Chakra Wizard
Active member
Awards
Alright, we’re finally into the second stage=D I’m actually rather proud of how well I think I wrote this chapter (especially since I did it in under twelve hours), so please feel free to comment on it to let me know I’m not just being conceitedxd Also, I realized recently just how long this list will eventually get, so for those of you who’ve been using the link below, I’m gonna start just putting the ten most recent chapters in it, alright? Well, enjoy
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
Chapter 012: Proceed With Caution
What remained of the first day of the Chūnin Exams passed by in the blink of an eye, as did the night that followed. The following morning, those who had passed the previous day emerged from their beds and fitted themselves with their typical shinobi attire before heading off in the direction of the designated training ground, …one that members of Naruto’s generation recalled all too well: …The Forest of Death. For some, confusion was the first response to the sight of this fenced off area filled with enormous trees, while for others, the spectacle produced no response at all. …For most of the genin, though, the forest emitted an atmosphere of mysteriousness and unknown dangers that practically forced them to hold their knees to keep them from buckling. For Team Naruto, it was Inase who displayed the first response, Airon who displayed the second, and it was Kei who displayed the third, …though he was desperately trying to display the second, as well.
Kei: Hehe, so what’s this supposed to be!? What, are we going on a picnic or something, cause that’s how easy this thing looks!
Before another obnoxious outburst could pass through his lips, a small shuriken flew past his head, coming into close contact with his left cheek, and continued until it hit the gate and fell to the ground. Taking a moment to recollect himself, Kei looked to his side to find seven to twelve strands of red hair now sitting atop his shoulder, the sight of which caused his eyes to double in size a second time. Before he could make his fear known to everyone, though, he felt a hand pat against his back as a seasoned kunoichi, who was dressed in robes and had her hair tied into two buns, passed him on the way to the front of the large group, …the proctor for the second stage of the exams.
Tenten: Don’t get too full of yourself now, …even if you are Naruto’s grandson.
Still frozen in fear after this small occurrence, it took Airon’s hand squeezing his shoulder to get Kei to snap out of his trance.
Airon: Relax, little brother. That’s Chan’s grandmother, alright? …She’s not gonna bite you.
Inase: Hmhm, that hard.
Airon: Come on, Inase. …Hehe, I think he’s been through enough for one day.
Tenten: (Having been listening on their conversation as she took her place in front of the gates, she decided that this was a good time to intrude.) Well then, he’s not gonna find much rest here. Alright everyone, listen up! Right now, we’re standing in front of what is officially known as the Forty-Fourth Training Ground, …but we around here like to refer to it as…the Forest of Death.
She took a moment for the contestants to take in the menacing aura of the name, knowing that many of them were feeling the exact same measure of creepiness that she felt when she took the exam over forty years ago. When she was certain that most of them had realized just what the name entailed for them, she continued giving them their instructions, while also handing a stack of papers to the nearest genin and requesting that he pass them around.
Tenten: Now, as most of you have probably already guessed, we give it that name for a very simple, but very good, reason, which is why I’m sending these forms around for all of you to read and then sign. By doing so, you’re not only accepting any and all risks that come with taking this stage of the exams, but you’re also taking all liabilities off my hands, should anything happen to you, …and I mean ANYthing.
If any of the genin hadn’t taken the hint before this point, …they certainly understood now.
????: Wait, so you’re saying that we could DIE in there!?
????: What, did you think that “Forest of Death” was just a misnomer?
????: Well yeah, but I don’t wanna take this exam if it means I’m gonna get killed, man! I don’t wanna be a chūnin THAT bad!
Tenten: If you don’t intend to risk your life to become a chūnin, then go home now! But, just let me remind you of something! The moment you decided to don that forehead protector, you agreed to risk your life to protect your village! …Your ninja rank changes nothing about that risk, …nor does the length of time we’ve gone on without a war!
Recognizing the truth within her statements, nobody protested this any further, nor did anyone choose to leave. Seeing this, Tenten immediately began giving them their instructions for the exam, starting with a diagram displaying what type of terrain they would have to travel across.
