Chapter 74: 2nd Challenge

"The second exam is going to be much more complicated than the last. In this challenge, the remaining 20 teams will each be in their teams and given an assignment. Half of you will be assigned a client to escort from the entrance of the Forest of Death, all the way to the center where the main building lies. The other half will be the opposite of the first, with your goal being to either tag the client, or eliminate an opposing team. After you eliminate one team, you automatically pass the challenge and may head straight for the center. The challenge will mimic the dangers of an escort mission, and if you can survive will depend on your own luck. Now, grab a number from the bowl. Anyone with an even number will be escorts, while those with odd numbers will be the enemy." The examiner finished while pulling out a bowl full of papers.

Each group sent a representative up to grab a paper, after which they went back to their respective groups.

"So what are we doing Tsuna?" Jiraiya asked Tsunade as she came back.

"It seems like we'll be defending a client." Tsunade answered after she read the paper.

They then followed the examiner to the entrance of the Forest of Death, where the clients were brought in by them.

Each of the clients came to the group that they were assigned to, with the client assigned to Team 7 seemingly being a bald middle-aged man.

The man's eyes skimmed over all three of them as he spoke "I hope I don't die with this lackluster protection."

Jiraiya gained a proud and majestic look as he spoke "I can assure you sir, you will make it to the center of the forest without any problems or issues."

"You look like the weakest one out of all of you." The man sneered while turning away and heading towards the forest, leaving Jiraiya to look completely depressed and draw circles into the ground while Orochimaru consoled him.

However, Tsunade paid little attention to this as her eyes narrowed on to the man. Just by using her seismic sensing, she could tell the man was a shinobi based on the difference in his chakra from other civilians.

If she had to estimate, the man had a chakra amount that was similar to that of a Jonin's.

She then scanned over all the clients, after which she realized that their chakra amount was also at a similar level, leading her to make a quick guess as to why.

'So Sarutobi Sensei decided to send jonin to help monitor the situation of the exams. It's much safer than what was done in canon, and it adds an extra layer of defense to the genin of the Leaf. It also allows him to eliminate less prominent genin from the other Villages under the name of the Chunin Exams. Truly terrifying.'

Tsunade finished her analysis as she thought about her relationship with Hiruzen. Although she originally didn't, and still does not completely, trust Hiruzen, she has grown to accept him as time went by. She now views him as a teacher, although that doesn't mean the bond between the two is completely close as she still doesn't know if he can fully be trusted or not.

She was broken out of her thoughts by the Examiner beginning to speak once more.

"The trial will now begin. You all will have a total of 3 days to reach the tower, otherwise, you automatically forfeit and your survival will be solely based upon yourself. The escorts will be given a 15-minute head start, after which the opposite group can begin chasing them. I wish you all the best of luck. Begin!!"

And with that, the second challenge officially began.

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