A large fence barred his way into the forty-fourth training ground, known to a greater majority as the Forest of Death. Famous for the high level of danger due to monstrous flora and fauna, the title "training ground" didn't seem to do the forest justice. It was a suicidal trip for any who didn't have proper shinobi training, and even with said training, wandering the forest floor would be a difficult task for those with little experience. Therefore, Takumi was anxious about the mission he was about to embark on. The Genin had become familiar with only one route in the forest, one that took him from the tower in the center of the thick wilderness to the aforementioned metal-fenced perimeter. Takumi would have to familiarize himself with the rest of the forest as the mission progressed, learning the intricacies of the overgrown area as he went.

There were forty-four entrances to the forest built into the metal fence, although they were only really used for large events such as the Chuunin exams. Not even Jounin typically trained in the forest and the observation tower located in the center was deserted most of the time. Overall, it would appear as if the location was neglected by the community, as if it was taboo. Takumi however, chose to think positively despite every fiber of his being telling him that entering the forest was not a safe decision. Shinobi shouldn't care about their own safety, they should instead focus on their mission, he told himself. As arguable as that statement was, it brought the Genin some peace of mind. He had convinced himself that the mission was more important than his wellbeing, which resulted in him forgetting about the hordes of danger that lurked within the dark forest.

Taking a deep breath, Takumi officially began his mission, opening one of the forty-four gates and immediately sprinting into the forest, his hunter-green jacket rustling against the air. His could feel his heart beating rapidly within his chest, face flush with adrenaline and anxiety as his sickly eyes squinted, like he were trying to squeeze out any lingering feelings which would upset his psyche. The mission required no combat on his part - should everything go well - but even so, it would be his first reconnaissance assignment and he wanted it to go exceptionally well; the Genin had set high standards for himself.

Takumi only spent a few minutes traveling on the route which would take him to the central tower. Parting from the path, he dived into unmapped territory, still closer to the perimeter than the heart of the Forest of Death. He stopped for a moment to acquaint himself with the surroundings, which was a wise action since acquiring a sense of direction would be pivotal to the mission's success. Green was everywhere, though it was a darker, midnight green because in the thick, overgrown forest, the trees were so tall and their branches so expansive that hardly any light shone through to the forest floor. It would be difficult to discern the time that had passed since there was no indication of night or day, nor the phases in between.

Takumi was undeterred by the inability to tell time. Despite only having spent several minutes in the forest, the Genin felt somewhat accustomed to it. Perhaps it was his Senju lineage, or an unconscious ability to adapt easily to a given situation. Regardless of what it was, it was useful in keeping a serene state of mind. The unexpected peacefulness allowed the teen to observe his surroundings on a much more profound level. The individual blades of grass were still as no breeze was strong enough to puncture through the intense greenery the forest possessed. Only the silent moves of the Genin were capable of momentarily shifting the direction in which the grass stood. Within the small enclosure, Takumi was positioned amongst many grand trees with healthy rough barks which showed no sign of human interaction. These dense trees were randomly placed, but were all within four meters of each other, spanning as far as the teen could see. It certainly was a forest that one could easily get lost in, that one could die in. Takumi wouldn't die however, he still had much to accomplish. This is what he assured himself of as he continued to move into the depths of the forest.

With ease, the Genin climbed approximately half way up one of the countless trees. It required more effort than he expected, although he shouldn't have underestimated the grandeur of the timber. He had placed himself on one of the large, overgrown branches of the tree, which arched downward from the strain of gravity. Above and below were more branches, which sprouted into an unbearable amount of leaves, blocking Takumi's vision. Pushing past the heavy leaves, feeling their weight against his bandages, the teen sprung off of the branch, traveling towards another one not too far ahead. He would repeat this motion for a good amount of time, slowing moving further into the forest.

