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Second Chapter of the day.
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Before the students could fully process the twist in the written test, the tranquility of the room was shattered by the dramatic entrance of Anko Mitarashi. She burst in like a whirlwind, shattering the window in her wake. With a flourish, she threw two kunai that pinned a banner to the wall, announcing her title as the "Newly Arrived Second Chief Command Officer." Surveying the room, Anko scoffed at the number of teams. "Twenty teams? Ibiki, isn't this a lot?"
Ibiki, unimpressed by Anko's dramatics, rolled his eyes. Given the caliber of Genin from the five villages, he considered the number modest. His gaze swept over the room, lingering on Horyu and his peers. The Chunin Exam this time was not a regular one. It was more of an All-Star competition, with four star teams from Konoha and equivalent counterparts from the other villages.
Anko led the remaining teams outside to the infamous Forest of Death, Training Ground 44. A desk and a tent had been set up, and each Genin was handed a consent form acknowledging the risks, including the possibility of death, within the Forest.
After the formalities were completed, Anko delved into the details of the exam. "Forty-four doors, one for each team to enter through. Each team will randomly receive either an Earth or Heaven scroll. There are ten of each. To pass, you need to obtain a set of both scrolls and bring them to the tower at the center of the forest within 120 hours. All three team members must arrive together. If one fails, the entire team fails."
--Stage 2: Forest of Death - The Test of Survival
Objective: Survive and navigate the Forest of Death, securing both scrolls required for completion.
-Sub-Quest: "Master Tracker"
Objective: Track and successfully ambush until you find the opposite scroll.
Reward: "Tracker's Instinct" Perk (Permanently improves tracking, stealth, and ambush skills), +300 XP.
-Sub-Quest: "Undetected Predator"
Objective: Complete the stage without your team being detected by any other team.
Reward: "Ghost Walker" Perk (Permanently enhances stealth, making detection by others more difficult), +300 XP.
Elimination Condition: Failure to obtain both scrolls within the time limit or team incapacitation.
Looking at the second quest, Horyu pondered the challenging subquests laid out before him. 'To track and successfully ambush a team implies a proactive hunt, not just a fortunate encounter,' he thought. 'And remaining undetected throughout the stage is a tall order, especially with sensor types around.' He glanced at Hinata and Shino, formulating a strategy.
He walked over to Hinata, his voice low but firm. "Use your Byakugan to scan the tent. Mark the weakest teams and remember their scrolls. We'll target them later." Hinata nodded in understanding, her eyes reflecting determination as she activated her Byakugan, the veins around her eyes bulging prominently.
"Place your insects on the marked teams, Shino. We need to track them once we're in the forest." Shino, always ready to play his part, responded to Horyu's next command with a nod, releasing a small swarm of his kikaichū bugs, which discreetly attached themselves to the selected targets.
Soon it was their turn. Horyu and his team entered the tent and took their scroll. Looking at it, Horyu noted they had received the Earth scroll. "Earth, huh? Better than Heaven. Reminds me home, which I can't remember at all," he mused, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
They took their positions in front of their designated door, number 27. The anticipation in the air was thick, every team poised for the signal to dash into the forest. Horyu glanced at Hinata and Shino. "Once we're in, we move fast. No dilly-dallying. Hinata, keep your Byakugan active. Shino, let your bugs lead the way."
The signal was given, and the doors opened simultaneously. The teams surged forward, each disappearing into the dense foliage of the Forest of Death. Horyu led his team in a swift but calculated pace, making sure they weren't immediately followed. The forest was a maze of towering trees, thick underbrush, and lurking dangers. Every step could be a step into a trap or an ambush.
As they ventured deeper, Horyu's gaze darted around, taking in the surroundings. The Forest of Death lived up to its name, its serene appearance belying the peril that dwelled within. "Keep your eyes peeled and your chakra suppressed," he instructed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hinata, her Byakugan scanning the area, suddenly halted. "Horyu, three Genin from the Rain Village, heading this way. They have a Heaven scroll."
"Perfect," Horyu replied, a sly smile creeping onto his face.
Before the Rain Village Genin could detect them, Horyu swiftly cast a Genjutsu, conjuring an image that struck fear into their hearts. They saw a menacing figure looming over them, its presence so overwhelming that they felt as though they were suffocating under the weight of its chakra. The figure, with long hair and an unnaturally long tongue, hissed in a voice dripping with malice, "Give me your scroll."
Paralyzed by terror, the Rain Genin hastily threw their Heaven scroll towards the apparition. Horyu, seizing the opportunity, caught the scroll and signaled Hinata and Shino to retreat with haste. As they put distance between themselves and the Genin, the illusion faded, releasing the Rain ninjas from their terrified state.
Shino, keeping pace with Horyu, asked in a low voice, "Why didn't we just attack them?"
Horyu, smirking at the question, replied, "They'll be more driven now. Desperate for a replacement scroll, they'll become more aggressive. That means they'll likely clash with other teams, causing more eliminations."
Shino nodded, understanding the strategy. It was a calculated move, turning their opponents into unwitting allies in thinning the competition. "Makes sense. A direct confrontation would have been an unnecessary risk."
Horyu continued, his tone business-like, "Let's ensure a clear victory. Hinata, keep scanning our surroundings. Shino, dispatch your bugs in all directions. We need to stay undetected."
Hinata, her Byakugan active, surveyed the area continuously, relaying information about nearby teams and potential threats. Shino's insects, adept at blending into their environment, fanned out in different directions, creating a perimeter of surveillance around them.
As they moved stealthily through the dense undergrowth of the forest, Horyu's mind was on the quest, 'The team was heading to us, although it was one of the teams we were tracking. Does that count for the quest?'
Hinata tensed, her Byakugan gaze piercing through the dense foliage of the forest. "Horyu, a large group ahead," she warned in a hushed tone, her eyes focused on the distant shadows moving erratically through the underbrush.
Horyu stopped in his tracks, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. "Are they coming towards us?" he asked, his voice low and measured.
Hinata shook her head slightly. "Not directly towards us, but they're heading in our general direction."
Horyu nodded, his mind quickly weighing their options. "Let's go around them. No need for a fight," he decided, his eyes scanning the area for the best route to circumvent the approaching team.
They veered off their initial path, taking a detour through a thicker part of the forest. Horyu led the way, his steps silent and cautious. Shino's bugs flitted ahead, scouting for any hidden dangers or traps that might be lurking in their new path.
As they moved, Horyu's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. 'Completing both subquests would be ideal, but it's a high-risk gamble,' he mused internally. 'The perks are tempting, but survival and team safety come first. If things get hairy, I'll have to adjust our strategy.'
Their journey through the Forest of Death was fraught with unseen perils. Hinata's Byakugan proved invaluable, detecting teams and traps well before they posed a threat. Shino's insects, too, played a crucial role, creating a living shield that alerted them to any nearby movement.
Hours passed, and the team navigated through various challenges and obstacles. At one point, they narrowly avoided a confrontation with a team from the Mist Village, thanks to Hinata's timely warning. Another time, they had to quickly change course to evade a group of large, carnivorous insects, likely lured by Shino's own swarm.
As night fell, the forest transformed into a darker, more ominous place. Sounds of nocturnal predators and the rustle of unseen creatures filled the air, adding an eerie ambiance to their already tense journey.
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