As the examiner continued explaining, Chihara's senses flared. He felt a presence moving swiftly toward the window to the left of the proctor, Ibiki. His muscles tensed, and his eyes instinctively activated, the Ketsuryūgan sharpening his perception as he prepared for a fight.
Just as he was about to stand, something crashed through the window with a loud shatter. Chihara's instincts screamed, but before he could fully react, the black bag that had entered unraveled into a person. He narrowed his eyes, quickly analyzing the figure—a woman with wild, short dark purple hair and a confident smirk plastered across her face.
Her outfit was... revealing. She wore a tan trench coat over a fishnet top, her demeanor almost radiating danger with a playful edge.
"Listen up, maggots!" the woman called out, her voice loud and commanding, taking immediate control of the room. "I'm Anko Mitarashi, the proctor for the second exam!"
Chihara's eyes remained focused on her as she casually approached Ibiki. She didn't seem like someone to underestimate. There was a dangerous energy around her, something reckless but also methodical.
Anko crossed her arms, her smirk growing wider as she glanced over the remaining genin. "So, Ibiki, how many did you let through this time?" She looked around, mockingly pretending to count the heads in the room. "This many? Must've been an easy exam if all these brats made it through."
Chihara's eyes followed her every move, noting the casual way she carried herself but also how her presence alone commanded attention. She was a completely different energy compared to Ibiki. Where Ibiki was cold and intimidating, Anko was fierce and unpredictable.
She turned back to the genin, her gaze sweeping the room. "Alright, listen up! You've got one more hurdle to jump before you're even close to becoming chunin." Her grin widened. "The second part of the exam will be held tomorrow, 9 am sharp. Meet me at the entrance to the Forest of Death."
Chihara's mind immediately sharpened. Forest of Death? That name alone told him enough—it was going to be far more dangerous than this written test.
With a mischievous wink and an almost playful tone, Anko added, "I hope you're ready... because the next test is going to be a lot tougher than this."
(Chihara's POV, The Next Day)
The next day, I arrived at the entrance to the Forest of Death, feeling a chill in the air. It wasn't the temperature—it was the forest itself. The massive iron gates loomed ahead, flanked by towering trees whose canopies were so thick they almost blocked out the sun. The forest stretched endlessly into the horizon, a place thick with shadows and secrets. The name alone—Forest of Death—was a warning. The trees were gnarled, their branches twisted like skeletal hands reaching out to grab anyone who got too close. The air smelled damp and musty, like decay, as if life itself was swallowed by the dense foliage. I could hear faint sounds in the distance—creatures moving, the wind rustling through the leaves, the ominous promise of danger.
Misumi was already there, leaning against one of the gates, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable as usual. Kabuto was nearby, casually stretching and smiling like this was just another ordinary day. He caught my eye and gave me a nod.
"Well, this is it," Kabuto said as I walked up to them. "Quite the place, huh?"
I didn't respond, just kept scanning the forest ahead. Something about this place was unsettling, but in a way, it intrigued me.
Anko arrived shortly after, standing before the gathering crowd of genin teams. Her smirk was back, playful and predatory at the same time.
"Alright, listen up, brats," she began, her voice cutting through the tension in the air. "Welcome to the Forest of Death. This is where things start getting real." She paused, letting her words sink in as she glanced around at the nervous faces.
"This exam is simple," she continued. "You'll each receive a scroll—either a Heaven scroll or an Earth scroll. Your job is to survive long enough to get the scroll you don't have and make it to the tower in the center of the forest within five days. Sounds easy, right?" Her grin widened, and I could see the dark gleam in her eyes. "Well, it won't be."
I knew immediately this wouldn't be just a test of skill. It was a test of survival. Teams would be fighting, hunting each other down, and this forest itself was probably full of things designed to kill us.
Anko then walked among the teams, handing each one their assigned scroll in private. When she reached us, her smirk was still there, but there was a slight gleam of curiosity in her eyes as she handed Kabuto a Heaven scroll. She didn't say a word to me, but her gaze lingered for just a moment, as if she knew more than she let on.
Kabuto tucked the scroll into his pouch and gave us a nod. Misumi didn't say anything, just grunted and adjusted his arm, readying himself. I, on the other hand, was already planning my approach.