Tenten: Now then, the training ground has forty-four gates leading into it. Inside is a large forest and a river that cuts straight through it…and at its center is a large tower, precisely ten kilometers from each gate. This tower is your finish line, but before you can cross it, …
Before continuing, she reached into the pouch fitted around her waist and pulled out two familiar-looking scrolls.
Tenten: …your team will have get its hands on both of these scrolls, a heaven scroll and an earth scroll.
It didn’t take long after seeing the scrolls for Airon to decipher exactly what this meant for most of the teams still remaining in the competition. The change in his expression as this realization hit him caught the attention of both of his siblings.
Inase: Airon. …What does it mean?
He didn’t answer, but rather, looked over to Manako, who had also figured it out. He, in turn, crossed his arms before making it known to the rest of the crowd.
Manako: It means that only half of us have a chance of making it through this stage of the exams.
Several discussions immediately began sprouting up between various genin in the crowd, some expressing more concern than others.
Tenten: Yes…and no. Each team will be given just one of these scrolls before we send you through those gates, and the only way to get the second one…is through an all-out battle royale with the other teams. …But, don’t think that the other genin are your only opponents while you’re in that forest. The odds of getting taken out by another team…are just as high as those of getting taken out by one of the many things that lurk within those trees.
The thought alone was more than enough to cause several of the participants to begin shivering uncontrollably. …At this point, it was all left up to their imaginations.
Tenten: Now then, there’s more to this test than just getting a second scroll and getting to the tower. …You have only five days to get the job done, though, for some of the more elite teams, you won’t even need half that time. …It’s said that the Kazekage found both scrolls and made it to the tower…in only ninety minutes.
Knowing full well what was on their minds without looking at them, Inase turned to look at her brothers to see their reactions to this news. Surely enough, both of them were grinning from ear to ear, eager to face this intriguing new challenge.
Tenten: Also, there’s a few ways to get disqualified that you need to be aware of. The first is simple enough. If you can’t make it in five days, you’re out. Second, if a member of your team is unable to continue or dies, you’re out. And most important of all, …do not EVER look at your scrolls until you’ve made it the tower, or else…well, use your imagination.
At this point, most of the contenders were already spooked, but this only made it that much worse.
Tenten: This stage is designed to be extremely difficult and exceptionally cruel to those who aren’t ready for it. But, these are also the same kinds of challenges that shinobi are forced to face every day. If you can’t handle it, you were never fit to be a chūnin in the first place. Now, if you’ll just turn in those forms over at that desk, you’ll get your scroll and you can go ahead and pick a gate. Now, we have fifty-two teams competing this year, so eight of you are gonna have to stick around out here for another hour before we let you in, as well. …Oh, and before I forget, …try not to die!
With that, the crowd dispersed until the time came to give out scrolls. Almost immediately, Naruto’s team sought out Suzaku’s to discuss things over, finding them after only seconds.
Minto: So, what do you wanna do? You want us to stay out here and then go in the same gate?
Airon: (His mind now set on Gaara’s record, he firmly rejected the idea of losing an entire hour waiting for them.) No. You three can just go ahead and pick the closest gate. We’ll try and meet up as soon as the show starts.
Kei: Hehe, yeah! The Kazekage’s record is going down! Heck, we come from a whole BLOODLINE of speed demons! We’ll probably get it done in an hour! No, wait, HALF an hour!
Airon: (Rubbing his eyes in irritation as Kei carried on his rant, he eventually became fed up with it, though he tried to be as kind about it as possible.) Kei, you keep on talking like that, I’m gonna have to sew your lips shut. Quit talking as though we’re the best team here.
Kei: Airon, we ARE the best team here! And with Minto’s team having our backs, that’s two of the three most powerful genin here working together! The only other one here who can fight you or Nakama is Manako, and we all know he’d rather face you in the finals!
Airon: (Recalling the Stone genin from the first stage of the exams, his motion stood firm, in spite of Kei’s assertions.) …I’m still not convinced, Kei. …I’m not.
Remembering that there were other things which he could doing with his time, he walked past Kei and Minto and over to Taigen.
Airon: You doing alright, buddy?
Taigen: (He nodded, though he still couldn’t deny the inevitable.) Yeah. …Starting to run a little low on chakra, though.
