Suteki left the security borders of Takigakure, a village she had never heard of until she left her village of Iwagakure a month ago. It was a village controlled by a country with no ruler. An unnamed country, much closer to the Fire Country than it was to her own. The landscape, the atmosphere, everything from the, what would be called large mountains for this area, to the tiniest little ant was much different than back home. Endless fields of green, blanketed by just as much water. The Village Hidden by a Waterfall was a wondrous place. To her, it was a much more interesting location than where she had come from.

This was the first time Suteki had ever left the confines of the Earth Country, so it was definitely an exciting venture. She left the village, excitement streamed from her veins. Well, at least on day 18, that day had depleted a decent amount of that excitement. It took quite some amount of walking, a few hitched rides and one aforementioned endless day of horrifying mishaps, but she eventually reached the unknown village in a far away land three or so weeks in. That had left her enough time to explore her new surroundings. This place, the Village Hidden by a Waterfall, a glorious and bountiful place called Takigakure was where she was designated to traveling to.

She was one of the few genin in Iwagakure that was to participate in the Chuunin Exams, representing her village amongst the other Hidden Villages and a few smaller ones. She had been a genin for less than a year now, had gone through plenty of squads, even one to be lead by Iwagakure's Tsuchikageshe, and was now on to her second Kage. Whatever she had done during these last 9 months, it must have been the right things, because here she was yet again, representing the best of her generation. Picked amongst all those in her class, with her rank, to go to the first Chuunin exams since she graduated the academy.

Takigakure certainly wasn't on her short list of places she wanted to visit once becoming a shinobi, but it certainly would have been if she knew about it. The young girl had great aspirations to see the world she lived within. Though she didn't have the capabilities to do such if she hadn't become a ninja. This was what she longed for. Her first expedition to an unknown country. Though she hadn't desired it to be this unknown, it was something to behold. For the week and a half prior to the start of the exams, she recooperated from her long journey, and enjoyed the leisurely activities this village provided. Seeing endless waterfalls, wild flowers of every color, and animals that she never heard of; she almost didn't even want to leave this place. Pass or fail, she was going to take in as much as she could get from this adventure.

500 words

The young girl was one of the few early arrivals, now standing before an ever expansive labyrinth, with the only distinguishing landmark being a giant tree that stretched above the walls.  She looked around, keeping her distance from the other competitors that were milling about.  Several other people were standing before the group, seeming to form a wall to keep them at bay.  "Those people must be the proctors of this examination."  She was starting to gain some apprehension, seeing that they were all wearing the headbands of Takigakure.  So far the Village Hidden by a Waterfall had been plenty friendly and welcoming, but for some reason she was growing unease.  She would have enjoyed seeing someone from her own village being a proctor.  Instead, she had to place her well being in the hands of, well, for lack of a better description, future enemies.  

Suteki wasn't ignorant, though so far they had been friendly, it was no reason to play dump and be sciolistic.  After all, once this event of the chuunin exams was all said and done, they could just as easily meet on the fields in the not to distant future, knives ready and pointed at one another other.  That even went for the other contestants.  Playing homage to the other villages and being the home village of these events easily allowed a gain of knowledge of future enemies and the states of other villages for Takigakure.  Though, their was also very little reason that these "Proctors" couldn't just influence in their favor, or even just end these events sooner rather than later.  She would have to keep a good lookout for the most important person here.

More and more contestants were starting to show up, a few she easily recognized through their forehead protectors.  Several from Kirigakure, a few from Konoha, one from Kumogakure, a bunch from her home village Iwagakure, and than their were those that didn't seem to be showing a headband at all.  To her surprise most of all, none were from Sunagakure, the supposed homeland of where her "clan" that she gained her skills originated from.  Perhaps they weren't invited to the festivities?

The speakers started to crackle, shrieking, gaining the attention of all the participants, and causing a few of the proctors to break from their bulkwark like stance.  

"Welcome Genin from far and wide.  Thank you for coming to Takigakure and participating in the Chuunin Exams.  You here are the best and brightest of your rank that your village brought forth for these exams.  Even if you shouldn't complete your first task of these exams, don't feel distraught.  Better luck next time."

Another proctor broke the momentary silence, "If you can manage to make it back out."  A few of the proctors joined him as he studded his laughter.  

"For the first leg of these exams, you are to navigate this maze before you and reach the center where the Great Tree sits, where a crystal clear fountain sits and awaits for your arrival.  Legends say that the waters from this fountain the mystical hero water that can grant the drinker untold amounts of chakra.  So drink up and enjoy, for you have managed to pass your first test."

