"Alright, to pass the exam, you need to collect both the Heaven Scroll and the Earth Scroll and reach the central tower with them."
Minato finished speaking and began guiding the groups into a small room with a curtain to receive their scrolls.
This way, no one except their own team members would know which scroll they had received.
"Now, the exam begins!"
After everyone had received their scrolls, Minato, as the chief proctor, officially announced the start of the exam.
To avoid a bloodbath at the very beginning, there would be some differences in the entrance times for each team.
Kiyoshi and the others took the path on the left.
"We need to find the Earth Scroll."
Kurenai Yuhi held a scroll marked with the character Heaven.
"It's alright, let's take our time to wander around first." Kiyoshi shook his head.
There is still plenty of time. The duration of this exam is five days.
That meant Kiyoshi could do as he pleased inside for five days.
The Forest of Death was extremely obscured due to the towering ancient trees, and the only monitored location was inside the tower.
Otherwise, Orochimaru wouldn't have been able to turn it upside down without any ninja catching his trail.
Only Anko had happened to stumble upon him.
"Let's head towards the central area first." Kiyoshi strode forward.
Kurenai nodded, putting away the scroll.
Asuma took out his chakra blade as a precaution, and the three of them set off together.
...
The Forest of Death had a spring rain last night, leaving a few dewdrops on the leaves of the towering ancient trees.
For the examinees participating in the Chunin Exam today, this was nothing.
"Whether it's the Sharingan or the Byakugan, they are both urgently needed by the village."
Baki stepped on the damp ground, glancing at Pakura and another teammate.
During the exam just now, he had seen an Uchiha activate the Sharingan in his left eye and several Hyuga clan members with the Byakugan.
The Byakugan isn't as easy to hide as the Sharingan, it is very conspicuous.
"Of course."
Pakura slightly parted her lips.
She was an ambitious person.
The Land of Wind was barren, lacking natural resources.
Its development in military affairs, economy, and population could be said to be in the lower reaches of the five great nations.
To change this situation, they have to forge a path to a strong and prosperous future.
"The Third Great Ninja War is very likely to be launched by those powerful countries. The alliance treaty itself threatens our survival."
Baki's eyes were filled with unwillingness.
When the five great ninja villages were first established, the First Kazekage had proposed that they didn't want tailed beasts, only land.
Unfortunately, in the end, they only got a little fertile land.
And the other ninja villages all occupied large oases.
They could only huddle in the Land of Wind, where it was arid and little rain was seen, most of the area was desert.
"I understand."
Pakura nodded.
The geographical resources of the Land of Wind were there for all to see, unable to attract foreign ninjas to live there.
And the development of the country's own ninjas was also difficult under the constraints of resources.
The only way was to obtain Kekkei genkais.
This was a chaotic zone. If a ninja with a Kekkei genkai dies, no one will suspect them.
They can just seal the body in a sealing scroll.
Then, they can hand over the sealing scroll to the summoning beast.
After that, the summoning beast can be released.
In this way, no one will suspect them.
Such methods had been considered in the past.
But due to the situation and the alliance, it had not been carried out for a long time.
Now, there were constant frictions between the major countries.
One move could affect the whole situation. Konoha can't possibly question the other four major countries at the same time.
As long as they don't admit it, it will be fine.
"There is an ominous and cold chakra."
Among the three, Hoki Suzuki, who had been silent, pointed in a direction.
"Who is it?" Pakura asked.
Hoki Suzuki shook his head. He had never fought someone with such chakra, so he naturally didn't know their identity.
But that unique chakra had already revealed the answer.
A ninja with Yin chakra nature.
"It may be a ninja from the Yamanaka, Nara, or Uchiha clans." Hoki Suzuki said.
Ninjas with excellent sensory abilities can feel the temperature of chakra.
Ninjas who are good at Yang Release have Chakra as warm as the sun.
And Yin Release has a cold feeling.
However, he also sensed an ominous feeling from that person.
It seemed as if this chakra was demonic.
"The probability of it being a ninja from the Uchiha clan is very high." Hoki Suzuki thought for a while and added.
"Let's go take a look." Baki said immediately.
If they can complete the mission here, they can abstain from the competition and quickly return to Sunagakure.
The three continued to head towards the place Suzuki had said.
....
"It's the same Earth Scroll."
Kiyoshi grabbed a person's collar, and flung them away.
"Are you guys alright?"
Kiyoshi turned his head.
Kurenai's forehead was covered with fine sweat, and a few strands of her curled black hair were stuck to her forehead, making her look a bit disheveled.
"I'm fine."
Kurenai took a breath.
"This is a real fight."
Asuma wiped the blood stains on his chakra blade.
They hadn't walked for long when they had encountered people from a small ninja village who had attacked them without saying a word.
The three retaliated, fought with them, and finally won.
"How do we deal with the remaining people?" Asuma asked.
"Someone is coming."
Kiyoshi didn't answer Asuma's question, but instead talked about another matter.
Accompanied by the rustling sound in the bushes in the distance, Pakura, Baki, and Hoki Suzuki walked out.
Kurenai and Asuma's eyes narrowed, and they quickly prepared for battle.
"We are very lucky, it's an Uchiha."
Hoki Suzuki smiled.
Half of his scalp had hair, and the other side was bald, looking very strange.
"Hey, Uchiha, in front of my Hoki clan, you should surrender as soon as possible."
"Hoki clan..."
Kiyoshi ignored this person.
The Hokitaro clan is just a ninja clan living in the Land of Wind.
Because they had been loyal for many years, the clan's princess was specially arranged to have a blind date with the Fifth Kazekage Gaara.
Kiyoshi said, "Leave Pakura from to me, she is very strong."
"Okay."
Kurenai nodded, understanding that she should listen to Kiyoshi's arrangement at this time.
She had heard of Pakura's name. Pakura had become famous at a young age and had performed high-difficulty tasks.
She is known as the Hero of Sunagakure.
Even from a distance, Kurenai could feel Pakura's composure and a very strong chakra.
"Ace against ace?"
Pakura smiled.
As expected of an Uchiha.
This arrogance, she appreciates it very much.
But what she appreciates more is the Sharingan on Kiyoshi's body.
She had personally seen the Sharingan pattern appear in Kiyoshi's left eye in the examination room, but she didn't know why there was only one.
This was not a big deal, one Sharingan was also a Sharingan.