"That concludes the rules for the second stage of the exam."
Standing before the massive fence, Mitarashi Anko folded her arms, her tone sharp and unapologetic.
"This training ground has 44 locked gates. Once your team submits three signed waivers, you'll receive one scroll and be allowed to choose an entrance. When the time comes—you'll enter."
She narrowed her eyes and gave a final warning:
"Last piece of advice—don't die in there."
"Start distributing scrolls!"
A Chūnin proctor inside the wooden hut shouted from behind the black curtain that covered the hut's entrance.
Examinees lined up in teams, each entering the hut only after submitting their waivers. No outsiders were allowed near, which made it impossible to see which scroll each team received.
"Officially, twelve teams can pass this exam," Uchiha Sasuke thought as he filled out his form, watching the movements of the teams entering and leaving the hut.
"But since we don't know who's carrying what scroll, that makes every other team a potential enemy."
He frowned.
"Anyone who manages to take two scrolls can eliminate two teams at once. This is only the second round, and powerful Genin will absolutely treat this as an opportunity to wipe out the competition."
So that examiner wasn't bluffing when she said more than half would be eliminated...
"Ino, Chōji—hurry and sign!"
Shikamaru had barely glanced at the contents of the waiver before scribbling his name and urging his teammates to do the same.
Though puzzled, both Ino and Chōji complied out of their usual trust in Shikamaru's decisions.
Once the forms were signed, the trio stepped into the hut.
The hut was small and crude, shielded from outside view only by a large black curtain. There weren't even proper doors—just a halfhearted effort to prevent people from peeking.
Shikamaru's team was the second to enter.
The first had been the Sand Team, led by Gaara.
As a jinchūriki, Gaara had no fear of other Genin. His team had signed the waivers without hesitation and claimed their scroll.
As the Sand trio exited, they crossed paths with Shikamaru's team.
To everyone's surprise, Gaara actually nodded at Shikamaru—a rare gesture.
Though caught off guard, Shikamaru returned the nod politely.
Gaara then turned and walked off, with Kankurō and Temari trailing behind.
The two glanced at Shikamaru in confusion. Temari stared for a moment before narrowing her eyes and turning away with a faint snort.
"Who were they?" Ino asked, glancing at the retreating figures—particularly the curvy, older girl with long blond hair tied in playful braids and a tight outfit.
Compared to Ino, Temari already had the presence of a mature woman.
"You mentioned Sand Village ninja before—was that them?"
"Yeah." Shikamaru nodded. He noticed Ino's faint scowl and explained, "The one with the gourd—he's a real threat."
"That Nara Shikamaru guy from the Leaf... he's dead meat."
Back on the Sand side, Kankurō laughed coldly.
"If Gaara's taken an interest in him, it's over."
He shook his head.
Though for our own sake, let's hope we don't run into him in this exam... Gaara's a monster when he snaps.
Back inside the hut, Shikamaru handed over their forms and calmly scanned the surroundings.
The proctors looked annoyed at his delay and rushed the process.
He accepted the scroll—an Earth Scroll—and slipped it into his pouch.
Neither Ino nor Chōji protested.
Among the three, Shikamaru had always been the undisputed leader—both in brains and combat sense.
"A wilderness survival match?" Kiba Inuzuka sneered, twirling his waiver.
"Perfect. That's our specialty."
Aburame Shino, ever observant, frowned as he watched Shikamaru's group exit the hut with purpose.
"Let's submit our forms immediately," he said.
Kiba raised an eyebrow. "What's the rush?"
"Do you remember what Morino Ibiki said in the first exam?" Shino's tone remained calm.
'Information is sometimes more important than a ninja's life.'
He gestured subtly toward the hut.
"You think that flimsy black curtain can stop a real ninja from peeking?"
Kiba's eyes lit up in realization.
"Whoever gets their scroll first… gets more time to scout. To figure out who's holding which scroll."
"Exactly. No wonder Shikamaru barely read the form before rushing his team in," Shino added.
Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji had already disappeared into the woods.
Kiba clicked his tongue. "That damn Shikamaru's always one step ahead..."
"I'll use my Byakugan to see who's holding which scroll," Hinata offered quietly.
"Not yet," Shino replied.
He extended his finger, revealing a small black beetle on his knuckle.
"This is a female kikaichū. It has almost no scent—but the males can find it."
Shino outlined his plan with calm precision.
"We retrieve our scroll. Then, using Hinata's Byakugan, we locate compatible teams—those with the opposite scroll. I'll secretly place this female bug on them. Then we'll track them."
"Got it!" Kiba grinned.
Then he glanced at Hinata.
"You better focus, Hinata! We're counting on your eyes!"
She nodded softly.
As Kiba turned away, his eyes landed on something on the ground: a kunai and a shuriken—left behind from the earlier exchange between Anko and Shikamaru.
He bent down and picked them up.
"Hah... I've got an idea, Shino," he said slyly.
Shino looked toward him. "Go on."
Kiba smirked, sharp canine teeth glinting.
"What if we made sure the only teams left... were from the Leaf?"
Elsewhere, Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji were now away from the crowd.
Suddenly, Shikamaru stopped walking.
"What is it?" Ino asked.
Shikamaru didn't respond immediately.
His eyes locked on a sparrow perched in a nearby tree.
He narrowed his eyes, then quickly formed a hand seal.
His shadow rippled.
A black tendril stretched outward like a snake, slithering across the ground, up the tree trunk, and onto the branch—seizing the bird.
"This exam is all about timing."
Shikamaru turned to his teammates.
"The longer we spend inside, the more dangerous it gets. But the first team to reach the central tower is safest—they can set traps, or retreat when needed."
He glanced at the captured sparrow.
"If we know which teams hold the scrolls we need, we'll waste no time. That intel is our path to victory."
"Ino," he turned to her, "Use your Mind Transfer Jutsu to control this bird. Fly it back to the hut and watch who gets which scroll."
"Focus on teams that take the Heaven Scroll. They're our targets."
"I got it."
Ino stepped up beside him, hands forming her signature seal.
"But take care of my body, okay, Shikamaru?"
Before he could reply, her body slumped toward him.
Startled, he released the Shadow Possession and caught her just in time.
Ino's lips parted slightly, her breathing shallow, like she were asleep.
At the same time, the sparrow she'd taken over fluttered awkwardly toward them.
"Be careful," Shikamaru murmured, watching the bird take a few wobbly steps.
Then it spread its wings—and flew off toward the scroll hut.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin