"YOU PASS!"
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"For real?"
"Are you joking? Why the fuck did we waste an hour on this?"
Confusion, wonder, and anger were all directed at Ibiki.
"You blind pig, fix your attitude. There was a purpose behind this. And an important lesson." Ibiki glared with killing intent at the bold individual who dared curse directly at him.
"Ibiki-san..." Sakura raised her hand. "Did we really pass? Or is this part of the test?"
"Heh. You did pass." He nodded.
"But... sir... that last question..." Sakura's expression turned concerned. "Wasn't it a bit too harsh?"
"Right, damn it! There was nothing like this in previous years!"
Someone in the crowd barked.
"Indeed, you brats. I don't know who your previous proctors and examiners were. I'm in charge this year. Whether you like it or not." Ibiki's face was sharply serious as he looked over everyone. "Take a breath while you still can. Let me give you a lesson for your future life as shinobi. Burn it into your memory. What you experienced as Genin doesn't mean shit when it comes to Chunin."
Ibiki's words seemed to unleash a wave of dread through the room.
"The title comes with a burden you have yet to understand, and with choices you will inevitably have to make as leaders of different teams."
He revealed a strange smile and slowly began to remove his bandana.
"This part of the exam was required to test you under pressure and in the unknown. In the beginning, every squad had the same information. You all started with full points. You should have treated them as your personal lives and the moves you could make."
"The battlefield is where each team has different knowledge and experience. Your skills and abilities were tested in an information-gathering environment. There was no killing involved... not in a literal sense. But if your life points reached zero..." Ibiki paused, then gave a dry laugh. "You understand."
"But why would the whole team be disqualified then?" someone shouted.
"There are always sacrifi—"
His voice died as he and several others took a breath, staring at the revealed part of Ibiki's head, which the bandana had previously covered.
"The consequences of your choices, of your decisions, you make in that moment, will echo back at you." Ibiki's face became deathly calm. His scalp was full of scars, burns, dents, and leftover stitches—everything told a grim tale of his past as a shinobi.
"Getting information, even successfully, may result in losing your squad member. While you may think of them as disposable or distractions, they are going to be caught and... questioned..." He dragged out the last word. "This was a test of your resolve, one that may leave a scar for life. A team that moves with the right information to save someone or win a battle may help you just as much as it may harm you when someone else gets a hold of it. But at the same time, when you choose to get that knowledge from a person and it turns out incomplete... it risks another's life."
For a long time, silence hung in the air. Everyone was staring at his scars with mixed expressions.
Shorai glanced up calmly for a moment, observing the marks before returning his attention to the crowd's faces.
Ibiki slowly put his cover back on. "Liabilities will happen, whether you trust someone or not. You will soon learn the true nature of human beings. In our profession, dead men tend to sing their tales."
"This is why the safest answer, a decoy, would be not to answer and solve any of these problems at all," Shorai said suddenly, his voice waking everyone up and drawing their attention.
He stared at them with a half-smile and calm, narrowed eyes. "You neither lose your life nor let an enemy learn anything from you. A political stalemate, or a tactical move to test another's abilities in action without risking a squad."
"Hm! Right! Right! Obviously!" Naruto leaned back with his arms crossed, putting on the full bravado of someone who had known it all from the start as he agreed with his friend's words.
"How... interesting..." Ibiki's brows rose. His expression changed drastically from the one he had been wearing moments before. "Ha-ha-ha!"
He suddenly laughed.
"Y-you could really do that?"
"What the hell?"
People stared at Shorai, then at their papers, and exchanged looks with their teammates.
"Heh, a peacock is actually a coward, eh?" Koketsu said with a disdainful smirk.
"You gate-boy seem deaf to me. You should have heard what I said." Shorai gave the examiner a similar look.
"Hoho!" Ibiki chuckled. "Enough."
As the participant and examiner stared at each other, a sudden shift in the air occurred.
Both the proctor's and Shorai's eyes snapped toward the window, where a shadow was approaching with high velocity.
CRASH!
The glass shattered as a heavy cloth bundle burst through, stopping mid-air exactly in front of Ibiki's nose before springing open. Kunai shot out from all four sides, pinning the cloth to the board and framing Ibiki and Shorai behind the table to reveal a hidden figure.
"Hello, brats!"
A sharp, feminine voice rang out from behind the makeshift banner.
