The Turning Point

Chunin Exams Part 6

The next morning, following Kakashi's instructions, Team 7 met with the rest of the Chunin candidates who had passed the first stage of the exam at the outskirts of the village. Sakura gazed upon what she assumed to be an old training facility. It looked like a forest from a cheesy horror film, the trees twisted and tangled with each other. The whole area was surrounded by a huge wire fence with gates attached to it, locks and signs bearing caution of entry completed the daunting set up.

Three sentinels manned a desk off to the side of the first gate where their next proctor for the exam, Anko stood.

"Well looks like we all decided to show, this is the second location of the exam. The 44th battle training zone but it's mostly called the Forest of Death, and soon enough you guys will experience that for yourselves" Anko laughed with sadistic like pleasure.

Naruto snorted "They call it the forest of death and soon enough you'll find out why" he mocked, hands on his hips and shaking his backside back and forth in some sort of mimic dance.

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged shameful glances; this lady was sadistic enough without Naruto pushing her further.

"Well looks like we have a tough guy" Anko smiled and threw her kunai towards Naruto. The weapon rocketed past the blonde boy and sliced the long hair of a foreign ninja a few metres behind before landing blade first on the ground.

Before Naruto could even wipe at the blood dripping from the cut the kunai had made on his cheek, Anko was behind him. "You scared yet? Tough guys like you leave your blood all over this forest foor" she spoke in a sardonic voice.

Reaching a finger out to collect the blonde ninja's blood, Anko quickly drew out another kunai as she felt the presence of someone behind her. A long purple tongue fell from the mouth of the ninja in the straw hat whose hair had been cut by the blade. The tongue held Anko's previous kunai knife.

"I was, just returning your knife" The straw hat ninja spoke calmly despite the confronting position.

"Why thank you Grass Ninja, but I do recommended you only stand this close behind me if you want to die" Anko said, the corners of her mouth twitching up in amusement and took the knife back.

Quickly the long purple tongue was withdrawn back into the grass ninja's mouth. "My pardon, the sight of blood and your blade through my hair got me excited. No harm intended" chuckling the straw hat ninja returned to the back of the group.

"Seems like we're all a little quick tempered, this will be fun" Anko said to the group happily as Naruto attempted to imitate the Grass Ninja's tongue act.

"Right, before the test actually starts you all get one of these" Anko said, withdrawing sheets of paper from her coat pocket "Just a standard consent form, make sure you read before you sign"

"What exactly are we consenting to?" Sakura asked and Anko smiled.

"I can see I'm going to have to keep repeating myself. It's called the Forest of Death for a reason, some of you might not come back and you need to give consent to take that risk. If I didn't do that, I'd be responsible. Can you imagine that!?" Anko laughed as the candidates stared at her.

Sighing, Anko motioned to Naruto to pass out the consent forms before explaining what this portion of the exam would involve.

"You're going to be tested on your survival skills this time round" Anko began and Sakura looked up sharply, this is what Tsunade had been talking about.

"First let me explain the terrain you're working on. The 44th Battle Zone has 44 locked gate entrances. Rivers and a forest lie inside; the centre holds a locked tower which is located 10 kilometres from each gate. In here is where you'll take the survival test. The test is primarily an anything goes battle, to get your hands on both of these scrolls" Anko spoke holding up the scrolls in question.