The rules for the second exam were very simple: each team of students would receive one scroll, either a Heaven Scroll or an Earth Scroll. Candidates needed to collect both types of scrolls by snatching them from others. Once both scrolls were obtained, reaching the tower in the forest would be considered passing the exam. Scrolls could not be opened during the exam, and the exam period was five days.
Compared to the first exam, the second one was far more brutal, as it tacitly allowed the terrifying rule of killing.
"If I remember correctly, during the second exam, my brother's team should have encountered Orochimaru, and then later encountered the three Otogakure Ninja. I must quickly rendezvous with my brother's team," Yuta thought, filled with anxiety.
Although Orochimaru did not kill Naruto and Sasuke in the original world, this mad scientist was simply not trusted by Yuta. What if Orochimaru wanted to research what would happen if a Jinchuriki died and its Tailed Beast was released? What then?
Putting Orochimaru aside, the remaining three Otogakure Ninja genuinely intended to kill Sasuke. It wouldn't be excessive to kill the target's teammates while achieving the primary objective, would it?
"Kurama, can you find my brother through your connection with the other half of the Nine-Tailed?" Yuta asked.
"We haven't had a mental connection between us for a long time," Kurama said, opening its eyes.
Yuta asked, puzzled, "Aren't you two separated from a single entity?"
"Precisely because we were separated from a single entity, our mental connection was severed. Both I and that guy think the same way," Kurama said, looking at Yuta as if he were an idiot.
"If the two of us were to reunite, although Kurama would still exist, it wouldn't be me, nor would it be that guy. In that situation, we could be considered to have 'passed away' in human terms. Although sealed and unable to move freely, that doesn't mean I want to die. To avoid one of us being captured and thus implicating the other, we can no longer use Chakra to search for each other."
"So that's how it is," Yuta said, exiting the mental space with disappointment.
Since he couldn't get help from Kurama, he could only rely on Nao's Byakugan. Although slower, it was still far better than searching bit by bit on his own.
"Click!"
The entrance iron gate opened, and Yuta led the two inside.
Standing in the forest, Yuta said to the two, "The scroll we received is a Heaven Scroll, so we need to quickly obtain an Earth Scroll to complete the exam. However, while searching for the Earth Scroll, Nao, please keep an eye on Team 7's location."
"Team 7? No problem," Nao nodded.
Yuta looked at Yosei beside him and instructed, "Yosei, your combat skills in skirmishes are a bit weaker, so don't stray too far from Nao and me."
"Understood."
"Let's go then!"
Relying on Nao's Byakugan, Yuta's squad quickly discovered their first group of enemies: a squad from Amegakure.
"Enemies detected 800 meters away at ten o'clock. The scroll they possess is the Earth Scroll we need, held by the only female in the squad. The three are Genin from Amegakure. Yuta, should we seize the scroll?" Nao's veins bulged around her eyes. With her Byakugan, Nao could easily see up to a kilometer away through obstacles.
Yuta's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected to see hope of completing the mission so soon after entering the forest: "Let's go."
Somewhere in the Death Forest, three Genin from Amegakure were moving along a forest path deeper into the forest.
"Wait a moment, there's movement ahead," Masumi said, raising his hand to stop the other two.
"Have we been discovered?"
Yuta and his two companions emerged from behind the trees. Seeing their appearance, a forced smile appeared on Masumi's face: "We're in trouble."
Yuta, who could easily subdue Otogakure Ninja, was undoubtedly a very powerful enemy in the minds of many candidates. Encountering him right at the start of the exam was undoubtedly bad news.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
A vast white mist rose out of nowhere, obstructing the view of Yuta and his two companions.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave."
A Genin beside Masumi quickly performed hand signs, then placed his right hand, forming the 'Tiger' sign, to his mouth. The next moment, a torrent of water, like a waterfall, surged towards Yuta.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
Yuta clapped his hands on the ground, and a water barrier rose, blocking the water flow.
"Thump-thump-thump."
Nao and Yosei, ignoring Yuta, who was under attack, quickly approached Masumi, who held the sealing scroll, relying on their memory.
"Whoosh, whoosh."
Watching Nao easily dodge the shuriken, a hint of annoyance flashed in Masumi's eyes: "Yuki."
"Yes."
The one called Yuki bit his thumb.
Boar – Dog – Rooster – Monkey – Ram.
"Summoning Technique!"
"Bang."
A large wild boar, two meters long, appeared in the smoke.
"Manzai, attack!"
Upon hearing the command, the wild boar's quills stood on end and shot towards Yuta and his two companions.
"Go!"
Masumi and his two companions took this opportunity to quickly flee the battlefield.
Facing the rain-like quills, Yuta calmly performed hand signs quickly. As the quills approached, Yuta's hands paused at the 'Horse' sign, and he shouted, "Three Evil Seal Method."
"Buzz."
A deep red triangular barrier unfolded before the three. The quills, nearly two meters long, shattered into several pieces the moment they hit the barrier.
"Phew."
Lowering his right hand, Yuta nodded to Nao and Yosei.
"Bang."
A puff of white smoke erupted, and Yuta disappeared. The Yuta who had used Water Formation Wall and the Three Evil Seal Method to block the enemy's attack was merely a Shadow Clone.
"As Yuta said, these three really fled towards the river to the west," Nao said, with one hand on her hip, her Byakugan seeing through obstacles as she watched the three fleeing, without the slightest urgency in her heart.
"The enemy is to the north, and not far to the south is the entrance to the Death Forest. As for the remaining west and east, both could be choices for escape, but Rain Ninja usually instinctively choose places with water, as it's most advantageous for their combat," Yosei said, taking a transparent small box from his waist pouch. Inside the box were a dozen sushi of various colors.
Nao took one from the box and put it in her mouth, asking indistinctly, "Isn't this the new composite flavor from the sushi shop? When did you buy it?"
"I bought it at noon. I originally wanted to save it to eat at the exam site, but I was too nervous and forgot," Yosei said, putting sushi into his mouth and happily covering his cheeks.
Delicious!
"Grumble…"
A large rock beside a river in the Death Forest suddenly made a hungry stomach sound.
"So hungry," Yuta groaned painfully, lying on the ground. He hadn't eaten much lunch, and with the energy consumed by Adamantine Sealing Chains in the afternoon and the Shadow Clone just now, Yuta was already famished.
"Why aren't those people here yet…" Yuta looked eagerly ahead.
"Thump-thump-thump."
"They're coming!"
Yuta quickly held his breath and lowered his presence.
"Wait."
Masumi stopped, his right hand, infused with Chakra, reaching into the river.
"There are no enemies around. Let's rest here for a bit."
The three sat on the ground. Masumi took a military ration pill from his waist pouch and popped it into his mouth.
Military ration pills were essential food for Ninja on missions. Unlike grilled food, they wouldn't produce a lot of smoke or other odors from wood, nor were they as dangerous as unfamiliar wild fruits, though they didn't taste very good.
The Death Forest at night would only be more dangerous than during the day. While it was still relatively safe, Masumi and the others had to adjust their condition to perfection.