The Genin treaded carefully, his motivation waning as the time past. There was no indication that he was heading in the right direction, and his mind was frequently preoccupied by the large creatures he came across. They were insects for the most part, of different colors and proportions. A few, Takumi thought, were quite beautiful, with an array of spotted colors; shiny green and orange, metallic purple and blue. The two foot wingspan of most creatures did however, spook the Genin just a tad and he assumed that such insects, no matter how elegant they appeared, or how large, were most likely poisonous. An Aburame would certainly enjoy this forest, the teen mused.

The climate within the Forest of Death was quite different from the warm, summery day that graced Konohagakure. Not only was the atmosphere humid and damp, but the air was significantly cooler as well. It was the perfect environment for many of the creatures Takumi spotted as he journeyed from branch to branch. Still, he made little progress in regards to his mission, that is, until he spotted a family of boar making their away across the forest floor below. It was a magnificent scene, several rays of light had broken through a thin layer of leaves and descended to the ground below, showing off the grass's true fern green color. Like a spotlight, the waves of light illuminated the area as insect and bird calls resounded throughout the trees. The boars, their mahogany-fur fully exposed to the light, appeared to be basking in the scarce amount of sun. Squealing in delight, the smallest boar ran circles around the larger three, its hoofs pounding against the soft grass.

The Genin remained motionless as he appreciated the scene occurring in the small pasture below. If he followed the boars, he reasoned, there would be a greater chance of finding the poachers. Given that the animals were exquisite and large, (the "baby" boar itself stood a few feet tall) they were the perfect target for the cruel criminals. So as the mammals slowly moved out of the small patch of light, and back into the perpetual shadows of the trees, Takumi stalked, his sense of purpose revitalized.

Tunnel-vision developed as the teen continued on his enterprise, the boars being the focal point of his attention. Man and animal moved in correspondence with one another as they passed other tantalizing animals and plants that resided in the Forest of Death. It wasn't long before the group arrived at an opening in the forest where a long stream flowed from one end to the other. In the distance, Takumi could make out the observation tower, which gave him some clue as to where his geographical location was. The sun was also in view, granting light to the body of water below and creating a shimmering surface from which the boars drank. The Genin remained hidden in the broad trees, his hunter-green jacket camouflaging his figure. As he stared at the bulky animals, the teen recited facts about the forest that he had memorized in preparation for the mission.

It was common knowledge, but necessary to remind oneself that animals had more of an acute sense for danger. The boars however, were untrained to sense the strike of a shinobi, which made watching the scene that unraveled soon after the animal family started drinking, particularly unpleasant.

From his perch on the branch of a tree, Takumi saw vividly the senbons - propelled at incredible speed and augmented strength via fuuton chakra - pierce the skull of the mahogany creatures. Lifeless bodies fell over with a thud as the boars existence was taken from them in a mere moment which spanned only a couple seconds. The Genin's eyes narrowed in frustration, yellow irises flickering about trying to find the source of the senbons.

There was a slight crunching of fallen leaves as three figures emerged from the opposite side of the forest. The first - the man who seemed to be leading the other two - was a youthful individual with elegant, angular features and fine, long, brown hair tied back in a ponytail. A pretty boy, the man had a calm expression on his face, long eyelashes evident as his downcast eyes gazed upon the deceased animals across the stream. He walked at a brisk pace, perhaps inwardly delighted or anxious to claim the bodies, though he stopped momentarily at the small body of water that remained an obstacle in his path.

Lined with only medium sized rocks and pebbles, it was not a difficult task to cross the stream, or rather walk across it, which the man began to do with grace, his simple grey kimono lightly brushing against the water. Prior shinobi training, handsome features and… a small scar under the left eye. The Genin processed the facts he'd gathered by observing the man, trying to remember the names, descriptions and faces that were listed in the Bingo book he consulted before the mission officially began.

Matsui, Iwane. The name resounded in Takumi's mind as he identified the shinobi walking across the glittering stream. The rushing current of the water allowed the teen to make some minimal movements without being heard, but the Genin did not want to risk being spotted by a B-rank criminal such as Iawne. Ergo, he remained motionless, resisting the urge to flee and report back his findings. It was necessary to thoroughly observe and investigate the events which are transpiring, he reminded himself.

