Chuning exams, that event that takes place as soon as you become a ninja at 18 and leave the academy. Of course, there are always those who prefer to wait until the following year.

The written phase of the exam was tough, but the second phase would be even tougher.

You entered the Forest of Death grounds. Some had a scroll, others didn't. The rules were simple: steal a scroll or protect yours, but arrive at the other meeting point within three days with someone and your team, or you'd be disqualified.

For some, it was an ideal way to prove yourself. For others, it was just a cruel way to bring newly graduated students into a field and watch them kill outside the rules everyone ignores.

It didn't help that "Sabaku no Gaara" had come to the exams this year... that guy was crazy... he controlled the sand and crushed people with it, literally... and the worst part? He'd been following you since the two of you crossed paths in Konoha, where you assumed he was going to kill you.

The second part of the exam was torture. I tried to be careful with every step so I wouldn't cross paths with that....monster.