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Haruto stood with his team in the crowded waiting area, the intimidating silhouette of the Forest of Death looming ominously in the background. Thirty teams of genin from all over the village and beyond waited anxiously for the next stage to begin. The air was thick with tension, and Haruto could feel the nervous energy radiating from the other participants.

His gaze wandered across the mass of unfamiliar faces, landing on Aika—the girl he had met after the first test. She stood with her team on the far side of the waiting area, catching his eye with an enthusiastic wave. Her smile was wide and friendly, almost too friendly for someone about to step into a deadly test.

Haruto hesitated for a second, then awkwardly raised his hand in return, giving a small wave. Despite her warm demeanor, there was something about Aika that didn't sit right with him. He couldn't pinpoint what it was, but the feeling lingered.

Beside him, Daichi, ever the charming one, leaned in with a smirk. "She's giving me crazy vibes, man," he whispered, his eyes still fixed on Aika.

Haruto shot him a sideways glance, surprised. Him too? Daichi, at just 9 years old, had a reputation for being a natural charmer, even among older girls. Normally, he would already be chatting her up or cracking jokes, but now he was wary. Haruto had thought it was just his own instincts, but if even Daichi was getting bad vibes from her, something definitely felt off.

Before Haruto could respond, a commanding voice echoed through the waiting area.

"Everyone, listen up!"

The crowd of genin turned toward the source of the voice. A man stepped forward with a powerful presence—tall, dark hair tied neatly back, and pale, intense eyes that immediately caught Haruto's attention.

"I am Hizashi Hyuga, your proctor for the second stage of the Chunin Exams," the man introduced himself, his voice firm and steady.

Haruto blinked, feeling a jolt of recognition. Hizashi Hyuga. He knew that name. Hizashi was the younger brother of Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the main branch of the Hyuga clan, and the father of Neji Hyuga. In the anime, Hizashi was a tragic figure, a man burdened by the unfair treatment of the Hyuga clan's branch family, ultimately sacrificing himself to protect his brother and the village.

But here he was, in person, standing tall and commanding, without any of the weight of his future tragedy visible on his face. Haruto's thoughts swirled. To anyone else, Hizashi would seem indistinguishable from any other formidable jonin, but Haruto knew his story, knew how it would end.

Focus. Haruto pushed the thought aside. For now, Hizashi was just the proctor, and the task at hand was surviving the Forest of Death.

Hizashi's pale eyes swept across the gathered teams. "This stage is known as the Forest of Death, and it is not called that lightly," he began, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding. "Your goal is simple in theory: each team will be given one of two scrolls—Heaven or Earth. Your objective is to obtain the other scroll by any means necessary and make your way to the tower in the center of the forest within five days."

He held up two scrolls for the crowd to see, one marked with the symbol for Heaven, the other for Earth. Haruto's heart pounded in his chest as he listened to the explanation. This was the part of the exam he had been dreading—where the danger was very real.

"The forest is full of not just your fellow competitors but deadly creatures, traps, and other dangers," Hizashi continued, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked around the room. "There will be no assistance from outside. You will be on your own. The only goal is survival—both in terms of your body and your strategy. Teams that fail to reach the tower with both scrolls will be disqualified."

Haruto glanced at his teammates. Shisui stood calm and confident beside him, while Daichi, though usually playful, had an unusual look of focus on his face. They were ready for this, but that didn't stop Haruto from feeling the weight of the danger ahead. The Forest of Death had earned its name for a reason.

"One more thing," Hizashi added, raising his voice slightly. "Opening the scrolls before reaching the tower will result in immediate disqualification. The contents are to be revealed only when you arrive."

The proctor's gaze hardened as he surveyed the genin. "This exam is not just about strength. It is about your ability to think, adapt, and work together as a team. Victory comes not just from defeating your enemies, but from using your environment and your intellect to outsmart them. Those who rely solely on brute force will not survive the Forest of Death."

Haruto took a deep breath, his mind already racing through potential strategies. This was the ultimate test—survival against both the elements and their competitors. He knew what they were up against, but hearing it laid out so clearly by Hizashi made it all feel more real.

As Hizashi finished the briefing, Haruto's eyes drifted back to Aika. She still wore that bright, unsettling smile as she chatted with her teammates, seemingly unbothered by the weight of the situation. Haruto felt a prickle of unease again. Something about her wasn't adding up. But he couldn't afford to be distracted. He had his own team to worry about.

With the rules explained, the proctors began handing out the scrolls, and soon, Haruto's team had their assigned scroll in hand—a Heaven scroll. Haruto looked at it, feeling the weight of the task ahead.

The Forest of Death awaited.