34 Predator in the Shadows
The sun hung high in the sky on the second day, casting its warm rays over the Forest of Death, the exterior of the 44th training ground.
Gathered outside the field were 78 individuals from the 26 groups that had successfully passed the first test. Among them stood the candidates, their anticipation noticeable as they awaited instructions from the enigmatic examiner, Mitarashi Anko.
As Anko began to outline the details of the exam, her sharp tone drew Naruto's attention. Unable to resist the temptation, he playfully mimicked her, initiating a brief exchange. However, his antics were swiftly met with a lesson in discipline as Anko promptly silenced him with a well-aimed kunai.
Amidst the banter and tension, the candidates were required to sign the 'death consent form', a sobering reminder of the dangerous nature of their upcoming challenge.
The second test would push them to their limits, demanding extreme field survival skills as they fought to obtain two scrolls—the Heaven Scroll and the Earth Scroll.
Their mission: to collect both scrolls and reach the central tower, all while navigating the treacherous terrain and fending off rival candidates.
With the inevitability of conflict looming over them, each participant understood the gravity of the situation. The death toll was expected to rise, and the signing of the consent form was a solemn acknowledgment of the risks they faced.
As the clock ticked down to the start of the exam, tension filled the air. Hayashi, holding the Earth Scroll in his hand, exchanged a meaningful glance with Hinata before passing her the scroll.
With mere minutes remaining, the candidates braced themselves for the challenges that awaited them in the heart of the Forest of Death. The stage was set for a battle of wits, strength, and survival instincts, where only the strongest would emerge victorious.
Shino responded impassively, "The insects have informed me that the team nearest to our location currently holds the Scroll of Heaven."
Hayashi nodded in agreement.
"We must retrieve the Scroll of Heaven swiftly to make our way to the central tower. Wasting time in this dangerous environment full of beasts and poisonous insects is not an option."
"Indeed," Hinata concurred, her voice determined.
As the clock struck 14:30, the gates of Entrance No. 5 swung open, granting passage into the dense forest.
"!" Hinata exclaimed, her eyes scanning the surroundings with precision.
With her enhanced sight, she surveyed their surroundings.
"We're not alone. Five teams nearby. Two locked in combat, two fleeing in haste, and one... moving cautiously."
"The team moving slowly is likely from Entrance 6, and one of them possesses a significant amount of chakra," Hinata continued, relaying her observations to Hayashi.
"It's most likely that this group belongs to Suna."
Hayashi's brow furrowed in contemplation, his mind already strategizing their next move.
"That leaves us with one question: which team possesses the Scroll of Heaven?"
Turning to Shino, Hayashi awaited his analysis, knowing that Shino's keen intellect would guide them through the challenges ahead.
"Let me lead the way," Shino offered, taking the initiative. Without waiting for a response, he leaped up onto a nearby tree, with Hayashi and Hinata following closely behind.
For nearly twenty minutes, they glided silently from tree to tree, Shino's acute senses leading the way through the dense forest. Each step was deliberate, every movement calculated to minimize noise and maximize stealth.
Suddenly, Shino came to a halt, his stoic demeanor betraying nothing as he surveyed their surroundings. His sharp eyes scanned the dense foliage, seeking any signs of disturbance or danger. Before he could relay his findings, Hinata's keen intuition sharpened, her senses tingling with an instinctive warning.
"There," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "ahead, Shinobi from the Rain Village."
It wasn't just her intuition; it was the glint of metal catching the sunlight, the distinct insignia of the enemy ninja etched onto their forehead protectors.
Hayashi wasted no time, as he assessed the situation.
"Let's take care of them quickly," he declared, his powerful Observation Haki already pinpointing their adversaries hidden within foliage.
In just a few fleeting moments, the trio materialized from the depths of the forest, catching the Rain Shinobi completely off guard.
The sight of the distinctive Konoha forehead protectors, coupled with the unmistakable presence of two members hailing from renowned clans, triggered an immediate shift in the Rain Shinobi's expressions.
