Kapitel 67: Chunin Exams Phase One (2)

"Give us your scroll," demanded one of the male genin, flanked by a nin-dog that growled menacingly. A quick observation suggested that he was likely from the Inuzuka clan.

Renjiro, maintaining his calm demeanour, responded with a raised eyebrow, "How sure are you that we have the scroll you're looking for? We might as well have the same scrolls as you."

The tension in the air thickened as the genins from both teams exchanged wary glances.

Renjiro furrowed his brow, realizing that the situation had escalated quicker than he anticipated.

"Don't worry about that, we already know she has it," another girl, sporting the Byakugan, said while pointing directly at Aiko.

Aiko sighed. In hindsight, Renjiro lamented not putting the scroll in a storage seal. It would have been a strategic move to avoid unnecessary confrontations like the one unfolding before them.

Recognizing the increasing hostility, Renjiro turned to his teammates with a subtle nod, a silent signal understood by Aiko and Hiro.

The trio moved in a synchronized manner, creating some distance between them and the opposing teams. Renjiro, confident in his abilities, decided to take the initiative.

Performing the necessary hand sign, Renjiro unleashed his favourite technique, the Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu. He anticipated the element of surprise, hoping to deter any potential attackers.

However, to his shock, a girl from the opposing group swiftly jumped in front of him, mirroring his jutsu with equal mastery.

"Not so quick, Renjiro-kun," the girl countered with a smirk, effortlessly evading the impact of the two Fireball Jutsus.

The air crackled with the intensity of dual fireballs, creating a brief moment of tension as the fiery orbs faced off.

Renjiro, maintaining his composure, locked eyes with the girl who mirrored his jutsu. "Well, this is unexpected," he muttered.

It seemed the encounter in the Forest of Death was about to take a more intriguing turn.

The girl's attire accentuated both practicality and agility, a short-sleeved grey dress with slits on either side for enhanced mobility, secured by a black belt. Her long black hair, adorned with bangs, framed her determined expression.

As Renjiro observed the Sharingan within the girl's eyes, a realization struck him. 'I should have known why she looked familiar,' he thought to himself.

'Good thing it is only one tomoe, otherwise this would have been a hassle.'

Renjiro considered himself fortunate. While he wasn't about to underestimate her abilities, this detail provided a potential advantage.

The other genins from both teams did not stand idly as they all moved towards Hiro and Aiko. Renjiro spoke as he retrieved his Bō from a storage scroll.

"It should only be fair to know your name since you already know mine."

With a nod, Amari introduced herself, "I am Uchiha Amari. Nice to finally meet you." As she uttered those words, two shadow clones materialized by her side, each moving directly towards Aiko and Hiro.

It was quite clear that they were heading to reinforce her fellow genins when fighting against Hiro and Aiko.

'Two can play that game.' Renjiro thought as he made three shadow clones. One to intercept Amari's shadow clones and two to help his teammates.

Amari already knew that it would be an uphill battle for her since Renjiro's Sharingan was far better than hers as it had two extra tomoes. She wanted her fellow genins to quickly knock out Hiro and Aiko so that they could all take on Renjiro.

Without much talking, they both moved towards each other and the clash transitioned into a taijutsu fight.

Renjiro's proficiency with the Bō granted him an initial advantage in the duel against Amari.

As Renjiro unleashed a flurry of strikes, Amari swiftly dodged and parried, demonstrating her agility and the precognitive abilities granted by her Sharingan.

Despite Renjiro's onslaught, Amari's movements seemed almost prescient, enabling her to evade the majority of the blows.

As the combatants weaved through the dense foliage, Renjiro's clone engaged Amari's shadow clones, each movement calculated and precise.

"You're skilled, Amari, but let's see how you handle this!" he exclaimed as his Sharingan glowed momentarily as he unleashed his Sharingan's genjutsu, hoping to gain more advantage in the physical exchange.

Amari, however, was quick to react. She adeptly disrupted her chakra flow, countering the genjutsu.

In a bid to turn the tide, Amari swiftly performed a set of hand signs, her Sharingan glowing intensely as she executed the Windmill Triple Blade technique.

Three Windmill Shuriken spun in the air, their blades glinting dangerously as they sailed toward Renjiro. The wires attached to the shuriken trailed behind, controlled expertly by Amari.

Renjiro's keen perception allowed him to anticipate the incoming threat, but the precision of Amari's technique made it challenging to evade entirely. As the shuriken approached, Renjiro and his clones dodged and weaved, trying to outmanoeuvre the deadly projectiles.

However, Amari's mastery of the technique became apparent as she manipulated the wires with finesse.

The spinning blades began to encircle Renjiro, creating a deadly dance of sharp edges. The wires tightened, and with a swift, controlled motion, Amari skillfully bound Renjiro, containing him.

