. I began to sweat even more as my thoughts overflowed my mind. Worry, anxiety, fear, "Reiko?" My thoughts stopped, "You ok?"

"Um.."

"Yeah, your face is all pale." Shee looked over at me sadly.

"I-I'm fine. Just a little worried of what might happen."

"Well that's life. Welcome to the ninja world."

"Yeah.." I tried clearing my thoughts.

Day two and we still haven't met with any of the other teams. I began to wonder if we were on the right path. We were running towards the tower all this time but it hardly feels like we've gotten any closer. The tower looks the same size as when we first started. 'Genjutsu?' "Darui! Shee! We're under-" As I looked over to tell them, their bodies began to fade, "What the-?" Then in a second, they were completely gone. Their bodies vanished.

Adrenaline pumped through my blood as I knew someone was messing with us to confused us. My teammates were gone, so either they are under genjutsu too, or its just me, or through the genjutsu we got separated in the process. If so, the enemy could attack us individually for our scroll. Darui had the scroll, and I know he's strong, so there's not much to worry about. But as for Shee.. 'He is strong too.. They should be ok.

I didn't know how to dispel genjutsu, so kept running through the woods in hope of finding my lost teammates. And within the next five minutes, a kunai flew at my feet, sending my flying up to a near tree branch. I looked over in the direction the kunai came from and saw nothing. 'It has begun.. My first fight. My first battle, I'm going to win!' I waited quietly on the tree branch for the next attack. It happened! ten other kunai flew at me from all directions. I jumped down below to the rooted, rocky, ground below, "Do you mind?" I yelled at my opponent, "It's not very classy to fight somebody who can't see you!" I yelled, knowing they could hear me.

"Sure, sure!" I heard as a boy gracefully jumped down from a tree branch, "Do you have the scroll?"

"And what if I do?" I teased.

"Then you'll surely die!" He charged forward at me with a kunai in his hand. 'Is he for serious? Idiot..' And surely within the moment he passed me and my demon cats chakra sliced his arm, except now, even more. I whipped out my katana and began to get serious. I wanted to respect that he was actually 'trying' to fight me, and I was just merely 'messing' with him. He changed again after observing his wounds, we clashed my katana with his kunai; and for some reason, I couldn't stop smiling. I was actually having fun, my first battle. It was exciting..

"Ah!" I forced him away with the strength of my katana, sending him flying into the tree behind him. I charged forward to latch my hand around his throat and pressed my finger into the main blood source to the head. Within a few seconds, he was unconscious on the floor. There was no need to kill someone as weak as him who has potential and respect in him. I searched his pockets for the scroll and found none. I left him there to begin my search for my teammates. I laughed at how he treated me like a girl and underestimated me.

A while of looking an no luck. My teammates disappeared. I hopped from tree trunk to tree trunk when I spotted something familiar. I quietly landed and peered through the leaves and the three walking sand ninjas. Across the way to the other side of a large Japanese maple tree, were three other ninjas. They were watching the sand ninjas like I was, but with another intent. They hadn't noticed me, but I saw through their attack. Without thinking, in a flash I was held up my katana to block a giant shuriken that glided through the air. The sand ninjas didn't react as I thought when I rushed to their side. They just simply looked over at me.

The shuriken rebounded off my katana and boomeranged back to its owner. I had blown my cover and now stood between six bloodthirsty ninjas. I don't even know what happened, by body moved on its own to protect the three sand ninjas. It's not like their friends, I just felt the urge to defend them, "Ah.. Dang." I spoke my mistake, "My bad.." I began stepping away to retreat my position. A little embarrassed that I dared to defend an enemy out of carelessness.

