Chapter 44: Karin, A Key Part of the Plan

The next day, at 2:30 PM.

Yagyu left home and headed to the usual meeting spot for Team 8, joining Shino Aburame and Hinata on their way to the Forest of Death.

On the way, Shino shared his analysis: "The 44th training ground, also known as the Forest of Death, is one of Konoha's restricted training areas. It's said to be a dense, untamed forest filled with dangerous beasts and poisonous insects."

"After returning yesterday, I did some research on the training ground. The forest is surrounded by an iron fence and has 44 entrances. At the center is a building called the Central Tower. The distance from any entrance to the tower is exactly 10,000 meters, which is ten kilometers."

"If my guess is correct, the Central Tower should be the endpoint of the second exam."

"As for the test itself, if it's not a race, it might involve gathering specific items in the forest and bringing them to the Central Tower to pass the exam."

"If the objective is to collect items in the forest, we'll likely encounter other teams, which could lead to battles over those items."

Hearing this, Yagyu was a bit surprised as he looked at Shino.

He's pretty spot on. No wonder he's one of the most reliable and mysterious characters in the early arcs!

Yagyu decided to give a little 'spoiler': "When the proctor announced the exam, she said half of us would be eliminated. If it's about gathering items, there might only be enough for half the teams, meaning this exam could force us into fights over those items."

"Indeed."

Shino nodded and added, "If that's the case, this exam will work to our advantage."

"You two handle the sensing—Shino, Hinata."

"Understood!"

While chatting, Team 8 arrived outside the Forest of Death, where most of the other examinees had already gathered.

Mitarashi Anko was munching on dango while directing the proctor team to set up tents, though it wasn't clear what they were for.

When there were twenty minutes left until the start, and all the candidates had arrived, Anko began explaining the content and rules of the exam.

The second exam would be a scroll battle.

There were two types of scrolls: the Scroll of Heaven and the Scroll of Earth. Each team would be randomly given one scroll and would have to obtain the other by stealing it from another team. The goal was to bring both scrolls to the Central Tower to pass the second exam.

The candidates would have 120 hours, or five days, to complete the exam.

While Anko explained the rules, her casual and teasing tone irritated Naruto, who couldn't help but mimic and provoke her, only to be swiftly punished by a skewer jab from Anko, leaving him with a small trauma.

This little episode even led to an unintentional reunion between Orochimaru and Anko, though Anko didn't realize it at the time.

"Now, with ten minutes left, come and sign your 'Death Waiver'," Anko teased with a smirk. "Of course, if you're scared, you can always turn around and go home."

Knowing how twisted the proctor's personality was, none of the examinees got angry. Instead, each team lined up to sign the waivers.

Afterward, the team leaders entered the tents to receive their respective scrolls.

With their scroll in hand, Team 8 followed a proctor to one of the 44 entrances, waiting for the exam to begin.

As the final ten seconds ticked away, the proctors at the entrances unlocked the gates.

Anko's voice echoed through the speakers:

"The second exam of the Chunin Exams—begin!"

With her words, the examinees at the 44 entrances dashed into the forest, some running at full speed, while others vanished in blurs.

However, a few teams, including Team 8, chose to walk leisurely into the forest.

"Hinata, you hold onto the Earth scroll," Yagyu said, handing the scroll to her. "Use your Byakugan to scout for targets, but don't rush into action. Let them fight it out for a while, or wait for them to come to us."

"Understood."

Hinata nodded obediently.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Yagyu quickly formed the hand signs, summoning three shadow clones.

As soon as the clones appeared, they sprinted off in different directions.

Seeing this, Shino asked, "Yagyu, are you looking for Team 7 and Team 10?"

"Yes," Yagyu nodded. "Forgive me for being selfish, Shino. I just can't help but worry about them."

But that's a lie!

While Yagyu was indeed searching for Ino and Sakura, that was merely a side task. He knew very well that the two girls would be fine.

Yagyu's main target was someone much more important—one of the three ultimate devoted followers alongside Obito and Sakura—Karin.

She was a key piece in Yagyu's plan, and he had to intercept her before Sasuke did!

Shino, unaware of Yagyu's true intentions, shook his head after hearing Yagyu's slightly apologetic tone, "It's fine. There's no reward for being the fastest in this exam. With Hinata's Byakugan, do whatever you need."

"Thanks, Shino."

Yagyu patted Shino on the shoulder, and the trio continued their leisurely walk through the forest.

Hinata kept her Byakugan activated, regularly reporting what was happening within a kilometer around them.

Several nearby teams, using their own sensory abilities, managed to locate Team 8.

But when they realized who they were up against, they immediately turned tail and fled, faster than when they had approached.

Yagyu, Hinata, and Shino didn't bother to chase them down.

Of course, not everyone was so afraid.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Three figures appeared in the treetops above, looking down at the seemingly relaxed Team 8 as if they were on a camping trip. The figures formed hand signs, preparing to launch a surprise attack.

At that moment, Yagyu suddenly looked up at them.

In an instant, the three attackers froze, their eyes wide and bodies trembling as if struggling to break free from invisible restraints but failing.

This was none other than the Binding Jutsu!

"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!"

Hinata dashed forward, unleashing three bursts of distorted air towards the attackers' location.

Frozen in place, the three became easy targets, hit directly by the air blasts. They spat out blood as they fell to the ground.

Their bodies slammed hard into the forest floor, further worsening their internal injuries caused by Hinata's chakra-infused attacks.

But it wasn't over yet.

A swarm of insects crawled onto their necks, burrowing into their bodies and rapidly consuming their chakra.

In just a few seconds, the three went from full health to near death.

If the other candidates who had fled earlier saw this, they would have been glad they had run, grateful for their wise decision.

Yagyu shook his head in disbelief. "Idiots like these actually made it past the first exam without forfeiting. I guess being reckless has its advantages."

To think they would try to ambush us, knowing we have a Byakugan user...

These three reminded Yagyu of the Demon Brothers—clearly, brains were in short supply.

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