Bang!
The first exam had just ended when the proctor for the second, Anko Mitarashi, shattered a classroom window with a kunai, making a flashy entrance as she announced the time and location for the next stage.
That's right, the second exam wouldn't begin immediately, but tomorrow.It would be held at noon, in Konoha's Training Ground 44.
When the crowd dispersed, Team 8 and Team 10 left the academy together.
"Training Ground 44, also known as the Forest of Death, is one of Konoha's most dangerous grounds. It's said to be filled with deadly beasts and poisonous insects. Entry is forbidden without permission," Shikamaru explained, hands folded behind his head.
"This training ground has forty-four entrances, all equidistant from a central tower, exactly ten kilometers away from each.
If the second exam is held there, then most likely, the test will have us either retrieve a designated object or escort something to the central tower."
"Tossing all the examinees from different villages into a forest to hunt or guard something, it's practically encouraging us to fight."
"So in this second exam, you all need to keep a low profile."
At that, Shikamaru glanced sideways at Haruma.
Acknowledging his thoughtful warning, Haruma smiled. "I understand. You all be careful as well. If you run into danger, don't get caught up in fighting, your lives come first."
"Haruma, here, take this."
Choji suddenly produced a small pouch and handed it to him.
"Thanks Choji." Recognizing the pouch he had received once every year, Haruma accepted it without hesitation and promised, "Don't worry, I'll do my best not to use it."
Choji nodded, then continued munching on his chips with half-lidded eyes. Not good with words, this was his own way of showing care for his closest friend.
Inside the pouch were soldier pills, prepared specifically for Haruma and Hinata.But Choji hoped they would never need them, because if they did, it would mean their situation was dire.
Having grown up with him, Haruma understood Choji's intentions perfectly, which was why he made that promise.
At the same time, he had to admit…
Ever since forging bonds with such loyal and kind friends, and awakening his devouring ability, Haruma, who had once treated this world like nothing more than a game, was gradually becoming a part of it.
Humans were social creatures after all. No one truly wished to spend their life in isolation.
Clutching the pouch of soldier pills, Haruma gazed up at the sky. In his eyes, a blazing light flickered but it could not conceal his steadfast determination.
The plan he had conceived years ago to counter the "Konoha Crush," one he had revised and perfected through countless simulations, was now set in stone.
He had given it a name, "Leaping over the Dragon Gate."
The next day at noon, Team 8 and 10 arrived early outside the Forest of Death.
Once all the examinees who had passed the first test had gathered, Anko appeared snacking on dango as she explained the rules of the second exam.
During her speech, Naruto, unable to stand her arrogance and being much like her in temperament, tried provoking her with an imitation. The result, of course, was that he was quickly put in his place, leaving a deep impression on him.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, already disguised as a genin, quietly observed from the crowd, even sharing a fleeting reunion of sorts with his former subordinate.
With those interruptions done, the examinees signed the waivers of death, then received their mission tools for the second exam. The Heaven and Earth Scrolls.
The task was a mixture of retrieval and escort. Each team received either a Heaven Scroll or an Earth Scroll and their mission was obtain the missing counterpart by any means necessary, then reach the central tower with both.
The time limit is 120 hours.
Five full days.
Within those five days, they would endure extreme survival training inside the Forest of Death, one of Konoha's most forbidden grounds.
"Haruma, Hinata, see you at the central tower."
Waving, Ino left with Team 10, following their assigned proctor to their entrance. Team Eight did the same, heading to entrance number eight.
As they waited for the exam to begin, the clock ticked down.
At 14:29:50, the final countdown began. Proctors stationed at each entrance pulled out their keys and unlocked the gates.
"The second stage of the chunin Exam begins now!"
Anko's voice boomed through the forest via loudspeakers. Some teams flickered into the forest in a blur, some dashed forward at full speed, while others strolled in leisurely.
Team 10 flickered inside in an instant.
But the moment they entered the dense woods, Haruma formed a seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With a puff of smoke, a duplicate Haruma appeared, obscuring Hinata and Shino's view.Before the haze cleared, one Haruma had already flickered toward the ten o'clock direction.
Watching the departure, Shino turned to the Haruma beside him, "Haruma, are you using your clone to gather intelligence or to probe the strength of other teams?"
"Both," Haruma replied, his back to Hinata and Shino.
In truth, the Haruma speaking now was the clone. The one who had vanished was the original.
Taking advantage of the smoke, Haruma had switched places with his clone through his high-speed body flicker. Even if Hinata used her Byakugan or Shino employed his insects, they would not find any flaw since the clone's chakra was so large.
Since consuming Zabuza and Haku, Haruma's chakra reserves, already double Kakashi's at graduation, had grown to more than four times Kakashi's current capacity.
In sheer units, he was only slightly below Naruto's immense reserves.
Without doubt, his chakra level was already Kage-class, perhaps even surpassing some Kage outright.
Of course, raw chakra alone did not define strength. The Five Kage themselves might not all possess overwhelming reserves, but their mastery of chakra nature transformations, high-level or even S-rank ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, as well as their rich battle experience. That was what made them worthy of the title.
Haruma, lacking the mangekyo sharingan and without even a single S-rank technique, was not arrogant enough to consider himself on par with the Five Kage.
So why was he moving alone, leaving a clone behind? Because Haruma took the chunin exams very seriously.