(The Next Day)
All of the remaining teams made their way to the forest of death, feeling rather apprehensive at the name choice. Naruto walked over to where the other rookies from Konoha stood. Then in a puff of smoke, Anko appeared in front of the forest. She, and the examiners already there looked around and made sure all the teams were there. When they were sure, Anko started speaking, "Welcome to the forest of death. Soon you'll learn why it's called that."
Naruto snorted with disinterest, "Whatever. Just get this on with it already and quit wasting time."
Anko smiled at him before whipping out a kunai and throwing it at him, aiming to nick his cheek. Naruto stood there motionlessly and unfazed as the kunai ever slightly grazed his face before landing into the ground. He was about to thrust an elbow into Anko's gut as she had appeared behind him. But she just managed to catch the elbow before grabbing and holding him to her.
"I really like you," Anko said as she started licking his cheek that now had a small cut on it, "…Your type always dies first and leave behind that fresh delicious blood trail."
The Konoha Genins looked at the pair questionably as Anko continued licking his cheek a couple more times. They heard things about Anko's characteristics from their respective Jounin senseis after they learned that Naruto was paired with her. Ino and Hinata however wanted to go and strangle the older woman for what she was doing after remembering an incident that involved both her and their love interest back at the dango shop several months ago; but they knew that attacking the Special Jounin wouldn't end in their favor.
"Damn," Kiba muttered under his breath with a touch of lechery, "What I'd give to have that kind of attention and treatment."
This statement was rewarded with a hard smack to the back of his head in courtesy of Shino.
"OOW!," Kiba cried while rubbing the back of his head.
"Do keep such thoughts to yourself," Shino scolded before receiving a glare from the Inuzuka.
"Get off me," Naruto ordered, "You'll find that my blood is both toxic and potent to those who cross me the wrong way."
Anko brought her face closer to his ear and whispered, "Knock it off! You're ruining the dread I'm trying to instill in these weaklings!"
"Whatever," Naruto retorted.
"I have something special planned for you," Anko whispered as she licked his cheek one last time before she disappeared and reappeared next to a booth where two of the other examiners sat.
"This portion of the exam is a field exam. All of you will be inside this forest for five days," Anko started but was interrupted by a distressed Chouji as he asked, "What? What about food?"
"Hunt," Anko answered, "The forest is full of food."
This'll be a breeze, Naruto thought, Hunting for food was something ero-jisan taught me. And facing off against these rookie Genins for survival won't be much of a challenge to me.
"As I was saying, all of you will be staying in the forest. Getting these scrolls your objective," Anko said and held up two scrolls, one of them brown and with the kanji for 'earth' on it, and one white with the kanji for 'heaven.'
"Each team gets one of these, and you're to get the opposite from an opposing team. By any means," Anko said and held up a bunch of papers.
"These are release forms. Sign them, and exchange them for the scroll in this booth," Anko said and started passing out the forms, "You have twenty minutes to consider whether or not you'll risk your lives here and sign the forms. Then come one team at a time."
"So," Naruto stated as a matter of fact, "Killing is allowed in this part of the exam. It won't be my first time though I should try not to end more lives than I already have."
Sasuke and Sakura glared at him while Sai looked at him with a neutral expression. The other Konoha Genins looked at Naruto again as they wondered when exactly did he do what he said he did and how many he killed already.
"I'm sure you know," Sakura scolded, "That the rest of us haven't killed yet. It won't be as easy for us as it will be for you."
In truth, Sakura wasn't really into the killing part seeing that she was more book smart than she was action-wise.
"Just sign the forms and get your scroll," Naruto retorted. The Genins went to sign the forms and get their scrolls. After Naruto signed the form and got a heaven scroll, Anko pulled Naruto to the side. She smiled menacingly and said, "Like I said, something different has been planned for you."
Naruto didn't like the look on her face. He sensed that whatever it was that was planned for him was anything but what he'll enjoy. Naruto's attention soon was drawn elsewhere, in particular, to the female Genin from Kusagakure (Hidden Grass). Something about that Genin sent a vibe through the blond shinobi that didn't sit well with him.
After a couple of moments, all of the Genin teams had their respective scrolls.
"Finally, everyone have their scrolls. Now, let me explain the terrain and goal of this exam," Anko said before unrolling a chart showing the forest of death. Training area 44, best known as the forest of death, was surrounded by high fences with warning signs and do not enter signs. The trees of the forest itself were huge, and very dark. All of which Naruto already knew about.
"The fence around the forest has 44 gates," Anko shouted as she explained, "In which you will pass through. In the center of the forest, about six miles from the gates, there is a tower. All of you must make your way there within five days with both scrolls. You have been each assigned a gate number. Go to your assigned gate and wait for it to open. That will be the start of the second exam."
The Genins hurried to their gates. Naruto however was held back by Anko. Before long the Genins were allowed through the gates and into the infamous forest. After all of the Genins were gone, Naruto was left with Anko.
"Anko-chan," Naruto asked, "Why wasn't I allowed into the forest?"
"You're already familiar with those sectors of the forest, you already know where the tower is and you're a lot stronger than most know," Anko answered, "Therefore you'd have an unfair advantage over the others, as would any other team if you were paired with them. You're in a team of your own. Besides, I have a more interesting sector of the forest to place you in…a sector that very few know exist."
"And what sector would that be," Naruto inquired. Anko grinned a particular sinister smile at him, which surprisingly sent a cold chill down his back…
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