Chapter 28
As one large group the students who remained part of the exam shuffled their way to the point where they were to meet the next instructor. The sun was shining brightly down on them, Tomo panting as she walked besides Yomi. Yomi seemed barely unmoved by the heat.
"Argh, it's too hot to do an exam now" she grumbled.
"I guess so, but that isn't going to change anything. Lets face it, if you pass you won't be able to pass up on important missions just because it is hot" replied Yomi.
"We could do" replied Osaka, who was walking with them. "We could be a special type of ninja- the not too hot or cold ninja."
"That sounds like a good idea" said Tomo, patting Osaka on the back. The girl stumbled forwards slightly under the force of the pat. "That would solve our problems."
"No mission is too hard or dangerous, as long as it isn't hot or cold" said Yomi sarcastically.
"If you don't have anything nice to say about our plans, don't say anything at all" said Tomo, sticking out her tongue. "I'd prefer it if you didn't tear holes in our plan."
"Tear? I don't have to worry about tearing, one stern look and your plan would fall to pieces" replied Yomi scornfully. "Not to mention the fact that you actually have to pass this exam first of all."
"I passed the last one didn't I Yomi?" asked Tomo in a smug tone.
"Yeah by writing no answers" said Yomi, Tomo lurching slightly, caught by surprise. "Yeah I saw your paper. I decided to follow a route out that took me by your paper. Eleven questions to answer, eleven blank spaces left by you."
"Yeah but they didn't count in the end did they?" said Tomo. "You did much more work then I did and we both passed" added Tomo, mustering up the smuggest tone she had ever used.
"I passed too" said Osaka. "Wait, there were questions?" she asked.
"Osaka, just what did you actually do in the exam room?" asked Yomi.
"I-" started Osaka.
"All right, come over here, get in a position where you can hear me" called out Minamo, who was helping out the instructor in preparation for the start of the exam. The group trudged forwards, not winning many awards for eagerness to start the examination. "This is Mr Zenka, your instructor for this stage of the examination" said Minamo introducing a brown skinned man with a surprisingly impressive beard, which was dyed a bright blond colour.
"Hello students, as Miss Minamo said, I am Mr Zenka. I don't believe in playing the bad guy role just to try and inspire you to success. This is a very difficult examination, of which only the best of you will succeed in. This is an examination that both I and Miss Minamo have experienced and passed. I had to carry out this examination twice as a youngster" said Zenka.
The man was busy talking, but Tomo was paying little attention. Shortly after Zenka had started talking she had noticed that one of his index fingers was now just a stump, the end of the shortened finger a paler brown colour, scar tissue. She nudged Osaka and was busy trying to point it out, Osaka not knowing what the girl was trying to get at. Flustered, Tomo finally gave up, knowing it was a lost cause.
Tomo almost yelled out in surprise as Yomi jabbed her in the side. She turned to look at Yomi, about to ask the question of why. Yomi pointed forwards at the man.
"He is about to tell us the rules" she whispered.
"More rules?" groaned Tomo.
"And also what we are actually supposed to do for this exam" said Yomi.
"I suppose that is important to know" said Tomo grinning. "Be a bit silly not to know what to do."
"Yeah but the question is will you be able to do it?" said Yomi.
"Well ladies and gentlemen" said Zenka, "I want to welcome you to the forest of death, your home for the next few days. And now for your task…"
"Forest of death?" said Sakaki quietly to herself.
Two days later
It was slowly approaching dusk, a warm day coming to a warm end. It wasn't quite as hot as it had been at midday, but it had been growing increasingly humid as the day grew old. A small team of men sat, many of them grumbling. A short distance away stood a high fence, the gateway forced open. The broken lock lay discarded on the ground.
"Why are we waiting here?" asked one of the men angrily.
"Because Kuraigu told us to start our task when night fell. And I don't plan on going against his commands any time soon" replied the leader of the small group in a calm manner.
"Takaya, we should just go now!" replied the man. "This waiting will do no good!"
Takaya crouched down and looked the dissenter in the eyes. The man returned the stare, but he found himself trying not to turn away, not to show weakness. Takaya moved forward, getting his face right into the mans face.
