"I know a lot of you are wondering where your classmate, Erza Koyama, is," Iruka began, his voice carrying a hint of authority that silenced the usual chatter in the classroom. The students shifted in their seats, exchanging curious glances.
"She's been given a privilege by Lord Third to go straight to the second stage of the Chunin Exams."
"What?!"
"That's not fair!"
"Why can't we go straight there?!"
The classroom erupted into protests, voices overlapping in a cacophony of frustration and disbelief.
"Calm down, everyone," Iruka said, raising a hand to quiet them. His gaze softened as he took in the indignant expressions of his students. "Anyone could have been given this privilege if their mentor stated that their abilities far surpassed those of their peers."
The room fell silent, the weight of Iruka's words settling heavily over them. Some looked stunned, others thoughtful. The students glanced at each other, wondering how far they still had to go to reach such a level.
"So let this be motivation for all of you to become stronger!" Iruka encouraged, his tone earnest. "Erza's achievement should inspire you to push beyond your limits."
Forest of Death
"Welcome to the second stage of the Chunin Exams," Anko Mitarashi announced, her lips curling into a sly grin as she surveyed the dark, dense expanse of the forest. She stood at the entrance, arms crossed over her chest, her demeanor radiating excitement and challenge. "Since you're here early, I'm guessing you're the one the Hokage gave a pass to."
"That's me," Erza replied calmly, scanning the area with a discerning gaze. The Forest of Death lived up to its name. The trees towered ominously, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows over the ground. There was something off about the atmosphere, a sinister presence that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
Anko's grin widened. "Alright, your task is simple. You need to obtain a Heaven Scroll from one of the ninja inside. But be warned—this test is designed to push even the most skilled ninja to their limits. Expect traps, ambushes, and even life-threatening encounters."
"Understood," Erza said, nodding slightly. "I'll go get the scroll and be back soon."
Before Anko could respond, Erza had already blurred into motion, vanishing into the depths of the forest in an instant.
"Hey, wait—!" Anko started, but the girl was already gone, leaving only a faint trail of disturbed leaves in her wake.
As Erza moved through the forest, her senses were on high alert. Even the best of Jonin-level shinobi couldn't completely suppress their chakra, and she had already pinpointed a few signatures scattered throughout the area. Each one was strong, but not strong enough to worry her.
Still, it was odd. She knew the Forest of Death was notorious for its danger, yet these chakra signatures didn't feel particularly threatening. Was this supposed to be the true challenge of the exam? Or was there more lurking in the shadows?
A few minutes in, Erza's eyes narrowed as she felt a presence behind a large tree up ahead. The Jonin was masked, concealed expertly among the branches. For most genin, his ambush would have been nearly impossible to detect.
But Erza wasn't like most.
She continued walking casually, pretending not to notice. Her footsteps were light, her demeanor relaxed. Then, in an instant, the Jonin burst out from behind the tree, his kunai aimed straight at her back. His movements were fast—blurred even—but to Erza, it was almost slow.
She ducked, evading the strike effortlessly, and surged forward in a burst of speed. Chakra flared around her feet, propelling her with incredible agility. As the Jonin's kunai whistled harmlessly above her, she reached out, her hand darting to the pouch at his waist.
With a flick of her wrist, she snatched the Heaven Scroll and leaped backward, putting several meters between them before the Jonin could even register what had happened.
"What the—" the Jonin gasped, staring at his empty pouch in shock. "How did you—?"
"It's the simplest application of chakra control," Erza replied nonchalantly, holding up the scroll. "Anyway, thanks for the Heaven Scroll. Looks like I'm done here." She offered him a small, almost disappointed smile. "That was… underwhelming."
Before he could respond, she flickered out of sight, leaving the bewildered Jonin alone in the clearing.
"Anko," Erza called as she stepped back out of the forest.
Anko turned, her eyes widening in surprise. "Already? It's only been… what, fifteen minutes since you entered?"
Erza shrugged. "Yeah, well, a Jonin tried to ambush me, but I caught him off guard and took the Heaven Scroll." She handed it over with a casual air. "Am I done with this trial?"
Anko blinked, processing her words. "Uh… technically, yes, but—"
"Actually," Erza interrupted thoughtfully, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes. "Why don't you hand me all the Heaven Scrolls? I have an idea to make this test a little more interesting."
Anko raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Everyone else will have to come to me to get their Heaven Scrolls," Erza explained with a smile. "I'll be the final trial. If they want to pass, they have to take the scroll from me."
Anko stared at her, speechless for a moment. "You're serious? You want to take on every team by yourself?"
Erza's smile widened. "Why not? I'm confident I can handle it. Besides, the trial ended too quickly for me, and I'm bored."
"This has never been done before," Anko murmured, her mind racing. "The Hokage might not—"
"He doesn't need to know," Erza cut in smoothly. "Just tell him there was a slight change. You've been looking for something to spice up these exams, haven't you?"
Anko's eyes narrowed, studying the girl before her. There was something almost dangerous in Erza's gaze, a fire that made Anko's pulse quicken.
"Alright, fine," she said finally, unable to suppress her own excitement. "But if things get out of hand, your little plan is over, got it?"
"Of course," Erza agreed, her smile turning razor-sharp. "I'll be waiting for your signal."
Later, Erza lounged on a high branch, watching the forest below with a predatory intensity. The bag of scrolls dangled from her shoulder, hidden among the thick foliage. From her vantage point, she could see the entire area around her, each team's movements as clear as day.
Then, a surge of chakra flared in the distance. A fireball erupted into the sky, its blazing light cutting through the darkness.
Erza's eyes snapped open, and she straightened, a grin spreading across her face.
"It's showtime."
Down below, Team Seven—Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke—stood at the base of a massive tree, eyes scanning the forest warily.
"Seriously, what kind of test is this?!" Sakura exclaimed, her voice high with frustration. "We have to find her, fight her, and then take the scroll from her?"
"And she's way stronger than us to begin with!" Naruto groaned, his fists clenching. "How are we supposed to do this?!"
"For once, I agree with Naruto," Sasuke muttered, his eyes narrowed. "But we have to think. If she's distracted, maybe we can grab a scroll when she's not looking."
"That's a good plan," Sakura agreed eagerly.
"Distract who?" a voice drawled from above.
All three froze, chills racing down their spines. Slowly, they turned, eyes wide.
Erza stood on the branch above them, one hand resting casually on the hilt of her blade, a faint smile curving her lips.
"Erza!" Naruto yelped, his heart hammering in his chest.
Sasuke tensed, his gaze locking onto the bag at her waist. Without a word, he vanished, moving in a blur of speed around her. If he could just get close enough—
A hand shot out, gripping his collar and yanking him back.
"What do you think you're doing?" Erza asked lightly, throwing him effortlessly into a nearby tree. The impact sent a tremor through the ground.
"Sasuke!" Sakura cried.
"Is that all you've got after training with Kakashi?" Erza asked, her tone almost mocking. She raised the bag of scrolls, letting them catch the light. "Instead of bells, take these from me."
It was three against one, yet Team Seven felt as if they were the ones at a disadvantage.
Erza's smile widened.
"Come at me, Team Seven," she challenged, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Show me what you're made of."