Silence stayed the area as the microphone turned off and the proctors stepped towards the participants.  After about two minuets, a man walked up to her.  He had a scar running down the side of his face, from his ear reaching towards his eye than town his cheek.  He gave the aura of being a rather intense and uncaring bastard for some reason.  "Suteki Yaku!  Follow."  He pointed, sternly towards where she was to walk and started before she could react.

The girl kept her mouth shut, and so did the man as they walked passed others that were in conversation with their assigned proctors.  It sent a chill down her spine, having been the only one, based on her point of view, to have been given the hardass of the group.  They arrived at a closed gateway leading into the fray that was the maze.  She had no idea what was going to be met once she entered.  Was it going to be a cakewalk, or similar to that 18th day of her expedition to this village.  A look of unease was plainly visible on her face, shaking slightly from the anticipation, and possibilities that could lie in wait for her upon entering.  The uncouth man looked at the tiny girl, possible feeling some form of sympathy for the frail looking munchkin before him. "Stick to your gut, and keep yourself collected little one.  A calm mind and strong will of life will prevail."

I looked up at the man as he half tried to smile at her for a moment, giving her words of wisdom and comfort.  He held out a bag to her and she looked at it questioningly.  He pushed out further, closer to her and she grabbed it with both arms. "This should help you along the way."  The man looked at the gourd that overshadowed her easily, "Though, you might not really need it by the looks of it." He turned around towards the gate and stepped away.  His long strides easily took him to the entrance in 2 steps, and he turned around to face the little girl again.  

With a straight face, and iron grin, he slurred the words, "Good luck." As the man spoke, he punched the gate of the maze and they swung open and slammed against the walls, one of the gates almost closing again.  I stood their for a moment, really thinking about just giving up before I even started.  I wanted to know more about what I was getting myself into.  But it was pointless as well to fear the unknown.  I took 8 steps, passing the man and entered through the completely opened gate, entering the maze.  

He grabbed onto the still remaining open gate, holding tightly onto the iron bars and slammed it shut behind me.  He pulled out a long thick chain and wrapped it around the iron bars of the gate than locked them behind me.  I looked back, to see him going through the movements.  He stared coldly at the girl, going back to the way he was before what could be called a heartfelt moment with the tiny girl. After finishing what he was doing, he shook the gate to make sure it was closed, again stared at the girl as she too looked back, watching him, than vanished from her sights.  

Words: 1093

[Rolling for First Scenario]

The member 'Suteki Yaku' has done the following action : Dices roll

'Exam Scenario Dice' :

Encounter: See no evil
Location: Takigakure: Great Tree Labyrinth
Scenario:  You will come across a gated area, with guards posted 20 feet up on each side in their watchtowers. They are instructed to seal the gates on sight when a participant approaches. The objective here is not to be seen. Hide yourself, distract them, blind them, do whatever you have to do to get by unseen, but if you get caught you go back to the very beginning of the area. The terrain before the gate is littered with large rocks jutting from the ground and shrubbery to aid in getting close, but in front of the gate itself is an open clearing that you will have to navigate on your own. Don’t get caught. Also, do not attempt to kill the guards. If the guards die the gates will automatically be shut and you will not advance.
Characters n/a

As Suteki turned around to venture into the maze, she could hear the echos of the explosion that was announcing the beginning of this round of the exam.  Twinkling lights were still occurring ahead, towards the direction of the over lording tree that was her destination.  She started to walk ahead, not rushing since it seemed to be a pointless endeavor.  The sun was high in the sky, and the path was laid out plainly.  All she would have to do is follow the beaten path until she managed to come upon something that wasn't so ease to overcome, or the tree was reached.  

The young girl took the bag in her arms that was given to her by the macho proctor and started to dig within to see what she had been given.  The first thing she pulled out was a generalized flask, similar to the one she wore on her back.  It was tan in color just like hear gourd, and rather plan looking with a red ribbon tie on the top and middle.  She could hear the contents within sloshing around and opened the top cap of the gourd, creeking as she twisted the cork and coming off with a plop sound.  She sniffed the opening, still being careful of what could be within.  It was odorless, a good sign.  She poured some of it out before her, seeing the clear liquid curve as it fell out and splashed onto the ground, some of it getting onto her shoes.  "Water.  Huh."  She capped it back up and put it back in the bag.

