The second stage of the Chunin Exam was held in the so-called Forest of Death, a place originally created by Hashirama Senju using Wood Style for training.
Because of its intricate and complex nature, this forest was chosen by many as a suitable location for the Chunin Exam.
After careful cultivation by families like the Inuzuka and Aburame, it had become a habitat for poisonous insects and fierce beasts, making it extremely dangerous.
Precisely because of this, it could be considered a trial ground for honing a ninja's abilities; compared to a complex battlefield, the Forest of Death only required facing creatures of the natural world, which was already considerably simpler.
Due to the potential for death, the Hidden Leaf Village required candidates to sign a waiver, ensuring that they willingly accepted these conditions before entering the Forest of Death.
Every nation took the joint Chunin Exam very seriously, and the ninjas they sent were already prepared for death.
Thus, they signed their names without hesitation and, guided by the examiners, entered the Forest of Death.
The second stage of the exam emphasized teamwork within three-person squads.
Because of the intricate environment of the Forest of Death, even a squad that wasn't particularly strong, if they possessed unique abilities and utilized them effectively, could potentially defeat a powerful squad by leveraging the forest's unique environment.
Of course, the Forest of Death was being opened for the first time; not only ninjas from other countries but even Hidden Leaf ninjas didn't know what was inside.
Tobirama had issued a gag order, forbidding anyone from revealing the specific conditions of the Forest of Death.
One reason was to ensure fairness, and another was his desire for Hidden Leaf ninjas to also receive appropriate training.
Therefore, to utilize the environment of the Forest of Death, candidates had to pay close attention to observation and information gathering.
It could be said that the environment of the Forest of Death was very suitable for a ninja's performance; all the abilities a ninja needed to master could be applied.
No matter what, another purpose of the Chunin Exam was to screen Chunin.
After Hatake Sakumo and his team entered the Forest of Death, they quickly advanced under Hyuga Kazuya's guidance.
Hyuga Kazuya's Byakugan could clearly observe what dangerous creatures and poisonous insects were hidden nearby, allowing them to easily avoid them.
This was a huge advantage; if it was due to a ninja's own abilities, then one couldn't blame the Hidden Leaf Village for not being entirely fair, could they?
The requirement for the second stage of the exam was to collect both Heaven and Earth scrolls and bring them to the central tower.
The squads that passed the second stage were divided into two groups: one group received a Heaven scroll, and the other received an Earth scroll.
Hatake Sakumo and his team had received a Heaven scroll.
The trees in the Forest of Death were created by Wood Style, and their height far exceeded ordinary trees.
Fortunately, the Hidden Leaf Village had chosen fertile land with a suitable climate, which could sustain the survival of these unusual trees.
If it were any other place, they might have long since withered and died.
In a sense, the Forest of Death could be considered a unique specialty of the Hidden Leaf Village.
"What's going on? We haven't encountered anyone yet?" Hyuga Kazuya observed the distance with his Byakugan, still unable to see a single person, and couldn't help but say.
"Is it because the place we entered is relatively remote, and other candidates have gone to other areas?" Hatake Sakumo thought for a moment and guessed.
"Then our luck is really bad; we only have five days," Hyuga Kazuya muttered, concentrating on his observation, and then suddenly let out a soft "Oh?"
"What's wrong?" Hattori Heizo asked.
"No, it looks like we can finally stretch our muscles," Hyuga Kazuya smiled, as the figures of a three-person squad appeared in his Byakugan's field of vision.
Upon hearing this, Hatake Sakumo and Hattori Heizo exchanged glances and then nodded slightly.
The three leaped and ran through the treetops, making almost no sound, and silently landed in the bushes behind those people.
The opponents appeared to be candidates from the Hidden Waterfall Village.
The Land of Waterfall was the only country, apart from the Five Great Nations, that knew about tailed beasts, which showed the strength of this nation.
Hatake Sakumo and Hattori Heizo had some understanding of it because Kakuzu was once from the Hidden Waterfall Village.
The Earth Grudge Fear that Kakuzu stole was a precious secret technique of the Hidden Waterfall Village.
During the Warring States period, the ancestors of the Hidden Waterfall Village survived by relying on this secret technique.
After losing this secret technique, the Hidden Waterfall Village gradually weakened.
Fortunately, they obtained the Seven-Tails from the Land of Fire.
Even though they paid a considerable price, relying on the Seven-Tails ensured the Hidden Waterfall Village's status, second only to the Five Great Ninja Villages.