"Remember," Anko added, standing back in front of us all, "you'll be fighting not just other teams but the forest itself. It's not called the Forest of Death for nothing. Try not to die, alright?"
Anko gave us a sharp look and barked, "You've got ten minutes before the test begins. Spread out and head to different entrances around the forest. Make sure you're not late when those gates open."
The teams started to scatter, heading toward their assigned spots around the perimeter. Kabuto, Misumi, and I lingered for a moment. Kabuto turned to me, pushing up his glasses as he glanced around to make sure no one was listening in.
"Chihara," he said, his voice calm but with an edge of strategy, "I think it'd be best I held onto the scroll."
I didn't argue. "Fine. But I'm not sticking with you two. I'm going to clear out some of the weaker teams, maybe pick up the other scroll while I'm at it."
Kabuto hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he was calculating the risks. "Splitting up could be dangerous," he said, though it sounded more like a suggestion than a protest. "But you're probably the best equipped to handle that on your own."
I could see him weighing the options in his head. Finally, he gave a reluctant nod. "Alright. We'll meet up at the tower in three days. Don't get too carried away, Chihara."
Misumi didn't say much, just grunted in agreement, his body tense as usual. He seemed like the type who preferred action over words.
I wasn't worried about running into trouble. If anything, I was looking forward to it. Kabuto and Misumi started moving toward the entrance, but I stayed back for a moment, scanning the forest again.
The ten minutes passed, and as soon as the gates creaked open, I sprinted off into the forest, leaving my team behind. I didn't look back.
------------
I darted through the dense undergrowth of the Forest of Death, the humid air thick with the buzzing of massive insects and the creaking of ancient, towering trees. The forest felt alive, each step I took accompanied by the unsettling sensation that something was watching, waiting. But it didn't bother me. If anything, it made me sharper, more alert.
Leaping between branches, I caught glimpses of oversized bugs skittering across the forest floor, some of them the size of dogs. There was something primal about this place, like it was testing each of us, daring us to make it through.
As I moved, my senses remained sharp, constantly scanning for movement. After what felt like hours, I finally spotted something—another team of Genin from Konoha. They were just below me, weaving cautiously through the forest. Amateurs. They weren't watching their surroundings nearly well enough.
Without a sound, I descended from the trees. My approach was silent, calculated. I landed behind one of them, a kunoichi, and knocked her out with a swift strike to the back of the neck before she could even turn around. The other two didn't have time to react before I incapacitated them as well.
I crouched over the unconscious bodies, rummaging through their packs for their scroll. I didn't care who they were—this was just part of the test. My fingers brushed against something smooth, and I pulled it out. An Earth scroll. A stroke of luck, considering it was exactly what I needed. Tucking the scroll into my pouch, I stood up, scanning the area again.
Without a second thought, I disappeared back into the trees.
A little while later, as I weaved through the forest, something caught my attention. The unmistakable sound of a fight echoed in the distance. I narrowed my eyes and changed direction, curious about what was going on. As I approached, the scene became clearer—it was Sasuke's team, and they were fighting against a shinobi from the Hidden Grass.
Naruto was sprawled on the ground, unconscious. Typical. Sakura, meanwhile, stood frozen a few feet away, doing nothing as usual. Sasuke, on the other hand, was locked in combat with the Grass ninja. What was interesting, though, was that Sasuke had unlocked the third tomoe in his Sharingan. His movements were sharper, more precise, and for a moment, it seemed like he was gaining the upper hand.
But something about that Grass shinobi felt off. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was an unsettling aura around them. As I studied them, their movements suddenly changed. They became faster, more fluid, and far more dangerous. Sasuke, who had been winning, was suddenly pushed onto the defensive.
I could tell Sasuke needed help. He was skilled, but this wasn't just an ordinary opponent. And with Naruto out cold and Sakura... well, useless, Sasuke didn't stand much of a chance on his own.
Without wasting any more time, I flickered from my perch in the trees and landed near the battle. The Grass shinobi turned their gaze toward me, but before they could react, I was already moving. My kunai flashed in my hand as I slashed at their side, forcing them to jump back.
