"Huh?"
The ninja was stunned for a moment. He could feel something float over his head, but when he touched his head, he did not find anything.
"Maybe it's a bug?"
The ninja muttered to himself. He did not take what had just happened seriously. After all, they were in the woods. Whether it was work or training, they would always encounter various insects. It was not surprising that they would occasionally land on their bodies.
After that.
The ninja continued to lead the way.
However.
What he did not know was...
The thing that fell on his head was not a bug but a piece of paper from Aoba.
This piece of paper easily fell on the ninja's head, and the moment it came into contact with the ninja's head, it triggered the Mind Reading System.
...
A clear electronic prompt rang out in Aoba's brain.
"Ding Dong! Memory Reading Succesful! Obtained: Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu(Water Clone Technique)!"
Along with this electronic prompt, memories were loaded into Aoba's mind.
Aoba was still calm on the surface.
But he was already looking through the ninja's memories.
On the outside, he looked like he was in a daze; in reality, he had already focused on browsing this ninja's memories.
He quickly searched this person's memories about the second round of Chunin Exams.
A few minutes later.
Aoba immediately discovered the important point.
At the same time.
He felt someone pat him, and he was immediately pulled back to reality.
"Aoba, what are you thinking? You've been in a daze for so long, can't you hear me?" Saki's voice rang in Aoba's ear. Her tone was full of doubt. Her big eyes blinked as she stared at Aoba. She seemed to be very curious about what Aoba was thinking about.
"Ah?!"
Aoba was stunned for a moment. He seemed to have just reacted. Then, he smiled and said, "What did you just say?"
"Look!" Saki put on a look of understanding. After that, she raised her finger to point at the gate and said, "We have already arrived at the No. 19 entrance. You should reach the No. 20 entrance if you continue to walk forward."
"Hahaha, so that's how it is..." Aoba used his laughter to cover up the awkwardness he was in. Then, he followed Saki and stood at the No. 19 entrance.
"Can we go in now?" Saki asked the ninja standing at the gate.
"Not now."
The ninja shook his head and looked down at the watch on his wrist. After that, he said, "There are still 7 minutes. When the time is up, you will go in together. Now, wait at the entrance for a while."
"Understood."
When Saki heard the ninja's words, she immediately nodded. 7 minutes was not a number that she could not wait for, and she was still somewhat nervous at this time.
"Aoba..."
Saki immediately turned to look at Aoba. She wanted to talk to Aoba about something, but she found that the latter had once again been in a daze. She just stood in the same place without intending to continue to chat.
"That... Rin... Let's chat..."
Saki reacted in an instant. In her speculation, she felt that because the start of the Chunin Exam's second round was approaching, Aoba began to worry, so he might want to have a quiet time alone.
So.
She immediately shifted the topic to Rin, leaving Aoba with seven minutes of rest.
She was very clear.
When they entered the venue later.
Everyone had to be completely focused.
Saki did not disturb Aoba at this time. Aoba was immersed in the memory of the earlier ninja that guided them.
Just a day ago.
These ninjas formed a small team and carefully examined the area that had been sealed for a long time. They then determined that nothing could threaten the Chunin Exam participant.
After that.
These ninjas began to hide the Scroll of Heaven.
Among them.
The ninja who took them to the 19th entrance was the one in charge of hiding the Scroll of Heaven.
Coincidentally...
This Scroll of Heaven was really hidden near the 19th entrance, as Saki had guessed.
"Hmm..."
Aoba slowly opened his eyes. A complicated look flashed in his eyes. If he hadn't seen these things in the ninja's memory, he couldn't tell what was happening.
"Saki, I thought about it carefully just now and felt that what you said might really happen. The Scroll of Heaven is likely near the entrance."
Aoba's voice suddenly sounded and clearly entered everyone's ears. Especially the ninja who led them here, his expression became even strange.
Actually.
Just a while ago.
When Saki mentioned this.
This ninja's expression also became abnormal. However, this ninja was leading the way at the front, so they could not see his expression.
"Oh?!"
Saki looked at Aoba, who had already recovered. A smile suddenly appeared on her face, and she seemed to have a deeper meaning.
