#18 The Forest of Death

We then followed Anko to training ground #44.

Anko: Congratulations to everyone who successfully completed the last stage.

We are standing here in front of training area number 44, also known as the Forest of Death.

There are all kinds of dangers in this forest.

Your task in this test will be to get to the tower in the middle of the area, it's about 10km away.

You have 5 days to arrive.

Each team gets a scroll that says either heaven or earth and you need both in the tower to pass the test.

Before we proceed, each of you must sign this document.

Since some of you could die during this test, you give us your consent that everything happened out of your free will.

You start from different positions, your position will be given to you once you have signed the paper.

Anyone want to back out?

No, then you have 10 minutes until we distribute your teams.

Naruto: Guys, that finally sounds like fun.

Sato: I'm in favor of us forming an alliance.

Hinata: That sounds like a good idea.

Sato: I'm going to Oku, if our teams are combined, we should move forward quickly.

So I went to Oku, Kiba, Akamaru and Shino.

Sato: Hey Oku, does your team want to form an alliance with our team?

Shino: That sounds good, Hinata is a sensor right?

Sato: Yes, she is a sensor, but my range of vision is greater than hers.

Kiba: Then we have a deal, but how do we find you in this big area?

Sato: I'll find you, it won't take long.

Oku: I'm looking forward to working with you.

Sato: Well then, let's separate first, before others come up with the same idea.

The exam started after 45 minutes and we started from entrance number 17.

And from what I could see, Oku and his team were at No. 22.

Sato: We have to go half a kilometer east to meet the others.

Naruto: Cool, soon we'll be a team of six against three man teams.

Sato: We received an earth scroll.

Maybe Oku's team got a heaven scroll,then one of our teams would have passed.

We then ran towards the others and arrived after 5 minutes.

Akamaru: Bark, Bark.

Kiba: You can smell them?

The next moment we were standing next to them.

Sato: Hey.

Naruto: Hello guys.

Hinata: Glad to see you.

Kiba: You got here quickly.

Shino: Yo.

Oku: Sato, your skills are really crazy.

Sato: Let's hurry up and fish out some teams.

Which scroll do you have?

We have a Earth Scroll.

Shino: We have a Heaven Scroll.

Sato: Good, then we need them both again.

Hinata, you cover the west, I cover the other directions.

Hinata: Got it, Byakugan.

I don't see anyone near here.

Sato: I have a team from Kiri with a Heaven Scroll about 1.3km northeast from here.

I'll keep an eye on them.

Naruto send a few shadow clones ahead, in case traps were set up somewhere!

Naruto: Got it.

Sato: Kiba stay close to the Clones to warn them when the enemies are near.

It took us 17 minutes to get to the Kiri Ninja's.

Sato: Shino suck them dry with your insects!

Shino: They're already on their way.

Sato: If they are weakened, we will surround them.

5 minutes passed.

Shino: Fine, that should be enough.

Attack!

We surrounded the Kiri Ninja's and they were to weak to win against us, so they threw the scroll at us and we disappeared.

We walked 500m further and I spotted a team from Otogakure with an Earth Scroll.

We then only needed 5 minutes to get to them and repeated the strategy.

We now had all the scrolls we needed and made our way to the tower.

We arrived after 30 minutes and took a total of 1 hour and 7 minutes.

Hinata: That was pretty easy.

I imagined the exam would be more difficult.

Naruto: We're the best.

Shino: It was fun working with you.

Kiba: But from now on we are opponents again.

Oku: It's good that we worked together, you all made it really easy for us.

Thanks.

Sato: We all did a good job, we'll take the left door and see you later.

Oku: Good luck!

I Hinata and Naruto walked through the door of the tower and walked to the end of the hallway.

A board was hung there.

I ignored it and opened the scrolls and threw them on the floor.

The next moment Iruka was standing in front of us.

Sato: Hello Sensei Iruka, long time no see.

Iruka: You're here already?

But that happened quickly.

Sato: We didn't come alone, we formed a team with Kiba, Oku and Shino.

Iruka: It only took you an hour, it'll be a new record.

Congratulations on passing the second exam.

Naruto: Thank you Sensei.

Are there others here already?

Iruka: No, you're the first ones here, but don't worry you have enough food here in the tower for the rest of the days.

Sato: Do we have to stay in the tower Sensei?

Iruka: Yes, you all must stay here, otherwise you will be disqualified.

Hinata: Got it sensei.

And with that the great wait began.

After another hour Gaara's team arrived and after 3 days the team of Neji, Lee and Tenten came in.

On the fourth day, Shikamaru's team and the sound trio arrived.

And on the last day Kabuto's and Sasuke's team came.

They probably had some problems, Mara was eaten by a snake and then freed by Kabuto, but her body was already digested by the snake and now her body is riddled with scars from top to bottom.

Mara: My life is destroyed, how can I continue living like this, don't look at me.

Somehow I felt sorry for her, but then again somehow I didn't.

Hinata: Sato, can't you do anything?

Sato: True beauty comes from within, if she learns that I will heal her, I promise.

Naruto: I can kind of understand you Sato.

Hinata: If you both mean, then i will accept it too.

And with that everyone was there to take the next test.