"Sasuke," I said calmly, standing at his side, "looks like you could use a hand."
His Sharingan flickered as he glanced at me, a mix of surprise and annoyance crossing his face, but he didn't protest. Together, we turned our attention toward the Grass ninja.
(Third POV)
Chihara gripped the hilt of the Kubikiribōchō, feeling the weight of the massive blade in his hands. As he activated his Ketsuryūgan, his vision sharpened, every drop of blood inside of him becoming more active. The Grass shinobi's eyes shifted in response, suddenly filled with an unsettling curiosity, no longer focused on Sasuke. Instead, they locked onto Chihara. Those eyes... predatory, like they wanted to consume him, to take something from him.
It didn't take long before the shinobi turned their full attention on Chihara, their movements becoming sharper, more deliberate. Chihara could feel the shift in the battle—this was no ordinary opponent. Whoever they were, they had an unnatural interest in his Ketsuryūgan.
As they fought, the shinobi's skin began to peel away, revealing a ghostly pale complexion underneath. Chihara's eyes narrowed—something about this shinobi wasn't right. This wasn't some random Grass ninja.
Chihara and Sasuke clashed against the Grass shinobi, Chihara quickly realized something was off. Every movement the enemy made was eerily precise, almost as if they were holding back. Each strike, each dodge, wasn't meant to kill—it was meant to analyze, to probe what he could do. Chihara could feel the tension rising, the battle intensifying with each passing second. His Ketsuryūgan flared, sharpening his senses to the blood coursing through the shinobi's veins, but even with his heightened awareness, there was something unnatural about them.
With a flick of his wrist, Chihara swung the Kubikiribōchō in a wide arc, aiming to cleave the shinobi in two. But the enemy was fast, unnaturally fast. They ducked under the blade and lashed out with a kunai, aiming for his throat. Chihara barely twisted out of the way, feeling the cold edge graze his skin as he flipped backward to create distance.
"Who is this...?" Chihara thought, gritting his teeth as he landed on his feet. His mind raced. There was no normal chakra flow in this person—they were different, sinister. He could feel it, sense the unnatural flow in their blood.
The shinobi's pale, almost snake-like face grinned at him, their eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. "Such potential... the Ketsuryūgan," they whispered, their voice dripping with fascination.
Chihara's heart raced as he closed the distance, thrusting the blade forward with deadly intent. The shinobi twisted their body impossibly, bending at unnatural angles to avoid the strike, their movements like a serpent slithering through the air. In one fluid motion, they struck back, sending a barrage of shuriken toward Chihara.
Chihara deflected most with his massive blade, but one sliced across his cheek. He ignored the sting of pain, focusing instead on the rhythm of the shinobi's blood as they moved. His Ketsuryūgan allowed him to predict their next strike—but before he could react, they formed a rapid hand sign. Their neck elongated grotesquely, stretching toward Sasuke like a snake.
In that moment, everything seemed to slow down. Chihara saw it all—the deadly intent, the malicious grin, and Sasuke's frozen form, unable to react.
Chihara surged forward, his blade flashing in the dim light as he swung toward the shinobi's elongated neck. But they were faster, retracting just as quickly, leaving Sasuke crumpled on the ground, a strange seal forming on his neck.
His instincts screamed that something was off, but he pushed through, determined to end the battle swiftly. With a powerful swing of the Kubikiribōchō, Chihara decapitated the enemy in one clean motion. The head tumbled to the ground, rolling a few feet away, and the body crumpled lifelessly.
But something didn't feel right. Even though the shinobi's body was headless before him, the unease gnawing at Chihara's senses wouldn't fade. He narrowed his eyes, watching for any signs of movement, his instincts screaming that this wasn't over.
"This can't be it..." Chihara muttered under his breath.
Acting on that gut feeling, Chihara manipulated the blood from the enemy's corpse, forming blood chains that wrapped tightly around the body, securing it in place. The crimson chains gleamed under the pale light, writhing like serpents as they coiled tighter. He allowed himself a moment to breathe, glancing briefly at Sasuke on the ground groaning out in pain.
But before Chihara could react, a sudden pulse of chakra emanated from the shinobi's headless body. His senses screamed at him in warning, but it was too late.
