~*****~

"This whole place just completely creeps me out...." Sakura mumbles. I hum in agreement, rubbing my arm gently.

Anko chuckled. "It should-- They call it the Forest of Death!" She explains. "And soon enough, you're going to find out why."

Naruto huffed out and started mocking her, pushing it butt out. "They call it the Forest of Death, but soon enough, you're gonna find out why." He said in a nasally voice. "Do your worst! You're not gonna scare me away! I can handle anything!" Naruto cheers.

"So... Looks like we've got ourselves a tough guy." Anko smiles brightly at the kid, and suddenly, I don't like that smile of hers. In an instant, a kunai flies out, scratching Naruto's cheek and digging into the ground besides a Grass Village Ninja. She disappeared and reappeared back behind Naruto. "You tough enough to handle this?" Anko jeers, closing in on him. "You're not afraid, are you?" She cups the non bleeding cheek and smirks down at him. "Tough guys like you leave your blood all over this forest." She pulls out another kunai just as the Grass Ninja appears behind her, holding the kunai in her tongue.

I shiver as it stretches out, holding the kunai to Anko. "I was just returning your knife..." She says in an eerie tone.

"Why, thank you, Grass Ninja." Anko says, glaring at her. They stare at each other for a minute before Anko speaks. "You know, I really only recommend you stand this close behind me if you wish to reach a premature end." She states, snatching the kunai just as the Grass Ninja slips her tongue back into her mouth.

"My pardon." She hums. "With the sight of blood and your blade slicing through my hair..." She chuckles lightly. "I'm afraid that I just became a little excited. I meant you no harm."

"Likewise..." Anko replies curtly as the Grass Ninja steps away.

I stare at her retreating form, shivering wildly. 'And here I thought the forest would be the creepiest thing here....' I rub my arms again, calming the shivers going up my back.

"Seems like everyone here today is quick tempered." Anko states with a smirk. She then turns back to us. "Now, before we start the second exam, there's something I have to pass out." She holds up a stack of papers, in turn, I lean into Naruto's ear.

"Ohhh... It's another written exam..." I tease, earning a shocked gasp.

"You must sign these agreement forms. There will be deaths in this exam.... And if I don't have you sign these... It will be my responsibility." Despite her statement, Anko chuckles. Anko hands the stack of papers to Naruto, who passes to Sasuke, who passes to myself, and I pass it to Sakura. From then on, I don't know where they ended up. "While you do that, I will explain the second test." She starts. I glance over the agreement form for a split second before tuning in to Anko. "Simply put... you will attempt the ultimate survival. First, I'll explain the area in which it will take place." She displays a scroll containing an image of the forest. "Around practice area number forty-four, are forty-four locked gates. Forest, River, and a tower in the center, from the gates to the tower is about ten kilometers."

'Well, at least Guy's endurance training is coming in handy...' I chuckle lightly to myself.

"During the survival in here, you will be asked to complete a certain task. Using your many weapons and jutsus, you will compete in a.... No rules, scroll battle." She reveals two scrolls that are labelled differently. "You will fight over these two scrolls, the 'Heaven', and 'Earth'. There are twenty six teams. Half, 13, will get the 'heaven' and the other 13 teams will have the 'earth' scroll." Anko holds the scrolls up, giving us all an opportunity to look at the scrolls. "To pass the test.... your team must make it to the tower with both scrolls."

Sakura swallows hard, sweat starting to bead on her forehead. "So, 13 teams will lose their scrolls... at least half will fail."

"Oh! And one more thing. The test has a time limit, this test will last 120 hours, exactly five days." Anko informs us. Everyone starts to murmur in concern.

Ino shrieks in terror. "Five days out there?!" She cries.

Choji, of course, only thinks about eating. "What are we meant to do for food?!"

Anko ignores their complains before continuing. "You're on your own. The forest is full of food. Just watch out for man-eating beasts, poisonous insects, poisonous plants...."