She reached in again and pulled out the next item she grasped.  It was a strip of cloth, perhaps if she got injured.  That went back in and she reached in again.  Nothing else it seemed was within.  She looked around, and found three pockets.  She opened the largest one and within was some black glittering metal.  She reached in and a plain old kunia was strapped within.  She pulled it out and inspected it.  She stroked her fingertips against the edge of it, to see if it was sharp, thus useful.  It had a nice edge to it.  She stored that among the other kunia she had on her wrist.  Another pocket was opened, and this time she found some cord.  That, was of very little interest to her for now.  The last pocket had a single match within. If she had to spend the night within this labyrinth, it might be useful to light a fire for the night perhaps.

She took the bag and opened her large gourd, shoving it within it for storage.  It was perhaps a little useless if she needed it quickly, but everything still within the bag didn't need to be used for emergency use anyways.

While she had been searching the bag, she had been walking steadily ahead, and came upon a dead end.  She looked around, slightly confused.  "Well, it is a labyrinth after all.  It wouldn't be much of a place if the path just lead straight to the goal afterall.."  She sighed than turned around and walked back.  As she came upon a turning point, she marked the ground with her kunia, pointing towards the direction she had gone, and the direction she had come with a arrow pointing away from that direction.  She looked at the last remaining path and walked down it.

This process was repeated several times over as she came upon a crosspaths.  She would mark the direction she came from, than pick a direction and walk down it.  She had to turn around about 4 more times since the first turnaround.  It was a little passed midday now, and she must have walked for at least 5 hours straight, but eventually she met her first challenge within the chuunin exams.  The pathway started to have plant growth, and some small boulders scattered around.  It was something different, so it must have been of some importance.  She stuck to the shadows, and continued on ahead.  Above the treeline, she could see two towers with wooden gates behind them some small distance ahead, maybe 100 meters ahead.  The young girl couldn't see what was beyond these towers, and if she was in any form of danger so she continued on ahead slowly, creeping.

Slily, she managed to get about 40 or so meters from the towers before she could see what was ahead.  A small open field like area, with shrubbery and rocky outcrops laid ahead, and the two towers with what seemed to be a scout on each.  The gate laid behind each tower, and were big enough that they basically took up most of the area around.  Beyond the gates, were wooden walls, blocking the area to the left and right.  Chances are, she couldn't get around or over the gates, so the only option was through.  It would have been to easy if all she had to do was walk around.  She watched the people carefully, as they scouted around.  Their gazes were random, and dynamic.  She couldn't ascertain any form of pattern in how they watched.  She continued watching them for another hour, hoping that one of them might get tired.

It was just her luck now, one of the guards yawned and was loosing his focus.  She looked to the other guard, and he was turned away.  She moved fast and ran to the first rock outcropping mid yawn.  A small shrub was along the edge of it and she hid within, and gazed through.  The man ended his yawn and continued to watch ahead for what was to come.  Her luck ended quickly, as a man came from behind him, tapping him on the shoulder and he was now replaced with a fresh pair of eyes.  "Damn...this sucks.", she muttered with some annoyance.  


Another two hours passed, and the other guard was replaced.  She had plenty of time to scout the area, and managed to dodge to two other rocks as they had switched places, once from sleepiness, and the other from guard rotation.  Ahead, the area was open land, nothing could be seen until the gate was passed.  It was starting to get darker now so options were opening to her.  She had two choices.  She could either use her sand technique to form her shield, and control other blocks of sand to appear as rocks, and creep ahead and passed the watchful gaze of the guards.  Or, she could just wait it out until dark.  She thought for barely a second.  Show her skills, and waste chakra and thus energy, or keep them secret, and preserve her energy for what was to come.  The second plan it was..

The sun had set, and the stars in the sky shown brightly.  The moon was overhead, hiding behind one of the few clouds in the sky.  The guards in the towers were talking to each other loudly, and she could see light sources within.  She could barely see below the sources of light, and they couldn't see anything on the ground from where they were.  She jumped up from the ground, dusted herself off and stretched her legs for a moment.  All she had to do now was make a run for it and she was passed her first hurdle.

