The ability to feel various emotions is something that characterizes the human being, Toru was aware of it, so what is this? What is this strange emotion that arose in the depths of his heart.
(It is strange...)
Toru didn't quite know what that feeling was, after all he had never experienced something like that.
"Toru-kun, they have the sky scroll!" said Hinata, making Toru snap out of his thoughts.
"I see, so we were able to get it a day before the exam came to an end."
Pushing her thoughts aside, Toru took the sky scroll and looked at it for a few seconds.
(So it's real. Now all that's left is to get to the tower without being found) Toru thought as he put the scroll away in the hidden pockets of his clothes.
('See, Toru?' Why did I say that?!)
Meanwhile, a few meters away from where Hinata and Toru were standing, was Ino, who was currently having a small mental argument with herself.
(Ha~ it looks like we already have the scroll we were missing. Still... Why did you have to stare at me like that?!)
That's right. A few minutes ago, when Ino was celebrating her victory, she took the trouble to give her best smile to Toru, but what Ino didn't expect was that boy's reaction.
Somehow, the expression on Toru's face softened and that made Ino feel embarrassed, but she also felt strangely happy.
(Ah! Why do I feel so strange?!)
Ino scratched her head as she searched for an answer to her questions, in the end she found nothing.
(Wait. I mustn't let this distract me. Surely that fool did it on purpose. Yes... That must be it, there's no way Toru could feel anything when he sees me. Although... I'm beautiful, it'd be weird if Toru doesn't feel anything for me. Ahh! What am I thinking?!)
After a few seconds of strange thoughts, Ino joined the conversation between Hinata and Toru.
"Now that we have the two scrolls, we'll head to the tower. We must be careful, as we might be ambushed, if that happens, we might have to fight again" Toru crossed her arms while looking at the team they defeated a few minutes ago.
"I will use my byakugan so we can avoid the other teams" Hinata said.
If the hard part was getting the scroll, getting to the tower is at a much higher level. Ino noticed that when she heard Toru, so she approached and said:
"The Tower is far away, it will take us quite a while to get there if we go running. Eventually we'll run out of chakra and be forced to stop to rest, that's not counting the night. Besides, if we are close to the tower, there will be other teams that will also be close by."
"Indeed, that's why Hinata's eyes will be of use to us. Still, Hinata can't have the byakugan activated all the time, that's why we'll use the same method we use to stand guard at night" Toru said with an emotionless tone of voice.
"Sounds good to me" Hinata turned her gaze to Toru and spoke.
"Ha~ then we'll have to run again..."
Ino dropped her arms over her shoulders as she let out a long sigh. She wasn't the fastest on the team, so this could become a problem.
"When you can't run, I'll carry you in my arms."
Toru opened his arms and looked at Ino with an expressionless face. Ino felt embarrassed by what Toru said, and it showed on her face, which turned bright red.
"I don't need you to carry me, I'm not a child anymore!"
-Hours later-
Jumping between tree branches, like shadows appearing and disappearing in the darkness of the night, Team 11 was moving at a great speed.
"Toru-kun, there's a team fifty meters away, they're on our right."
The girl's eyes slightly reflected the moonlight as she looked at Toru.
"Okay, we have to move further away" Toru replied with a monotone tone of voice.
Again and again, with near perfect coordination, Hinata, Ino and Toru jumped between the branches of the trees. They were getting closer and closer to their destination, there were only a few more hours left, just a few hours and they would be able to finish with this exam.
(I think it's three hours to sunrise. If we continue this way, we will arrive at the tower at 9 a.m.)
For a few seconds, Toru looked at Ino, who was behind everyone. She looked tired, her breathing was heavy and a few beads of sweat were trickling down her forehead.
(I can still go on for a few more minutes, I think the same about Hinata. But Ino is a different story, she has a lower stamina than us, I guess I should help her, otherwise this will only slow us down and some team will be able to focus us).
Pausing for a few seconds, Toru lifted Ino in his arms.
"What are you doing!"
"Don't shout, you'll make them find us!"
"I don't care about that! Let go of me!"
"No, if you pass out, you'll become a burden to the team Are you sure you want to continue?"
"Uh... I... I'm sorry..."
Ino was very tired. They have been running non-stop for more than three hours, without resting because of the teams that were nearby. Staying to rest in a place full of enemies was a stupid thing to do, that's why they hadn't been able to take a break from everything they've had to go through.
(Hm... this will allow us to continue advancing for a few more minutes).
Toru let out a sigh as he walked back to the front next to Hinata.
"No equipment nearby?"
"Apparently not, I think we'll be able to rest before long."
"Good. As for Ino, it looks like she beat us to it, she fell asleep."
Toru looked down at the girl in his arms. For a few seconds he could hear her small breathing near his neck. The girl's eyelashes were long, her skin porcelain white and her hair soft and silky.
Just feeling Ino's legs close to his hand made Toru a little curious. What mysteries did a woman's body hold? That question popped into his head, but quickly vanished into thin air like a puff of smoke as he saw Hinata staring at him.
"She looks tired" Hinata said.
"It's obvious, Ino's stamina is less than ours."
"You're right. After all we were trained since we were five years old" Hinata said with a slight smile on her face.
Strangely enough, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Some fireflies turned on their lights and started to illuminate the place.
(How cute...)
