Lotus Of The Leaf ~Book One~

Chapter 24! The Chunin Exam Stage Two: The Forest of Death!

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"This whole place just completely creeps me out...." Sakura mumbles. I hum in agreement, rubbing my arm gently.

Anko chuckled. "It should-- They call it the Forest of Death!" She explains. "And soon enough, you're going to find out why."

Naruto huffed out and started mocking her, pushing it butt out. "They call it the Forest of Death, but soon enough, you're gonna find out why." He said in a nasally voice. "Do your worst! You're not gonna scare me away! I can handle anything!" Naruto cheers.

"So... Looks like we've got ourselves a tough guy." Anko smiles brightly at the kid, and suddenly, I don't like that smile of hers. In an instant, a kunai flies out, scratching Naruto's cheek and digging into the ground besides a Grass Village Ninja. She disappeared and reappeared back behind Naruto. "You tough enough to handle this?" Anko jeers, closing in on him. "You're not afraid, are you?" She cups the non bleeding cheek and smirks down at him. "Tough guys like you leave your blood all over this forest." She pulls out another kunai just as the Grass Ninja appears behind her, holding the kunai in her tongue.

I shiver as it stretches out, holding the kunai to Anko. "I was just returning your knife..." She says in an eerie tone.

"Why, thank you, Grass Ninja." Anko says, glaring at her. They stare at each other for a minute before Anko speaks. "You know, I really only recommend you stand this close behind me if you wish to reach a premature end." She states, snatching the kunai just as the Grass Ninja slips her tongue back into her mouth.

"My pardon." She hums. "With the sight of blood and your blade slicing through my hair..." She chuckles lightly. "I'm afraid that I just became a little excited. I meant you no harm."

"Likewise..." Anko replies curtly as the Grass Ninja steps away.

I stare at her retreating form, shivering wildly. 'And here I thought the forest would be the creepiest thing here....' I rub my arms again, calming the shivers going up my back.

"Seems like everyone here today is quick tempered." Anko states with a smirk. She then turns back to us. "Now, before we start the second exam, there's something I have to pass out." She holds up a stack of papers, in turn, I lean into Naruto's ear.

"Ohhh... It's another written exam..." I tease, earning a shocked gasp.

"You must sign these agreement forms. There will be deaths in this exam.... And if I don't have you sign these... It will be my responsibility." Despite her statement, Anko chuckles. Anko hands the stack of papers to Naruto, who passes to Sasuke, who passes to myself, and I pass it to Sakura. From then on, I don't know where they ended up. "While you do that, I will explain the second test." She starts. I glance over the agreement form for a split second before tuning in to Anko. "Simply put... you will attempt the ultimate survival. First, I'll explain the area in which it will take place." She displays a scroll containing an image of the forest. "Around practice area number forty-four, are forty-four locked gates. Forest, River, and a tower in the center, from the gates to the tower is about ten kilometers."

'Well, at least Guy's endurance training is coming in handy...' I chuckle lightly to myself.

"During the survival in here, you will be asked to complete a certain task. Using your many weapons and jutsus, you will compete in a.... No rules, scroll battle." She reveals two scrolls that are labelled differently. "You will fight over these two scrolls, the 'Heaven', and 'Earth'. There are twenty six teams. Half, 13, will get the 'heaven' and the other 13 teams will have the 'earth' scroll." Anko holds the scrolls up, giving us all an opportunity to look at the scrolls. "To pass the test.... your team must make it to the tower with both scrolls."