The remaining Genin in the examination room collectively exhaled in relief upon learning they had passed the first round of the Chunin Exams.
Well—except for Uchiha Saya, Kisame, and Maruboshi Kosuke.
Just as Kurenai was about to congratulate them, four kunai shattered the examination room window, embedding themselves in the blackboard. The kunai carried with them a black cloth banner that unfurled, covering Kurenai's earlier writing. Bold, flamboyant kanji streaked across it:
"Second Test — Scroll Battle, Location: Forest of Death!"
A moment later, a lithe figure in a khaki trench coat flew through the broken window, landing gracefully in front of the podium.
"Alright, brats! Don't get too comfy celebrating your first win!"
"Because what's coming next is far more brutal!"
"Grab your ninja tools and follow me!"
"Get the scroll! Grab the scroll! Move, move, move!"
While many Genin were still frozen in confusion, Naruto was already fired up by Anko Mitarashi's fiery entrance and booming voice.
"Whoa! What a badass big sister! Let's go, let's go! Get the scroll! Grab the scroll!" he shouted, fists pumping.
Kurenai stood off to the side, quietly pressing her palm to her forehead as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her expression seemed to say: I don't know this woman.
Noticing Kurenai's expression, Anko threw an arm around her and pressed her cheek right up against Kurenai's face, nuzzling affectionately.
"Heyyy~ C'mon, adorable little Kurenai, don't be so stiff~"
"We're besties! No need to act all distant~"
Kurenai quickly shoved her off, brushing her wrinkled clothes back into place and clearing her throat.
"Ahem. Anko, try to act professional."
She cast a quick glance toward the surveillance camera.
Catching that look, Anko turned to the camera and immediately pulled a face—eyes crossed, tongue out, a complete mockery of decorum.
Uchiha Saya, watching from the screen, didn't even know how to react.
Figures… anyone who hung around Orochimaru too long ends up at least a little unhinged…
Under Anko's command, the gathered Genin were led to the massive gates of the Forest of Death.
What lay before them was a monstrous expanse of towering trees and thick, suffocating foliage. A three-meter-high iron fence encircled the forest, but its presence offered little comfort—it looked more symbolic than functional.
Anko stepped up to a makeshift registration table, slamming down a thick stack of papers.
"Alright, my little cuties! Time to sign your death waivers!"
Naruto blinked. "Death... waivers?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
In a flash, Anko appeared in front of him, forming a V with her index and middle fingers and tapping them against Naruto's forehead protector.
"Exactly what it sounds like, kid."
She turned back toward the crowd—over two hundred Genin from different villages.
"For this test, you'll be entering the Forest of Death through separate gates, in batches."
"Each team will receive a single scroll before entering. There are three kinds—Heaven, Earth, and Human. But we'll only be handing out Heaven and Earth scrolls."
"To acquire the Human Scroll, you'll need to bring both a Heaven and an Earth scroll to the tower at the center of the forest and exchange them."
"The Heaven and Earth scrolls are forbidden to open. The Human Scroll, however, can be opened—it contains a healing serum developed here in Konoha."
"Only those who manage to gather all three scrolls—Heaven, Earth, and Human—and reach the central tower will pass the second round."
She grinned darkly.
"In other words… there will be blood."
"If you die in there… too bad."
She slapped the stack of waivers onto the table and gave the Genin a look of exaggerated sympathy.
"Make your choice. There's still time to quit."
"If you're not quitting, then sign on the dotted line and get your damn scroll."
With that, she disappeared into a nearby tent to wait.
Naruto looked visibly unsettled after her explanation—not for himself, but for Sakura.
Despite his usual antics, Naruto wasn't stupid. He knew he and Sasuke were strong enough to compete. But Sakura…
If things turned ugly, could he protect her?
While many teams stood frozen in uncertainty, Uchiha Saya, Gaara, Yutaka, Kurotsuchi, Omoi, and Hydrangea stepped forward without hesitation, leading their teams to sign the waivers.
They weren't ordinary Genin.
All of them, except Saya's team, had been eligible for promotion long ago—but they had intentionally delayed it just to take part in this high-stakes Chunin Exam.
Without wasting a second, they sprinted toward Anko's tent, eager to get a head start.
Everyone knew—the earlier you entered the Forest of Death, the greater the advantage.
But just as Gaara reached for the tent flap, the world around him suddenly shifted to crimson.
His body—nailed in place by massive stone spikes—froze.
The illusion shattered an instant later, as Shukaku flared up inside him, pumping chakra through his body to dispel the Genjutsu.
"W-What?!"
"A Mangekyō… during the Chunin Exams?!"
"AHHH!"
Shukaku's scream of pure panic shook Gaara to his core.
He had never heard the Tailed Beast sound afraid—not ever.
When the illusion faded, Gaara blinked and looked up, stunned.
A tall kunoichi with long, flowing black hair—several years older and far more imposing than him—walked past, lifting the tent curtain casually as she passed.
"I'm sorry," she said coldly, without looking back.
"But I'm not giving up first place."
With that, she stepped into the tent.
Behind her, Kisame and Maruboshi Kosuke appeared, calmly blocking Gaara's path.
Kisame grinned, showing his shark-like teeth.
"Hey, kid. You've got something interesting sealed inside you too, huh?"
"But you're not quite ready to face us yet. Be patient."
Kosuke gave a raspy chuckle.
"Even though I'm an old man, if Miss Saya wants to go first, then I'll gladly haul these bones of mine around for her sake."
"You young ones can wait your turn."
Gaara clenched his fists as a wave of killing intent rose within him… but he didn't act.
There was something off about these two.
The old man with the oversized cooking pot had chakra that radiated quiet lethality. And the fish-eyed man… his chakra was a bottomless sea.
Even Shukaku had gone silent, deeply unsettled.
"…Tch."
Gaara scoffed and stepped aside, choosing instead to wait in silence.
Temari and Kankuro glanced at each other in shock.
They had never seen Gaara back down from anyone—until now.
But even Gaara seemed to understand… going berserk only worked if you had the power to match.
And right now?
The Chunin Exams were brimming with monsters hiding behind Genin headbands.
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Send Power Stones
Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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