Shifting his gaze to the two men who accompanied Iwane, it appeared as if only one was a shinobi, albeit a traitor who succumbed to bribery. The man wore a Konohagakure forehead protector blatantly and possessed the typical attire of a Chuunin-ranked shinobi. This man, who had multiple scars along his right cheek and a burn mark hidden slightly by messy bangs, began crossing the stream soon after Iwane. The third man only tested the waters. Dipping a foot in, then quickly retracting it. The bald man adjusted his thin-rimmed glasses, shuffled his feet, and then firmly planted himself, unwilling to get wet. An unimportant accomplice, Takumi concluded as he awaited further action by the two criminal shinobi.

"A fine specimen, isn't it?" Iwane spoke, his voice higher than the Genin expected it to be. Examining the carcass of the recently deceased mother boar while crouched, the nukenin caressed the fur of the animal before poking and prodding with little respect.

"Indeed, Matsui-sama," the assistant called out from the other side of the stream, wiping his bald head with a cloth.

"Oh shut up, will you? You are not even within five feet of the bodies," snapped Iwane.

"Matsui-san," the Konoha shinobi spoke for the first time, his gruff voice containing a hint of uneasiness, "When shall we discuss my payment? It took a lot for me to smuggle you here."

"Ah, of course, payment…" the nukenin looked fondly at the traitorous shinobi, stroking his chin with a delicate hand. "I suppose I could give you a little something while we're here," Iwane said, placing his free hand into a pouch strapped around the belt of his kimono.

With incredible speed, the nukenin drew a kunai, thrusting it towards the neck of the Konoha-nin who was unable to react. A small amount of blood drained from the traitor as Iwane spoke with a dark undertone, "Do not get greedy. I will pay you when my business here is complete." Nodding, the Konoha-nin retreated a few steps, regretting that he had spoken.

Takumi believed he had seen enough, but nonetheless, he would wait until the three left the area before moving. Although the Genin was self-aware of his skill in camouflage and silent-movement, he didn't want to risk jeopardizing the mission because he made a move detectable by the B-rank criminal. Additionally, he found the cruelty exacted onto the traitorous Konoha shinobi to be quite agreeable. The teen hoped more would follow.

Unfortunately, the criminals were done with their hunt, and were busy storing the bodies of the boars in sealing scrolls. The process took little time, as Iwane was quite efficient. Several other gargantuan creatures were attracted by the scene, but none dared to approach, sensing that they might become like the boars. Dead. The presence of the other living creatures in the Forest calmed the teen's nerves, and he was able to relax slightly, no longer feeling tense as he did when Iwane first made his appearance.

Watching the three take their leave back in the direction they came, Takumi rested within the tree for a good while, immersing himself in the sounds of the forest. He was relieved that he hadn't been spotted and was thankful that he didn't have to fight the three criminals. Takumi was ambitious, but he knew when a situation was above his capabilities. Now, with his worries gone, the Genin was completely at peace, his mind a blur of sensations rather than thoughts.

His journey out of the Forest of Death was unlike his travel inward. Takumi had a greater sense of confidence in himself and his surroundings, mainly because he was retracing his steps. Furthermore, he realized the the creatures which resided in the forest, no matter how large, tended to leave him alone so long as he wasn't interfering in their business.

As the Genin bobbed and weaved through clusters of leaves and branches, he uttered the names and physical attributes of the three criminals in order to commit them to memory in time for his report. His heart was palpitating, but out of anticipation and eagerness to learn of Iwane's ultimate fate, rather than nervousness or fear.

Emerging from the thick forest, the teen met the bright warm colors of the setting sun. He hadn't realized how much time had past and he suddenly felt fatigued, his shoulder slightly hunched from the exhaustion. Passing through the metal gate, Takumi took a brief moment to rest against the cool surface, feeling the iciness of the metal pierce through his bandages. He had dawdled long enough. It was time to report back.