Since I had slept through the morning, I ended up waking at night. After sniffing my clothes and deciding I definitely smelled like someone who had spent far too long buried in seals, I took a long shower and changed. Somewhere during it, I apparently decided this was the perfect time to sing my lungs out. By the time I came out, refreshed and towel-dried, I was greeted by Shisui's clearly annoyed expression. I chuckled nervously, scratching the back of my head. "Sorry. I might have gotten a bit too artistic in there, didn't I?"
Shisui just shook his head. "In the morning, we will leave for the location of the second stage of the Chunin Exams. Until then, do not study seals or do anything strenuous. Meditate, relax your mind, and make sure your chakra is in top shape. This stage is usually very brutal and requires a lot of focus and chakra to get through."
I nodded firmly. "Don't worry, sensei. I'll make sure we all pass."
Shisui smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder, clearly irritated by the fact that I was almost taller than him by now. "I know you will. You're a good friend. Sena trusts you. Kaen respects your strength, even if he refuses to show it. No matter what happens, I know you'll look out for them."
"See you on the other side," I grinned as I headed back to my room, deciding to technically follow his advice. I did not study seals, exactly. I simply transferred all my scattered notes into my notebook, then finally sat down to meditate, clearing my thoughts and steadying my mind.
The team woke up to an absurdly generous breakfast feast I had cooked, and morale skyrocketed immediately. Kaen tore through his food like it was a personal challenge, while Sena shocked everyone by taking one more bite than her usual three. A massive achievement. I had clearly outdone myself this time.
Yura arrived on time, immediately giving Shisui googly eyes while he did his best to avoid her gaze as usual. The coward. She escorted us to the village gates, where each team was loaded into a separate cart. After a long ride, we finally stopped at the base of a massive dune.
The jonin responsible for this stage was another kunoichi. She had a tall frame, a powerful build, ash-blonde hair, and sharp, almost green eyes set in hard features. Her grin was fierce, her presence heavy. She crossed her arms casually, unintentionally showing off her muscles, and for some reason Shisui's eyes drifted toward her and stubbornly refused to leave. Yura huffed in silent rage and flexed in response, clearly trying to assert dominance. I narrowed my eyes at Shisui just as the jonin spoke.
"I am Arashi," she said confidently. "I will be the jonin responsible for this part of the exam."
Her gaze swept over the gathered genin, her grin widening into something feral. "This is where the fun starts."
She began walking up the hill at an unhurried pace, motioning for us to follow. The climb was longer than it looked, sand shifting underfoot with every step. By the time we reached the top, the heat was already pressing down on my shoulders.
Then the ground fell away.
Beyond the crest of the hill stretched a vast lowland, a natural basin carved into the desert, and it stole the breath from my lungs. Stone pillars rose from the sand like a petrified forest, countless spires thrusting skyward at uneven angles. Some were thin and needle-like, while others were wide enough to hide a squad behind, their surfaces worn smooth by wind and time. They stood close together in some places, forming narrow corridors and shadowed paths, while elsewhere they spread out into open kill zones.
The pillars cast long, broken shadows that shifted slowly with the sun, constantly reshaping lines of sight. Sound would travel strangely here, echoes bouncing between stone walls, footsteps easy to lose, movement hard to track. For ambushers, it was perfect.
The sand in that area was not flat. It dipped and rose subtly, broken by jagged rock formations and shallow ravines that twisted through the basin like scars. Scattered trees clung stubbornly to life in pockets of shade, their roots wrapped around stone, offering cover that looked inviting but suspicious. Every few dozen meters, natural rock outcroppings jutted from the ground, creating elevated perches.
If I had been standing here as a tourist, I might have thought it beautiful. From where we stood, though, it looked like a battlefield.
I was certain of it now. The terrain itself was part of the exam, not just a backdrop.
Arashi was at the edge of the hill, boots sinking slightly into the sand as she looked down at the stone forest below with open satisfaction.
"This," Arashi said, gesturing broadly at the landscape below, "is your testing ground."
She turned back toward us, her expression sharp and predatory. "Each team will be given a wooden medallion. It must be worn somewhere visible at all times. If you hide it, you will be immediately disqualified." She held one up for emphasis, the number carved clearly into its surface. "There are twelve teams. Each medallion bears its team's number."
Her gaze swept across the gathered genin before continuing. "Each team will be transported to a different entry point within the stone forest. Your objective is simple. Reach the oasis at the center of the basin, where a hidden Sunagakure outpost is located, within three days."
As she spoke, I noticed the other villages' jonin exchanging looks, irritation flickering across their faces. They knew this place. It had been used before, likely during past wars. That alone explained the strange formations and the unnatural gaps carved into the land.
Arashi's grin widened at their reaction as she continued. "Anything is allowed when it comes to taking medals. I do not recommend killing your opponents. You will not be disqualified for it, but points will be deducted if you do, and that will affect your promotion chances." Her teeth flashed in the sunlight, sharp enough to look dangerous. "Your goal is to possess your own medallion plus two others. That is all."
Murmurs rippled through the jonin as Arashi raised her voice again. "Carts will now transport each team to their respective entry points. Some of you will travel longer than others, so I suggest conserving your energy and using that time to think. Plan. Strategize. What happens next is on you."
She stepped forward and began distributing the wooden medallions. When ours was placed in Sena's hand, I glanced at the carved number. Eight. I smiled to myself. A lucky number.
We were not allowed to ask questions. Moments later, we were escorted back to our cart as it began rolling forward once more.
Shisui sat across from us, his eyes narrowing slightly as the stone forest disappeared behind the hill. "I have heard of this place," he said quietly. "It is a nightmare to be in." He looked at me then. "Noa, you know what to do, right?"
I nodded without speaking, mindful of the driver seated only a short distance away.
Shisui turned to Sena. "You will be the team leader. Kaen, Noa, follow her instructions without hesitation."
Both of us nodded immediately.
"There is no map," Shisui continued. "That alone is a major obstacle. But Sena, I trust you know how to navigate."
"Of course, sensei," Sena replied calmly. "We will reach the oasis before the deadline."
Shisui nodded, satisfied, before Kaen spoke up. "What should we be careful of, sensei?"
A pleased smile crossed Shisui's face. "Good question. This area is ideal for traps. Old ones may still be buried beneath the sand from wartime. Some may no longer function. Others may malfunction and behave unpredictably. Treat every step with caution."
We all nodded, expressions grim.
"And that is not all," Shisui added. "There are dangerous animals in that basin. Some are poisonous. Secure your campsite before anything else. Given that you must defeat two teams to pass, this stage will be brutal. Pace yourselves. If you obtain your medals early, move directly toward the oasis and remain hidden as much as possible."
Kaen and I both felt it, the mix of excitement and unease tightening in our chests. Sena, as always, remained calm and composed, already planning several steps ahead as the cart carried us closer to our destination.