A black-haired man in a green flak jacket, Konoha forehead protector shining on his brow, held a clipboard as he read aloud the rules:
"The rules are simple."
"Before entering the forest, each team will receive either a Heaven or Earth scroll."
"You must obtain the opposite scroll and bring both to the central tower."
"The time limit is twenty-four hours."
"Your mission: gather intelligence, evade enemy-nin acting as opposing forces, survive traps, beasts, poisonous insects, and other hazards that may appear in this simulated battlefield."
"If you trigger a trap, ANBU patrolling the area will remove you from the exam. Your qualification will be invalidated."
Akimoto finished his explanation, sweeping his gaze across the thirty genin forming ten remaining teams.
"This may be a simulation, but treat this mission as a real B-rank… even A-rank assignment."
"And remember—this is Konoha. Competition is allowed, but killing is strictly forbidden."
"Any questions?"
The genin exchanged glances.
"No!"
"Good." Akimoto nodded and signaled to the side.
Assistants stepped forward carrying stacks of documents—the life-and-death consent forms.
Mikoto blinked at the contract in her hands.
"Didn't he say killing isn't allowed? Why do we have to sign something like this?"
Kaito casually signed his name, capped the pen, and replied:
"Because real ninja combat always carries the risk of accidents. A chūnin must be prepared for missions with high mortality. This is a psychological test as much as a legal precaution."
"Ohh, so that's why!" Yakushi Nonō nodded and signed immediately.
Might Duy puffed out his chest.
"For youth! We will never shrink back from danger!"
He scribbled his name with fiery passion.
Mikoto signed quietly.
Kaito looked at the form again and muttered internally:
Yep. Being a genin really does come with the most freedom… Chūnin? Even dogs wouldn't take that job.
This agreement mainly existed so that if a genin was injured, crippled, or killed during the exam, there would be no lawsuits from family members.
Konoha would provide medical treatment for injuries, but permanent damage couldn't always be healed.
Compared to the Bloody Mist—where full classes were slaughtered in examinations—or Iwa, which sent thousands of genin to get "sparring practice" with the Raikage…
Konoha's system was downright humane.
Soon, all teams finished signing.
Proctors escorted each squad to their assigned forest entrances.
Kaito followed the familiar path and stopped in front of a large red number:
11
"…This damn hole again. I really don't want to crawl through this thing," he said, face flattening into dead-fish mode.
"The locations are assigned randomly," the proctor said as he unlocked the gate.
"You've taken this exam a lot, haven't you? What was your name again…?"
Shiranui Unma grinned devilishly and wrapped an arm around Kaito's shoulder.
"You don't know him? This is Kaito—the Six-Year Genin! The rightful heir to the Eternal Genin throne!"
"Pfft—!" Yūhi Ryūun burst out laughing on the spot.
The proctor snapped his fingers. "Right! I knew you looked familiar."
While fiddling with the lock, he said:
"Being a ninja is dangerous. At a certain age, growth slows. Switching professions can be better for someone like you."
Kaito shook his head.
"No. I'm becoming a chūnin. Even if I stay a genin forever, I'll reach chūnin through my own strength."
The proctor paused, turned back, and sighed internally.
Another kid who hasn't seen the cruelty of the ninja world yet… if it were an easy job, half the population would sign up.
He checked his watch.
"One minute until noon. When the time hits, you may enter."
A command crackled through his earpiece.
Akimoto's voice.
The proctor raised his hand—
"Begin!"
Swoosh—Swoosh—Swoosh!
Team Eleven sprinted past him like three energetic deer.
The proctor watched them go with nostalgic eyes.
Ah… youth.
He closed the gate behind them.
Entrance 44
Team Eleven charged in excitedly.
This stage stirred something fierce and hot in their chests—the thrill of real combat.
They dashed across branches.
Thud—thud—thud—
Branches whipped past. The world blurred around them.
A forest viper lunged from a branch—but Nonō dodged just in time.
"W-Whoa! That scared me!"
"That snake almost bit me!"
Might Duy said seriously,
"This exam won't be easy. Stay alert at all times."
Just as they were about to burst out of the thick foliage—
A sudden flash of light struck Mikoto's eyes.
But her Sharingan-enhanced perception caught something vital.
"STOP!"
The three landed on a branch six or seven tree lengths from the bright clearing.
Cold sweat dripped down Mikoto's cheek.
"There's a cliff ahead."
"WHAT?!" x2
They dropped down and examined the area carefully.
Just before stepping out of the forest—
A thin wire glimmered in the air.
Mikoto lifted a hand, halting both teammates.
She stepped lightly onto the tree trunk and examined the wire's connection point.
Above the branches hung a fist-sized white object.
"Is this a rockfall trap?" Duy asked.
Nonō shook her head.
"No. This is similar to the trap I set for Kaito-sensei once. It's probably a knock-out gas bomb."
Mikoto jumped down.
"Let's go around."
They moved toward the slope.
Below them stretched a vast expanse of dense forest.
This wasn't a cliff—it was a mountain ridge.
Mikoto analyzed the situation:
"They made the start deceptively easy to lower vigilance. Then used harsh sunlight to blind exiting teams, making them walk straight into the trap."
"Very clever."
This was a trap specifically designed for shinobi who moved through treetops.
Nonō approached the edge and gulped.
"How do we get down…? This must be at least two hundred meters."
"Use rope first," Mikoto suggested, taking out a coil.
"It conserves chakra and prevents accidents."
But Nonō frowned suddenly.
"Wait! We shouldn't rush down. We're at a high vantage point—perfect for scouting."
She dropped flat and peeked over the ledge.
"Let's observe the surroundings first and locate the scroll-holders."
Duy immediately mirrored her pose.
"Right! Smart thinking, Nonō!"
"Okay," Mikoto agreed,
"But stay alert. Teams from the other entrances might be approaching."
"I'll keep watch!" Duy volunteered.
"I'll guard Duy," Nonō said.
"Mikoto, your Sharingan has the best range—do the spotting."
"Then it's decided."
Elsewhere
"AAAAAAHHHHH—!!"
Shiranui Unma and Yūhi Ryūun: "...…"
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