Because I Met You

Chapter 32: Rules

"Welcome to the stage of the second test: Practice Arena 44. Also known as The Forest of Death!"

The lady who crashed through the window at the end of the first exam says with a sadistic smile. If I remember correctly, her name is Mitarashi Anko. I look at the so-called Forest of Death. It looks like a normal forest. The only difference is that it's surrounded by a highly secured fence with a bunch of Keep Out signs. It kind of sends creepy vibes...

I look at Gaara who's standing next to me. Unperturbed as always... Yukari, on the other hand looks worried. Good thing she's got Ikki and Yuto to make her feel safe. I really can't say the same about my team... Maru has been quiet since his fight with Koji yesterday. As for Koji, he hasn't even looked my way since last night. He's clearly avoiding and ignoring is not going to be good for our teamwork...

I recognize Naruto's team standing right in front of us. I want to say hi, but that'll just interrupt the proctor, and I don't think she'd like that...

I hear people mumbling around. Some of them sound worried, while others sound excited.

"You'll soon find out... Why it's called the Forest of Death."

Anko says in an ominous voice. She's really trying to freak us out... I'm actually feeling a bit nervous. I then notice Naruto putting his hands on his hips and starting to sway them.

"You'll find out why it's called the Forest of Death."

It takes every fibre of my body to stop myself from exploding in laughter. His impression of Anko is just too good!

"You think that scares me?! That's nothing! I'm not afraid!"

Hehe, nice going, Naruto!

"Yeah, you're spirited..."

She says with that same sadistic smile. She then throws a kunai knife at him! It only grazes his cheek and flies past me. What was that all about?! Before I could even blink, she gets behind Naruto in a flash. I can't see what's happening, but her sudden appearance there makes me take a few steps back.

"Kids like you are quickly killed... Spraying that red blood I love."

She giggles in a sickly way. One of the contestants then passes right next to me. How come I didn't sense her move?! She's carrying the kunai knife using her tongue. It's kind of disgusting... She makes her way to Anko.

"Here's your kunai."

"Why thank you. But you know, don't sneak up behind me, unless you want to die."

Even though Anko's still smiling, her voice sounds menacing.

"No... I just get excited when I see blood. Plus, you cut my precious hair, I couldn't help it."

Her voice sounds so creepy... Actually, all of her is giving out a really scary vibe. I don't want to have to face her in the forest. I don't even know if it's a man or a woman. I've just been assuming that it's a woman because of her or his really long black hair.

"Now, before we start the second test, there's something I have to pass out."

She then takes out a stack of paper.

"What's that for...?"

I whisper mainly to myself.

"There will be deaths in this exam. If I don't make you sign an agreement form, it'll be my responsibility."

She's looking straight at me. She probably heard my question. I would totally go hide behind Gaara right about now, but that'll just make everyone here think that I'm a weakling, when in fact I'm just shy around adults...

Anko hands the papers to Naruto who reluctantly passes them around. While he's doing that, she starts explaining what the test is all about.

"In this test, your objective will be to reach the tower in the center with these two scrolls: The Heaven Scroll and the Earth Scroll."

She takes out two scrolls and holds them out to us in each one of her hands. One of them is white and the other is black.

"Each team will be given one of the two scrolls when they go register at the booth over there."

She points at the registration booth which is located right next to one of the entrances of the forest. I take a form from Naruto and start to carefully read it.

"Once you're ready, go to the booth with the form to sign it and get your scroll. Of course, the scroll you get will be kept secret from all the other teams."

So we're basically not going to know who to target. Some people will probably just go after anyone.

"The second test will last exactly five days. This will be the ultimate survival exam. The distance between the tower and each entrance is exactly ten kilometers, since the tower is in the exact middle of the circular field."

She shows us a map of the forest. It is indeed a circle with a tower in the middle. The doors are all around that circle.

"There are exactly 44 doors. Each team will be assigned a door number, which is where you'll be entering the test. Now, let's talk about what can disqualify you."

I listen intently to that part. This is going to be important.

"First, those who don't make it to the tower with both scrolls within the time limit. Second, those who lose a teammate or those who have a teammate killed. Last rule, you absolutely cannot look inside the scrolls until you reach the tower. You will be exchanging your three forms for the scrolls. Last piece of advice: Don't die."

Dying... It never crossed my mind how dangerous the Chunin exams actually were.

After reading my form, I turn to Maru and Koji who just finished reading it too.

"You guys ready?"

"I guess."

Maru says flatly. Koji nods. They're both still not on talking terms with each other. And Koji is giving me the silent treatment.

"Guys, we need to get over the stuff that happened yesterday... We have to work as a team if we want to pass this."

Maru sighs at what I say.

"I would, but SOMEONE is not even saying a single word."

"Koji..."

I look at him, but he avoids my gaze.

"I'll do what I can to have us pass this."

When I hear him mumble that, my face lights up. This is literally the first sentence he says to me since yesterday!

"Thanks, Koji!"

I give him a pat on the shoulder. His eyes soften and he lets out a small smile. The three of us then head for the registration booth. We then sign our respective forms and the Konoha shinobi, who're in charge of the registration, hand us a Heaven Scroll. Koji then takes it and hides it in his weapon pouch. They also assign us a door number, where we're supposed to enter from.

"Gate 40... That's at the complete other side."

Maru starts whining. Glad to see he's back to normal. I see Gaara's team go to gate 6. We probably won't cross paths then, since we're at opposite ends of the forest. While going to our gate, I make a mental not of which teams are going through which doors. Naruto's team is at gate 12. Hinata's team, the girl who seems to be Naruto's friend, is at gate 16. The creepy guy or girl with long black hair's team is at gate 15. Yukari's team is at gate 21. Finally, Mari's team is at gate 34. Of all the people we're most likely to encounter... Oh well, I'll just show Mari what I'm made of if she ever confronts me in here.

"Ready?"

Anko shouts for everyone to hear.

"Go!"

The gates open and we immediately rush in. I will pass this exam. I have to. Not for the mission, but for Gaara's sake.