"Alright. To pass this exam, you must obtain both the Heaven Scroll and the Earth Scroll, and then make your way to the central tower with both in hand."
After finishing his explanation, Minato Namikaze began guiding the candidates into small curtained rooms to receive their scrolls.
This ensured that no one outside of their own team would know which scroll they had obtained.
"Now—begin the exam!"
Once everyone had received their scrolls, Minato, as the chief proctor, officially announced the start.
To prevent immediate bloodshed upon entry, each team was assigned a slightly different entrance point and timing.
Kiyoshi's group entered through a path on the left.
"We need to find the Earth Scroll."
Kurenai Yuhi held a scroll marked with the character "Heaven."
"No rush. Let's take a look around first."
Kiyoshi shook his head.
There was plenty of time.
This exam lasted five days.
Which meant Kiyoshi could act as freely as he pleased within this forest for five whole days.
The Forest of Death, with its towering ancient trees, severely obstructed visibility. Surveillance existed only within the central tower.
Otherwise, even if someone like Orochimaru turned the entire forest upside down, no one would be able to trace him—aside from rare coincidences like Anko encountering him.
"For now, head toward the central area."
Kiyoshi stepped forward.
Kurenai nodded, carefully storing the scroll.
Asuma took out his chakra blades just in case, and the three set off together.
...
A light spring rain had fallen the night before, leaving droplets clinging to the leaves of the towering trees.
For the candidates participating in the Chūnin Exams, however, this was nothing.
"Whether it's the Sharingan or the Byakugan, both are highly valuable to any village."
Maki stepped across the damp ground, glancing at Pakura and their other teammate.
During the previous exam, he had seen a Uchiha activate a Sharingan in his left eye—and several Hyuga clan members with Byakugan.
Unlike the Sharingan, the Byakugan was difficult to conceal and extremely noticeable.
"Of course."
Pakura replied softly.
She was one of the "ambitious" individuals within Sunagakure.
The Land of Wind was barren, lacking in natural resources. In terms of military, economy, and population, it lagged behind the other great nations.
If they wanted to change that reality, they needed to forge a path to strengthen and enrich their village.
"The Third Shinobi World War could very well be reignited by the stronger nations. These alliance treaties themselves threaten our survival."
Maki's eyes were filled with unwillingness.
Back when the Five Great Ninja Villages were first established, the First Kazekage had requested land instead of tailed beasts.
In the end, however, they had only received a small portion of fertile territory.
Meanwhile, the other villages occupied vast oases.
Sunagakure, on the other hand, was confined to the Land of Wind—a place of drought, with most of its land reduced to desert.
"I understand."
Pakura nodded.
The geographical limitations of their country made it unattractive to foreign ninja.
And their own development was heavily restricted by the scarcity of resources.
The only viable path—
Was to obtain bloodline limits.
This was a chaotic environment. If a ninja possessing a bloodline limit died here, no one would be able to trace it back to them.
All they needed to do was seal the corpse within a storage scroll, summon a contracted beast, hand over the scroll, and then dismiss the summoning.
No one would suspect a thing.
This method had been considered before.
But due to political tensions and alliance constraints, it had never been carried out.
Now, however, with friction rising between the great nations, any single move could trigger a chain reaction. Konoha could not possibly question all four other nations at once.
As long as they denied everything, it would be enough.
"There's a chakra… cold and ominous."
Boki Taro, who had been silent until now, pointed in a direction.
"Who is it?"
Pakura asked.
He shook his head.
He had never fought someone with such chakra before, so he couldn't identify them.
But that unique presence already hinted at the answer—
A ninja proficient in innate Yin Release.
"Possibly someone from the Yamanaka, Nara… or Uchiha clan."
Boki Taro said.
Skilled sensory ninja could perceive the "temperature" of chakra.
Those adept in Yang Release felt warm, like the sun.
Yin Release, on the other hand, carried a chilling sensation.
But from that person, he also sensed something… unsettling.
As if the chakra itself carried a sinister, almost demonic quality.
"The probability that it's an Uchiha is quite high."
He added after a moment.
"Let's go take a look."
Maki immediately decided.
If they could complete their objective here, they could withdraw early and return to Sunagakure.
The three moved swiftly toward the direction Boki Taro indicated.
...
"It's another Earth Scroll."
Kiyoshi grabbed someone by the collar and tossed them aside.
"Are you two alright?"
He turned back.
Kurenai's forehead was dotted with sweat, a few strands of her curled black hair clinging messily to her skin.
"I'm fine."
She took a breath.
"So this is what real combat feels like…"
Asuma wiped the blood off his chakra blades.
Not long after entering, they had encountered a team from a minor village that attacked without hesitation.
After a brief but intense clash, Kiyoshi's team emerged victorious.
"What about the rest of them?"
Asuma asked.
"Someone's coming."
Instead of answering, Kiyoshi shifted the topic.
From the distance, the rustling of bushes grew louder—
Then three figures emerged.
Pakura. Maki. Boki Taro.
Kurenai and Asuma's expressions sharpened as they immediately prepared for battle.
"Looks like we're lucky—it's an Uchiha."
Boki Taro grinned.
Half of his scalp was covered in hair, while the other half was bald, giving him an odd appearance.
"Hey, Uchiha. In front of the name of the Boki clan, you'd better surrender now."
"The Boki clan…"
Kiyoshi ignored him completely.
The Boki clan was nothing more than a minor ninja family from the Land of Wind. Their only distinction was their long-standing loyalty, which had once earned their clan princess a political matchmaking opportunity with the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara.
"Leave the Sand's Pakura to me. She's strong."
"Alright."
Kurenai nodded, understanding that this was the moment to trust Kiyoshi's judgment.
She had heard of Pakura—she rose to fame at a young age, completed high-difficulty missions, and was known as the 'Little Hero of the Sand'.
Even from a distance, Kurenai could feel Pakura's composed presence—and her powerful chakra.
"A trump card versus a trump card?"
Pakura smiled.
As expected of an Uchiha… she admired that arrogance.
But what she admired even more—
Was the Sharingan in Kiyoshi's eye.
She had seen it clearly during the exam.
The pattern had appeared in his left eye—but for some reason, only one.
Still, that didn't matter.
Even a single Sharingan… was still a Sharingan.