Who decided to be reckless first?
Obito and Might Guy, of course.
People from the outer sectors of the Forest of Death watched, stunned.
According to strategy, the best method was to collect resources first, then slowly make for the center.
And more importantly
Under the current rules, the smartest move wasn't to fight, but to delay others.
Because…
If you simply stall them keep them from reaching the center then once the Jōnin begin to act, those teams will be eliminated automatically.
Unfortunately…
That logic didn't matter to Obito and Guy.
They ran faster than anyone.
"Jingyi-sensei, what do you do when you run into... that?"
Yamashiro Aoba muttered to himself, staring at the two reckless Genin.
After thinking for a long time, he could only sigh
And follow them.
---
"Everyone, it's an honor to be taking the second test with you. First, let's choose a leader. Then, we'll confirm each other's abilities and needs," Asuma Sarutobi said seriously.
She didn't charge ahead recklessly.
Instead, she glanced at her teammates.
He recognized them.
Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki.
They were classmates back at the Academy, but he had no idea how good they'd become.
"We've teamed up before. We're both good at taijutsu and kenjutsu," Izumo said.
"I also know Earth Release I can help with terrain control," Kotetsu added.
Their attitude was clear they were deferring to Asuma.
Asuma exhaled in relief.
Teammates who listened to his lead perfect.
"Alright, let's go with my plan," she said. "We'll scout for resources nearby. If we run into Shisui or Kurenai's teams, we'll group up and eliminate threats together."
"Got it!" they replied.
---
Shisui and Kurenai weren't on the same team.
Their assignments had come from Minato-sensei himself.
Minato knew that Jingyi's squad worked best when together. If they'd been grouped as one unit, it would've been too overwhelming for the rest.
Besides
Kurenai wasn't weak on her own.
Minato had intentionally dispersed Jingyi's students, giving Shisui a tough draw two civilian-born Genin without strong jutsu. Their only strength was their obedience.
Otherwise
Even at five years old, Shisui might've cracked under pressure.
Kurenai's team was slightly better comparable to Ebisu's team. Not strong, not weak.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, watching through the Third Hokage's telescope jutsu, commented, "Minato must have a lot of faith in your students especially Shisui."
"To pair him with two non-clan Genin... Minato clearly sees Shisui as more than just an elite Genin," Hiruzen said.
Jingyi nodded. "Minato knows my students well. If Shisui gets his hands on a weapon, he's easily above Genin level."
He smiled faintly.
"Separating them isn't a bad thing. If they survive the early chaos, they'll have a huge advantage."
"Agreed," Hiruzen said.
Sometimes, early suffering yields greater strength later.
From a macro view, Jingyi's students had the advantage Shisui, Asuma, and Kurenai had all become team leaders effortlessly.
Soon, all teams were on the move.
The most reckless?
Obito and Might Guy.
With Yamashiro Aoba in tow, they found an enemy team quickly.
And just as quickly they charged in.
The medical-nin stationed nearby had to step in and remove the defeated.
The first wave of confrontation revealed the brutal nature of this "exam."
Fights erupted across the forest.
---
Asuma's squad battled for a resource point
Against Iruka's team.
Iruka had Genma Shiranui on his side, but they didn't spot Asuma's squad in time. Izumo and Kotetsu ambushed them.
Asuma's Vacuum Wave (Fūton: Shinkūha) took out one Genin instantly.
Genma managed to save only one of his teammates.
---
Shisui's squad was on the run.
He was good at genjutsu and had sharp perception, but with Jingyi and Kurenai normally handling those roles, he rarely had to use it.
Now, perception became essential.
He used it to track his teammates, then guided them toward Asuma and Kurenai's teams.
The plan:
Regroup. Coordinate. Dominate.
---
Back at the Hokage's office, Hiruzen was trying to keep up with all the chaos via his crystal ball.
But there were simply too many skirmishes.
Still
Without the telescope technique, they'd only see fragments of the battle.
Kakashi already a Chūnin watched from the observation deck.
"This kind of test looks fun," he said wistfully.
"It's tactical. It rewards leadership. If only I weren't already a Chūnin…"
At that moment
Jingyi suddenly turned to Hiruzen.
"Lord Third, please track Obito's squad."
Hiruzen blinked.
"...You're the boss today, huh?" he muttered.
Still, he shifted the crystal ball to find Obito and Guy.
The two had long since separated from Aoba.
Now, they were facing off with another team.
---
"Lujiu, that's one of ours!"
Akimichi Dingza pointed at the screen.
The opponents?
Nara Marui and Akimichi Shidō.
Even without the full Ino-Shika-Chō trio, the combined might of two founding clans was formidable.
Obito tried a Fireball Jutsu
Guy charged in from the side.
But Shadow Imitation plus Expansion Technique?
Impossible to defend against.
Obito was instantly caught by shadow paralysis.
Boom!
He got flattened into the ground by a palm strike.
"Dead," said a calm voice.
The third opponent used the Body Flicker Technique, appeared beside Obito, and mimed slashing his throat with a kunai.
No actual blow was delivered
But in a real battle?
Obito would've been finished.
Seeing this, Guy doubled his speed
Collapse. Retreat. Evacuate!
By the time Yamashiro Aoba arrived, Guy had already grabbed him and was fleeing the scene.
"IDIOT!"
Kakashi facepalmed.
"How do you rush into a trap like that?!"
---
The fights raged on.
But soon
Observers realized a pattern.
Among Jingyi's three students Shisui, Kurenai, and Asuma there were almost no casualties.
Worse for others
Shisui and Kurenai had regrouped.
Now two full teams were sweeping the map together.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
"jingyu, you didn't leak the exam format... did you?"
A team of six against scattered, weaker teams?
Unbeatable.
Jingyi raised a hand.
"I didn't. I didn't even teach Kurenai high-level perception skills. I specifically avoided that to prevent early convergence."
That was true.
If Kurenai had learned advanced perception from the Yūhi clan or worse, if she'd learned the Second Hokage's secret techniques it'd be a team of nine, not six.
That would be a massacre.
---
Jingyi performed a summoning technique.
Poof!
A cockroach clone appeared beside him.
"Mark Point A. Begin the first sweep."
Signals shot up above the Forest of Death.
The sweep had begun.
The forest erupted into total chaos.
Everyone began converging inward
Which meant: more inevitable clashes.