"I'm your proctor for the second phase of the Chunin Exams! Mitarashi Anko!" she declared with a flourish. "Get your asses up and follow me! Yeah!"
The exaggerated, playful command was punctuated by a heavy stomp on the desk.
Shorai winced. 'Ren... Guy... Anko... and Ibiki in his own grim way...' it was one thing to read about these personalities, but quite another to witness their overwhelming presence in the flesh.
"Hey... hey..." Ibiki stepped forward, pulling the cloth aside to give Anko a flat, deadpan look. "Aren't you doing a bit too much? Read the room, Missy."
Shorai smiled. Although he couldn't see her face behind the banner, he imagined her frozen in realization during the awkward silence that followed.
"Ibiki! What the hell? You're getting rusty," Anko's voice traveled through the room, shifting into something more menacing. "But no matter. I'll cut their numbers down by more than half in the next round. He-heh."
She turned back to the remaining Genin. "Alright! No more time wasting! The second part of the exams will be held at Training Ground Forty-Four. Talk to your squad leaders for the location and meet me there in thirty minutes. Hell yeah!"
She let out an energetic shout and began to march away.
"Hey! Missy, aren't you forgetting your mess? The window is on you, too," Ibiki called out calmly.
"You seem free enough to me right now, Ibiki. I'm in the middle of something very important, so I believe you can manage this small task."
Without even glancing back, Anko vanished.
Ibiki and the nearby examiners began to clear away the flamboyant decorations as the class started to disperse.
"Naruto, go ahead. I'll join you soon. No need to wait," Shorai told his friend.
Ino's and Shorai's eyes met again for a brief moment before she turned to leave with her team. Naruto was soon called away by Sakura, who, along with Sasuke, gave Shorai a lingering glance before they all walked out.
Shorai slowly rose from his seat, where his test remained face-down, and glanced at Ibiki. "Is Mitarashi-san always this... obnoxious?"
Ibiki sighed, turning toward the white-haired boy. "Don't let her theatrics fool you, Shorai. You may have cleared the first phase, but the second is far tougher than you might expect."
"It doesn't matter. An obstacle on my ninja path is simply a chance to test myself." Shorai met Ibiki's gaze with a thin, confident smile.
"A good state of mind." Ibiki nodded. "I don't know what the Hokage is planning, but this is a pleasant change for once. I was entertained."
"Hn. I can't explain much..." Shorai said, shaking his head.
"Better that way. Keep the lesson of the first test in mind, Special Associate." Ibiki stared at him with a knowing smile.
By now, the classroom was empty. Shorai extended his hand toward the proctor. "Morino Ibiki-san, leader of the Torture and Interrogation Force... I'm honored to have had a taste of your professional expertise."
Ibiki's momentary surprise shifted back to his stern, calm mask. "Interesting. Have we met before?" He reached out and shook Shorai's hand firmly.
"Not as far as I am aware. I simply prefer to be prepared for the task at hand." Shorai's smile reached his eyes.
"Good luck to you, Shorai. I look forward to hearing of your achievements."
Their handshake broke, and after a brief exchange of farewells, Shorai stepped out of the room. At the far end of the hall, a door opened, and a familiar voice called for him to join. Shorai turned, entered, and closed the door behind him.
Inside stood the three familiar masked figures: Eagle, Boar, and Cat. In the next instant, a subtle distortion of sound rippled through the room—a privacy barrier had been placed.
"Good." Eagle stood with a hand on his hip. "Ibiki didn't break you."
"I'd be surprised if he did." Boar leaned against the wall by the window, arms crossed. "Otherwise, our trainee would be in serious need of reevaluation."
"Shorai, don't let this small victory go to your head." Cat sat on a nearby desk. "The second phase will be drastically harder."
"I'm glad to see you all." Shorai smiled. "I'm actually surprised I made it through the first part. There were some... interesting adjustments aimed at me."
"Haha!" Boar pointed at him. "You liked that? My suggestion worked!"
"W-what?" Shorai blinked. "Yours?"
"The Hokage and the three of us discussed how to implement your unique status," Eagle said calmly. "You wanted to be bait. There you go."
"Anything to report? Some fellows came from... you know where," Cat asked. Shorai could sense the underlying concern in her voice.
"They are a concern, yes, but not much of an obstacle. I'm more suspicious of people who might be disguised as our own," Shorai said, a frown deepening on his face. "Also, the trio from the Sand... particularly the red-haired boy. He feels like a hidden threat."
