63 - We Passed the Exam Just Like That?
As the open area outside the exam site finally filled with examinees,
The second stage of this unprecedentedly large Chunin Exam officially began.
The rules remained unchanged from what would later be seen in Shippuden, though the timing had been slightly adjusted.
Each team received a scroll—either Heaven, Earth, or Man—and had two days to collect all three and reach the endpoint tower to pass the exam.
At minimum, a third of the participants would be eliminated.
As the exam started, all examinees entered through eight different entrances in batches.
Team Minato received the [Man] scroll.
By a small stream in the Forest of Death, the three gathered, discussing their strategy for this exam.
They were among the first batch to enter, and the Forest of Death wasn't crowded yet.
They had plenty of time to plan.
"There's a chance they'll team up. If a fight breaks out, I'll suppress with ninjutsu, Obito watches my back, and Kakashi finishes them off."
"If things go south, same old drill—I'll cover the rear, Kakashi, you take the scroll and split with Obito in two directions."
"Be extra careful when we reach this area."
Yuto Souta pointed at a crude map he'd drawn, circling the endpoint near the tower.
"Especially at night—this place will definitely be crawling with people looking to ambush. Unless we're charging in, it's best not to approach."
Yuto Souta's plan sounded cautious.
Though the rewards for defeating enemies were tempting, he maintained a baseline of rationality.
Because the moment they stepped into the Forest of Death...
In this massive exam site with nearly 400 examinees, everyone would be his enemy.
Not just ninjas from enemy villages.
The ones from his own village were the real ones to watch out for!
After all, defeating allies doubled the rewards...
Yuto Souta was fully prepared to be hunted by every examinee...
At this moment, indiscriminate hunting mode: activated!
...
In a corner of the Forest of Death,
Three young ninjas wearing Iwa headbands moved slowly forward.
Their pace was deliberate, and their formation—front, middle, back—showed clear intent.
The Iwa ninja in the middle carried their exam scroll and was also the team's sensory specialist.
Suddenly,
The sensory Iwa in the middle raised a hand, making a subtle gesture.
The other two instantly understood, and the trio quickly concealed themselves in the nearby trees.
Soon after,
Another team approached.
Wearing Mist headbands, they moved at a similarly slow pace, their formation noticeably sloppy.
It even seemed like the three members of this team were wary of each other!
The Mist Village, also known as the Bloody Mist.
The iron-fisted policies of the Fourth Mizukage had ingrained a deep distrust of teammates in Mist ninjas.
Hm... the prey's scent had vanished.
"This dry climate makes tracking such a pain!"
One of the Mist ninjas grumbled irritably.
The three Iwa ninjas hiding in the trees tensed, their eyes narrowing!
From what they were saying... had the three of them been tracked this whole time?
Even with their sensory ninja cautiously scanning the way?
The trio exchanged a quick glance in the shadows.
Hide! Abort the ambush!
These Mist ninjas were probably more than they could handle!
"Well, since we can't track the prey and get their scroll, how about this one we've got..."
"Time to switch who's holding it, huh?"
Another Mist ninja said with a strange tone.
The atmosphere among the three Mist ninjas instantly chilled.
And the three Iwa ninjas hiding in the trees felt a surge of glee!
Infighting! Infighting!
Hurry up and fight!
"Didn't we agree each of us would hold one? What, you can't hold back already?"
The first Mist ninja snapped, displeased.
But before his words fully landed, one of the Mist ninjas lunged!
"My blade's been itching to cut someone!"
With a savage roar,
The three Mist ninjas erupted into a brawl.
The sounds of ninjutsu and clashing metal rang out incessantly.
Their chaotic skirmish gradually moved farther away...
After a long while,
When the sounds of the Mist ninjas' fight finally faded, the three Iwa ninjas emerged from their hiding spot at the sensory ninja's signal.
"How is it? Are they far enough?"
One Iwa ninja hurriedly asked his teammate.
The sensory ninja nodded gravely.
"They're a good distance away now. They've probably settled it—one of them might've run off."
"Phew... those Mist lunatics are terrifying," one Iwa ninja said, still shaken.
Another let out a relieved breath.
"Such a shame, though..."
The fight had been intense—far beyond what a normal genin should be capable of.
And the toxic dynamic between the Mist teammates was something the three Iwa ninjas couldn't comprehend.
But just then!
A mocking, icy voice suddenly sounded behind one of the Iwa ninjas!
"A shame... about what?"
The voice was so eerie and cold, and at the same moment, a frigid long blade pressed against the necks of all three...
Ha! That's the look!
A Mist ninja grinned wickedly. "I love that shocked expression on prey's faces!"
That bewildered, despairing look—when the body hadn't caught up, but the brain already sensed the danger...
So captivating!
The Mist ninja's blade slowly slid down from the sensory Iwa ninja.
His movements were meticulous.
Compared to tormenting a prey's body, he craved this psychological torture even more.
The long blade finally reached the scroll.
After snatching it, the Mist ninja's tone softened.
"Relax, I just want your scroll..."
His voice was almost tender.
Hope flickered in the three Iwa ninjas' eyes!
Seeing his prey's psyche shift as expected, the Mist ninja's grin widened...
Toying with prey was just so delightful!
But suddenly, his expression twisted as an inexplicable sense of danger surged in his chest!
He didn't even bother with his prey, instantly using a Body Flicker to escape!
And not just him—the other two Mist ninjas did the same.
The trio flickered away in three directions, then regrouped back-to-back, on high alert!
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
But at that moment, a voice emerged from beneath their feet.
By the time they reacted, small hands had gripped their ankles, and in the next instant, only their heads remained above ground.
"Earth Release: Mudflow Swamp."
Yuto Souta formed seals again, and the ground instantly softened into a quagmire, swallowing the three Mist ninjas into a marsh.
The process was clean and swift.
"Uh... Souta, did we just... get all of them?"
Kakashi Hatake's face twitched awkwardly.
The two scrolls they'd taken from the Mist ninjas were [Heaven] and [Earth]...
Holy crap! Uchiha Obito, still brushing dirt off himself, let out a yelp!
"So we just turn in the scrolls now?"
It was his first time using this Earth Release, and he wasn't quite used to it...
But Yuto Souta slowly shook his head.
With a ton of research points rolling in, how could he end it here?
Seeing this, Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Obito calmed down.
This exam was definitely not simple.
If Souta was rejecting that idea, he must have his reasons...
"Um... thank you!"
At that moment, the three Iwa ninjas, having narrowly escaped disaster, finally regained their composure.
They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the three ninjas who'd saved them.
And as their earnest thanks rang out,
The gazes of Team Minato slowly turned toward them...
The Konoha headbands on the trio's foreheads finally came into clear view for the Iwa ninjas.
"Konoha's... Wait, you're White Fang's son!"
One Iwa ninja recognized Kakashi Hatake, his eyes narrowing!
And Yuto Souta silently raised his hand.
"Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique!"
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