The group moved cautiously through the forest when Aiko raised a hand.
Another patrol, Akihiro and Hiroshi thought at the same time, stopping abruptly and hiding.
The shinobi patrol passed by without detecting anything and continued on its way for a while longer. They remained still in their positions until Aiko raised a hand again, signaling that the situation was safe.
—How much longer is this going to take? —Akihiro asked, tired.
They had been moving like this for quite some time. The shinobi patrols were more meticulous than one would expect, making it extremely exhausting to advance. Even for them, who were used to B-rank missions, this was draining. Mainly because it felt like they were behind enemy lines—one small mistake and everything would go to hell.
Not even hunting rogue ninjas was this difficult.
Despite internal compints, Akihiro said nothing and continued the duty, moving with precision and without making a single sound.
At the same time, the rest of the genin teams weren’t faring much better. Those who had passed the previous test through sheer strength alone were immediately disqualified, as the patrols easily found them. In contrast, the more methodical ones (and with a bit of luck) managed to move silently, find the scrolls, and leave the area in record time.
Of course, the teams with such luck were a minority, and most weren’t doing any better than Aiko's team.
A while ter, Aiko’s team finally reached their objective. Several patrols were concentrated in one spot, scanning the surroundings for any presence.
—This is more heavily guarded than expected. What do we do? —Hiroshi asked. Hiroshi’s skills, being mainly offensive, left no room for utility in this test, meaning only the teammates could secure success.
—There are two methods we can use: the traditional Genjutsu or creating a distraction. But both have their risks —Aiko said.
They immediately imagined the dangers. If the Genjutsu failed, they would be easily caught. If they chose the distraction, they would draw the attention of nearby patrols, putting them in check either way.
—Let's go with Genjutsu —Hiroshi said.
—Why? —Akihiro and Aiko asked.
—The distraction is nonsense —Hiroshi replied without hesitation.
Akihiro and Aiko agreed; no matter how they looked at it, it was a ridiculous idea, so it wasn’t even worth considering.
—Genjutsu, even if it fails, will give us some room to escape. Worst case scenario, we’ll just have to find another scroll —Hiroshi added.
Akihiro and Aiko nodded. After all, they had no better pn.
—Alright. Akihiro, make it as light as possible—barely noticeable. I’ll use Earth Escape to retrieve it. Hiroshi, get ready to run —Aiko ordered.
They all nodded and got to work.
Akihiro pulled out an ocarina and began pying very softly, letting chakra blend with the sound. It was so subtle that it was barely noticeable, but just enough to make the guards ignore minor disturbances.
Aiko put in earplugs to block out the sound and used the Earth Escape technique. Moving with precision, Aiko sank into the ground as if swimming through the earth.
Within seconds, the scroll was in sight.
With great care, it was taken.
The moment it was removed, a wire snapped.
—Shit —Aiko cursed under a breath.
The shinobi reacted instantly, turning with their weapons drawn and aiming at the ground. If they hadn’t seen or heard anything, that could only mean one thing—the intruder was underground.
But before they could act, a wave of drowsiness clouded their minds. They immediately realized they had fallen into a Genjutsu and broke free almost instantly.
However, those few seconds were enough for Aiko to escape. Instead of regrouping with the team, Aiko fled in a different direction.
The team understood the signal and dispersed as well. Now, there was only one thing left to do—get out of the forest before they could be caught.
—Slippery brats! Find them! —the commanding shinobi shouted, and all the patrols rushed into the chase.
Knowing which direction they had fled, it was only a matter of time before they were found.