"Aoba, do you think so too?"
When Saki heard that Aoba agreed with his point of view, she immediately became excited. After what happened in the first round, her attitude toward Aoba changed dramatically. In the depths of her heart, she had paid more attention to Aoba.
At this time.
There were less than three minutes until the start of the second round.
If it was any other team.
They would definitely think that talking about this kind of thing was very unreliable behavior.
However.
After obtaining Aoba's approval, Saki became even more interested in the scroll's possible location.
"I think what you said makes a lot of sense. Just now, I carefully thought about this map and used an empathy approach to guess the scroll's possible location." Aoba nodded and said with a face full of sincerity. He wanted to say it in front of this ninja so that it would be more interesting.
"Empathy approach?" Saki stared at Aoba in confusion. Her eyes were filled with confusion. Obviously, she wanted to hear more of Aoba's words.
Rin also stared at Aoba. Her eyes were filled with the same curiosity. She also wanted to know what Aoba wanted to express.
"I thought about it carefully..."
Aoba's gaze first fell on Saki, then at Rin. Finally, he stared at the ninja who sent them here.
"I am thinking about where to hide the scrolls if I am the organizer of this exam."
Aoba put on a thoughtful expression. In that moment of pause, he directly attracted the attention of Saki, Rin, and the ninja.
Among them, Saki and Rin were thinking about this problem with Aoba.
Only the ninja had some reaction. The color of his face changed.
"If I were the one who hid the Scroll of Heaven, then I wouldn't let it be impossible to find. Only by combining the Scroll of Heaven and Scroll of Earth can I pass the second test. This test will be meaningless if everyone can't find the Scroll of Heaven. Therefore, to be able to be found and not so easily found, then I have to do some tricks on the place where the scroll is hidden."
Aoba said in one breath. After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment. Based on his memory, he had already deduced a series of derivations from the environment where the ninja hid it.
But for the few people present.
They didn't know that Aoba already knew the result and thought that Aoba really put himself in that position to guess.
For a moment.
Everyone's expression became thoughtful.
"This Forest of Death is too big, and our examination time is only 120 hours. In addition to finding the Scroll of Heaven, we must deal with the other ninja teams and animals' threat!"
"Not only that, but we also have to face the food shortage problem. We may have to survive in the wilderness. This is a great test for our mental and physical bodies. Before the end of the exam, it can be said that everyone's physical strength will reach a critical point of exhaustion, but we have to face this problem that we can not escape."
"Then..."
"If I am in charge of this exam..."
"I will put the scroll in a place that is not easy to find but also easy to find if you just look carefully!"
"For example, put it near a certain entrance so that after the team rushes in first, they may miss this scroll."
"Another example is the birds nest on a tree. If you don't look carefully, you won't find it, but it is not completely impossible to find it."
"So..."
"I think the Scroll of Heaven must be hidden in a place we might neglect the most. They won't do any camouflage on the outside, and they won't put the fake Scroll of Heaven to mislead us."
"After all..."
"Finding the Scroll of Heaven is the assessment point for this Chunin Exam, so they will definitely not do any misleading points. The purpose of the assessment is to let us find the Scroll of Heaven!"
Aoba analyzed the possibilities of the theories he thought of and told them all to Saki and Rin with great interest. Of course, the ninja also brought them here.
"Aoba, I understand what you mean. You think more thoroughly than I do. If you say it like this, I think the possibility of placing the Scroll of Heaven at the entrance is higher. This is cognitive inertia. Many people will not think that the Scroll of Heaven we need to find in the venue may be right before us when we just entered the venue." Saki nodded and analyzed. She was a very smart person, to begin with. After all, she was also a member of the Nara clan. It was just that her overall thinking ability was not that strong. If one person helped her sort it out, then she could fully display her intelligence in this framework.
"That..."
At this time, the ninja who brought them over could no longer listen. Now, he felt that if these two people continued to speculate, they would almost guess it.
This feeling was too complicated.
It was like a carefully designed play.
But it hadn't started yet.
It was going to be guessed.