"We'll look into them. For now, stay sharp and don't show more than is necessary." Eagle nodded.
"That's the plan." Shorai smiled. "What will you three be doing in the meantime?"
"A lot," Eagle replied.
"We're being relocated to lead different security teams," Cat revealed.
"You might not see us for a while, Shorai," Boar added mysteriously. "Or perhaps sooner than you think."
"Am I allowed to ask—"
"Focus on your task, Fox." Cat cut him off. "Each of us will be hands-on in providing a security net for the village. There's no need to fill your mind with irrelevant info."
"She's right. Learn as much as you can in the next test. If something happens..." Boar reached into his pouch and tossed a scroll toward Shorai, who caught it out of the air. "This is a special communication seal. Fuse your chakra with my pattern. You won't even need to open it; just push your chakra into it with intent and it will alert me."
Shorai studied the scroll and, under Boar's guidance, linked his chakra signature to the formula.
"Uhu." Boar nodded. "Good luck hunting, Fox!"
"We'll be rooting for you," Cat added warmly.
"As for your destination..." Eagle took a map from his bag and tossed it to Shorai.
"You're good at reading minds, Eagle-san." Shorai unrolled the map, seeing Training Ground 44 clearly marked.
"Not women's, though..." Boar chuckled, earning a tense stare from Eagle.
"Shorai, you should move out. There is still ground to cover," Cat interjected.
"See you later. Stay safe." Shorai nodded and headed toward the meeting point.
—
A while later, he arrived at the perimeter, observing the growing crowd gathered by the fence of the dark, dense forest looming beyond.
In front of the gates stood a small wooden registration site with a desk and chairs where three Konoha shinobi sat waiting.
The cheerful yet sharp-eyed new proctor stood a few steps ahead, surveying the crowd of participants.
"Shorai! Over here!" Naruto waved enthusiastically.
"S-Shorai-kun..." Ino's voice trailed off as her hand froze mid-air.
Shorai approached with a calm expression. He glanced at Ino and offered a warm, reassuring smile. "I'm not angry with you, Ino. Don't let it bother you."
"You... I..." Ino looked like she wanted to ask a dozen questions at once, but she was cut off by the proctor's booming voice.
"Everyone who made it this far... good!" Anko smiled slyly. She gestured toward her assistants, who were holding stacks of parchment. "These are consent forms. You'll need to fill them out and sign them. Whatever happens to you inside this forest..." She scanned the Genins' faces, her eyes lingering on their expressions of growing dread. "Your deaths are not on my conscience. So don't expect me to be a weeping maiden at your funerals!"
"W-what? What do you mean, deaths?!" Sakura's voice trembled.
"Are we really going inside this place, Anko-san?" Naruto asked, looking uncharacteristically nervous.
The proctor looked pleased, licking her lips in anticipation. "You're in my world now. The second phase of the exam will be held in Training Ground 44... or as we call it, the Forest of Death!"
As a wave of concern rippled through the crowd, Anko turned serious and unrolled a large map of the site. "Now, listen carefully..."
She was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. Shorai and Team 7 turned to see a familiar group rushing toward them.
"Big brother Naruto!" Konohamaru called out, followed closely by Moegi and Udon.
"Konohamaru? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, puzzled.
"You three... this is no place for children," Sakura added, her protective instincts momentarily overriding her fear of the forest.
"Heh! We're here on a special assignment!" Konohamaru declared proudly.
"You're very brave, but it's a bit too soon for you to be attending the Chunin Exams," Shorai chuckled.
"No—I mean, yes!" the boy corrected himself, thumping a fist against his chest. "This would be easy for me! But right now, we're here for a field interview!"
"An interview?" Naruto blinked.
"We're writing an article for the Academy newspaper! It's about the Chunin Exam, the participants, and their thoughts on the challenge!" Konohamaru beamed.
"S-Shorai-kun... can I ask you a couple of questions?" Moegi clutched her hands to her mouth, her eyes darting nervously up at him as she took a small step forward.
"Yeah... maybe. But Big Brother Naruto is—" Konohamaru tried to interject, but was cut short.
"Yes! It would be great to get an opinion from someone as cool as—" Udon started.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! You can ask me! I'll tell you everything you need to know!" Naruto shouted, trying to reclaim the spotlight. "I'm going to be the Hokage one day!"
"What's all this commotion?" Anko asked loudly, marching over.