From the stump where the shinobi's head had been, something began to stretch—a new head, grotesque and serpentine, slithering through the air like a snake. Chihara's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What the—"
He swung the Kubikiribōchō again, aiming to cleave the grotesque neck once more. But the head moved with unnatural speed, dodging the blade with a twisted, eerie grace. In desperation, Chihara formed a spike of blood from the cut on his cheek, shooting it toward the approaching head. The spike pierced through the shinobi's new head, but it didn't slow the enemy down. The head continued to slither toward him, faster than before.
With no other options, Chihara thrust his blade upward in a desperate attempt to defend himself. The sharp teeth of the shinobi's new head grazed his skin as the enemy retreated slightly, just enough for Chihara to gain distance. The battle was far from over, but Chihara remained on edge, his instincts screaming at him to stay alert.
The shinobi paused, regarding him with a chilling, snake-like grin.
"Impressive," the enemy hissed, their voice smooth and cold. "You're stronger than I anticipated... Chihara."
Chihara's eyes narrowed in confusion, but he didn't lower his guard. He didn't know who this shinobi was, but one thing was certain—he wasn't an ordinary opponent.
The shinobi's gaze flickered toward Sasuke, then back to Chihara. "Such potential... in both of you. You seek power, don't you? Power to achieve your desires… to destroy your enemies."
Chihara's heart skipped a beat as the words echoed in his mind.
The shinobi's grin widened. "If you desire true strength, come find me. I can help you gain the power you've always craved."
Without another word, the shinobi vanished, leaving only a faint, sinister presence behind. Chihara stood there, gripping his sword tightly, his mind racing.
A few moments passed as Chihara stood silently, his body on edge after the battle. His senses sharpened as he surveyed the now-quiet forest, the oppressive aura from earlier having dissipated. His Ketsuryūgan flared to life, scanning the area for any signs of lingering danger, but the enemy was nowhere to be found.
Breathing deeply to calm his nerves, Chihara glanced to his left, where Sakura was kneeling beside Sasuke. Sasuke was still unconscious, and Sakura was working tirelessly, her hands trembling as she wiped the sweat from his brow. Chihara allowed himself a brief moment of relief, but the tension from the shinobi's attack remained fresh in his mind.
Chihara took one last glance at Sasuke before speaking. "I'm leaving," he said curtly. "The exam proctors are coming. They'll handle the rest."
Sakura looked up, startled, but Chihara was already turning away. Without waiting for a response, he dashed into the forest, heading toward the tower where he was supposed to meet his team.
(Chihara's POV)
The wind rushed past me as I darted from branch to branch, the forest blurring beneath me. My movements were automatic, precise, but my mind kept returning to the shinobi we had fought. His predatory gaze, the twisted smile—it was more than just an opponent sizing me up. His offer lingered in my mind, replaying like an echo that wouldn't fade.
Power… enough to destroy the Cloud once and for all.
The thought gnawed at me, stirring something deep inside. For years, I had honed my skills, becoming stronger, more ruthless. But I knew it wasn't enough. To make them suffer, to pay them back for everything, I needed more. The power that shinobi hinted at—what exactly was he offering?
But.....was it really worth taking?
I shook my head, refocusing on the task at hand. I couldn't afford distractions, not in the middle of the Chūnin Exams. But the temptation was there, lurking just beneath the surface.
The trees began to thin, and the tower came into view. Kabuto and Misumi stood near the entrance, waiting. Kabuto noticed me first, adjusting his glasses with a casual smile.
"You made it," Kabuto said lightly. "We thought you might've run into trouble."
I didn't answer immediately, still scanning the area, my senses heightened. After a moment, I nodded in acknowledgment but kept my thoughts to myself. I wasn't about to share the details of that encounter, not with anyone.
"You seem… off," Kabuto remarked, his voice probing.
I shrugged, unwilling to divulge more. Whatever that shinobi was after, whatever he had wanted with me, wasn't something I wanted to discuss. Not yet. I walked toward them, glancing at Misumi, who grunted in his usual stoic manner.
"Got the scroll?" Kabuto asked.
