𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐢 | ɴᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ

Second Test: Unsettling Forest

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✧˖*°࿐

There was an immensely large forest in front of almost a hundred genin's. The trees were so thick that they looked like large houses, and the forest within was covered in endless bleak darkness. The sight alone was enough to kill a person's mood or cause someone's emotions to feel depleted.

Kazumi had her arms crossed, analysing the forest ahead of her whilst a few examinees (who were spread out from all around) shook with uneasiness at the view.

It was suspiciously silent in the crowd, the team's eyes glued to the nerve-racking forest in front of them. Kazumi didn't even know a forest like this existed in Konoha's hidden village until now. Her eyes then flickered to the worn sign which was tied against the tall metal fences. It wrote: 'Danger! Stay out!' in bold.

Sakura hunched over, dreading this test as her hand unknowingly held Kazumi's. The action didn't startle the blonde girl, since her focus was too strong on the ominous scene. 

Don't tell me this is another survival test...

Kazumi internally groaned.

"Welcome to the stage for the second test, practise area 44. Also known as... 'the forest of death!'" Anko happily introduced.

The crowd of students hardly mimicked her gleeful behaviour.

"This is creepy..." Sakura mumbled with a frown, her grip on Kazumi's hand tightening.

Kazumi could only have a single bead of sweat fall down from her face in response.

Anko smirked at their collective silence, "You'll soon find out why it's called 'the forest of death'."

Geez, is she those type of old hags that get a kick out of tormenting kids?

Kazumi pouted her lips at the amusing thought.

Naruto then leaned over towards her and Sakura, "'You'll soon find out... why it's called the forest of death'." He imitated a chicken, mocking the woman, "You think that scares me?!! That's nothing!! I'm not afraid!!" He yelled, pointing at Anko.

Sometimes... I wish I could put a zipper on that mouth.

Kazumi and Sakura both shot hard glares at Naruto, though Kazumi's shoulders suddenly tensed and a strand of hair raised from the back of her neck.

Anko's faraway voice wasn't processed by Kazumi since her gaze fixated on the sudden kunai flying dangerously towards Naruto's cheek.

Kazumi instantly caught on, abruptly snatching her hand out from Sakura's grasp to redirect itself against Naruto's cheek. The tip of the kunai managed to graze his tanned cheek as Kazumi held a firm grasp on the blade's body, stopping it from slicing all the way past.

The Uzumaki had winced out from Kazumi's sudden slap against his face, only to instantly realise in horror what she had caught in time. His cheek then burned in pain as if it were a small paper cut.

Meanwhile, Kazumi's eyes were wide, shocked from her own quick and protective actions. She had intended to stop it from slicing his cheek entirely. It seemed like the 'old hag' purposely missed Naruto's brain on purpose. However, Kazumi's anxiety levels raised when snapping her head to the side, over Naruto's back. She sensed the student tormenter reappear behind the two of them; Naruto lagged in reaction compared to team seven.

"Kids like you are easily killed..." Anko eerily spoke, a hand on Kazumi's tense fist with the other wrapped around Naruto's opposite cheek, "Just be glad your teammate saved you from a nasty scar." She licked the small amount of blood from Naruto's grazed cheek, her light brown irises glistened towards Kazumi's wide, lightless ones.