Words: 1234

[Rolling for Second Scenario]

The member 'Suteki Yaku' has done the following action : Dices roll

'Exam Scenario Dice' :

Encounter: Landscaping
Location: Takigakure: Great Tree Labyrinth
Scenario:  While appearing still and hollow, the Great Labyrinth is far from it. Those that roll this scenario will be assailed by the environment itself. Vines that coat the labyrinth walls and roots from below the ground will erupt forth, aiming to ensnare and drag away the participant. Those caught by the vines and roots will be dragged back to their starting point. The vines and roots can be cut by C-Rank blades, or ripped by C-Rank strength, although doing so would cause twice as many vines/roots as were destroyed to come forth to replace the damaged ones. Alternatively, D-Rank offensive jutsu can destroy the vines/roots, and although another will take its place, they will not double. The vines can also be set ablaze. Destroying the vines with fire will cause the flames to travel along them,  burning them down to the source and preventing them from being replaced.
Characters n/a

The young girl continued onwards for about 5 minuets, than just felt around until she could feel a tree.  She put her back against it and uncorked her gourd.  She pulled some of the sand out and placed it onto herself, burying herself partial in the warm sand.  It wasn't exactly a bed in a luxuriant hotel, but the smooth sand, and warmth from it was enough to form a soft cushy bed, and block some of the cold until sunrise.  For now, she rested until morning would come.  

In the morning, she could see the guard staring from above down at her, irritation in their eyes, at least that was how she interpreted it.  She pushed herself up as some of the sand rolled off of her and she pushed against that getting up.  She looked up at the towers, just 15 meters ahead of her, and the sand started to pour back into her gourd.  She waved at the keeper of the two towers, "Good morning!"  She breathed in deeply than turned around starting to walk away.  One of the guards yelled out, "You got lucky miss, but don't worry.  We will be seeing you soon again."  She thought for a moment on his words, perhaps forboding some ominous future intentions.  Chances are they knew what was ahead, but for now, she had passed her first hurdle, and was that much closer to her final destination.

Again she walked the labyrinth and again found a few dead ends.  After about two hours of walking, again, the area was turning into forestry.  This time though, the plants were more vine like, growing quite well on the rocks.  As she continued ahead, the vines grew more denial together, seeming to chock the rocks.  One rock was even entirely engulfed in the vines.  

About 10 minuets into the new area, she started to hear some form of a rustling from behind.  She turned to look, but saw nothing.  Again the sound came but this time ahead.  She turned back forward quicly and pulled out a kunia to defend herself.  As she looked, movement was occurring down on the ground and saw a vine creeping towards her.  It slowly wiggled along the ground in her direction.  She looked at it suspiciously, than moved towards it.  The vine kept coming and she stopped, kicking it away.  The vine was slightly flung away and she stepped over and passed the midpoint of it.  The middle of the vine rose up and clutched her leg, and she looked at it, with some alarm present on her face.  The other end of it raised into the air and headed towards her and she held the kunia up in defense, and it slammed into the kunia, taking the edge with no affect at all.  This time it grabbed the kunia and started to wrap around it.  She released the kunai and started to pour sand out from her gourd.  The sand hardened into spear like projection and slit right through the vine.  

She ran as quickly from the vine as possible, but that certainly wouldn't be the end of this test.  The ground below started to rumble and she was feeling a great unease.  She weaved some hand signs and several clones appeared around her.  She needed to be ready for what was to come.  

The clones and herself were at a full sprint, moving quickly.  Than, the plants attacked.  The ground ahead, about 50 meters, opened up and splintered.  Roots and vines rose quickly from the ground and grabbed onto anything nearby.  She would have to be swift to avoid these things this time around.

It could have been described as a ballet.  The clones and herself jumped off the vines, the ground, trees, rocks, anything to avoid the ends of the roots.  The vines were slower in the middle to grab.  The clones and herself ran with a kind of unbelievable agility.  Seeming to easily dodge the ends of the roots.  Though, all wasn't perfect.  One clone jumped off a rock and was grasped from a rising root, ensnared.  More and more of the roots focused on the clone, and as much as she fought, was overwhelmed in moments.  The clone had no offensive measures to which it could defend itself.  It's chakra was just to small. Though, it served another purpose.  She looked back, to see that after she managed to get 30 meters away from it, than only did it vanish.  The roots weren't causing damage, and the clone served a great purpose of tieing up the vines attention.  

One clone down, five to go.  The ballet continued on, as they moved through the area with some finese.  It was another 20 minuets before another clones was taken.  Again they focused on it until she was to far away from it and it dispersed.  So far it was going well enough.  As long as the clones were taken, she might just make it out.  Though, she wasn't sure just how far this field of vines reached.

This time, it only took 15 minuets before the next clone was taken.  Were they getting smarter?  The clone fought well, pulling out it's weapons and trying to saw through the vines.  It was to no avail.

