š¤š„ BLACK FRIDAY MEGA SALE is LIVE on Patreon! š„š¤
Discount: 30%
Code: 83DC5
***********************************
The Next Day
The scorching sun hung high above the sky, casting sharp golden beams over the imposing expanse of the forest. The shadows of gnarled branches stretched across the earth like claws, clawing at the feet of every genin who dared to stand at its edge.
Team 7 ā Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke ā walked with deliberate steps, a quiet tension between them. Their gazes were sharp, their bodies brimming with anticipation.
Kakashi had briefed them thoroughly, but no amount of words could prepare them for what loomed ahead.
At the front of the clearing, Anko Mitarashi stood proudly, hands on her hips,Ā at the front of the assembled genin, her coat billowing lightly in the breeze. Her eyes gleamed with a hint of wild amusement as she addressed the crowd.
"This is the location for the second exam," She began, voice loud and clear.
She extended her arm toward the dense thicket behind her, a place pulsing with silent menace.
"The 44th training fieldā¦ also known asā¦"
Her lips curled into a smirk.
"The Forest of Death."
A cold ripple of unease ran through many of the teams. Some stiffened. Others gulped.
"Did she say death?!" One genin yelped.
"What kind of exam is this supposed to be?!" another whispered, backing up slightly.
A boy from the Rain Village audibly swallowed.
"I knew this wouldn't be a walk in the park, butā¦ death?! Seriously?"
Choji looked pale.
"Can we eat in there at leastā¦?" He muttered, clutching a bag of chips like a lifeline.
Anko's grin widened at their reaction. She thrived on this unease.
...
"Before we start the second exam, I have to pass this out to you!" Anko declared, reaching into her coat with dramatic flair.
In one smooth motion, she pulled out a thick bunch of papers and waved them high.
"These areā¦" One of the genin asked.
She paused, letting the suspense hang for a moment before saying with a smile.
"Consent forms."
Confusion flickered through the crowd.
"Consent? For what?"
Her voice dropped lower, filled with foreboding amusement.
"Before you can take part in the test, you have to sign this."
Her voice turned darker, laced with playful cruelty.
"Because from here on outā¦ corpses are going to come out."
"WHAT?!"
"Did she justā"
"Dead bodies?!"
Some of the genins visibly took a step back. Others looked at their teammates, unsure whether she was serious or playing mind games.
Anko kept going, giving a twisted grin.
"And I have to get your consent to that!"
"Or it'll be my responsibility!"
"Hahahahaha!" Her sharp laughter cut through the crowd like a blade.
Some genin paled while a few looked away. Some of them clenched their fists.
...
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Tchā¦ she's totally enjoying this..."
Sasuke, still silent, muttered under his breath.
"A challenge worth taking..."
...
Anko's eyes gleamed with the light of a predator.
"Well, I'm going to start the explanation for the second exam."
"In a wordā¦" she held up one finger, "the limits of your survival will be challenged."
She tossed the consent forms at a nearby table and began pacing slowly as she explained.
"First, I'll give you step-by-step instructions on the terrain of this training field."
Her tone grew serious, even as that dark gleam remained in her eye.
"Training Field No.44 is surrounded by 44 locked entrance gates. There are rivers and a forest. In the middle, there's a tower ā your goal."
"It's approximately 10 kilometers from the gates to the tower."
Her voice sharpened like a kunai.
"In this confined area, you will go through a certain survival program."
"The contents of which areā¦"
She paused again.
"Anything goes. Scroll battle."
...
"So we're hunting scrolls now?"
"What if we get ambushed?"
"This is insaneā¦"
...
Anko ignored the outcry.
"There are two types of scrolls ā namely, the Heaven and Earth scroll."
"There are about 26 teams. 13 teams will get the Heaven scroll, and the other 13 the Earthā¦"
"Only those teams that have both scroll ā Heaven and Earth ā will be allowed to enter the tower."
Her voice dropped an octave.
"For this second exam, the time limit is 72 hours ā that is, three days!"
"It's a survival exam, so be self-sufficientā¦"
"According to the rules, you cannot give up midway. You have to be self-sufficient in there."
Anko's grin stretched further.
"I want you to spend your three days in the forest!"
...
Choji muttered, "Can I at least bring some snacksā¦?"
Naruto was grinning now. "Hehā¦ this sounds kinda awesome!"
...
"Moving onā¦" Anko raised her voice again, silencing the murmurs.
Her voice cut through the air like a whip.
"Here are the conditions for disqualification."
"No.1 ā If all three members of the team can't make it to the tower with Heaven and Earth scrolls within the time limit."
"No.2 ā If a team loses a member or if a member becomes incapacitated."
"No.3 ā Absolutely do not look at the contents of the scrolls until you have reached the tower."
She stopped, took a deep breath, and then shouted:
"That is all for the rules ā though I do have one more thing to sayā¦"
A wide, unsettling smile stretched across her face.
"DON'T DIE!"
It rang out like a death bell.
Several genin flinched.
"Geezā¦" Kiba muttered, "She's scarier than all of us combined."
...
She twirled on her heel.
"Submit your consent forms at the collection stalls and pick your gates."
"All gates will open simultaneously at 2:30 PM!"
"That is allā¦"
Her voice echoed, lingering in the air like a warning.
...
...
ā¦
Time passed slowly, and the pressure slowly mounted over the young genins.
Soon, it was 2:29 PM.
The tension gripped the atmosphere like a vice.
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke had assembled at Gate No.12, their backs to the rising wind, their hands ready, their minds steeled.
Naruto cracked his knuckles. "Let's go, guys. This is our shot."
Sasuke smirked. "Stay sharp. This forest will eat the weak alive."
Sakura took a breath.
"We're ready. We have to be."
And thenā¦ exactly one minute laterā¦
From the far distance came Anko's voice, ringing out loud.
"We now start the second test of the Chuunin Exam!"
BOOOOM!!
A deafening sound burst across the field as all 44 gates simultaneously opened.
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
š¢ Author's Note š¢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Patreon. There you'll find:
ā Daily updates ā never miss a day of new content
ā Advanced chapters ā read far ahead of public releases
ā Exclusive perks & extras ā only available to patrons
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
š Dive into more chapters today: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! š„šāØ