This ninja would rather quickly send Aoba and the others to the venue and let them slowly guess inside. It would be best if he didn't see them. He also wouldn't be annoyed if he didn't hear them. Otherwise, the feeling of defeat was too strong.
"No hurry."
Aoba immediately shook his head. He looked at the ninja and said, "Let's think about the specific things more clearly first. This way, we can enter the second round more efficiently after we enter."
"Yes, I also think it is better to think clearly here. If we enter, we will be in a relatively cautious environment." Saki nodded.
"That's right, we all signed a consent form. If we go in like this, we might face many fatal dangers." Rin also nodded.
"That... I mean... the time for the second round has arrived. Why don't you enter the venue and discuss it?" The ninja said with black lines all over his face. He really did not want to listen anymore. The feeling of defeat was too strong.
"If we go in a few minutes later, will there be any impact?" Aoba asked the ninja. Even he could not explain why he wanted to analyze these things in front of this ninja. He wanted to let this ninja listen and see his reaction. It could be said that his black belly side gradually appeared.
"No... there is no problem... It might make you lag behind the other teams?" The ninja said helplessly. They really did have a rule that the participants could enter the venue two hours later. They could think of things outside the venue, and if they changed their minds in the end, they could choose to withdraw. However, he did not want to continue accompanying Aoba and the others here.
"Then let us quietly think about it here. We will naturally enter when we have thought it through. After all, we will be safer with you." Aoba said with a smile. He had asked a question that he already knew. After reading this ninja's memories, he already knew many details about the second round. For example, they could stand outside and wait for a while. There was no need to be in such a hurry.
"Okay... okay..." This ninja had a helpless expression on his face. He did not know why he had encountered a team like Aoba. If it was any other team, they would have already entered the venue. How could they think so much before the examination?
"Big brother, do you think what I said makes sense?" Aoba asked with a smile on his face.
"This... I can't say..." The black lines on the ninja's face became even thicker. He felt helpless. Wasn't asking this kind of thing the same as asking him about the scroll?
This was a trick...
He could still tell it.
However.
After he said this, his curiosity was aroused.
So his eyes fell on Aoba, staring at him.
"I can't tell you the scroll's location, but I'm curious. I want to know where you think the scroll might be?"
The ninja stared at Aoba with deep meaning. He was quite curious in his heart. Aoba had said so much just now. Was it useful? Was it ineffective? Or could it help the team pass the second round?
As the ninja asked this question.
Saki and Rin's eyes were once again focused on Aoba. They also wanted to know what kind of judgment Aoba would make and whether this judgment would have a substantial effect.
If it was before the Chunin Exams started.
These two people must let Aoba enter the venue first.
However.
It was different now.
Aoba used his ability that stuns his teammates in the first round and completely gained the right to speak to these two teammates.
"Alright!"
Aoba nodded. He turned around and looked into the venue. He looked at the trees one by one, his eyes shining brightly.
"If I am in charge of hiding the scrolls, then two to three of the five scrolls should be easier for the team to find. They should be placed somewhere in the forest."
"The remaining one or two are not so easy to find. I won't hide them and just place them near the entrance."
"Let's take second examples!"
"If two scrolls will be placed near the entrance, then choosing the entrance is also very important. Not every entrance has value."
"So I think..."
"The most likely entrance to place the scroll is the No. 1 entrance in front of the Forest of Death and No. 19 entrance on the back."
"Big brother..."
"Am I right?"
Aoba immediately looked at the ninja. After his analysis, the ninja's face had completely changed.
It was not because he was wrong.
On the contrary.
He was right.
If he didn't know that Aoba was a participant...
He probably thought that Aoba had seen his mission report.
Five Scroll of Heaven.
Two were placed at the entrance.
Three were placed in the forest.
The Scroll of Heaven in the forest could be said to be very easy to find!
One of them hung on a branch with a rope.
One of them was placed on a rock by the river.
The other was at the side of a small mountain.
These three places were visible.
Moreover, they were all on the surface.
As long as there was a team passing by there, if the ninjas in that team were not blind, they would be able to see these scrolls and would not miss them so easily.