Airon immediately placed his hand on Taigen’s shoulder upon being told this, holding it there for well over thirty seconds.
Airon: How’s that?
Taigen: …Better. …Much better.
Seeing the doubt in his eyes, Airon firmed his hold until the point that Taigen looked up into his eyes.
Airon: It’s only five days, Taigen. Once this is all over, we’ve got a whole month before the finals, …alright?
Having regained some of his confidence, Taigen managed a smile before nodding, just as one of the instructors sitting at the form desk stood up and began sliding a long curtain over it.
????: We will now begin passing out scrolls to each team!
One by one, each team progressed past the curtain with their forms in hand and walked back out the other side just seconds later, one of them now carrying a scroll, though neither the type of scroll nor the team member carrying it was made known to the other teams. Once this was done, Team Naruto immediately proceeded to the first empty gate, stopping at Gate Nine. Moments later, Team Suzaku passed by them, though Gate Ten had already been taken, as had Gate Eleven, …and Twelve, …and Thirteen, …until eventually, they were no longer in sight. His initial plans now foiled, he looked ahead at the gate now laid out in front of him, …as well as the dark and mysterious forest that rested behind it. Allowing the minutes to pass by as he stood there between his siblings with his eyes shut, he finally opened them once again just as the last second counted down.
Airon: (…It’s game time.)
Tenten: Alright, then! The second stage of the Chūnin Exams begins…NOW!!
Within an instant, all forty-four gates darted open and every team currently standing in front of one instantly dashed inside. Once beneath the tree line, Airon and his siblings immediately took to the branches, going about six hundred feet in before stopping.
Airon: Inase. Did you see which gate Minto’s team stopped at?
Inase: (Having been using her Byakugan to keep track of them, it didn’t take long for her to recall the answer.) Ummm, …Gate Fifteen.
Airon: (Crud. That already puts us well over a kilometer away.) Alright. Let’s hurry up and find them, so we can start-
Kei: AIRON, LOOK UP!!
Without hesitation, Airon conceded to his brother’s demands and moved out of the way just in time. …Leeches…hundred of enormous parasites, closing in on the three young shinobi from every side, …and this was only their first taste of what this forest had to offer them.
The second stage has only just begun – and Team Naruto has already run into trouble!!!
The End
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
Chapter 012: Proceed With Caution
What remained of the first day of the Chūnin Exams passed by in the blink of an eye, as did the night that followed. The following morning, those who had passed the previous day emerged from their beds and fitted themselves with their typical shinobi attire before heading off in the direction of the designated training ground, …one that members of Naruto’s generation recalled all too well: …The Forest of Death. For some, confusion was the first response to the sight of this fenced off area filled with enormous trees, while for others, the spectacle produced no response at all. …For most of the genin, though, the forest emitted an atmosphere of mysteriousness and unknown dangers that practically forced them to hold their knees to keep them from buckling. For Team Naruto, it was Inase who displayed the first response, Airon who displayed the second, and it was Kei who displayed the third, …though he was desperately trying to display the second, as well.
Kei: Hehe, so what’s this supposed to be!? What, are we going on a picnic or something, cause that’s how easy this thing looks!
Before another obnoxious outburst could pass through his lips, a small shuriken flew past his head, coming into close contact with his left cheek, and continued until it hit the gate and fell to the ground. Taking a moment to recollect himself, Kei looked to his side to find seven to twelve strands of red hair now sitting atop his shoulder, the sight of which caused his eyes to double in size a second time. Before he could make his fear known to everyone, though, he felt a hand pat against his back as a seasoned kunoichi, who was dressed in robes and had her hair tied into two buns, passed him on the way to the front of the large group, …the proctor for the second stage of the exams.
Tenten: Don’t get too full of yourself now, …even if you are Naruto’s grandson.
Still frozen in fear after this small occurrence, it took Airon’s hand squeezing his shoulder to get Kei to snap out of his trance.
Airon: Relax, little brother. That’s Chan’s grandmother, alright? …She’s not gonna bite you.
Inase: Hmhm, that hard.
Airon: Come on, Inase. …Hehe, I think he’s been through enough for one day.