These Hidden Waterfall ninjas looked unusually nervous, constantly looking left and right.
This was also the norm for squads without a sensory ninja; poisonous insects and fierce beasts were not something they could easily avoid.
This meant they had to worry about other candidates while also being careful of these natural creatures.
Hyuga Kazuya observed with his Byakugan and found no unusual chakra traces, indicating that these people had not set any traps.
The three exchanged glances, and Hatake Sakumo was the first to leave the bushes, appearing behind the three.
Noticing the movement behind them, the Hidden Waterfall ninjas immediately turned their heads.
Seeing only one person in front of them, their hearts remained tense; no one knew where his two companions were.
Moreover... looking at the forehead protector Hatake Sakumo wore, the three Hidden Waterfall ninjas felt a chill.
As the victorious nation of the Ninja World War, the power of the Hidden Leaf Village had left a deep impression on these smaller countries.
The Hidden Waterfall Village, nominally second only to the Five Great Ninja Villages, actually maintained its status by relying on the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
In terms of ninja village strength, it had long since declined significantly.
Hatake Sakumo felt that these people were overly nervous, like startled birds, and was slightly surprised.
After all, they were from the Hidden Waterfall Village; no matter how weakened, it shouldn't be that the ninjas they painstakingly trained were like this, right?
—How pitiful, it's better to send you out of here early.
Hatake Sakumo thought to himself.
Although it was legal to kill opponents in the Forest of Death, Hatake Sakumo tried his best not to do such things.
He drew his short sword and pointed it at the Hidden Waterfall ninjas, saying, "We have the Heaven scroll.
If you have the Earth scroll, hand it over to avoid suffering."
"Who, who would hand it over!" one Hidden Waterfall ninja shouted.
"So, your scroll really is the Earth scroll." Just as that Hidden Waterfall ninja shouted, someone's voice sounded behind him.
The Hidden Waterfall ninja who spoke first cursed inwardly.
Before he could turn around, he was struck heavily on the back of the head, his vision gradually darkened, and he fell forward.
As this Hidden Waterfall ninja fell, and the other two had their attention drawn, Hatake Sakumo and Hyuga Kazuya also began to act.
Instantly enhancing his body's activity with Lightning Release chakra, Hatake Sakumo directly appeared in front of one Hidden Waterfall ninja, pressing his short sword against the opponent's throat.
He warned him, making the Hidden Waterfall ninja release his grip, and the kunai he was about to draw fell back down.
The last remaining Hidden Waterfall ninja was caught off guard and struck at a vital point by Hyuga Kazuya, losing consciousness.
The surrounded Hidden Waterfall ninja was torn between laughter and tears.
He truly wished he were one of his two unconscious companions on the ground, spared from the gazes of the three Hidden Leaf ninjas.
He heard the silver-haired young man who had appeared first ask, "Where is your scroll?"
"The scroll, the scroll is on him." The Hidden Waterfall ninja carefully pointed a finger at one of the people on the ground, fearing Hatake Sakumo might suddenly act.
Hyuga Kazuya glanced at the person on the ground, then used his Byakugan, confirming that the chakra on the scroll was from the Hidden Leaf Village, just like the scroll they had obtained, and not a disguise from the Hidden Waterfall ninja.
He then took out the Earth scroll and said, "It's real."
"Good." Hatake Sakumo nodded and said, "You take care of your two companions.
If there's still a chance, you might even enter the third stage of the exam, but I think it's better for you to withdraw early."
"You're right." The Hidden Waterfall ninja gave a bitter smile.
Hatake Sakumo and his team then left the area.
Having obtained both scrolls, they no longer needed to hunt; they only needed to head towards the high tower.
They didn't know if their current progress was fast or slow, but they didn't need to worry too much; as long as they obtained the scrolls within five days, they would pass.
Shortly after they left, three people immediately rushed out of the forest.
The Hidden Waterfall ninja, who was dragging his two companions, saw these three people and was so startled that he let go.
His two companions unluckily hit the ground, but he didn't mind that and quickly said, "We don't have any scrolls left; they were taken by the Hidden Leaf ninjas."
"What did you say?" The speaker was a red-haired young man, wearing a Hidden Sand Village forehead protector.
It was Chiyo's son, named Ryu.
"Be careful; these guys might not be telling the truth.
Maybe they're just pretending to have been attacked, and the scrolls are actually still on them," another young man said.
Ryu nodded slightly.
For ninjas, acting was an essential skill to master, serving well to deceive enemies and hide one's own information.
