As the time for the second round of exams approached, the chief examiner first explained the assessment to all the candidates.
Each team of lower-level ninjas could obtain either a Scroll of Heaven or a Scroll of Earth from the examiners.
After receiving the scrolls, the teams could enter the Valley of the End behind the iron gate.
These teams of lower-level ninjas who entered the Valley of the End with the scrolls had to collect both the Heaven and Earth scrolls within 72 hours and successfully reach the tower at the other end of the Valley of the End.
As long as they achieved these two points, the team of lower-level ninjas would pass the second round of exams and advance to the third round.
After explaining the rules, the chief examiner distributed different scrolls and allowed the teams of lower-level ninjas from various villages to go to different entrance locations, where they were batched into the Valley of the End.
Taking advantage of the timing when the candidates entered the Valley of the End, a team entirely composed of jonin arranged by Danzo, also disguised themselves as a team from a small ninja village and successfully infiltrated the Valley of the End.
This team of jonin consisted of a jonin from the Yamanaka clan, a jonin from Root with excellent ninjutsu and taijutsu skills, and the elite jonin, Kato Dan.
The Yamanaka jonin and Dan were responsible for remotely controlling the target team members and inciting conflict to create animosity.
The Root jonin was responsible for taking care of their bodies while the other two executed ninjutsu.
With three experienced jonin executing the mission, Danzo's plan proceeded smoothly.
Utilizing their excellent sensory abilities, the team confirmed the positions of the lower-level ninja teams from Kumogakure and Iwagakure and then provoked Ay, who was impulsive.
With Ay incited by hatred, the team led the Kumogakure lower-level ninja team to the vicinity of the Iwagakure lower-level ninja team's location.
After completing these tasks, the team engaged in a brief skirmish with Ay's team from Kumogakure.
After several rounds of fighting, the team feigned defeat, used smoke bombs to block their vision, and successfully disengaged.
The skirmish between Ay's team and Dan's team naturally attracted the attention of the Iwagakure team led by Kitsuchi.
Having exchanged glances before entering the Valley of the End, Ay and Kitsuchi, with their fiery temperaments, exchanged a few words before starting the fight.
Hidden in the shadows, Dan and the Yamanaka jonin each activated their clan's secret techniques.
The Spirit Transformation Technique and Mind Body Switch Technique were both bizarre ninjutsu that invaded the opponent's mental space, manipulating their bodies for combat using spiritual and mental power.
Due to Hiruzen's request not to kill Kitsuchi and Ay, Dan and the Yamanaka jonin controlled the two weakest members of each team, who had no significant background.
Manipulating the ordinary lower-level ninjas from Kumogakure and Iwa, Dan and the Yamanaka jonin followed the planned scheme, engaging in a few rounds of combat before launching fatal attacks on each other.
Because the Yamanaka clan's secret technique would also harm the user's body when controlling the enemy's body, the Yamanaka jonin released the Mind Body Switch Technique just as the attack was about to hit.
However, Dan's Spirit Transformation Technique did not have this drawback, allowing him to continue controlling the target's body, ensuring that both lower-level ninjas died simultaneously.
"Kurochi!"
"Shirogumo!"
Kitsuchi and Ay, who were in the midst of their battle, both noticed their comrades' peril.
In a synchronized move, they leaped backward, their eyes showing a hint of sadness and anger as they looked at their teammates who had lost their chakra signatures.
"You bastards! Damn you, Iwa! You killed Shirogumo!" Eyes turning red, enveloped in lightning chakra, Ay erupted in anger.
With the same fury, looking at his fallen teammate, Kitsuchi glared hatefully at Ay.
"Scum, die!"
Shouting loudly, Kitsuchi unleashed the technique taught to him by his father, Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!
Transforming his right hand into a solid rock fist and increasing its hardness and weight, Kitsuchi charged at Ay.
"I'll kill you!"
Responding with a roar, Ay entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode and also charged at Kitsuchi.
Lightning Release: Lightning Blade!
Gathering lightning chakra throughout his body, Ay's body rapidly collided with Kitsuchi, preparing to deliver a fatal blow with his immense strength.
