Forest of Death.
The venue for the second stage of the Chunin exam selection.
Konoha has never changed the location of the second exam, and there's nowhere more suitable for testing the comprehensive abilities of Genin teams in the wild.
Just like the name of this venue, the Forest of Death contains life-threatening dangers, including the hazardous forest environment and the beasts that lurk everywhere...
As well as...
The competitors who may appear at any time.
All eyes on the scene would fall on two individuals.
One is Akihara Kagura, and the other is Uchiha Itachi. These two ten-year-olds are participating in the exam alone, the only candidates exempted from the first round.
Other Genin worked hard to pass the first written test, yet these two brats were waiting at the exam venue without having to take the test, which felt a bit unfair.
"That kid..."
"Is there something special about him?"
"Never seen him, never heard of him."
"Why does it feel like Uchiha Itachi and that kid are at odds... Could he also be a genius like Uchiha Itachi?"
"Hard to say..."
"After all, being allowed to take the Chunin exam alone with the village's high-level approval, he surely isn't a simple kid..."
"That kid is the one who tricked us into changing exam venues!"
Suddenly, this sentence was blurted out among the Genin candidates, causing a stir and all eyes were full of discontent as they looked towards Akihara Kagura.
"Hey, you kid..."
"It was me."
Akihara Kagura smiled and admitted what he did, extending his hand and inviting: "Welcome... Feel free to trouble me."
"Don't get too cocky, kid..."
A few obviously troublesome guys stepped forward.
Fortunately.
The examiner for the second stage stopped this conflict.
The examiner's name is Yamashiro Aoba, dressed in Konoha's Special Jonin green uniform, with sunglasses on his face.
Yamashiro Aoba glanced at the group of Genin looking to cause trouble, and softly spoke: "If you want to fight, there's plenty of time once you enter the exam venue."
"Even…"
Yamashiro Aoba raised a thick stack of papers in his hand and continued: "After signing this 'Consent Form,' even if you accidentally kill your opponents in the exam, no one will hold you responsible afterward."
"Of course."
"Anyone who signs this 'Consent Form' will be entirely responsible for their own safety should any accidents occur during the exam."
"Examiner."
Akihara Kagura smilingly raised his hand and asked: "Does that mean killing is allowed in the second stage of the exam?"
"..."
Yamashiro Aoba frowned in thought.
Every year in the Chunin exams, some arrogant ones think they can excel within the test, only to die in their arrogance afterward.
Even geniuses...
Can fall in the Forest of Death.
However, Yamashiro Aoba isn't a mad ninja by nature. His disposition is somewhat timid, and after thinking for a bit, he nodded.
"Technically, yes."
Yamashiro Aoba looked at the young boy and advised softly: "The most important part of this exam is competition, apart from testing your survival skills in the wild."
"Even if you manage to obtain the tools for passing from competitors, you might not avoid the forest's dangers to reach the exam's end..."
"The rules for the second stage of the Chunin exam are quite simple..."
"The Heaven and Earth Scroll battle; all participating Genin teams will receive two different scrolls: Heaven Scroll and Earth Scroll;"
"Within the span of five days, every team must find a way to survive in the Forest of Death and seize scrolls from other teams, to gather both Heaven and Earth Scrolls. Within the exam venue, there are no restrictions on using any means against competitors."
"Victory condition is just one."
"A team must have both Heaven and Earth Scrolls concurrently within the stipulated five days and reach the end point at the tower where the examiner is."
"There are many elimination conditions though."
"First, any team failing to carry both scrolls to the end within five days will have all members eliminated."
"Second, situations where a team lacks members or members are unable to act, meaning to be a winning team, all members must reach the end."
"Third, any team violating the rule by opening the Heaven or Earth Scroll before reaching the end tower, because once you become a Chunin, you might contact highly confidential files, testing your confidentiality skills."
"A friendly reminder."
"Violating the rule by opening the scroll mid-exam may lead to bizarre occurrences."
"Also."
"To give you time to adapt."
"All present examinees will enter the venue from several different entrances."
"This exam will definitely eliminate more than half of the teams, I hope everyone takes care, I await the winners at the end tower."
"..."
The candidates quickly began to bustle.
Uchiha Itachi's gaze remained unchanged; he meticulously organized his ninja pouch, because he promised his father he would pass the Chunin exam.
Akihara Kagura's expression didn't change much either, just lowering his head to sign the 'Consent Form,' seemingly indifferent to the dangers he might encounter in the Forest of Death.
Many set their sights on Uchiha Itachi and Akihara Kagura, the two youths, since both count as a team, each holding a scroll.
Compared to competing with other teams, the odds of a single person being overwhelmed by three seem better; however, there are too many fixated on those two brats...
Like wolves with insufficient prey...
But.
Some people focus on different concerns.
"Where do we get supplies?"
A chubby guy loudly questioned Yamashiro Aoba.
Yamashiro Aoba responded seriously to the question: "In wild survival, the Forest of Death has abundant resources, should be enough for you to be self-sufficient."
"..."
The Genin present felt these were minor issues.
After all, they've executed missions externally and learned wilderness survival skills, such small matters are no big deal.
Perhaps...
Only one person might consider this a problem.
Akihara Kagura frowned and began pondering life, somewhat wishing he could ask if a Genin team wanted to act as chefs, he could lead them to victory.
Akihara Kagura can fish but isn't proficient at cooking fish.
Until now, Akihara Kagura never needed to worry about cooking, back at the experimental base, Orochimaru always kept him well-fed.
Later, in the Root Organization, the Root base also had its dining hall, though the food might not have tasted great, but enough not to starve.
Akihara Kagura glanced at the Genin present.
Though he can't cook, surely he can find ways to secure food? The resources in the Forest of Death are ample enough for self-sufficiency, surely something edible can be found.