"Impressive move, Amari. But how long can you keep up? Your chakra is already waning."

As the windmill shuriken returned to her hand, Amari found herself ensnared in Renjiro's cunning strategy. The disruptive nature of her chakra because of countering the genjutsu, combined with the pressure of the ongoing taijutsu engagement, made it increasingly challenging for her to maintain her focus. She eventually fell into Renjiro's Genjutsu.

Amari struggled against the genjutsu, her Sharingan attempting to pierce through the deceptive technique.

However, Renjiro's skill in genjutsu proved formidable, and despite her efforts, Amari succumbed to the mental assault.

As the genjutsu took effect, Amari's movements faltered, and her eyes lost as she lost consciousness.

Renjiro observed the outcome, surprised at how swiftly the confrontation had concluded. "Well, that was easier than I expected but I should have settled this sooner," he remarked.

Amari should have been a genin for far longer than he was, so he expected more from her.

Renjiro quickly approached Amari's unconscious form and placed a seal on her forehead, his chakra drain seal.

It was a precautionary measure to suppress any potential threat should she regain consciousness ahead of schedule.

Satisfied with his preparations, he turned his attention back to Aiko and Hiro.

Surprisingly, Hiro had managed to deal with his opponents efficiently. Aiko, on the other hand, had effectively ensnared a group of genins in a genjutsu, preventing them from interfering.

The other genins they fought had nothing special other than the fact that besides the Hyuga girl and the Inuzuka boy, there was a Sarutobi and Shimura boy and a Senju girl among them.

Renjiro took a moment to assess the situation,

"Great job, both of you. Looks like we won't have much trouble collecting the scrolls we need,"

Together, they began searching through the possessions of the unconscious genins. After a brief but thorough search, they discovered three Heaven scrolls. Two were neatly stored in storage scrolls, while the third was clutched by the Inuzuka boy who had initially confronted them.

Renjiro eyed the scrolls they had gathered,

"What do you think, should we take all of them?" he suggested.

Renjiro was petty enough to take all the scrolls as he thought that it was only fair to prepare to lose your scroll if you were ready to steal scrolls belonging to others.

However, both Hiro and Aiko seemed to disagree. Hiro shook his head, "That might be pushing it. Let's not stoop to their level. We'll take the one we found on the Inuzuka and leave the rest."

Aiko nodded in agreement, "I think Hiro's right. We can't control what others do, but we can choose our own path. Taking all the scrolls would be too much."

Renjiro sighed "Fine, let's do it your way. We'll stick to the one scroll we found," he conceded.

As the team departed from the encounter with the other genin groups, Renjiro meticulously removed the chakra drain seals he had placed on the unconscious foes.

With the seals taken care of, the genin trio hastened their pace towards the finish line of the Forest of Death.

=====

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Finally, I am done with the backlog. I have been going through a literal storm hence I could not release the chapter on time. I apologize and promise to make it up to you guys.

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Kapitel 68: Chase

[Sunday's Chapter]

The finish point of the first phase of the Chunin Exams was a towering structure in the middle of the Forest of Death.

Tall trees surrounded the tower, their branches creating a natural fortress that concealed its entry points.

The tower was not just a structure but also a testament to the village's history.

Originally, it served as the Hokage's building when The Hidden Leaf was founded. The stones that composed its sturdy walls had witnessed the village's growth, evolution, and the rise of its legendary shinobis.

Surrounding the tower was the forest which was the handiwork of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. The great leader and founder of Konoha had crafted this forest with his unparalleled Wood Release.

The creation of the forest was deeply linked to an attempt on the First Hokage's life. It was recorded that an assassin, dispatched from the distant village hidden in the waterfalls, Takigakure, had targeted Hashirama.

Remarkably, this would-be assassin stood alone as the only individual to survive an attempt on Hashirama's life.

In the aftermath of the attempted assassination, Konoha recognized the strategic value of this now-forested expanse. The village intentionally cultivated the area, turning it into a breeding ground for various beasts.

These creatures served as an additional layer of security, enhancing the natural deterrent provided by the dense foliage.

Following the demise of the First and Second Hokages, the Hokage's office underwent a significant relocation.

It moved from the tower to a more central location within the village. This strategic shift aimed to enhance administrative efficiency and accessibility, placing the seat of the village leader closer to the heart of Konoha.

The vacated tower found a new purpose. It became the residence of the Jinchuriki, beginning with Senju Mito. Over the years, the tower continued to serve as the dwelling place of the Jinchuriki as Uzumaki Kushina, the current Jinchuriki also resided within its walls.

However, a pivotal incident altered the tower's fate once again. The kidnapping of Uzumaki Kushina prompted the village to reconsider its use. Clearly, it was no longer safe to house any of the village's assets.