Once Naruto explained their intent, Anko seemed to recall something and checked her watch. "Fine. I'll grant a ten-minute break for this."
Naruto immediately took the trio aside and began spinning tales of his experiences, clearly exaggerating the danger and his own heroics. Shorai leaned against a nearby tree, standing between Sakura and Sasuke. He caught Ino stealing glances at him from her team's side, her face still masked with a mix of worry and guilt.
After a few minutes, Sakura lost her patience with Naruto's bragging and stepped in to give her own version of the story. She began highlighting Team 7's strengths, but faltered when she reached the topic of her teammates.
"The number one rookie, Sasuke Uchiha..." Sakura paused, her gaze flickering to the white-haired boy beside her. "And Shorai. They were both the Academy's top students. They're easily the most popular boys in our class. Sasuke can even hold his own against Kakashi-sensei!"
"What about Shorai?" Moegi asked curiously, her pen ready. "Which team is he on?"
"Erm..." Sakura went blank. It was the same question that had been nagging at her. Naruto and Sasuke both looked over at Shorai, waiting for his answer.
"Me? You're interviewing Team 7," Shorai said, waving a hand dismissively with a nervous laugh. "Why talk about me? I'm just here to watch the show and cheer them on."
"So fake..." Sakura and Sasuke both muttered in unison, their eyes narrowing into slits of pure disbelief.
"Ahem!" Shorai cleared his throat, realizing he needed a better diversion. "Sakura, tell them how strong Sasuke really is. He's the real deal!"
While Sasuke continued to watch Shorai suspiciously, Sakura sighed and resumed her story. She adjusted her narrative to account for Shorai's presence, which had clearly impacted her perspective.
"And Kakashi-sensei..." Sakura continued, reporting on their mentor's skill before ending with a sincere remark about how Shorai had helped her find her own path as a ninja.
As Sakura finished, Sasuke stepped forward to give his account. He gave the white-haired boy a sharp, challenging stare. "Everyone in this exam is considered the best of the best. They're all talented in their own unique ways. But I intend to win, no matter who stands in my way. None of them are a challenge for me." He paused, looking directly at Shorai. "And I'll make that a reality."
"Yeah, right!" Naruto interjected, scoffing at how arrogant Sasuke sounded.
"You want a beating, idiot?" Sasuke snapped.
"Guys, guys! Calm down!" Sakura began mediating.
Before the argument could escalate further, the time was up. The young reporters thanked them and scurried away.
Anko resumed her command, her voice booming over the crowd. "Now that the pleasantries are over... the Forest of Death awaits!"
"So creepy..." Sakura shivered, rubbing her arms.
"It should be. You'll find out why soon enough." Anko offered a mysterious, predatory smile.
The crowd stood in hushed anticipation, weighing the grim implications of the name. Naruto, however, had finally reached his limit with the scare tactics. He shifted his posture, mockingly mimicking the proctor's tone and dramatic flair.
"Nya-nya-nya! The Forest of Death awaits... you'll know it soon enough!"
Naruto's antics made Sakura blush with embarrassment and Sasuke's eye twitch with irritation. Shorai felt a bubble of laughter rise in his chest. "Pff..."
Fiew!
A kunai zipped past Naruto's ear, vanishing into the crowd behind him. Naruto raised a hand to his cheek, where a thin line was slowly beginning to weep crimson.
"Eh?" The boy stared at the woman in stunned silence.
Shorai crossed his arms, watching the escalation with a sharp, amused eye.
Woosh!
Anko blurred with frightening speed, appearing instantly behind Naruto. She looped one arm around his neck in a mock embrace while her other hand reached up to caress his wounded cheek.
"Such a cute face..." her voice was a disturbing mix of intimacy and omen. "You aren't afraid of a little blood, are you?"
"Ehm?!" Naruto froze, visibly shaken and rooted to the spot.
"Cuties like you tend to leave trails of blood all over this forest..." Anko continued her strange smile, wiping a drop of the oozing blood with her finger and licking it.
"Anko-san is right, Naruto," Shorai said, shaking his head. "The name isn't just a label. There's no need to mock her or the danger."
"Oh... wow!" Anko's eyes were suddenly drawn to the white-haired boy. Her gaze traveled over him with predatory interest. "You are easily the prettiest attendee I've ever seen. What's your name, boy?"
"Shorai, Mitarashi-san," he replied calmly, his arms still crossed.
