The second stage of the Chunin Exams began with a chilling address from Anko Mitarashi, the proctor. Her grin was predatory, her aura one of barely contained savagery. "Welcome, Genin, to the Forest of Death! Here, you will be tested on your true survival skills!" She explained the Heaven and Earth Scroll objective, the five-day time limit, and the grim reality: fatalities were expected. Her final words, "Don't get killed," echoed in the tense silence, a morbid promise of the trials ahead.
Team 11 received our scroll – a Heaven Scroll. Our mission was clear: acquire an Earth Scroll and reach the central tower. As we entered through Gate 12, the massive metal doors clanged shut behind us, sealing us within a sprawling, dangerous labyrinth. The air immediately felt heavier, thick with the scents of damp earth, decay, and the faint tang of wild animals.
Maito Gai-sensei's parting words, delivered with a dramatic thumbs-up, were still fresh: "Go forth, my youthful students! Face this challenge with the burning passion of Konoha's green beast!"
Akio, usually boisterous, was subdued, his eyes darting nervously into the dense foliage. Ren moved with her typical quiet grace, but her hand instinctively went to her kunai pouch. My own Three-Tomoe Sharingan was immediately active, though its crimson glow was a private sight. The forest transformed. Every rustle of leaves, every snapped twig, every faint chakra signature within a hundred-meter radius became a discernible data point. The visual information was immense, but my enhanced control allowed me to filter, to focus on anomalies.
"Stay close," I murmured, my voice low and steady, pulling them slightly away from a cluster of giant leeches hanging from a low branch. My Sharingan had spotted their microscopic chakra threads. Akio shuddered.
Our immediate priority was survival and acquiring an Earth Scroll. I used my Three-Tomoe Sharingan to scan for weaker teams, or those who might inadvertently reveal their scroll type. My analytical mind, coupled with my heightened perception, processed patterns of movement and chakra signatures. We needed to avoid the overtly aggressive teams, like the Sound Genin I'd seen (and felt the ominous chakra of) at the written exam, or the intimidating Sand Siblings.
My primary objective, however, remained the "Rogue Network Interdiction" follow-up. The serpent pendant from the captured rogue (Chapter 22) and the chakra signature of their encrypted communications were burned into my memory. In the chaos of the Forest of Death, they wouldn't be able to hide.
It didn't take long. My Three-Tomoe Sharingan picked out the familiar chakra signature, subtly different from standard ninja, yet unmistakably from Mizuki's network. It was coming from deeper within the forest. I subtly guided Akio and Ren in that direction, feigning an interest in a rare plant.
I found them: the lanky boy with the serpent tattoo (from Chapter 23), accompanied by two other Genin from an unknown village. They were moving stealthily, setting up a crude ambush for a passing team, clearly targeting their scrolls. They moved with a chilling efficiency, almost like trained predators. Their chakra flow, when observed with my Sharingan, revealed a cold, calculating intent. They weren't just after scrolls; they were actively trying to eliminate competition, perhaps even capture a key individual.
I watched, hidden by a dense thicket, allowing Akio and Ren to scout ahead on their own. The rogue cell executed their ambush, swiftly overwhelming a bewildered Rain Village team. They weren't fighting for the sake of the exam; they were fighting with a dark purpose. They swiftly took both scrolls, then dissolved back into the shadows. Their movements were too fluid, too coordinated for mere Genin. They had received specialized training, likely from Mizuki's higher-ups.
New Mission Unlocked: Rogue Cell Elimination Objective: Neutralize the identified rogue cell within the Forest of Death. Gather information on their immediate objectives. Reward: 100 EP, Stealth (Skill Points), Infiltration (Skill Points), Combat Skill (Major Boost). Status: Pending.
The System was adapting to the new reality. My mission was no longer just about identifying them; it was about taking them down. This was a direct threat, and an opportunity for significant power. But I couldn't risk revealing my full power to Akio and Ren.
As we continued, Ren suddenly held up a hand. "Team ahead. Looks like... Team 7."
My heart quickened. I peered through the foliage with my Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Indeed. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. They looked battered, covered in dirt and scratches, but they were alive. And Sasuke... I sensed a different, darker chakra signature clinging to him. Orochimaru. He had already marked Sasuke. A cold certainty settled within me. My timeline was holding.
I quickly assessed their situation. They seemed to have just survived a major encounter, likely with Orochimaru. They had their scrolls. I decided to avoid them. My immediate focus needed to be on the rogue cell, and ensuring my own team passed. Team 7's path, though dangerous, was set.
A few hours later, my Three-Tomoe Sharingan detected a weak, exhausted chakra signature nearby. It was a lone Genin from the Grass Village, clutching a Heaven Scroll. Perfect. He was clearly injured, having just escaped a more powerful team.
"Akio, Ren," I whispered, pointing to a faint rustle. "Someone's there. Injured. Looks like they have a scroll."
We approached carefully. The Genin was barely conscious. Akio, ever compassionate, immediately moved to help him. Ren, pragmatic, checked his scroll. It was a Heaven Scroll. We already had one.
"We need an Earth Scroll," Ren stated.
My Three-Tomoe Sharingan saw it: a faint, almost invisible pouch strapped to the inside of the injured Genin's leg. It contained another scroll. An Earth Scroll. He had taken it from another defeated team, and was trying to hide it.
"He might have another," I murmured, feigning a careful observation. "A hidden one. Maybe he picked it up from someone else."
Ren, surprised, quickly checked the hidden pouch. Her eyes widened. "He does! An Earth Scroll!"
We carefully took the Earth Scroll, leaving the Heaven Scroll with the injured Genin. We applied basic first aid to him, then quietly moved on, leaving him to be found by the proctors or another team that might spare him. It was a clean acquisition, achieved with minimal effort and without unnecessary violence, thanks to my enhanced perception.
Skill Progress: Perception (Elevated Perception -> Superior Perception)
With both scrolls in hand, our next objective was the central tower. But my gaze was fixed on the direction the rogue cell had taken. The Chunin Exams had truly begun, and my role as the unseen hunter had just become infinitely more dangerous and critical. The fight against Mizuki's spreading shadow had entered its decisive phase.
End of chapter 24