Looking around, Hinata appreciated the lights turning on and off in similar patterns. At the same time, some crickets began to emit their typical sound, adding to this light show, the melody of nature.
(I always wondered... How is it that Toru-kun can be so strong? Five years ago, when the Asahi clan was killed, Toru-kun was left alone, he was saved only because he was with me, but... even though his whole family was dead, he still kept the same expression on his face. His attitude didn't change, however, he walked away from me.... he never spoke to me again)
The expression on Hinata's face became nostalgic.
*Cri... cri... cri...
The melody of nature continued to dream.
(But now... he's right next to me. He hasn't changed at all, or so I thought when we were chosen to form team 11. I think it was that day... on the research mission. Toru killed a person, he changed after that.)
*Cri... cri... cri...*
The crickets continued to chirp, while the fireflies continued their light show.
(He's strong, he's different from me. We're two people from different worlds...)
Hinata's hair moved to the rhythm of the light night breeze. For a few seconds she looked straight ahead as her face turned a deep red.
(Still... I... want to be-)
But while Hinata was deep in thought, Toru's voice was heard.
"Hinata, we'll rest here."
"Huh?"
Hinata looked confused, she wasn't paying attention to what Toru was saying.
"Looks like you're tired too, you can sleep next to Ino. I'll keep watch, so no team can attack us while you're sleeping."
Toru looked at Hinata, the expression on her face showed no emotion, so it was hard to tell what she was thinking.
Still, Hinata's face was very red. Toru thought the girl was just tired, but the reason Hinata is like this is because of something very different.
"It's okay..." Hinata said with a low tone of voice.
After that, the white-eyed girl laid down beside her teammate.
She looked at Ino for a few seconds before a small smile formed on her mouth.
(I can think about those things later, for now, I'll have to do my best to be able to pass this exam).
Hinata looked at Toru before closing her eyes.
At the same time, on that tree branch, was Toru, who was so married that his whole body felt as heavy as that giant rock he uses to train.
(I should eat a little, some water will also do. I should make sure to leave plenty of food and water for Hinata and Ino. Ha~ I feel like they eat too much)
He was tired, it was the most obvious thing. But eating some sweet berries and mushrooms made his chakra slowly return to his body. Water was also a major factor in chakra recovery.
Ninjas tend to eat large amounts of food, since in their work as shinobi they consume large amounts of chakra, more than any average person.
(The image from that day, I'm still trying to find meaning in it. That's four images that pop into my mind already. The boy with the book, the man in glasses and lab coat, the endless sea of blood, and the same man in glasses and lab coat, but with a blue sun in front of him).
Popping a sweet berry into his mouth, Toru squinted his eyes and continued to think.
(I think three of those images have some relationship. First, the boy has a face very similar to that of the man in the robe. So I can tell that image was a childhood memory of that man. But, the image that I can't find any relation to is the image of that place full of blood. Somehow, that image just gives me a feeling of sadness and pain...)
Toru sighed, lately he had too many things to think about. There wasn't a day when he had his mind free of complicated thoughts.
-Hours later
"Toru-kun, watch out!"
Hinata looked at Toru.
The latter reacted at once and leapt into the air, dodging the shuriken queque thrown with murderous intent.
"Damn it! Why did they have to find us just when we're about to reach the tower" Ino said as she ran for her life.
"I don't know, it's only a few meters away" Toru replied with a neutral tone of voice.
*Cling, clang*
Toru blocked two kunais that were thrown.
"There's a door right in front!"
Using Byakugan, Hinata could see a door. There were only a few meters left, so this was the last effort to end this hell.
"Oahhh!"
Ino increased the speed, she was desperate. It was so close, but the bastards that were following us ruin everything.
"Only fifty meters to go!"
Hinata used the Byakugan again to make sure dr the distance left between the door and them.
At the same time, Toru narrowed his eyes and had an idea.
"So."
"Ah?"
"What are you doing!"
Hinata and Ino were surprised to see Toru carrying the two of them with ease.
"I plan to open the door of with a tackle. If you guys stay behind, you'll be captured."
"That doesn't me- kya!"
Ignoring Ino's complaints, Toru lunged at the door. Using his own back, the gray-eyed boy broke the paper seal along with the door.
(Agh!)
Toru fell to the ground with a loud thud, at the same time cushioning the fall of his teammates.
*blan!*
The door closed causing a loud noise throughout the room.
"It hurts..."
Ino got up from the floor and wiped her clothes. Hinata did the same.
"Seriously, this exam is hell" Ino said.
"We made it in time, I think we did. We passed the second exam" Hinata was relieved, so much had happened in this exam and they still lived to tell the tale.
"It looks like it, but look at this, on the wall."
Toru looked up. On the wall was a large inscription that read.
'If you do not possess heaven, gain knowledge and be prepared'.
'If you do not possess the earth, run through the fields and seek strength.'
'If you open heaven and earth, the dangerous paths will become safe. _____ This is the secret of a Chunin'.
"Heaven, earth, paths..." Ino was trying to understand what the writing said.
"I think it's trying to tell us to open the scrolls..." Hinata said.
"Yes, that's what he's trying to tell us."
Toru looked relaxed, he took the sky scroll and gave the earth scroll to Ino.
Together they will open the scroll at the same time and that's what they did, but it all turned out to be a trap when they saw what was written on the scroll.
"It's a summoning seal!"