Sakura sighed in relief, grasping onto my arm. "Thank god you actually learned about living off the land... right?"

"Eh heh... Yeah." I chuckled at her nervousness. Naruto and Sasuke both let out a collective sigh of relief.

"13 teams passing is not likely. As the days go on, the distance to the goal will become further and the time to rest will become shorter. And the area is crawling with enemies. You won't get much sleep." Anko explains. "Also, there are ways you can be disqualified. First," Anko holds up one finger. "Those who don't make it to the tower with both scrolls within the time limit. Second," She holds up another finger. "Those who lose a teammate or have a teammate killed. And as a rule, there is no quitting. Another rule is that you must not look inside the scrolls until you make it to the tower.

"What happens if you do?" Narutos asks.

"You don't want to know." Anko replies curtly. "That's it for the explanations. Exchange your forms for your scroll. Then choose a gate to begin with." Anko sighs, like she had the hardest job in the world. "One piece of advise... just don't die." Everyone splits off. I leaned against a nearby tree, going over the form, frowning with each sentence.

"Next of kin? Man, that's harsh." I sigh, gripping my hair in frustration.

"You're not scared, are you?" I hear Sasuke jeer. I turn my head to him, feeling that oh so familiar flush crawl up my neck.

"Oh shut up!" I yelp, punching his arm. "I'm just filling this stupid form out." I quickly sign the paper and neatly fold it. It remained silent between the two of us before Sasuke reached over, patting my head tenderly. I glare up at him. "I'm not a little-"

"You're nervous. It's okay. I'm not treating you like a kid. It just looked like you needed that." He stated, smirking at my pout.

".... Well, duh I'm nervous.... There are a lot of variables when it comes to an all out brawl, and the fact that everyone here is our enemy makes me a little on edge because I trust all the leaf genin, but there's also the fact that Gaara is going to be out there and he scares me..." I rant, clutching my blonde hair in a frenzy. I inhale sharply as a warm pair of lips pressed against my forehead. I back up a little, touching the skin lightly with a very warm flush crawling up my neck. Sasuke just smiles and steps away. To my surprise, the nervous jitters just fly out the window, and I'm left feeling confident. I smile to myself before following after him.

~*****~

We step up to the canopy and Naruto proudly hands over all signed consent forms. We received the Heaven scroll. "Who will look after it?" Sakura asks, staying close to my side.

Naruto puffs up his chest, his expression smug. "I'll look after-"

"No." Sasuke and Sakura say flatly. Naruto's eyes almost burst out of his head.

"What?!" He shrieks. "Why not?!"

Sasuke crosses his arms, looking unimpressed. "You'd lose it, loser." I giggle a bit at that. Naruto turns to me with a hopeful look, trying to get me on his side.

"No offense Naruto, but the one who would hold it should either be Sasuke or I." I state.

"Why?!" Naruto yelps again.

"Because Sasuke and I have Kekkei Genkai's that are impossible to copy. Just in case someone tries to use the transformation jutsu." Sasuke nods and smiles. "Besides, between his Sharingan, and my Water Release, its hard for anyone to sneak up on either of us." Sasuke holds the scroll out to me.

"You'll carry it. One of us has to be able to hold off enemy ninja while the other keeps it safe." He states, placing it in my palm.

"B-But Sasuke, don't you think it'll be safer with you?" Sakura cries. I feel a twinge of hurt. 'Do you not trust me, Sakura?'

"Naturally, yes. But Ren's reaction time is a lot faster than my own." He states, making her frown. Sakura starts glaring at me and I can't help but feel a bit sad. 'And just when I thought we were starting to become friends again...'

Naruto breaks the uncomfortable silence. "We're gonna smash this thing! Believe it!" He claims with a grin, leading us out of the curtained area. Sakura scowls back at me, hardening a glare  towards me. I roll my eyes and turn my head, whistling like I was innocent.

