The Path A Ninja Walks...
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Full Speed Ahead! Enter: The Forest Of Death!
A/N: WARNING-The character known as Sage Amesawa uses a lot of profanity and colorful language as part of his "colorful" personality. Be prepared if you are sensitive to that. Please note it is not because I condone such manner of speech, and also the character does not mean to use it as a way to be harmful, it is just his personality.
The wind blew harshly between the towering trees. Saseme's body remained sore from the previous day, but she refused to let it bother her. She had a few reminant bruises that caught Gaara's attention.
"...What happened to your face?" he asked,"Your entire body is damaged..."
of course he wouldn't remember...
Saseme thought to herself.
That show he displayed last night was a moment of weakness rare of anyone to see...
She scoffed.
"It's nothing..." she muttered,"Just some battle wounds from some last minute training...nothing more."
"...Fine." he growled,"See that it doesn't hinder your true objective..."
"...Got it."
The silence between them only lasted a beat as he walked away, her team mates soon made their entry to the meeting place as well, which seemed to be a gated forest of sorts...
"What gives with this place?" Hana asked.
"Beats me." said Sage,"I've lived here my whole life and never been to this place before."
Anko then took stand in front as she spoke out to the gathered crowd consisting of all the candidates from the previous day.
"This is the location of the second part of the exam." she smirked,"It's the 44th battle training zone...other wise known as The Forest of Death~"
A hush fell among the wind that blew between them and audible gulps could be heard from a various few.
"The Forest...of Death?" Hana blinked.
"The name alone sounds terrifying..." Sage gulped and glanced over at Saseme, who just the previous day was incapacitated for a brief time.
"I'll be fine." she snipped,"Stop staring."
She hated being stared at. Made her feel weird.
And for whatever reason, she felt as though a pair of cold eyes were staring sharply right through her...
So...she still came...despite my warning.
Neji thought as he gazed upon her from a distance behind with his Byakugan.
"All right!" Lee Grinned,"I knew she would not let that keep her down long."
"Put your eyes away Neji." TenTen sighed,"You're gonna exhaust yourself before the exam even begins."
"Hmph..." Neji scoffed, but quickly retracted his Byakugan as Anko took her stand and smirked at the front of the crowd.
"Scared yet?" Anko snickered,"Well you should be, they call it The Forest Of Death for a reason after all~" she chuckled,"Soon enough, you're gonna find out why for yourself~"
Naruto of course went ahead to make a bufoon of himself creating a scene between he, Anko, and a slithering Grass Ninja that Saseme couldn't shake the creeps from as she watched.
"Eew...did you see the length of the Crazy Bitch's long ass tongue when they handed back that Psycho Bitch's Kunai?" asked Sage.
"Tell me about it..." Hana gulped,"So gross."
"There's something about that Ninja..." Saseme whispered as her dark eyes narrowed,"I don't trust the looks of'em...or any of them in that matter." she blinked,"We must stay diligent..."
"Right." her fellow members nodded in agreement.
"Seems like everyone gathered here today is quick tempered..." Anko blinked,"Must be something in the air~" she snickered,"this is gonna be fun~" she grinned walking back to her podium as she continued speaking,"Now before we begin this test, I have something to hand out to you all." she stated,"It's a standard consent form." she blinked,"Before the test, all of you are going to read over this form and sign it." she said,"After all some of you may not come back from this test...so I'm afraid I have to get your consent to that risk." she smirked."Now...I'll explain what you'll be doing on this test..." she said as she handed the forms to Naruto to pass out,"First thing you need to know is that this test will tax all of your survival skills." she stated,"Let's start with a description on the terrain of the practice field." she said,"The 44th Battle Training zone has 44 locked entrance gates." she explained,"It's a forest, with rivers and many other expected terrain situations within." she stated,"10 Kilometers from each gate, in the center of it all, call it The Heart of The Forest if you will, is a locked Tower." she said, "It's within this confined area that you will undergo the Survival Test." she stated,"The Test consists of an anything goes battle to get your hands on these scrolls." she explained as she held up two scrolls, one black, and one white.
"I see..."Hana blinked,"So it's kinda like that exercise we went through with Koko Sensei when we first became Genin." she stated.
"Yeah..." Sage blinked, "Except on steroids fed by the hands of a Psycho Bitch..."
Hana snickered. Saseme rolled her eyes and folded her arms as she continued to listen to the explaination.
"You will be fighting each other to get your hands on both a Heaven scroll and an Earth scroll." she stated,"Half of the teams going into this thing will be trying to collect the Heaven scroll." she said,"The other half, will hunt down the Earth Scroll. You will need both Scrolls to proceed with the third part of the Exam...if you make it that far." she blinked," I will hand over only one type of scroll to each team...so that's what you will be vying for." she stated, "In order to pass, your entire squad must bring both scrolls to the tower at the center."
"So at the very best...considering if the teams can collect both scrolls...half of them will fail." Hana blinked.