These three were the scrolls they wanted to let the teams who participated in the second round obtain.
As for the other two.
One was on a tree at the main entrance.
The other was on a tree at the back entrance.
The purpose of this was to increase the difficulty of obtaining the scroll. After all, this required a certain degree of detail and some luck from the heavens.
After all...
Whether anyone chooses these two entrances and whether those who choose could notice were all big questions.
The arrangement of this thing.
It was exactly the same as what Aoba had guessed.
Now, the look in the ninja's eyes when he looked at Aoba had gradually changed. This was not as simple as luck and details.
This youth.
He had yet to enter the venue.
He was about to guess the location.
This kind of reasoning ability was a bit too much.
No wonder...
These three people could break the first-round record with a full score of 30 points!
Now, this ninja believed that Aoba and the other two did not rely on luck, but on strength.
"I can't tell you."
After hearing Aoba's question, the ninja hesitated for a moment. However, he did not dare to tell Aoba the real location of the scroll. This was wrong.
"It's fine."
Aoba shook his head with a smile. He knew that this person would not say anything. He did not intend to ask this person for an answer. Now, the answer was in his mind. He just wanted to say it like this.
"You don't need to answer me. I'm just making a simple guess. I think the No. 19 entrance is where the scroll is hidden. And I think it is very likely to be on a tree." Aoba said slowly.
"Why is it on a tree?" Saki asked in confusion. She agreed with what Aoba had said before. Only this tree made her feel that there was no basis for it.
"If it were placed on the ground, it would be too conspicuous, and if it were buried, it would be impossible to find. Since that was the case, the most likely place would be above." Aoba raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the sky.
"En..." After hearing Aoba's explanation, Saki immediately felt it made a lot of sense. After that, she looked at the surrounding trees. The trees here were very primitive and tall. The branches were very robust. After that, she said, "It shouldn't be on any part of the trees. That way, we can easily notice it. Since it would be hidden in a tree here, I think it should be on a bird's nest, right?"
As Saki said this, the ninja's expression immediately changed.
However, it only lasted for a moment before he immediately recovered. He did not attract the attention of Aoba and the others.
However.
In his heart, he began to faintly feel that this Scroll of Heaven might become the possession of this team.
This way.
This team might easily advance to the third round!
This ninja was very clear in his heart that the second round was a war of attrition, and the more difficult thing was to sharpen the psychology of himself and his teammates. If they could get the Scroll of Heaven immediately after entering the venue, then the effect was quite different.
"I agree with your judgment!"
Aoba's voice broke the ninja's thoughts. With this sentence, his gaze turned toward Aoba again. He was no longer in a hurry to let these three people enter the venue. He wanted to know what else these three people could say to shock him.
"That's how I judge earlier!"
Aoba nodded at Saki and Rin. He raised his head and looked at the trees in the venue with a serious expression.
"I think the Scroll of Heaven is in a nearby bird nest!"
"After we enter the venue later."
"The first thing we have to do is to find the Scroll of Heaven on the trees around us!"
"Once we find the scroll..."
"We won't do anything else!"
"Go straight to the tower and try to reach the tower first. Then we will be the first to finish this round!"
Aoba said seriously.
As long as they got the scroll.
They wouldn't care about anything.
They just needed to go straight to the tower.
This way, Saki and Rin would get a spot for the next round.
"Sure!"
Saki nodded. She also felt that this method was the safest unless she could not find the scroll. However, after hearing Aoba's analysis, she really felt that the scroll was nearby.
"Then let's enter the venue. As long as we reach the tower as fast as possible, I will have something to eat. This is also a good way." Rin nodded repeatedly. She was still worried about how to live here for the next five days, but now this worry instantly faded a lot.
"Let's go."
Aoba nodded. He had finished what he had to say. So he was the first person to step into the Thirty-Eighth Training Ground among the three people.
"Good!"
Saki and Rin said almost at the same time. After Aoba entered, the two of them walked into the venue together.
When the three entered the venue.
The ninja looked at the three of them and could not help but secretly heave a sigh of relief. At the same time, he was extremely shocked.
"This is an elite, right?"