Anko's voice rings out once again. "Listen up! Every Team has received their scroll! Everybody go to your gate and wait there! When the gates open, the test is on!"

We start out trek to Gate 12, passing by a couple of teams. Naruto almost starts a fight with Kiba and Choji, but Sakura restrains him. Shikamaru stops me from walking and rubs the back of his head while my team waits for me. "U-Uh... Don't die..." Shikamaru grumbles. I snort out a small chuckle before laughing. I pulled him in for a hug and retreated as Ino leans near him and starts teasing the red faced genin. We pass by Guy's team, all the while ignoring the declares of love from Lee directed towards me. We arrive at Gate 12 and I could see Gaara and his team standing at a further one. He turns, his gaze locking on myself as I shiver and turn towards the gate.

I flinch a little as Sasuke grasps my hand, feigning away the nervous jitters. I sigh out a breath of air and tighten my hold. "Alright! Heads up you maggots! The second phase of the exam has begun!!" Anko cheers. I swallow roughly as the gates start to open.

~*****~

As soon as the gates open, we stride in an even pace, getting further and further in. Not even five minutes in, the screaming starts. We turned, gazing over our shoulders in concern. "That... sounded like someone screaming..." I state softly, grasping the fabric of my kimono.

"I do not like this place...." Sakura admits with a shiver.

"Oh, come on! It's nothing to be scared of!" Naruto says proudly. "It's gonna be a piece of cake!" He remained quiet for a moment, then turned on his heel. "Excuse me for a second, I gotta... y'know." He admits, fumbling with his pants as Sakura turns on him.

"Yeah right!" She snaps. "Get outta here! What is this?! A kennel?! Not in front of Ren and I, ya don't! Find a bush or something!" Sakura says after slamming her fist against his cranium. A rather large bump swelled where she hit and he left to go wiz.

After a moment or two, Naruto comes back, but there's something off about him. "Ah man! That was a lot! I wrote my whole name!" Naruto cheers.

My eyes narrow onto his cheek, where a cut was supposed to be. I nudged Sasuke's hand gently as Sakura started to scold him. Sasuke nodded. He flew in, attacking the fake Naruto. He hit the tree hard as Sasuke and I got into a fighting stance.

"Sasuke... it wasn't that bad." Sakura chimes. "Don't you think your going a little overboard?"

"Yeah, what the heck was that all about?" The Fake asks, rubbing his cheek. Sasuke rushed in again, attacking with no preamble. Sasuke kicks him out of a tree and he falls to the ground, getting up with a groan. "Better watch out, Sakura. I think he's gone crazy!"

"Pft... Yeah." I drone, pulling out a kunai. "We're just striking before you can!" I snap, rushing in with my kunai.

"R-Ren! Alright then, bring it on!" The Fake shouts. He parries my strike, but I keep going for him. He pulls some incredible moves to dodge. Some that Naruto would never be able to pull.

"Ren! What're you doing?" Sakura asks, still shocked as Sasuke guards her.

"Sakura, take a good look at him." I snap.

"Huh?" She starts to stare at him, taking in the details.

"Talk! What have you done with Naruto!" I demand angrily.

"What?!" The Fake yelps. "What do you mean?! I am Naruto!"

"Then where the cut on your cheek?!" The Fake gasps. "I guess you didn't know the real Naruto got a cut on his face before this test! You also have your shuriken holster on your left leg! Not your right! But the real Naruto is right handed!" I explain harshly. "Your transformation jutsu is worse than Naruto's! Tell me who you are!" The Fake disappears in a cloud of smoke, reappearing as a Hidden Rain Ninja.

"Alright! You got me! So what!?" He snaps. "I'm still gonna take your scroll. Now hand it over, or else!" The ninja demands. Sakura pulls out a kunai finally as the ninja curls his finger. "So... which one of you has it?"

We just glare at him, ready for a fight.

"Hm. Fine then. I guess I'll just have to take all of you out!" He shouts, rushing forward for the kill.