Chapter 128
He even showed a hint of a smile: "Very good."
"All of you who chose to answer the questions…"
"Have passed!"
For a moment, the classroom was silent, then… "Nani?!"
Morino Ibiki then explained the purpose of this written exam.
"There are three layers. If you can answer all the questions by your own ability, that's certainly impressive."
"If you can't, you need to find ways to get the answers, which is what we call…"
"Information gathering ability."
"The third layer is the last question…"
"It tests not only an unyielding will but also the cohesion of the team, because only with all three working together can you have a chance to pass the assessment."
Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Morino Ibiki glanced around: "26 teams, 78 people passed the first assessment?"
"That's quite a bit more than I imagined…"
Nearly two hundred people participated, and only 78 passed; in reality, it was already quite brutal.
However, it was still much more optimistic than Ibiki had imagined.
He understood that these people had all stayed thanks to Naruto.
If it weren't for Naruto's loud declaration, some might have given up… Sure enough, he saw some teams looking at Naruto with grateful eyes.
Just then.
A figure suddenly burst through the window, startling everyone.
"There are still so many people left, Ibiki, you went easy on them this time, didn't you?!"
Ibiki smiled slightly: "I couldn't help it, this batch of examinees is excellent."
The newcomer was a female Ninja, with a bright smile on her face, boisterous, with her hands on her hips, scanning everyone with a dangerous aura.
Though she looked bright and sweet, she was like a venomous snake, ready to bite at any moment… "My name is Anko Mitarashi, and I am your examiner for the second stage of the exam!"
"Now, everyone follow me!"
Anko Mitarashi gave the order, and swiftly flew out the window again!
Everyone quickly followed.
Naruto grumbled: "What's wrong with this person, she's so crazy…"
Hinata chuckled: "That's great, Naruto-kun, we all passed the first assessment."
"Speaking of which, it's all thanks to you."
Sasuke snorted: "Just lucky."
Naruto retorted: "Sasuke! You couldn't do those questions at all, could you?!"
Sasuke: "…I don't need to know how to do them, my Sharingan is the answer."
Naruto: "…"
Soon.
Everyone landed, and not far ahead was the boundary of Konoha Village.
Anko Mitarashi introduced with a dangerous smile.
"Ahead is the Forest of Death on the outskirts of Konoha."
"As the name suggests, it's very dangerous here, and casualties can occur at any time."
"The second stage of the assessment is also very simple. Each team will receive a scroll, which could be a Heaven Scroll or an Earth Scroll. You need to collect both a Heaven Scroll and an Earth Scroll within five days, and successfully reach the tower in the center of the Forest of Death to pass the assessment!"
Sasuke frowned slightly: "Collect two scrolls?"
"Setting it up this way deliberately forces all teams to fight each other…"
Anko Mitarashi smiled sweetly.
"That's right!"
"Besides the terrifying environment of the Forest of Death, all other teams are your enemies!"
"Suspicion, doubt, fear, worry…"
"Between killing and being killed, choose your own outcome!"
Naruto: "…This woman really is crazy!"
"Hm? Kid, are you not convinced?"
Anko Mitarashi suddenly shot out a Kunai.
She clearly intended to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, to give Naruto a warning.
But the current Naruto was not the Loser from the original story.
He reacted extremely quickly, directly kicking it away.
Bang—
The Kunai plunged into the dirt.
"Oh? Very quick reaction, impressive kid!"
Anko Mitarashi praised.
A mysterious man wearing a straw hat extended his long tongue, rolled up the Kunai, and handed it back to Anko Mitarashi.
He said in a hoarse voice: "Your Kunai."
Anko Mitarashi smiled indifferently: "Thanks."
"Now, all teams please collect your scrolls, and…"
"Enter the Forest of Death from different entrances."
"The assessment begins!"
Team 7's three members quickly received their scroll. Naruto, seeing no one around, took a careful look.
It was a Heaven Scroll.
"A Heaven Scroll, so that means we need to find at least one Earth Scroll."
"Let's go, Team 7!"
"Don't forget, we are the strongest team!"
Naruto was full of confidence, keeping the scroll himself. Then, according to the number, he swiftly flew through the corresponding entrance, finally truly entering the Forest of Death… On the other side.
The man with the peculiar long tongue licked his lips, revealing snake-like pupils, and an unsettling aura naturally emanated from him.
Even his two subordinates couldn't help but shiver!
"Mission confirmed."
"The target is…"
"Uchiha Sasuke!"
The other two nodded quickly.
"Yes!"
"Let's go!"
The three also dashed off, entering the Forest of Death.
The five-day assessment officially began.
The shadow of death loomed over Konoha Village… Team 7 quickly entered the Forest of Death.
Cold, damp, dark, cramped… The terrifying atmosphere made Hinata and Sasuke feel suppressed.
Naruto, however, was fine; after all, with his personality, it was hard for him to be suppressed.
"Hinata, Sasuke, no need to be so nervous, right?!"
"No matter what, we are the strongest Team 7!"
"Other teams won't actively provoke us unless absolutely necessary!"
Hinata and Sasuke exchanged glances and nodded slightly.
Indeed, Team 7 now had a considerable reputation, not just in Konoha Village, but throughout the entire Ninja World.
After all, killing Zabuza Momochi was by no means a small matter.
Naruto was overjoyed and confident.
"Now, we are the hunters, and the other teams are the prey!"
"It's time to search for an Earth Scroll!"
"Our goal is to be the first to complete the mission!"
Seeing Naruto so lively and confident greatly boosted morale.
Hinata smiled sweetly: "Okay, Naruto-kun!"
Although Sasuke didn't say anything, he also gained a bit more confidence in his heart.
That's right.
Team 7 is by no means weak!
They are the weak ones!
Thinking of this, the three couldn't help but feel eager.
"Hinata, I'll leave it to you to search for enemy traces!"
"I understand, Naruto-kun…"
"Byakugan, activate!"
Hinata immediately activated her Byakugan, using its most exquisite and powerful insight to scan the entire area, taking in almost every movement.
The Byakugan, perhaps, is not as effective as the Sharingan in one-on-one combat.
But on the battlefield, it possesses a strategic advantage and significance.
This is also why Hidden Mist Village and Hidden Cloud Village have always coveted the Byakugan.
Soon.
Hinata found the target in her Byakugan's field of vision.
"Naruto-kun, Sasuke, an enemy squad has been spotted 800 meters ahead to the left!"
"We can devise a strategy to seize their scroll!"
Naruto, however, burst into laughter.
"Our strategy is to attack!"
He immediately dashed forward, directly charging towards that team.