Chapter 26: The Chūnin Exam Stage 2: The Forest of Death

After the conclusion of the first exam, Mitarashi Anko, the chief examiner for the second exam, made a grand entrance by breaking the classroom window with a Kunai. She announced the time and location of the second exam in a flashy manner. Unlike the first exam, the second exam was scheduled to begin the next day at noon in Konoha's 44th practice field, also known as the Death Forest. This training ground was infamous for its dangerous beasts, poisonous insects, and was strictly off-limits without permission.

Team Eight and Team Ten left the Ninja School together, discussing the details of the upcoming test. Shikamaru, with his hands clasped behind his head, explained that the 44th practice field had 44 entrances, with a central tower situated precisely 10,000 meters away from each entrance. He deduced that the second test would likely involve finding a specified item in the Death Forest or escorting an item to the Central Tower. This suggested that the exam encouraged combat and confrontation.

Shikamaru's gaze fell upon Sato, hinting at the importance of caution and self-preservation during the test. Sato acknowledged the warning and assured his friends that their safety was paramount, emphasizing the value of life over combat. Chōji then presented Sato with a bag containing Three Coloured Pills, which were prepared specifically for Sato and Hinata. Sato accepted the gift, expressing his gratitude and assuring Chōji that he would use the pills sparingly, if at all.

Chōji, not one for verbal expression, simply nodded and continued to enjoy his potato chips. Sato understood Chōji's concern for their well-being and acknowledged the significance of their close friendship. Over the years, Sato had transformed from a self-centered individual seeking power into someone who craved not only power but also love and friendship. He realized the importance of social connections and the desire to avoid a solitary existence.

Sato's thoughts turned to his own plans and ambitions. He had devised a plan called the "Fish Leaping over the Dragon's Gate," which he believed would grant him the power, love, and friendship he sought. His gaze, tinged with determination, reflected a resolve to expedite the downfall of the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō to safeguard his newfound bonds. With the ration pills secured, Sato looked at the sky, his red eyes harboring an unmistakable coldness.

The following day at noon, the eighth and tenth teams gathered outside the 44th practice field, awaiting the start of the second exam. Once all the qualifying candidates had assembled, Mitarashi Anko, holding a ball in her hand, stepped forward to explain the test's details. Naruto couldn't resist imitating and provoking Anko due to their similar personalities, which resulted in his receiving a harsh reprimand and leaving a lasting impression.

Orochimaru, disguised as an examinee, seized the opportunity to reunite with his former student, Mitarashi Anko. After this brief episode, the examinees signed the "Death Consent," a document indicating their understanding of the potential dangers, and received their task items for the second exam—both an earth scroll and a heaven scroll. The test required each group to collect both the scrolls of heaven and earth and deliver them to the central tower within 120 hours, spanning five days.

As soon as the exam commenced with Anko's declaration, the candidates from each entrance rushed into the Death Forest. Sato, upon entering the dense forest, immediately used the Shadow Clone Technique. A cloud of smoke masked his actions, obscuring the view of Hinata and Shino, who followed closely behind. Before the smoke cleared, the original Sato swiftly moved in the ten o'clock direction, leaving a clone in his place.

Shino, noticing the disappearing 'Sato,' inquired whether Sato intended to use the Shadow Clone Technique for gathering information or to test other candidates' strength. Sato replied, his back turned to Hinata and Shino, stating that he planned to do both. Unknown to them, Sato had become the Shadow Clone itself, while the 'Sato' that vanished was his physical body. Leveraging his adept Body Flicker Technique, Sato had seamlessly switched places with his clone during the smokescreen.

With his Chakra, now exceeding that of Kakashi post-graduation and reaching a level close to Naruto's, Sato possessed substantial power. However, he acknowledged that true strength went beyond Chakra quantity alone. Sato had not yet mastered an S-level ninjutsu or evolved his Sharingan to Mangekyō Sharingan, so he was aware that he had a long way to go before considering himself on par with the Five Kage. Nevertheless, his focus was fixed on the importance of the Chūnin exam.