I tapped my pouch. "Earth scroll. Took out a Konoha team for it. Nothing major." My voice was steady, but inside, my thoughts kept drifting to that encounter, and the strange aura of that shinobi.
Kabuto seemed satisfied. "Good. Let's focus on what comes next."
Despite his calm demeanor, I couldn't shake the feeling that something else was brewing, something larger than just these exams. But for now, I had to stay focused. The exams weren't over, and I couldn't afford any more distractions.
---------------
The room inside the tower was large and open, filled with genin who had survived the Forest of Death. The air was tense, thick with anticipation. As I stood there, surrounded by my fellow competitors, my eyes scanned the room. Most of the faces were familiar—rookies from the Leaf, all of them had somehow made it through. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood off to one side, talking quietly, with Naruto's usual energy standing in stark contrast to Sasuke's quiet brooding.
Other teams stood around, and my gaze eventually landed on the group from the Hidden Sound. Something about them felt off. There was a similar eerie sensation that reminded me of the shinobi we had fought. My instincts told me to stay on guard around them.
Further across the room, I noticed Gaara from the Hidden Sand. His presence was unsettling, as if he wasn't entirely human. His cold, hollow eyes scanned the room, much like my own, but his expression was devoid of any emotion.
Other teams stood scattered throughout the room, and my gaze eventually settled on a group from the Hidden Sound. Something felt wrong about them, similar to that eerie feeling from the shinobi in the forest. My instincts told me to be cautious around them.
Further across the room, the sand team stood together. The one with the gourd on his back, Gaara I think, had an unsettling presence, like he wasn't quite human. His cold, hollow eyes scanned the room just as mine did, but his expression remained unreadable, almost devoid of emotion. Whoever he was, there was no doubt he was dangerous.
Suddenly, a fit of coughing echoed from the front of the room, drawing everyone's attention. A man stepped forward, his posture tired yet authoritative. His complexion was sickly pale, dark circles lined his eyes, and he appeared frail. His hand was raised to his mouth, muffling another cough as he spoke.
"I am Hayate Gekkō," he rasped, his voice hoarse and strained, like each word was a battle against his body. "I will be the proctor for the third exam."
Another cough interrupted him, but he quickly waved it off, trying to maintain some form of authority despite his clear illness. A murmur spread through the room. The third exam? Already?
Hayate's hand shot up again, signaling for silence as his eyes scanned the genin in the room. "There are too many of you still remaining. Before we can proceed with the third stage of the Chūnin Exams, we will be holding a preliminary round to thin your numbers."
The tension in the room spiked. A preliminary exam? Some genin exchanged nervous glances, clearly not prepared for another battle so soon after surviving the forest. The proctor continued to cough as he caught his breath, a hand gripping his side as if in pain.
"We will hold a series of one-on-one battles," he continued, his voice weakening but resolute. "If anyone wishes to withdraw, now is the time to do so. Otherwise, the battles will begin shortly."
As soon as Gekkō finished speaking, the air in the room grew tense with anticipation. Just as I was preparing myself for whatever came next, Kabuto raised his hand.
"I'm going to withdraw," he said casually, stepping forward. "I'm way too exhausted from the second exam. I don't think I'd be able to give my best in these preliminaries."
I shot him a quick glance, my eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. Kabuto didn't look exhausted at all—if anything, he seemed perfectly fine. His chakra was steady, his breathing even. It was strange that someone who had been so composed during the second exam would suddenly tap out like this, but I didn't dwell on it for long. If he didn't want to fight, that was his choice. I had bigger things to focus on.
Kabuto gave us a quick nod, adjusting his glasses, and then calmly walked out of the room without a second glance. Misumi didn't seem surprised or bothered by it, but I couldn't help but feel like there was something more going on. I filed the thought away, deciding it wasn't worth investigating right now.
A little while later, Gekkō stepped forward again, still coughing but doing his best to maintain control over the room. His frail appearance didn't match the sense of authority he was trying to project.
"We will now begin the matchups for the preliminaries," he announced, gesturing to a large board at the front of the room. "The names will be randomly selected. Once your name appears, step forward and prepare to fight."
The screen flickered, and one by one, names began to flash in rapid succession.