"Is this one part of your squad?" she asked, patting Naruto's cheek with her palm.
"No, he is not," Shorai replied evenly.
"A-Anko-san..." A stern yet nervous voice called out from the wooden stand where the examiners sat.
"What is it?" She turned, but her expression shifted instantly. Her eyes darted to the side as she drew a kunai in a reverse grip.
A long, prehensile tongue wrapped around a kunai extended toward her face. Behind it, a woman slightly tilted up her straw hat. "You almost lost something important, Proctor. I was simply returning it. It would be a shame if I had to lose more than just a few strands of hair next time..."
"Oh, thank you kindly..." Anko smiled slyly and reclaimed her weapon. The tongue retracted instantly back into the woman's mouth.
"Standing so close behind me..." Anko's gaze remained locked on the Grass ninja, her voice dropping an octave. "Individuals like that tend to die young."
"Do try to understand my excitement... with the blood on your blade and the hair I just lost. I meant you no harm." The black-eyed woman's voice sounded chillingly foreboding.
Shorai felt the atmosphere thicken, a heavy tension vibrating between the two.
'Heh. Was Orochimaru pissed, trying to tease, or both?' Shorai wondered.
"Now... where were we?" Anko's eyes flickered back and forth between Naruto and Shorai.
"Death is part of the test," Shorai said calmly, his face devoid of its usual half-smile.
"True." Anko released Naruto and stepped toward Shorai. Her eyes twinkled with a mix of mischief and something more clinical. She leaned forward, her hand reaching out as if to slide a finger up his chin.
Before she could make contact, Shorai leaned back, keeping a precise distance.
"Mitarashi-san, please watch your hands. We aren't that close, after all." Shorai's face grew cold and serious.
"Proctor!" Ino's voice barked from nearby. She was fuming, her face flushed with protective anger. Sakura stood blinking in surprise, her own face breaking into a smirk as she glanced sideways at the jealous Ino.
"Shorai, was it? I won't bite... if you behave," Anko teased, her voice clearly testing his composure.
"Anko-san!" the examiner called out again, breaking the strange spell.
"What?!" she snapped back.
As the proctor walked back to the stand to consult with her staff, Ino firmly closed the gap, standing at Shorai's side and glaring at Anko with narrowed eyes.
"What an interesting behavior, Ino," Shorai remarked, glancing at the girl. "Is that a pout I spy? Heh. You look quite charming when you're worked up."
"Hmph!" Ino exhaled sharply, then blushed and turned her head away. "She is too much! We should report her!"
"Indeed. Her behavior is highly inappropriate—more intimate than intimidating."
"Exactly!" Ino reached out, hesitated for a second, and then gripped Shorai's sleeve tightly.
Shorai observed Anko and her staff, who were now stealing frequent glances in his direction.
"S-Shorai..." Ino's voice was almost a whisper at his side. "Did... did I hurt you?"
"No," he said calmly, looking forward. Then, he voiced the thought that had been lingering in his mind. "Not until I forget you..."
The hand grasping his sleeve trembled. Without turning his head, Shorai shifted his gaze down toward her, then back to his sleeve.
"I..." She stared into his eyes. "Thank you."
"For?"
"For not being angry with me."
She let go of his clothes, a small smile and a deep blush returning to her face.
"Curiosity didn't kill anyone. No need to dwell on it," Shorai consoled her. "I'm just a bit more... unique than others, as some might say."
"A bit..." She gave him a complicated look, followed by a dry chuckle. "Right. A bit."
"I'm the same Shorai you've always known, Ino. No matter what you saw in there." He paused, then added, "I am what I am. But you can be sure of one thing: I'll never hurt you, or anyone else close to me."
"That's... reassuring, Shorai-kun." Ino's eyes darted back and forth as she searched his turquoise gaze. "I don't even know how to respond to that. Or how to feel."
"Well... you could try adopting a more 'masculine' philosophy," Shorai said, turning fully toward her.
She raised a brow. "Which is?"
"Addressing problems... how should I put it... in the manner of crossing bridges as they come." His bright smile finally reached his eyes, which seemed to catch the sunlight.
"Aren't you being a bit too easygoing, Shorai-kun?" Ino's expression shifted toward worry, but as she looked at him, she seemed to feel a weight lift from her shoulders.
"A bit," he admitted.