In the midst of their rage-filled roars, the two individuals unleashed their strongest techniques and charged toward each other.
With a deafening boom, they collided without holding anything back.
Under the immense power and shockwaves, the earth shattered into countless fragments, and along with the rising dust, it scattered in all directions.
Meanwhile, Blue B, who was battling an Iwagakure ninjutsu user with the Bloodline Limit of Explosion Release, and his opponent temporarily halted their fight.
"Let's cease the fighting first!" Blue B suggested, looking at the Iwagakure ninja in front of him.
After the Iwagakure ninja silently nodded, he jumped down from the tree and rushed towards the location where Kitsuchi and Ay were engaged in combat.
Following closely behind, concerned about his cousin Ay's safety, Blue B also jumped down from the tree and charged forward.
Hidden in the shadows, Dan and the Yamanaka jonin, both possessing exceptional sensory abilities, glanced at each other after confirming that Ay and Kitsuchi's chakra signatures were weakening.
Nodding at each other, the two signaled to the Root jonin, indicating that they could now proceed to lure the Sunagakure team over.
Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the Kumogakure and Iwagakure ninjas focusing on their comrades' well-being, the three jonin quietly departed.
Employing the same tactic, the three once again transformed themselves, this time into the appearance of Amegakure ninjas. After locating the Sunagakure team, they began provoking them.
Unlike Ay, the calm-minded Rasa was not swayed by the three disguised Amegakure jonin's attempts to incite hatred.
Seeing this, the three jonin adjusted their strategy. The Root jonin suddenly erupted and subdued Karura, binding her and taking her away.
"Karura!" Witnessing his teammate and love interest being taken away by the enemy, Rasa became anxious.
Unable to contain himself, Rasa could only team up with his puppeteer teammate and chase after the retreating Amegakure team.
Maintaining a steady pace, Dan and his team successfully lured Rasa to the location where the Kumogakure and Iwagakure teams were engaged in battle.
After feigning a mistake, the Root jonin, who was holding Karura captive, took the opportunity to throw Karura to the ground.
"Karura!" Shouting once again, Rasa, forgetting about attacking the enemy, erupted with chakra and rushed towards the fallen Karura.
"Karura, are you okay?" Squatting down, Rasa anxiously held Karura in his arms.
Still conscious, Karura smiled apologetically at Rasa. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed, behind Rasa, one of the Amegakure ninjas who had attacked him, firing several needles towards Rasa's back.
"Watch out!" Shouting out, Karura reached out and pulled Rasa close, rolling them both to the ground, narrowly avoiding the Amegakure ninja's ambush.
"Damn it!" Eyes flashing with anger, Rasa, still holding onto Karura, got up from the ground.
Glancing at the three Amegakure ninjas not far away, Rasa was about to speak when he heard a voice from his other side.
"Who?"
Hearing the voice, Rasa quickly looked in the other direction and spotted the Kumogakure and Iwagakure ninja teams confronting each other in the distance.
"Too many enemies, retreat!"
Seeing Rasa notice the Iwagakure and Kumogakure teams, the three disguised Konoha jonin, after receiving orders from Dan, all used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared from the trees.
"Darn it... these Amegakure bastards!" Hearing the voice, when Rasa turned back again, he couldn't see the three Amegakure ninjas' figures anymore.
Frustrated but with nowhere to vent, Rasa clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth as he once again looked at the Sunagakure and Iwagakure ninja teams.
Seeing the four individuals ahead, all injured and in a sorry state, surveying the chaotic land ahead, an idea formed in Rasa's mind.
If he could eliminate all the Kumogakure and Iwagakure ninjas here, the likelihood of him winning the Chunin Exams would greatly increase.
With this thought in mind, Rasa's heart raced. He turned to Karura beside him and whispered, "This is a good opportunity!"
"Yeah! Be careful!" Nodding gently, Karura reminded him with concern.
"Don't worry, they're no match for me now!" Confidently, Rasa said, looking at his puppeteer teammate who had just arrived.
Giving his teammate a nod, Rasa, accompanied by his two teammates, took confident steps forward towards the four individuals ahead.