Tenten: (Having been listening on their conversation as she took her place in front of the gates, she decided that this was a good time to intrude.) Well then, he’s not gonna find much rest here. Alright everyone, listen up! Right now, we’re standing in front of what is officially known as the Forty-Fourth Training Ground, …but we around here like to refer to it as…the Forest of Death.
She took a moment for the contestants to take in the menacing aura of the name, knowing that many of them were feeling the exact same measure of creepiness that she felt when she took the exam over forty years ago. When she was certain that most of them had realized just what the name entailed for them, she continued giving them their instructions, while also handing a stack of papers to the nearest genin and requesting that he pass them around.
Tenten: Now, as most of you have probably already guessed, we give it that name for a very simple, but very good, reason, which is why I’m sending these forms around for all of you to read and then sign. By doing so, you’re not only accepting any and all risks that come with taking this stage of the exams, but you’re also taking all liabilities off my hands, should anything happen to you, …and I mean ANYthing.
If any of the genin hadn’t taken the hint before this point, …they certainly understood now.
????: Wait, so you’re saying that we could DIE in there!?
????: What, did you think that “Forest of Death” was just a misnomer?
????: Well yeah, but I don’t wanna take this exam if it means I’m gonna get killed, man! I don’t wanna be a chūnin THAT bad!
Tenten: If you don’t intend to risk your life to become a chūnin, then go home now! But, just let me remind you of something! The moment you decided to don that forehead protector, you agreed to risk your life to protect your village! …Your ninja rank changes nothing about that risk, …nor does the length of time we’ve gone on without a war!
Recognizing the truth within her statements, nobody protested this any further, nor did anyone choose to leave. Seeing this, Tenten immediately began giving them their instructions for the exam, starting with a diagram displaying what type of terrain they would have to travel across.
Tenten: Now then, the training ground has forty-four gates leading into it. Inside is a large forest and a river that cuts straight through it…and at its center is a large tower, precisely ten kilometers from each gate. This tower is your finish line, but before you can cross it, …
Before continuing, she reached into the pouch fitted around her waist and pulled out two familiar-looking scrolls.
Tenten: …your team will have get its hands on both of these scrolls, a heaven scroll and an earth scroll.
It didn’t take long after seeing the scrolls for Airon to decipher exactly what this meant for most of the teams still remaining in the competition. The change in his expression as this realization hit him caught the attention of both of his siblings.
Inase: Airon. …What does it mean?
He didn’t answer, but rather, looked over to Manako, who had also figured it out. He, in turn, crossed his arms before making it known to the rest of the crowd.
Manako: It means that only half of us have a chance of making it through this stage of the exams.
Several discussions immediately began sprouting up between various genin in the crowd, some expressing more concern than others.
Tenten: Yes…and no. Each team will be given just one of these scrolls before we send you through those gates, and the only way to get the second one…is through an all-out battle royale with the other teams. …But, don’t think that the other genin are your only opponents while you’re in that forest. The odds of getting taken out by another team…are just as high as those of getting taken out by one of the many things that lurk within those trees.
The thought alone was more than enough to cause several of the participants to begin shivering uncontrollably. …At this point, it was all left up to their imaginations.
Tenten: Now then, there’s more to this test than just getting a second scroll and getting to the tower. …You have only five days to get the job done, though, for some of the more elite teams, you won’t even need half that time. …It’s said that the Kazekage found both scrolls and made it to the tower…in only ninety minutes.
Knowing full well what was on their minds without looking at them, Inase turned to look at her brothers to see their reactions to this news. Surely enough, both of them were grinning from ear to ear, eager to face this intriguing new challenge.
Tenten: Also, there’s a few ways to get disqualified that you need to be aware of. The first is simple enough. If you can’t make it in five days, you’re out. Second, if a member of your team is unable to continue or dies, you’re out. And most important of all, …do not EVER look at your scrolls until you’ve made it the tower, or else…well, use your imagination.
At this point, most of the contenders were already spooked, but this only made it that much worse.
