A cold wind passed through the clearing as the candidates gathered.
The examiner, Anko Mitarashi, looked at everyone with a grin.
"Before the second exam begins, you must sign these."
She held up a stack of consent forms.
"This is a liability waiver. The Chunin Exams can be deadly. If you die during the exam, the village will not be responsible."
Many candidates stiffened.
Anko then unfolded a map.
"This is the Forest of Death, Training Ground 44."
She pointed to the center.
"There's a tower here. Your goal is simple—survive and reach the tower within five days."
Anko raised two scrolls.
One was marked Heaven, the other Earth.
"Each team will start with one scroll. To pass the exam, your team must arrive at the tower with both the Heaven and Earth scrolls."
In other words, teams had to steal the missing scroll from another team.
Anko continued.
"If your team loses a member, or cannot reach the tower within five days, you fail."
She paused before adding one final rule.
"Do not open the scrolls before reaching the tower."
Her smile widened.
"Unless you want to find out what happens."
Finally, she waved toward the forest entrances.
"After signing the forms, collect your scroll and head to your assigned gate."
She looked at the candidates coldly.
"One last piece of advice."
"Try not to die."
---
Smeir's Target
Among the crowd, Smeir signed the consent form without hesitation.
As he looked around, his eyes quickly found his target.
A red-haired girl nervously holding her consent form.
It was Karin of Kusagakure.
"I don't want to sign this…" Karin muttered nervously.
Her teammates sighed helplessly.
Despite her fear, Karin eventually signed the document.
Smeir quietly memorized her appearance.
Chen Xing's order was clear.
If recruitment failed, he would collect her blood.
---
The Second Exam Begins
Ten minutes later, Anko shouted:
"Time's up!"
The iron gates of the forest entrances opened.
"Begin!"
Instantly, teams rushed into the forest.
The second exam had started.
---
Inside the Forest
At the same time, Chen Xing and Kakashi Hatake had already arrived at the central tower.
Chen Xing spread his perception across the forest, searching for one person.
Orochimaru.
Fortunately, Smeir's team avoided encountering him.
During the exam, Gaara and his team from Sunagakure quickly collected both scrolls and reached the tower within hours.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru secretly attacked Sasuke Uchiha and branded him with the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
---
The Hokage's Decision
Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi listened as Anko reported Orochimaru's appearance.
Despite the danger, Hiruzen made his decision.
"The exam will continue."
Stopping it now would damage Konoha's reputation among the allied villages.
"We'll monitor Orochimaru closely," Hiruzen said.
---
Five Days Later
Five days passed quickly.
The surviving teams gradually arrived at the tower.
Among them was the team from Celestial Village.
Inside the tower hall, the remaining candidates gathered.
Soon, Hiruzen Sarutobi entered with several jōnin, including Chen Xing.
Anko stepped forward.
"Congratulations on passing the second exam."
She turned respectfully.
"Lord Hokage, please explain the next stage."
Hiruzen stepped forward slowly.
"The true purpose of the Chunin Exams," he began, "is not only to select new chunin."
He looked at the gathered genin.
"These exams are also a demonstration of military strength between allied nations."
In other words—
A battlefield without war.
The third exam would soon begin.