As I stepped away the enemy through another shuriken in my direction to which I prepared to connect blades with again. But as it were a few feet away flying at a speed f sixty miles an hour, it split into two shuriken. My eyes did notice this in time and jumped out of the way. The spinning blades hit the dirty grass floor with a boom, sticking themselves nearly permanently in the ground form the force. I looked up at my new enemies and they were covered in sand. 'Sand? What the..' I looked over at the boy named Gaara who held out his hand strangely. He was controlling the sand with the actions of his hand. I was shocked and horrified as the sand clamped down on the three enemy ninjas bodies. In a instant, they were dead as the sand tightened around them; blood flying everywhere from the result. It was disgusting and lurid. My mind froze as my body went cold. 'This kid.. Just.. Merciless!' "Wha.." I squeaked in fear. I had, at this point, fallen to the floor from the scene. My body trembling at how gruesome it was. I had never seen people die like this without a second thought. It blew. My. Mind.

"Gaara.." His sister whispered as he began glaring at me. He looked as though he was unsatisfied with his works and wanted to try again as he focused his eyes and sand on me. I saw the tan mist flying over to me and I quickly got up to escape. 'He has no shame! I'm gunna die!' My adrenaline pumped like no other as I knew I was going to die. I wasn't ready for this! It was just a freaking exam!

"Ah..!" Was all I could say as the sand cornered me against a tree. I was trapped. There was sand above me and all around me, filled with Gaara's chakra. I looked over at the redheaded kid who held the sand. The sand quickly wrapped around me and hardened, covering only my abdomen. I watched as he squeezed his hand slowly, the sand around me did the same. I felt piercing pains all around me, "AH!" I felt a rib crack and then break. I screamed as the sand tightened more and more, crushing my body in its power. Another rib broke, and then another, and then another. I could feel a wetness in the sand from internal and external bleeding. It was slow and painful. I had never felt anything like it. I have never screamed like I did; an absolute pain that worsens by the second. I could feel enormous pressure on my organs, damaging them by the second. My vision blurred as I was close to becoming unconscious when a flash of movement caught my attention. I looked up to see my team members attack the sand. Strikes of lightning fell from the sky all around causing the sand to retreat. It loosened and released its grasp on me. I fell to the floor, my body crushed. Darui rushed to my side to pick me up, and at this point I lost consciousness.

"Reiko." 'A voice?' "Reiko.." 'Ah…' "Reiko!" My eyes blinked open to a bright light. My teammates had taken me to the tower.

"Ah.. We're here?" Was what I said.

"Pfft.. Yeah, we're here." They comforted me and held my hand. I felt a warm sensation on my abdomen as Shee held his hand over me. It produced a green light that shown on my skin, slowly repairing it. I felt tingles all over from it's warmth and touch.

"How long was I out?"

"Two days. The Third Exam is in ten hours."

"Hey there Reiko," A familiar voice called out to me from above. I changed my view to see Kakashi standing near by, "You look pretty bad. You might want to forfeit for this exam."

"No!" A sting of pain flooded my body from my yell. I cringed at the ache as it began to throb. It was a very sharp twinge in my torso, making a tear slide down my face, "I'll.. Be fine." I exhaled in between throbs.

"Clearly, you can't fight again!" Darui worried for me, "For whatever we're doing next, I know you'll need to be able to fight on your own."

"We came all this way.." I interrupted him, "We have come this far and I won't let this stop us. If you could please keep doing what your doing for a while longer, I can pull through this easily and keep going."

"What?"

"Let's.. Pretend.. This is a real.. Mission." I trembled through my words, "Our mission is to win.. No matter.. What. Okay?"

Darui thought before answering, "… Okay."

"Did you get the other scroll?"

"Yes, that is how Kakashi got here. We laid out the scrolls and he appeared with a puff of smoke to instruct us on where to go next."

"I'm sorry I haven't done anything but worry you. If only we hadn't been.. Separated by genjutsu.."

"Don't worry about it.." Shee tried to comfort me.

"You should rest. We'll wake you in ten hours when it's time for the next exam." Kakashi knelt down to me, "You're going be ok."

"Ok.." I closed my eyes and drifted away; pushing through the pain to get some sleep.

~Intense, yeah? Please comment! n_n