(Forest of Death)
Ibiki Morino, the intimidating proctor with a bandana covering his scars, spoke in his usual calm but menacing tone:
> "It's not just half… I expect more than half of you will be eliminated. Considering bad luck, ambushes, and the need to steal scrolls from other teams, I estimate that less than one-third of you will make it to the tower."
Ten minutes later, Chen Xing's team received their scroll — the Scroll of Earth — and headed toward the designated gate at the edge of Training Ground 44, better known as the Forest of Death.
Anko Mitarashi, the second examiner, stood before the gathered teams, a playful but dangerous smirk on her lips.
> "I announce that the second exam… begins now!"
With her command, over twenty heavy iron gates creaked open simultaneously. The contestants from various villages darted into the dense, dangerous forest, disappearing into the shadows of the giant trees.
---
Chen Xing led Bai and Tiexing cautiously through the forest.
"Chen Xing-nii, what should we do next?" Tiexing asked, scratching his head as he glanced at the Scroll of Earth in Chen Xing's hand.
"Don't worry," Chen Xing replied calmly, "let's find the nearest team first."
Closing his eyes, Chen Xing spread his perception outward like an invisible web — sensing faint chakra fluctuations nearby.
Moments later, he opened his eyes, grabbed Bai and Tiexing by their shoulders, and with a swift burst of chakra, purple wings of energy spread from his back. In an instant, he vanished into the treetops, flying toward the nearest enemy team.
---
About six hundred meters away, a team from the Hidden Rain Village (Amegakure) was advancing cautiously under the drizzle summoned by their chakra. The leader, carrying a metal umbrella, suddenly froze when Chen Xing's group landed in front of them.
"Star ninja…?" the Ame-nin muttered in surprise.
"Be careful," his teammate warned. "This guy's chakra is dangerous!"
"Tell me," Chen Xing said coolly, "do you have the Scroll of Heaven or Earth? Don't waste my time."
One of the Ame-nin leaped into the air, twirling his umbrella to unleash a volley of senbon needles.
"Hey— I wasn't finished talking," Chen Xing said, appearing before him in a blur.
"BOOM!"
A thunderous impact echoed as Chen Xing's kick sent the Rain ninja crashing through several thick trees, followed almost instantly by two more heavy thuds — his teammates following the same fate.
---
"It's so powerful…" Iron Star muttered in awe. Even though he had seen Chen Xing fight before, his movements were so fast that even the Byakugan-like focus of Bai could barely follow them.
Chen Xing calmly retrieved a scroll from the unconscious Rain-nin, smirked, and said, "Perfect. It's the Scroll of Heaven. Let's go."
With both Heaven and Earth scrolls in hand, the trio sped toward the central tower.
---
Three hours later, Chen Xing, Bai, and Tiexing arrived before the tower in the center of the Forest of Death — setting what would later be recognized as a record-breaking time.
Inside the tower, Anko Mitarashi was startled when she saw them.
> "Three hours? You've got to be kidding me! No one's ever made it here that fast!"
News of their early arrival quickly reached the Hokage's Office, where Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi watched through the Crystal Ball of Clairvoyance.
"Three hours… impressive," he murmured, exhaling a cloud of smoke from his pipe.
Kakashi, standing nearby, nodded slightly. "He's faster than I expected."
Even Might Guy, in his usual green jumpsuit, leaned forward in surprise. "Yosh! So that's the 'Peacock King' Kakashi mentioned! Such youth… such speed!"
---
Meanwhile, deep beneath the village in a dark Root ANBU base, Shimura Danzō struck his cane against the ground in anger, cracking the tiles.
"Three hours to reach the tower…" he muttered darkly. "That little brat is growing faster than expected."
His subordinate, trembling before him, stammered, "Lord Danzō…"
"Leave me," Danzō ordered coldly.
Once alone, his single visible eye narrowed as he tapped his cane against the floor.
> "I can't touch him now — not within Konoha. But once he leaves the village…"
His voice trailed off into a cold sneer that echoed through the chamber.
---
Five days passed. The number of teams that reached the tower was drastically reduced — only six teams, a total of eighteen genin, managed to complete the exam.
After the briefing, Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared again to explain the next phase, his speech long enough that Chen Xing almost dozed off if not for Anko nudging him awake.
> "I'm Sarutobi Asuma of the Twelve Guardian Ninja," said a man with an unlit cigarette in his mouth as he stepped forward. "I'll explain the rules for the third exam."
It surprised Chen Xing — he hadn't expected Asuma to serve as proctor this time.
> "Before we begin, I'll give you the option to withdraw. Passing the second exam already proves your skill as a shinobi," Asuma continued.
Chen Xing rolled his eyes slightly. "Just get to the point…" he muttered under his breath.
---
Out of the remaining teams, Kabuto Yakushi — the white-haired genin from earlier — had already withdrawn. His two teammates followed him, which puzzled Chen Xing.
"Now," Asuma concluded, "there are thirteen contestants left. The third exam will begin in one month, using free-for-all match format. Even your teammate might become your enemy."
"Free-for-all?" Chen Xing raised an eyebrow. He remembered that in the future, the format would shift to individual one-on-one battles. This change was unexpected — but intriguing.
---