"If not even more than that." said Sage.
"Hmph...should never have expected this to be easy..." said Saseme,"This is survival, that means, there are man eating beasts and poisonous plants and insects along with whatever other predators will be lurking in the shadowy shades of the foliage..."
"One more thing..." said Anko,"This test has a time limit." she blinked,"You must finish this portion within 5 days time."
"So given those circumstances...it will be impossible for even half the teams to succeed." said Neji.
"With the days getting longer the nights are getting shorter...we will have less time to sleep and even lesser time to recover..." Lee grinned,"This is a challenge indeed!"
"Completely surrounded my enemies..." Sasuke blinked,"There won't be time to rest...we will have to keep a constant watch..."
"That's right." said Anko,"This test also measures endurance behind enemy lines." she stated,"It's designed to be a grueling test and I'm certain some of you won't be up to the challenge."
Hana blinked as she glanced over at Saseme.
Yeah no kidding...
She blinked.
Especially for people like Saseme who over exhert themselves too quickly and struggle with physical endurance alone...
She sighed.
Her mind can endure plenty for sure...but if her body can't keep up...
"You won't be able to quit, either..." said Anko,"After all...in the middle of a battle you can't just say sorry I quit-actually- Hmm-" she blinked,"I suppose you technically could but the chances are it will most likely get you killed." she grinned,"But there are some ways you can get disqualified." she stated,"The first way is simple enough." she said,"If all three team members can't make it to the tower with both scrolls within the 5 day time limit." she stated,"Number two, if a team loses a member, or if a member becomes incapacitated and can not continue." she shrugged,"The most important of all however, is that none of you can look at the contents of the scrolls until you have reached the tower." she grinned,"And believe me when I say you don't wanna find out what happens if you break this rule~"
A few candidates groaned as Anko went on to explain.
"There are times during a mission when a ninja will be asked to transfer secret documents." she stated,"So this rule about the scrolls is to test your integrity." she sighed,"Okay, that pretty much covers it." she shrugged,"Each team may now take their consent form over to the booth and exchange them for your scrolls." she blinked,"Once you've done that...each team is free to pick a gate to be let inside." she heaved a heavy sigh..."By the way...one more word of advice." she said,"...Just don't die!"
XXXXX
Whispers spread around the collected Genin, some of doubt and others of fiery determination. Saseme ducked behind some distant foliage, watching as the Booth holders set up and drew the curtains.
So that's how it is...
Saseme blinked.
There's no way of knowing which team will have what scroll...
Or which member will be carrying them...hmm...
Hm?
A few meters ahead she noticed her brother ducking down behind a rock, no doubt doing the same thing she was doing.
I see...
She blinked.
So it seems Sasuke has figured it out as well, huh?
Hmmm...
Her eyes narrowed as she took him in...distant memories of a time she didn't wish to remember came flooding back into hind sight...
Her desparate cries...pleas to her brother to help her...
Not to let the men take her away...
And a young Sasuke with terrified and confused eyes...
Doing nothing.
Why, Sasuke?
She questioned to herself.
You were all I had left...
The only one...I thought I could trust...
My big brother... who always held my hand and told me not to be scared...because YOU were with me and would always protect me...So why...? Why would you betray me...?
She closed her eyes and shook back the bad memories. That was in the past now...and that past was over.
Pray...Sasuke.
She trembled.
Pray that it doesn't come down to me and you...
She sighed.
...I will pray.
XXXXX
The scrolls were passed.
Each team had now chosen a designated gate of entry...each person determined to win. Saseme and her team stood ready. They pain from yesterday had now disipated...and even her bruises healed up.
Gotta leave it to Hyuuga Wonder medicine...
blinked Saseme.
Thanks a lot Hinata...You are indeed my most cherished friend within the Hidden Leaf...and I will never forget your kindness...
She sighed and closed her eyes.
...I can't afford to lose here...
Saseme thought to herself.
If I screw up now...Then Gaara...will kill me.
That's all there is to it.
Sage and Hana stared into the new determination in the team mate's stance. Trying to read her face, unclear of any thought she harbored. Now wasn't the time for doubt though. They had to enter as a team. And pass as a team. There was little to no choice now...but to place their trust in Saseme.
"ALL RIGHT, HEADS UP, YOU MAGGOTS!" Said Anko,"The second part of the test has begun!"
The gates were opened. And each team dashed their way in, all with the same goal.
To Win!
xxx
"Calm down, Saseme!" Hana called out as Saseme took the lead of her team,"The test only just begun!"
"Be that as it may..." Saseme stated,"We have but one objective..." she smirked,"Find our enemies before they find us!" She ginned as she leapt through the trees. Saseme's favorite way to travel...above her enemies.
"HaHa Damn, girl~" Sage laughed as he tossed their Earth Scroll into the air and caught it in his other hand,"You may be a boss babe..." he grinned,"But you're one bad bitch!"
To Be Continued