After the first stage of screening, nearly one-third of the over sixty teams were eliminated, leaving only forty-two teams, including Uchiha Kazuhiko's solo team.
As Uchiha Kazuhiko had anticipated, the teams he had learned about from the intelligence scrolls all passed the assessment, becoming potential opponents, he might encounter next.
"Quiet, please. First, congratulations on passing the first exam and qualifying for the second stage."
The chunin teacher in charge of proctoring clapped his hands, signaling the examinees in the classroom to quiet down.
After congratulating everyone, he pointed to the large auditorium on the right of the lecture hall and said,
"All teams that passed, please proceed immediately to the training grounds of the Cloud Ninja School to receive your number plates for the next stage."
Uchiha Kazuhiko followed the examinees who had passed the first stage. Under the arrangement of the Cloud ninja teachers, they left the exam hall in an orderly manner and were led by another group of staff to the training grounds within the Cloud Ninja School.
To the north of the training grounds stood a temporarily erected high platform. The examinees were arranged below this platform, waiting for the proctors of the second exam to arrive.
Before long, examinees from the other exam halls also arrived. The originally not very spacious area quickly became crowded.
"Bastard, you looking to die?"
"Sorry, sorry, my mistake."
A Grass ninja examinee accidentally stepped on a short-tempered Rock ninja, bowing repeatedly in apology under the other's furious scolding.
"Move aside, don't block the way."
"What did you say? Want to fight?"
A Sand ninja pushed aside a Waterfall ninja examinee blocking the path, immediately angering the other. Only the intervention of their respective teammates prevented a fight from breaking out on the spot.
Just as the situation was becoming increasingly chaotic, a blonde bombshell with a stunning figure appeared abruptly on the temporary high platform, accompanied by several staff members.
Looking down at the noisy examinees below, the blonde woman seemed slightly impatient. She took a deep breath and shouted sharply,
"Everyone, be quiet! Otherwise, you will be disqualified!"
Her words had an immediate effect. The examinees fell silent instantly, focusing their attention on the high platform.
"I am Samui, the chief proctor for the second exam. I will now announce the details regarding the second stage. If you have any questions, raise your hand to ask."
Samui seemed very satisfied with the result she had achieved. After a brief self-introduction, she continued,
"The second exam will be held in the Rota Mountains starting at 1 PM sharp today. Due to the high mortality rate of this exam, all participants are required to sign a death waiver."
Samui produced a stack of papers and had the staff distribute them to the examinees present.
The death waiver was a document issued by every village hosting the Chunin Exams before the second stage to avoid subsequent complications from casualties.
The content was largely similar, nothing more than describing potential dangers during the exam and disclaiming the host's liability in case of death, etc.
Uchiha Kazuhiko skimmed the document rapidly and signed his name with a flourish.
After all examinees had signed the death waivers, Samui held up a golden token about the size of a palm and explained,
"See this token? This is the pass for the second stage."
"Within the Rota Mountains, which are sealed by a barrier, twelve such pass tokens are hidden. Regardless of the methods you use, if you can deliver them to the staff waiting on the Cloud Rock Platform in the northern part of the Rota Mountains within the exam time limit, you will pass the second stage."
Here, Samui paused slightly. Her gaze swept over the many examinees as she solemnly reminded them,
"You will traverse various complex terrains like forests, rivers, mountains, and valleys. You will encounter attacks from fierce birds and beasts living in the Rota Mountains, and you might even be attacked by other participating teams."
"Proctor, wouldn't that mean only twelve teams can participate in the third exam?"
A novice genin from a minor village raised his hand, asking in surprise.
"You are correct. However, it's not that twelve teams will pass, but that at most twelve teams can pass. Obtaining these pass tokens is not that simple. There was once a Chunin Exam where only three teams ultimately passed the second stage."
Samui watched the slightly agitated examinees and mercilessly continued to strike their confidence.
After the examinees quieted down again, Samui added,
"One final point: the second exam lasts four and a half days. Leaving the barrier range of the Rota Mountains during the exam is prohibited. Violators will be directly eliminated."
"Alright, that's all I have to announce. Do you have any other questions?"
After finishing the introduction of all exam content, Samui gave the examinees time to ask questions.
A bit rough and unrefined purple-haired Rain ninja raised his hand. He glanced disdainfully at the other participating teams in the training ground and asked loudly,
"Proctor, if all other examinees were to die, leaving only our team, could we pass this exam even without finding a token?"
As soon as the Rain ninja's words fell, all examinees, including Uchiha Kazuhiko, turned their head towards him.
The other seemed completely unaware of the public outrage he had provoked and still waited arrogantly for Samui's answer.
"Of course, if you can actually pull that off."
Samui looked somewhat speechlessly at this Rain ninja, unsure whether to call him ignorant or brain-dead, and replied dismissively.
The purple-haired Rain ninja, having successfully drawn a wave of hatred, withdrew his arm satisfied.
Samui inquired again, confirmed no other examinees had questions, and then left the training ground with the other staff.
After Samui and the others left, the examinees in the training ground also began to disperse.
Uchiha Kazuhiko cast a pitying glance at the Rain ninja suicide squad that was being picked on by the Cloud triplets team, then turned and headed back to the inn without looking back to prepare for the afternoon exam.
After lunch, the examinees gathered at the southern barrier entrance of the Rota Mountains as required.
The layer upon layer Rota Mountains were shrouded in mist and clouds. The fierce roars of beasts echoed intermittently, as if concealing countless unknown dangers, making many of the less powerful examinees shudder.
Of course, for Uchiha Kazuhiko and some other exceptionally strong examinees, the Rota Mountains didn't feel much different from ordinary mountains.
"Alright, everyone, according to your team numbers, six teams per group will enter the Rota Mountains from different entrances."
Precisely at 1 PM, Samui announced the start of the second exam. Teams were let in waves every half hour according to their order.
Three hours later, all examinees had entered the Rota Mountains. Samui and several proctors joined hands to form seals, completely sealing the barrier.