After the ninja locked the 19th entrance, he stood guard. He had a mission here: not to let anyone enter from here and disturb Chunin Exams, and also could not let anyone go out.
As for whether Aoba and the others would be able to get the Scroll of Heaven in the end.
He was just curious.
It was impossible to see it outside.
However.
He felt that this was basically the case.
If these three people did not get the Scroll of Heaven, no one could get it in the entire training ground. After all, this exam delineated the goal for everyone, which was the tower in the center.
...
After Aoba and the other two entered the Forest of Death, they did not move forward quickly, nor did they do anything else.
"Aoba, let's split up and search. This is the most efficient way. However, I am worried that you will encounter some problems, so do you have any way for us to contact each other?" Saki asked Aoba. She felt this was impossible, but she was still willing to believe Aoba and ask if such a possibility existed.
"There's no other way." Aoba shook his head and said, "I can only give you a timing seal tag. The three of us will come over and meet when the time comes. Right now, we should try our best not to be too far away. Otherwise, if we encounter danger, it will be easy for us not to be able to take care of each other." Of course, Aoba had the means to notify them, but he could not say it here. He had already revealed some of his logical thinking ability just now. However, this was not a problem, but if some of his specific strength was exposed too much, things might become troublesome.
"The timing seal tag is also fine." Saki nodded. It was better than nothing.
"Here."
Aoba immediately reached into the ninja pouch and took out two pieces of paper with a very complicated and special sealing pattern.
"This is a timing seal tag. If you inject chakra into it, it will burn itself after 30 minutes. This way, when we are fully focused on searching, we can not forget the time." Aoba said.
"Very good!"
Saki nodded repeatedly. She took the timing seal tag from Aoba's hand and handed the other to Rin.
"Aoba, Rin, let's look around this area. No matter if we find the Scroll of Heaven in 30 minutes, we must gather at the No. 19 entrance and then discuss the follow-up plan." Saki arranged.
"Yes."
Aoba and Rin answered together. Both of them felt that there was nothing wrong with Saki's order.
"Then let's start now."
Saki nodded. She pointed in the direction of the tall tower and said, "I will look in the front. Aoba, you go to the left. Rin, you go to the right."
"Okay!" x2
Aoba and Rin responded once again. This arrangement could be said to be exactly what Aoba wanted. This was because, according to the ninja memories he read, the Scroll of Heaven was in the right direction, which was also where Rin would go.
As a result.
As long as there was no accident.
The Scroll of Heaven would fall into Rin's hands.
This wasn't something he had personally discovered. It could make the two girls feel like they were participating and make him seem like he wasn't that simple. It could be said that this was the method he wanted the most.
Instantly.
The three of them immediately spread out.
Aoba jumped up and landed on a tree branch; his speed was extremely fast.
"This game is quite interesting."
A very strange feeling arose in Aoba's heart. It was as if he had come here not to participate in Chunin Exams but to enter an amusement park and conduct a simulation game.
However...
In the mind of the two girls, Saki and Rin, they felt they should protect him, but they did not know he was protecting them.
The two tags that Aoba had given Saki and Rin just now could not only be used to measure time, but they also recorded the positions of the two people and the Flying Thunder God Formula on the back, which could be said to be very well-prepared.
Swish swish swish...
Aoba quickly shuttled through the woods; he did not even search for it because he knew where the Scroll of Heaven was.
Right now, he had to try his best to distance himself from Saki and Rin.
About ten minutes later.
Aoba slowly stopped on the branch of a tree.
Suddenly.
Aoba quickly formed seals with both hands. The hand seal he was using was Kage Bunshin no Jutsu(Shadow Clone Technique).
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu(Shadow Clone Technique)!"
Aoba's voice slowly resounded, and along with the movement of chakra, a person who looked exactly like him appeared in front of Aoba.
This person was his shadow clone.
"Change a bit; you know what to do. You don't need me to say anything." Aoba indifferently said to this shadow clone. The shadow clone was a part of his body's chakra and possessed his memories and consciousness. What he wanted to do, the shadow clone could be said to know everything.
"Understood!"