Tenten: This stage is designed to be extremely difficult and exceptionally cruel to those who aren’t ready for it. But, these are also the same kinds of challenges that shinobi are forced to face every day. If you can’t handle it, you were never fit to be a chūnin in the first place. Now, if you’ll just turn in those forms over at that desk, you’ll get your scroll and you can go ahead and pick a gate. Now, we have fifty-two teams competing this year, so eight of you are gonna have to stick around out here for another hour before we let you in, as well. …Oh, and before I forget, …try not to die!
With that, the crowd dispersed until the time came to give out scrolls. Almost immediately, Naruto’s team sought out Suzaku’s to discuss things over, finding them after only seconds.
Minto: So, what do you wanna do? You want us to stay out here and then go in the same gate?
Airon: (His mind now set on Gaara’s record, he firmly rejected the idea of losing an entire hour waiting for them.) No. You three can just go ahead and pick the closest gate. We’ll try and meet up as soon as the show starts.
Kei: Hehe, yeah! The Kazekage’s record is going down! Heck, we come from a whole BLOODLINE of speed demons! We’ll probably get it done in an hour! No, wait, HALF an hour!
Airon: (Rubbing his eyes in irritation as Kei carried on his rant, he eventually became fed up with it, though he tried to be as kind about it as possible.) Kei, you keep on talking like that, I’m gonna have to sew your lips shut. Quit talking as though we’re the best team here.
Kei: Airon, we ARE the best team here! And with Minto’s team having our backs, that’s two of the three most powerful genin here working together! The only other one here who can fight you or Nakama is Manako, and we all know he’d rather face you in the finals!
Airon: (Recalling the Stone genin from the first stage of the exams, his motion stood firm, in spite of Kei’s assertions.) …I’m still not convinced, Kei. …I’m not.
Remembering that there were other things which he could doing with his time, he walked past Kei and Minto and over to Taigen.
Airon: You doing alright, buddy?
Taigen: (He nodded, though he still couldn’t deny the inevitable.) Yeah. …Starting to run a little low on chakra, though.
Airon immediately placed his hand on Taigen’s shoulder upon being told this, holding it there for well over thirty seconds.
Airon: How’s that?
Taigen: …Better. …Much better.
Seeing the doubt in his eyes, Airon firmed his hold until the point that Taigen looked up into his eyes.
Airon: It’s only five days, Taigen. Once this is all over, we’ve got a whole month before the finals, …alright?
Having regained some of his confidence, Taigen managed a smile before nodding, just as one of the instructors sitting at the form desk stood up and began sliding a long curtain over it.
????: We will now begin passing out scrolls to each team!
One by one, each team progressed past the curtain with their forms in hand and walked back out the other side just seconds later, one of them now carrying a scroll, though neither the type of scroll nor the team member carrying it was made known to the other teams. Once this was done, Team Naruto immediately proceeded to the first empty gate, stopping at Gate Nine. Moments later, Team Suzaku passed by them, though Gate Ten had already been taken, as had Gate Eleven, …and Twelve, …and Thirteen, …until eventually, they were no longer in sight. His initial plans now foiled, he looked ahead at the gate now laid out in front of him, …as well as the dark and mysterious forest that rested behind it. Allowing the minutes to pass by as he stood there between his siblings with his eyes shut, he finally opened them once again just as the last second counted down.
Airon: (…It’s game time.)
Tenten: Alright, then! The second stage of the Chūnin Exams begins…NOW!!
Within an instant, all forty-four gates darted open and every team currently standing in front of one instantly dashed inside. Once beneath the tree line, Airon and his siblings immediately took to the branches, going about six hundred feet in before stopping.
Airon: Inase. Did you see which gate Minto’s team stopped at?
Inase: (Having been using her Byakugan to keep track of them, it didn’t take long for her to recall the answer.) Ummm, …Gate Fifteen.
Airon: (Crud. That already puts us well over a kilometer away.) Alright. Let’s hurry up and find them, so we can start-
Kei: AIRON, LOOK UP!!
Without hesitation, Airon conceded to his brother’s demands and moved out of the way just in time. …Leeches…hundred of enormous parasites, closing in on the three young shinobi from every side, …and this was only their first taste of what this forest had to offer them.
The second stage has only just begun – and Team Naruto has already run into trouble!!!
The End
Last edited:
