I'm in Konoha, and I started with Ashura Chakra.

Chapter 44 Karin, a crucial part of the plan

The following day, at 14:30 PM.

Yagyu went out to the usual meeting place of Team 8, and together with Shino Aburame and Hinata, headed to the Forest of Death.

On the way, Shino Aburame shared her analysis: "The 44th Training Ground, also known as the Forest of Death, is one of the training grounds that Konoha forbids entry into. It is said to be a primeval forest with a large number of ferocious beasts and poisonous insects."

"After I went back yesterday, I did a little investigation of this training ground. The forest in this training ground is surrounded by iron netting, with a total of 44 entrances. In the center there is a building called the Central Tower. The distance between these entrances and that tower is exactly 10000 meters, or ten kilometers."

"If nothing unexpected happens, this central tower should be the end of the second exam."

"As for the exam content, if it's not a race, then it should involve collecting certain items in the forest and bringing them to the central tower to pass the exam."

"If we really throw all the examinees into the forest to collect mission items, then we will definitely encounter other examinees in the second exam, and it might even break out into a battle."

Upon hearing this, Yagyu looked at Shino Aburame with some surprise.

That was pretty close to the guess. No wonder he's the most mysterious and reliable character in the youth arc!

So, Yagyu gave a little spoiler: "When the exam ended yesterday, the examiner said we'd have to be reduced by at least half. If it really is about collecting mission items, then there should only be half the items in the forest. This exam is very likely going to be about making us fight and grab the items."

"Um."

Aburame Shino nodded and said, "If that's the case, then this exam will be very advantageous to us."

"I'll leave the sensory aspect to you, Shino and Hinata."

"yes!"

While chatting, Class 8 arrived outside the Death Forest and quickly found the meeting point.

The candidates had almost all arrived there.

Mitarashi Anko was eating dumplings while directing the proctor team to set up a tent, but it was unclear what it was for.

With twenty minutes to go before the exam started, and all the candidates having arrived, Mitarashi Anko began to explain the content and rules of the exam.

The second test was a battle for the reels.

There are two scrolls in total, one is the Book of Heaven and the other is the Book of Earth.

Each team will be randomly assigned a scroll, and then they will steal scrolls from other teams in the forest. Only by collecting all the scrolls of the Book of Heaven and Earth and reaching the central tower can they pass the second test.

The exam lasts for 120 hours, or five days.

Just as Mitarashi Anko was explaining the rules, Naruto, who shared the same personality traits as her, was greatly annoyed by her tone and attitude while eating. He couldn't help but imitate her and provoke her, only to be taught a lesson by Mitarashi Anko with a bamboo skewer, leaving him with a considerable trauma.

This incident led to a long-awaited reunion between Orochimaru and his disciple Mitarashi Anko, a reunion that was unknown to both of them.

"You have ten minutes left. Come over and sign the 'Death Consent Form'."

Mitarashi Anko laughed sarcastically, "Of course, if you're afraid of dying, you can turn around and go home now."

The candidates, who already knew how awful the examiner was, were not angry.

So, each team lined up in front of the tent and signed their names on the death consent form.

Then the squad leaders went into a tent to collect their reels.

After receiving the scroll, Class 8 followed an invigilator to one of the 44 entrances and waited for the exam to begin.

With only ten seconds left, the proctors standing in front of the 44 entrances unlocked the doors.

On the radio, Mitarashi Anko's voice rang out again:

"The second round of the Chunin Exams begins!"

As Mitarashi Anko's voice rang out, the 44 examinees in front of the entrance immediately either rushed into the forest like ninja runners or transformed into afterimages and flew into the forest in an instant.

Of course, some small teams walked in at a leisurely pace.

The three Yagyu brothers belong to the last category.

"Hinata, the Book of Earth is entrusted to you for safekeeping."

Yagyu handed the scroll to Hinata and said, "Use your Byakugan to find your target, but don't rush to attack. Let them fight for a while, or wait for them to come to you on their own."

"Yes."

Hinata nodded obediently.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Yagyu then formed hand seals and created three shadow clones.

As soon as the three shadow clones appeared, they flew off in different directions.

Seeing this, Shino Aburame couldn't help but ask, "Yagyu, are you going to find Team 7 and Team 10?"

"Um."

Yagyu nodded and said, "Forgive my selfishness, Shino, but I'm a little worried about them."

This is a lie!

The shadow clones that Yagyu created were indeed searching for Ino and Sakura, but that was just a side effect.

He knew perfectly well that nothing would happen between the two women!

Yagyu was primarily looking for Karin, one of the three ultimate simps alongside Obito Uchiha and Sakura.

She is a crucial part of Yagyu's plan, and we must intercept her before Uchiha Sasuke!

Shino Aburame, of course, had no idea what Yagyu was thinking.

Hearing Yagyu's slightly apologetic words, he shook his head and said, "It's alright. Anyway, there's no reward for this speed test. With Hinata's Byakugan, you can do whatever you want."

"Thanks, Shino."

Yagyu patted Shino Aburame on the shoulder.

Then, the three of them continued walking slowly.

Hinata immediately activates her Byakugan to observe her surroundings and reports the situation within a kilometer to Yagyu.

During this time, many candidates from nearby entrances also found Yagyu's location using their perception abilities.

However, when they saw that it was Yagyu, they immediately fled in a flash, even faster than when they came.

The three of them, including Yagyu, did not give chase.

Of course, some people are not afraid of Yagyu.

Whoosh whoosh—

Three afterimages appeared on the treetop of a large tree, looking down as the Eighth Platoon strolled leisurely, seemingly heading to a camping trip in the wilderness. They formed hand seals, ready to ambush them.

At that moment, Yagyu suddenly looked up in their direction.

In an instant, the three people's eyes widened, and their figures trembled slightly, as if they were struggling to break free from something but to no avail.

This is precisely the Golden Binding Technique!

"Eight Trigrams - Empty Palm!"

Hinata rushed out and unleashed three swirling jets of air in the direction of the three.

The three people who were immobilized by the spell could only become fixed targets. When hit by the three bursts of air, they all fell to the ground, spitting blood.

Their bodies slammed heavily onto the ground, and the internal injuries of the three, who were already being attacked by chakra, became even more severe.

However, this is not over yet.

Several insects crawled onto their necks, burrowed into their bodies, and quickly devoured their chakra.

In just a few seconds, they went from being at full health to near death.

If the students who were trying to escape had seen this, they would have been very glad that they had run fast and made the right choice.

Liu Sheng said speechlessly, "Such an idiot didn't even choose to give up in the first exam. It seems that being a hothead has its advantages."

Knowing full well that their side possessed the Byakugan, they still dared to launch a sneak attack from the shadows.

These three people reminded Yagyu of the Oni Brothers; a brain is truly a wonderful thing.

(End of this chapter)