A moment later, she let out a heavy sigh. "You're such a puzzle... like a combination of the best parts of everyone. A male version of Sakura's brains, Shikamaru's logic, and..."
"And let me guess... Sasuke?" Shorai finished for her.
"Y-yeah..." She blinked, covering her mouth with her hand and giggling. She glanced toward Sakura, who was standing by Sasuke's side, staring at him with her usual longing.
"My positive traits, I assume?" Shorai asked.
"The visible ones, so far! Hi-hi!" Ino giggled again, her mood significantly improved.
"I'm glad to hear I'm adding to my charm," Shorai said.
As they shared a warm smile, momentarily lost in their own world, a sudden, sharp voice shattered the moment.
"Hey! You, the one named Shorai! Over here!" Anko gestured imperiously.
Shorai shifted his gaze toward her and began walking, acutely aware of Ino's narrowed, protective eyes following his every step.
"Here's a form you need to fill out and sign, cutie," Anko said, a predatory smile playing on her lips as she handed him a sheet of parchment.
"...'A willful agreement that I may perish without the liability of Konohagakure,'" Shorai read aloud, glancing up at her.
"Aha!" Anko nodded, grinning widely. "Sign it. I want to sleep soundly at night. You're a very special surprise, kid. I just hope you live through this to justify all the hassle." She paused, her eyes tracing his features with clinical interest. "I'd hate to see such a charming face die so young."
"As long as you keep your own impulses in check, Proctor, I won't disappoint you," Shorai replied dryly.
"Hmph!" Anko brushed past him and turned to address the gathered mass of Genin, her voice booming as she announced the start of the second phase.
A few minutes later, the participants stood ready. Staff members placed a dark shroud over the registration stand to ensure the scroll distribution remained secret.
"Good!" the Proctor shouted, surveying the crowd. "Now, each team will report to that stand, submit your signed forms, and collect your gear."
"You will receive two things! First, an assigned gate number for entry into the forest. Second, a special scroll!" Anko reached into her trench coat and produced two scrolls, one light and one dark. "As you can see: Heaven and Earth. To clear this stage, you must possess both. This is an 'anything goes' battle for survival."
She scanned the faces of the teenagers, her gaze lingering on the white-haired boy standing apart from the rest. "There are twenty-six teams... and one exception."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. The curiosity toward Shorai reached a fever pitch; it was now undeniably clear that he was participating alone. Several teams glared at him with predatory intent, likely recalling his "Special Associate" status and the A-rank mission on his record.
"Aside from him, half of you will start with a Heaven scroll, and the other half with Earth."
"Simple enough. We get both, then what?" Sasuke asked, his voice echoing with typical Uchiha confidence.
"The entire team must reach the tower at the center of the forest with both scrolls in hand. That is how you pass," Anko explained. "Oh, and by the way, there's a time limit. You have exactly five days to reach the tower, or you fail."
"F-five days?!" Ino and Choji groaned in unison.
"Oh, get comfortable, will you? You've all been through survival training, haven't you?" Anko waved her hand dismissively. "The forest is full of 'food' for those brave enough to take it."
Shorai stepped toward the stand, his expression unreadable. "What are the disqualifying conditions, aside from the time limit?"
Anko held up three fingers. "Three main rules. First: the five-day limit. No scrolls, no pass. Second: if your team loses a member, or if a member becomes too disabled to continue, the whole squad is out. Third..." Her playful smile vanished, replaced by a cold, menacing look. "You must NEVER, and I repeat, NEVER attempt to open these scrolls before you reach the tower. You won't like what happens to you if you do. He-heh."
She let the warning sink in before delivering the final blow. "But the most important rule to keep in mind? DON'T DIE!"
Her words resonated through the clearing, triggering a wave of suspicion as teams began eyeing one another as future prey.
After a long wait through private hand-offs and scroll assignments, the participants began to disperse toward their designated entry gates. Shorai remained standing by the proctor's stand, as Anko had ordered him to wait until the very end.
She checked her watch, waiting for the precise second. Finally, she turned to him, a sharp smirk pulling at her lips.
"Special Associate, Shorai," she mused. "Since you're playing the role of the ultimate bait... you don't get a scroll at all. You start with nothing. If you want to pass, you'll have to hunt for both."
She gestured toward the fence. "Gate 44 is yours. Go!"
The heavy iron gate beside her ground open. A loud, piercing siren wailed across the training grounds, signaling that the second phase of the Chunin Exams had officially begun.