In the aftermath, the tower was reassigned, finding a new role as a venue for the Chunin Exams.

The Forest of Death now played host to a different kind of challenge, the proving ground for the next generation of shinobi during the Chunin Exams.

With it as the finish point, The genins had to enter the Forest of Death through the numerous entrances scattered in the forest.

This was to ensure they didn't run into each other immediately after the exam started. The case between Team 15 and the three Genin teams was just an exception. A mere stroke of luck, or lack of it, for the genin teams.

Inside the tower, the atmosphere buzzed with tension as dawn painted the sky.

A group of seasoned shinobis, responsible for monitoring the ongoing Chunin Exams, gathered to assess the progress of the participating genins.

At the forefront of this operation was Shimura Taki, the appointed exam proctor, whose experienced gaze scrutinized the unfolding events.

As the third day of the Chunin Exams dawned, Taki leaned forward, his focus intense. He turned to a fellow shinobi holding a clipboard and requested a detailed rundown of the current status.

The shinobi scanned the gathered information, eyes moving swiftly across the entries. After a moment, she raised her eyes to meet Taki's gaze.

"Proctor Taki, as of now, only one team has successfully arrived at the tower. The others are still locked in battles for the scrolls."

'Within two days? That must be a new record.' Taki Wondered.

The shinobi holding the clipboard reported to Taki with information relayed by the sensor unit deployed within the Forest of Death.

The periodic updates provided crucial insights into the genin's progress and the unfolding dynamics of the Chunin Exams.

"Keep a close eye on them. If there are any changes in their status or movements, notify me immediately. We need to stay informed about all teams during this critical phase of the exams," he instructed.

With that, the sensor unit continued to monitor the situation at Forest of Death.

Back at the Forest of Death, Team 15 had been venturing through the dense and treacherous landscape of the Forest.

Having covered a substantial distance from their initial entry point, the team found themselves drawing nearer to the tower.

As the genins continued their trek through the Forest of Death, luck seemed to be on their side as they managed to avoid encountering other genin teams.

The dense foliage served as a great backdrop and concealed them from potential adversaries, allowing the team to navigate the terrain without unnecessary conflicts.

However, surviving in the forest presented its own set of challenges. The team had packed rations to sustain them, but they didn't pack enough. A rookie mistake.

The team members had to rely on their training and instincts to discern edible plants from potentially harmful ones, to supplement their sustenance during this phase of the Chunin Exams.

Moreover, the wilderness also posed a formidable environment. All in all, they were in a race against time for their survival.

As Renjiro rose from his makeshift bed of leaves and twigs, the soft murmur of the forest greeted him.

The rustling leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures blended into a symphony that underscored the serenity of the early morning.

"Morning, Renjiro," Hiro yawned, stretching his arms wide, the lingering traces of sleep still evident in his voice.

Aiko, nearby, sat up and rubbed her eyes, a faint smile forming on her lips. "Good morning, we should get ready to head out."

Renjiro, still shaking off the last remnants of sleep, managed a half-smile.

Little did they know, the tranquillity of the early morning would soon give way to a cascade of unforeseen events, setting the stage for a day that would test their mettle in ways they couldn't yet fathom.

Renjiro, feeling the need to relieve himself, ventured to a nearby spot for privacy as he answered nature calls.

As he went about his business, the soothing sounds of nature surrounded him. However, his tranquil moment was abruptly interrupted by Hiro's sudden approach.

"Hiro! What's the hurry?" Renjiro called out, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice.

Hiro, with a sense of urgency, zoomed towards Renjiro, his expression that of fear. It was evident that something significant had transpired.

"Renjiro! Just run!" Hiro exclaimed. The anticipation hung in the air as Renjiro, still in the process of washing his face, looked at Hiro with a raised eyebrow, ready to hear the revelation.

"???" Renjiro was confused, mostly due to the fact that he still had the lingering after-effects of sleep

'What the hell is happening?'

Soon Aiko trailed a few meters behind Hiro. The atmosphere, initially filled with the tranquillity of the forest, now brimmed with tension and urgency.

"Aiko, what's the hurry?" Renjiro asked again, his confusion growing.

Before Hiro could respond, Renjiro's eyes widened as he saw the cause of their hastened retreat – a horde of giant spiders emerging from the shadows of the forest. The arachnids, with their menacing size, skittered rapidly, their movements creating an unsettling rustle in the underbrush.

"Giant spiders! Move, Renjiro!" Hiro shouted with a sense of urgency in his voice.

Reacting swiftly to the imminent danger, Renjiro joined Hiro and Aiko in their mad dash through the Forest of Death. The trio weaved through the trees, manoeuvring around roots and bushes as they sought refuge from the relentless pursuit of the giant spiders.

'You have to be kidding me!' Renjiro thought.