Aoba's shadow clone immediately said. After that, his body quickly changed.
The shadow clone changed into the identity that he had used many times in the past. It was Satsuma Rentaro, who came from Kirigakure.
Not only did his clothes change into the appearance of a Kirigakure ninja, but there was also the Kirigakure forehead protector on his head. It could be said that his disguise was extremely real.
"I'll leave this to you."
The corners of Aoba's mouth slightly curled up. As long as he placed a clone in the venue, then this clone could cause trouble for him. This kind of thing did not need him to come out personally.
"Yes!"
The clone, who had already transformed into Satsuma Rentaro, immediately responded. After that, he disappeared.
Immediately after.
Aoba turned around and headed to the No. 19 entrance's direction.
For the next period of time, he would be with Saki and Rin, completely inseparable. He would then cover the venue with his perception ability. This was like opening a map hack to know everyone's location.
As a result, they would easily finish this round without encountering any opponents.
Of course, Aoba did not intend to let go of the people in the venue so easily, so he left a clone.
At least.
Those three Iwagakure ninjas.
Aoba still wanted to go and take a look. He wanted to know what Iwagakure's specific plan was. He endured for a long time without patting the heads of the three people, waiting for the moment they entered the second round.
As time passed.
Half an hour passed quickly.
When Aoba returned to the No. 19 entrance, she saw Saki and Rin waiting there. There was also the ninja who led them here, standing outside the iron gate.
"Aoba, have you found it?"
Saki immediately asked Aoba. Her face was full of expectation. She blinked her big eyes at Aoba as if she wanted to hear some good news.
"Yes, Aoba, have you found it?"
Rin smiled from the bottom of her heart. It could be said that she could not even close her mouth. This situation had already surpassed her acting skills and exposed herself.
"I... I... I..."
Of course, Aoba knew that these two people were acting. He knew the Scroll of Heaven's location. Rin could find it in less than ten minutes, according to the location where she went, let alone half an hour. It was not difficult at all.
If he knew Rin had definitely obtained the scroll based on her happy expression.
However...
Aoba was the real best actor in Ninja World.
A matter like acting.
He had never been afraid.
"I didn't find it!"
Aoba spread his hands helplessly and sighed. After that, he asked the two of them, "What about you?"
"If we find it, why are we asking you? Aoba, it seems that you have guessed wrong. There is no scroll here, and we have been delayed for so long. We are still here at the entrance!" Saki said with a pout, with a hint of complaint in her tone.
As soon as this was said.
The ninja standing outside the entrance and watching the two being happy earlier was dumbfounded!
Sure enough!
Women all know how to lie!
These two girls were so happy when they obtained the Scroll of Heaven!
But when Aoba comes back...
The two immediately hid the Scroll of Heaven and then joked with Aoba!
Although he knew this was how these two girls shared their joy with their teammates, he still sighed in his heart. It was easy for this woman to lie without even blinking her eyelids.
"Sigh... Maybe I guessed wrong!"
Aoba sighed and put on a very bitter expression. After that, he said comfortingly, "Saki, Rin, it doesn't matter. We can still find the Scroll of Heaven. We can definitely do it!"
"Hahahaha..."
Saki could not hold it in any longer. She immediately covered her stomach and laughed. She then pointed at a scroll on Rin's body and said with a smile, "Aoba, what do you think this is?"
"What?" Aoba was obviously stunned for a moment as if he had not recovered from what had just happened.
Rin directly took out a scroll with the word "heaven" written on it and shook it in front of Aoba. The smile on her face became even more brilliant, and the corners of her mouth almost reached her ears.
"Aoba!"
"You're absolutely right!"
"Just as I reached the tree over there, I saw a bird's nest!"
"I went over to take a look..."
"I didn't expect to find it so quickly!"
"I didn't even need to search a second tree."
"Hit with just one shot!"
Rin said excitedly. She couldn't pretend anymore and couldn't wait to share this great good thing with Aoba.
"So accurate?!"
Aoba widened his eyes with surprise flashing in his eyes. Of course, he was still showing off his acting skills, but the two girls didn't know that he was acting...