The Forest of Death sucked. Naruto had decided after the third time he had a spider crawling on his arm. There were slug-looking things that were as long as Naruto was tall, a rat that was the size of a raccoon, and a bird whose caw sounded like a child screaming. He'd voiced his discomfort several times, then several more for emphasis. All he got in return was Sakura pushing him into a bush.

It took them half a day to procure enough food and water. The forest was dark, the canopy of leaves and branches blocking most of the sun's rays. Everything around them smelled of earth and foliage. Their storage scrolls held half of their supplies safely inside, the other half on their person. All that Kakashi had taught them about survival, the kids were using now. They took their steps carefully, tried not to mark where they'd been, tried not to advertise where they were going.