Another 15 minuets passed, and this time, she wasn't so luck.  The root tripped her up, piling atop of one another and she fell, sliding to the ground.  She pushed off as fast as possible, and was on her feet, but she only had a moment to react.  She weaved a few hand signs and after 3 seconds, the vines grabbed onto her and started to swarm.  The clones continued on their trajectory, heading straight as fast as possible.  The clones were abandoning her?

After about 30 seconds of tussling with the vines, the girl pushing and fought against them with all her might, but she was of now match.  She was a goner for sure.  The little girl puffed into a pile of water, and the vines squeezed leaving nothing behind.  Suteki, with all her wisdom sacrificed her clone for her own well being.  Of course, it was a simple matter.  The clones were of no importance, and did what they were meant to.  She had used the replacement jutsu with the clone, having a small portion of her chakra within, she could switch with any of the clones she wanted to with a few quick flicks of her hands.  The vines had one upped her, for a very short moment.

Another clone was gone, and now she only had one left.  Less targets for the vines to attack, she would have to come up with another plan of action.  But luck was beginning to show.  Just ahead, she could see the vines were ending, as if they couldn't go beyond some point ahead.  She had to think of something, she didn't want to leave it to chance.  The vines ahead gathered, and started to head towards her.  She had to think quickly.  How could she overcome them?

She quickly weaved some hand signs and water gathered at her feet.  A slice of water shot out away from her,  and started to carve up anything to her left.  The girl breathed into her hands, and balls of swirling wind formed.  She blew it towards the vines ahead and to the left, cutting several in half if they got in the way of the ball.  She again blew more wind chakra into her hand, and released another ball.  She had one attack left, and more wind chakra went into her hand, ready to unleash it's fury.  But just as she was about to be attacked from behind, the vines ceased their actions.  She still released her attack, cutting any vines that had been following her within 25 meters.  

Her attacks were spot on.  She had used a water jutsu called Water Release: Rising Slice.  This jutsu created a blade like crescent of water that was 4 meters tall out of the ground, and could easily cut through any rocks or plants without any chakra in two with ease.  Even the plants below ground were shredded.  The water slice was projected forward and to her left, and allowed to curve ahead of her to open a path.  The ground was left scarred one meter below the surface, and anything in it's path devastated.

Her second attack, Wind Release: Spiralling Wind Ball had similar effects.  The ball of wind cut cut cleanly through anything for half an inch with certain ease.  The attack had been known to slice through trees, and even destroy rocks with impacting.  With those balls, she could open the path directly ahead, and than to her right, allowing for some more safe passage.  

For extra measure, the last clone she had followed behind her and to her right, at about 10 meters away.  This clone was meant to distract anything else behind her and to her right.  Everything to her left was devastated, and though the plants would multiple, it wasn't instantaneous.  So with some planning, two amazingly strong long winded offensive techniques, and some artful dodging with herself and clones, she managed to evade being captured.  Though she had used up plenty of chakra in the process.  This section of the course was much more difficult.



She decided not to stop and rest after her ordeal with the plants.  And every tree now appeared as a possible enemy to her.  She looked ahead, at the menacing tree in the center, seeming to be laughing at her.  Plants were not friends...

After about another hour of walking, and two more dead ends, she finally found her target as it was becoming twilight.  She breathed out a sigh of relief.  It would have been horrifying to stay in the woods at night this time around.  She pulled her gourd off and layed it at the edge of the marble fountain, and stared deeply into the water.  She cupped her hands and dipped them into the water and put them to her mouth.  The cold fresh water was amazingly refreshing.  She hadn't even remembered the beginning about that the water might be some fabled hero super amazing ultra water.  She was just revealed to be out of that hellish forest, and able to finally relax, and drink her fill of water.

After a few swigs, she dipped her head in, getting her hair wet and pulled back, allowing the water to cool her down.  She looked around, seeing a few other contestants staring at her.  She didn't care about the attention, or that she might be looking the fool.  She grabbed her gourd and reached in, pulling the bag out and opened it, grabbing the gourd within.  She filled it with water and took another drink before placing the bag back and keeping the water on her belt with it's tie.  She grabbed her giant gourd and moved off towards a building nearby.  Hopefully their would be some nice foods to enjoy, and a warm bed to sleep in.  She moved off towards it, stopping and looking at the sun setting in the distance.  She stood their for 10 minuets, enjoying her triumph, and the sites within  Takigakure.

Words: 1895

End of Round 1


Chakra:

Chakra:

Stats:
Speed: C
Perception: C-1
Reaction Time: C