Moving from branch to branch like shadows, arms thrown to the back, three young boys of about ten to eleven years old ventured into the forest. Having become genin a few months earlier, they were considered talented compared to most ninjas of their generation. Shintoki, the captain, was already eleven, thus older than his two companions, Kotetsu and Izumo, making him the eldest of the team.
They were the team 14
Around them, the trees in this forest were of impressive size and visibly teeming with life. The branches stretched for dozens of meters. The ants and insects were enormous. Spiders as big as a man spun webs capable of trapping giant prey. In this forest even a ninja who had completed advanced training would be prey for these predators if their strength was insufficient.
This forest was an ideal stronghold for training. Facing monsters as huge as buildings would sharpen a ninja's senses and further develop their combat faculties. A place where survival truly belonged to the strongest.
"Wow, this place is really beautiful. Why don't we take advantage of it and have a little fun?" Kotetsu say visibly excited despide the clear presence of danger in the forest.
Izumos face was showing iritation mark, sometimes his friend got overexcited. This was a forest where survival was at the cost of blood. An adventure, having fun?
"Kotetsu, it's very dangerous. We should hurry to the tower. I think something's wrong with this exam. We need to get the scroll we're supposed to take and reach the tower," Izumo said to his teammate, his face serious and full of concern.
Besides, there was a strong smell of blood in the air. Hungry Beasts were throwing themselves into fights, each one delighting in devouring another's flesh.
It was simply horrible.
Just a minute earlier a giant lizard had been captured and instantly devoured by a giant bee, pressed to death until it suffocated. Its blood sprayed like a fountain; the bee's grotesque mouth, full of acidic fluids, immediately feasted on the lizard's flesh. No matter how the lizard writhed, cried, and trembled, nothing could change its fate once it had been seized by the giant bee.
While the bee was satisfying itself, a giant serpent already had its jaws open and when it came close enough instantly swallowed both the bee and the lizard before coiling on a branch. A short while later the same serpent began to moan in pain. The bee burst back out, piercing the serpent's belly with litle resistance. Blood flowed from the spot where the bee had come out, then the bee flew away.
The name "Forest of Death" was entirely appropriate for this place.
Then someone who had not yet spoken cleared their throat: "I agree with Izumo — this exam is dangerous. We should hurry and finish this phase. There are teams from Ame and Kumo competing with us. If we stay here any longer we might run into them. And let's not forget those bloodly Kiri people."
His short black hair, held in place by his forehead protector, was blown back by the wind. His expression calm but grave.
The cries of several other candidates had already reached their group since the start of the exam. For Shintoki, a transmigrant who understood the reason ninja villages were created, this exam was simply disgusting.
A power struggle played out over the corpses of children.
Shintoki glanced around; for now they would have to accept it.
Kotetsu sorted visibly frustrated and annoyed by his teammates being too cautious, the two who usually matched his excitement were suddenly suspicious? "Don't tell me you're scared too, Shintoki. That's not like you at all."
Shintoki replied: "What can I say? I may be among the strongest of our class, but I recognize my limits. Unless I'm as strong as Sensei, I'd prefer not to stay here too long. After all — what if we run into someone far stronger than us at this stage? Things could get worse."
Izumo: "See? Kotetsu, like Shintoki said, we should be careful. We must not underestimate the other teams. Also ever since we filled out the form they told us to sign in case we die during this phase I have been feeling uneasy. There are powerful ninjas, elites from their villages, taking part in this exam."
Kotetsu let out an accepting sigh and looked at Shintoki seriously: "Okay, fine. We'll head for the tower after getting the scroll. If you two think we should leave, I trust you. After all, Shintoki is the strongest among us. If even he is suspicious, then it must be true."
Izumo had a thoughtful expression, visibly worried; the screams of other participants he'd heard a short while before only increased his anxiety.
Three hours later.
"Shintoki, are you sure we should set an ambush here?"
"Yes. Other teams will have to take this route to reach the tower. Once we cross paths with a team we'll seize their scroll before heading to the tower. The closer we are to the tower, the better for our safety."
After half an hour.
Having sensed movement, Shintoki warned his friends.
"hurry both of you, hide yourselves. Trouble's coming."
Shintoki grabbed Kotetsu and Izumo and dove into a corner of the forest, ordering them to suppress their chakra while preparing for any eventuality. Even if they weren't experts, as long as the enemy didn't have a sensory ninja in their ranks, it would be hard for them to be detected.
As predicted, the team that arrived on the scene detected no one.
This team, judging by their forehead protectors, was from the Hidden Village of the Rain. After spending some time checking the surroundings, the team continued on their them leave, Shintoki remained vigilant, sensing another threat nearby.
Kotetsu, realizing the Amegakure team was leaving, retorted, "Why don't we charge them and take their scroll?"
"We're in an exam with multiple teams participating, also…" Shintoki remaind silent for a moment before continuing.
"There's no need to expose ourselves like that. We'll stay hidden and seize an enemy team's scroll when the moment is right. I also have a bad feeling." Shintoki's face grew grave.
As soon as Shintoki finished explaining this to Kotetsu, the cries of a team reached them. Judging by the distance and direction, it was the same team that had just left the area.
After a while the cries died down.
Shintoki pushed his senses to the maximum, readied a kunai, and signaled his teammates to do the same.
Moments later a Kiri team appeared in that spot.
At the head of the group was a girl who seemed to be using a sensory technique.
"We're not alone here," she said.
The moment she spoke, the clearing froze.
"Gaji," she said, with a look the order was given.
One of her teammates, named Gaji, launched projectiles toward the corner where Shintoki and his friends were hiding