Especially top-tier intelligence ninjas; they were like people with multiple personalities, able to transform themselves into genuinely different individuals.
"I'm telling the truth!" the Hidden Waterfall ninja cried out, on the verge of tears.
"Ryu, what they're saying should be true.
It seems there are indeed traces of others having been here," a brown-haired girl said, looking at the ground.
"Hmm?" Ryu couldn't help but look closely at the ground, letting out a soft "Oh?" and said, "It's true.
Could it really have been taken by Hidden Leaf ninjas?"
"That's really annoying.
These people were our targets, but the Hidden Leaf ninjas intercepted them," the young man who had previously expressed doubt said.
His name was Omo.
"Ah, you're right.
We can't let them off easily." Ryu then asked the Hidden Waterfall ninja, "Which way did those Hidden Leaf ninjas go?"
"That way, that way." The Hidden Waterfall ninja immediately pointed out the direction Hatake Sakumo and his team had left.
He had no intention of covering for the Hidden Leaf ninjas who had caused his team's elimination.
"I hope you're not lying to us." After a warning, Ryu and the others rushed in that direction.
Seeing these three plagues leave, the Hidden Waterfall ninja collapsed onto the ground, exhaling a long breath.
"Ryu, what if that guy really lied to us?" Omo asked.
"Don't worry, I secretly left our village's secret medicine on him.
Ordinary people can't smell it, but some creatures in our village can.
With it, we can easily find this guy," Ryu said with a slight smile.
Omo smiled knowingly; if the other party truly deceived them, they shouldn't expect to return safely.
The methods of ninjas, when they turn cruel, are beyond what ordinary people can imagine.
"Ryu, the Hidden Leaf ninjas they mentioned, could it be..." the brown-haired girl asked.
"I do hope it's them, Chizuru," Ryu looked ahead, and even though he couldn't see the Hidden Leaf ninjas, their figures seemed to appear before his eyes, "the students of Fumori Masaki, who once caused my mother to suffer a setback."
The representative ninja from the Hidden Sand Village this time was Ebizo, Chiyo's younger brother.
Because they worried that Chiyo, with her direct personality, might cause unpleasantness in the Hidden Leaf Village, they sent the calm and composed Ebizo instead.
Although Chiyo was unwilling, she could only accept the Kazekage's orders.
She only told her son that Fumori Masaki's students might also appear in the Chunin Exam, and if he encountered them, he must make sure they were eliminated to avenge his mother.
So, when participating in the Chunin Exam, Ryu intentionally gathered information.
He later learned that Hatake Sakumo's squad were Fumori Masaki's students.
Other Hidden Leaf ninjas were not his target.
It was just a pity that he had no sensory abilities and no opportunity to leave the secret medicine on Hatake Sakumo; otherwise, he would have caught up with Hatake Sakumo's squad much earlier.
The three Hidden Sand ninjas quickly leaped through the treetops.
Because the trade between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind promoted economic development, the Daimyo's support for the Hidden Sand Village was not as great.
Due to perennial budget shortages, the Hidden Sand Village could only adopt elite training.
All three of them were young prodigies.
Even though the traces left by Hatake Sakumo and his team were very faint, they were still noticed.
"We're almost catching up," Ryu said.
At this moment, Hatake Sakumo and his team were still on their way to the high tower.
Hyuga Kazuya, who was still maintaining reconnaissance, suddenly turned his head, frowning slightly, and said, "Someone is catching up.
It seems their target is us."
"What?" Hattori Heizo was a bit surprised and said, "It looks like that Hidden Waterfall ninja revealed our direction.
Otherwise, there's no way they would be coming straight for us.
Sakumo, your compassion has caused us trouble."
"Indeed, perhaps I should have knocked him out." Hatake Sakumo felt that if everyone in the Forest of Death lost consciousness, they might be attacked by passing creatures, which was why he left the remaining person awake.
Now, it seemed it would have been better to knock them all out and put them in a safe tree hollow.
"Who are they, Kazuya?" Hatake Sakumo asked.
"They should be from the Hidden Sand Village," Hyuga Kazuya said.
"Hidden Sand Village?" Hatake Sakumo remembered what Fumori Masaki had told them before the exam: among the Hidden Sand Village candidates, there was the son of someone who disliked him, and they might come after them during the exam, so they should be careful.
"This should be the grievances from the previous generation.
Enemies often cross paths.
Let's settle it here," Hatake Sakumo thought to himself.