"They're from the Hyuga and Aburame clans... be cautious," one of the Rain Shinobi warned, acknowledging their opponents' lineage.
But Hayashi paid no heed to their whispered warnings. With a calm demeanor, he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the scroll the Rain Shinobi clutched tightly.
"Hand over the Scroll of Heaven," he demanded, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
The Rain Shinobi exchanged wary glances, their surprise evident as they clutched the scroll closer to their chests.
"How do you know our scroll is the Scroll of Heaven?" one of them dared to ask, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Hayashi's expression remained stoic.
"Whether you hand it over willingly or not matters little to me," he stated.
"Water Style Hand of the Deep," Hayashi chanted, his palms meeting in a solemn gesture akin to prayer.
In the span of a heartbeat, obsidian hues enveloped his hands, tiny droplets materialized at his fingertips. In an instant, the droplets multiplied, cascading down his fingers like a gentle rain.
Then, in a display of control, the water from his left hand flowed seamlessly to his right. Gradually, his right hand became sheathed in a layer of shimmering water.
With a fluid motion, he sheathed his sword, its once gleaming surface now transformed into an ebony hue, shimmering with the essence of liquid.
"Hydroblade Dissolution" Hayashi whispered, his voice barely audible over the gentle rustle of the wind.
A swift blur sliced through the air, leaving in its wake a glimmering cascade of dark blue light, akin to a comet streaking across the night sky. The ground beneath it was left damp, like a nocturnal rain shower had briefly kissed the earth.
In the heartbeat it took for his form to dissipate, the leader of the Rain Shinobi's instincts flared, a primal alarm echoing through his mind.
"Beware!"
He cried out to his comrades, a desperate plea swallowed by the void of the impending strike. Yet, before their reflexes could muster a defense, it was already too late.
As the leader's form began to dissolve into the shadows, a searing agony erupted through his being, marking the beginning of the end. The intensity of the pain was so overwhelming that it consumed every sensation, leaving him numb to anything else.
Darkness, thick and suffocating, descended upon them like a shroud, obliterating sight and sense alike in its consuming embrace. Their blood seeped into the earth, staining it crimson with the price of their defiance, the only evidence that they ever existed.
Surveying the aftermath, Shino offered a detached observation.
"Every time I witness Hayashi draw his sword, I'm reminded of the fortune in not being his adversary."
Hinata silently agreed, her expression revealing no hint of remorse. To them, death was an unavoidable aspect of their shinobi existence. Having witnessed his lethal prowess firsthand, they harbored no ill feelings towards the fallen foes.
"Found it," Hayashi murmured. With practiced ease, he returned his blade to its sheath, the metal singing softly as it settled, yet his right hand trembled slightly. A slight quiver betrayed the strain he endured.
In that fleeting moment, only Hinata, standing by his side, caught the tremor. Her observant eyes, softened by concern, flickered with understanding as they traced the subtle shift in his demeanor. She watched, silent yet attentive, as his blackened hand slowly regained its natural hue.
Hayashi, aware of her gaze, met her eyes with a reassuring smile, though his words held a hint of vulnerability.
"It's a new technique," he explained, his voice steady despite the lingering strain.
"I just need to refine it, that's all."
Hinata nodded, her expression softening with a mixture of relief and understanding. With a gentle squeeze of his hand, she wordlessly offered her support.
As he reached down to retrieve the Heaven Scroll from the ground, a voice familiar yet unexpected echoed through the clearing.
"Hand over that scroll!"
Turning towards the source of the voice, the group spotted a team led by a red-haired boy emerging from the forest.
Their sudden appearance injected a new layer of tension into the atmosphere. His grip on the Scroll of Heaven tightened as he assessed the newcomers, his yellow eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Perhaps another time," Hayashi quipped, his eyes narrowing as he recognized Gaara's squad from the Hidden Sand Village.
Gaara's piercing gaze locked onto Hayashi, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"I won't ask again," he remarked coolly, his voice carrying an edge of challenge.
Meanwhile, Hinata stood beside him, her posture composed but ready for action if needed, as the two groups faced off, each waiting for the other to make the first move.