"Go ahead; feel free to enter the forest of death. I haven't been hired as guide and leader for no reason" stated Takaya. "It is called the forest of death for a reason. The animals, the landscape, even some of the plant life can kill you. So go rushing in without me. However Kuraigu will not be happy that his flanking team is deprived of a fighter."
"Fine" said the man, turning away. Takaya stood back up, turning to the rest of the group.
"Get your weapons ready, we'll move out soon. The forest of death is a blind spot for the limited sentry, so we'll quickly make our way through and attack the rear of the village."
Two hours later
Tomo haphazardly held the scroll her team had been given. She'd lost track of time now, her and the other two members of the team searching for another team. She'd heard yelling every now and again, but as of yet had found another team.
She knew the rules…they would have to get the partner scroll of the one she held, to possess a set of both the heaven and the earth scroll. Then get to the tower at the centre of the forest. One of the main difficulties was that she wasn't allowed to look at what the scroll contained. And given the heat, and the fact she had almost been eaten by a gigantic snake (three times) she found it…
"This is so boring" groaned Tomo.
"Huwha?" asked Osaka who had been awoken from a slumber. She glanced around the surroundings, thinking they may have come under attack.
"There weren't enough teams for this to be any fun" complained Tomo, "It's too difficult to find anyone else to fight. We don't have any proper food either, so there's nothing to enjoy."
"Well we might be in a better condition when we enter the last day then people who had to fight all the time" said Sakaki. "Maybe" she added, turning away and blushing at having said so much. She fidgeted awkwardly; she had broken the silence and thought she had spoken a bit too loudly.
"And if we don't fight, we don't get hurt" added Osaka. "I'd like that."
"Well it would be good to avoid getting scars on my amazing body" said Tomo, advertising to boys who weren't actually present. "Though they'd still want to be with me anyway."
"Who was your last boyfriend?" asked Osaka, "I've never had one but you and Sakaki must have."
"Well, about those scrolls!" said Tomo loudly, as Sakaki flushed an even darker shade of pink. "I think we should try and find the other one so we can get out of this forest" she said, flicking away a large fly. Sakaki jumped out of the way as the large insect landed close to her foot.
"Eh" she said, shrinking back from it, as its slightly damaged wings fluttered wildly, and it moved around on the floor in a crazed manner. She continued to back away until standing close to Tomo.
"Well come on, lets go find a scroll" said Tomo, eager to move away from the boyfriend discussion, which she had been avoiding for several years.
"Can't we sleep?" asked Osaka.
"It is almost night" whispered Sakaki. "And we won't be able to see any of those things" she added, referring to most of the wildlife present in the forest.
"Well I suppose that is a good point…I am pretty tired" said Tomo yawning.
She was about to add something, when the sound of a distant bang rung out. In the distance disturbed birds flew up from the trees, a dark shadow in the grey sky. Tomo looked at Sakaki who was worried, as silence suddenly fell over the forest. Tomo moved forwards to where the sound had come from in the distance, before turning to the others.
"You did just hear that right?" she asked, Sakaki and Osaka nodding.
Arai marched forwards, feeling slightly nervous as he approached the gates, darkness illuminated by burning torches. Kuraigu walked slightly behind him, dressed in a cloak, head kept low. Arai called out to one of the guards who turned to face him. Arai waved once and the guard signalled for him to move closer. The guard marched forwards, stopping a short distance from Arai.
"Welcome" said the guard, "But if you are here to view the latter stage of the Chunin exam, you are a bit too early." The man spoke in an apologetic manner, he was use to dealing with angry travellers, merchants and tourists.
"No, no that's fine" said Arai, in a convincingly happy tone. "My master has come as he wishes to speak with the Lord Hokage."
"Really?" asked the guard.
"Yes. He has information regarding an attack planned to happen on this village. He wishes to speak with the Hokage, as out here in the open is dangerous…and though I mean you no insult, we can only trust the Hokage."
"We'll have to see what he has to say. Come with me- however a group of guards will have to escort you- as you have said, trust is an issue, but we mean no offense." The guard prepared himself, waiting for the usual tirade of do you know who I am?!
"Very well sir" replied Arai, "Please lead the way."