(Time Asuma POV)
On the other side, Team Asuma was the first to go out, entering the deep forest while Ino frowned. -Our target is Team 5. I saw it before the Tags were hidden, Team 5 is Iwa's team.
-Iwa?- Choji paused for a moment. -So they're strong?
-It's another one of the five major villages, so it probably is.- Sakura said.
-So what should we do?- Choji asked.
-... - Ino was silent for a moment, thoughtful, before stop running. - We need to set up an ambush, he's Team 5, so they still have a little over 15 minutes before they leave, once they're in the forest, it will be even harder to chase them.
-But how will we know which side of the forest they're going to?- Sakura sighed. -Besides, three other teams will leave before them. If we get too close and another team targets us, we could be attacked and lose the ambush effect.
Ino smiled as she spoke. -Sakura, you're not the only one who's progressed, I'm a chakra sensor now!
Sakura was surprised, while Choji laughed, patting his belly and giving Ino a thumbs-up.
-In that case, it will be much easier to find our opponents.- Sakura perked up, pleased for Ino. -Ino, we're going to depend on you.
-Well, actually I'm not very good at it yet, but it's better than nothing, isn't it? Hahahaha- Ino scratched her head, laughing shyly.
Sakura's lips trembled, but she soon sighed. -There's no way around it, we need to take the risk.- Sakura narrowed her eyes, but in the end she didn't disagree, neither she nor Choji were particularly good at tracking, it was better to rely on Ino at this point, she just hoped it would work out.
-Well, if Team Kurenai and Gai aren't targeting us, they probably won't attack us.- Choji shrugged. -Then the problem is Oto's team, but judging by their appearance, they just formed, they're probably not very strong.
Ino and Sakura exchanged glances and seemed thoughtful before nodding.
-They're from Iwa, so they're probably good at Earth Style, but with Choji as a wrecking ball, Earth Style won't be very useful.- Ino said.
-Ino, don't underestimate me, I've improved a lot!- Sakura huffed, annoyed. Ino still didn't know her full strength, but Sakura had faith in how powerful her punches were.
Ino smiled, not caring much. -Alright, I'm counting on you to distract the enemy so I can use my mind transfer jutsu, but I'll only have one chance. If I miss, you have to protect my body!
//-//
(Kurenai's POV)
Team Kurenai was the second to leave, as soon as they departed, Hinata opened her Byakugan, looking east. -Ino, Sakura and Choji isn't far away, they're probably waiting for their targets to appear.
-They're not our targets, so ignore them for now.- Kiba said, running forward on all fours with Akamaru beside him, but his mood wasn't very good. -We have bigger problems now.
-Alright, our target is Team Gai. With their strength, the battle will be very difficult.- Shino agreed. -That's because we know our strengths, except for Tenten. Dealing with Neji and Lee is very difficult.
Hinata also seemed worried, remembering the last Chunin Exam. -Should we try to get three more Tags?
-It makes no difference.- Shino shook his head. -Most teams are strong and taking another 3 Tags could attract even stronger enemies.
-So what do we do? Attack our own?- Kiba asked, annoyed.
Shino didn't answer, the trio seemed lost as they ran.
//-//
(Time Gai's POV)
The trio ran through the trees, Neji having already activated his Byakugan. - Let's go a little further before waiting for Team 9 to leave.
-Which team is 9 again?- Lee asked, confused, making Neji and Tenten sigh.
-Team 9 is one of the teams from Suna, the one with a strong-looking man and two girls.- Tenten explained.
Lee scratched his head, trying to remember, but his memory could barely recall some of the participants. He gave up after a few seconds, anyway, Neji was there, he would know where to go.
//-//
(POV Time Dosu)
-Kenta, Nanami, let's stop.- Ryuta said after they had been running for a while.
-What is it, Ryuta?- Nanami asked.
-Let's stop here and wait for the thirteenth team to come out. I can hear them from afar and follow them.- Ryuta explained.
Nanami and Kenta exchanged glances and agreed, stopping and hiding among the trees. -It'll still take them a while to come out.- Nanami sighed lightly.
-Yes.- Ryuta nodded.
-Which team is 13?- Kenta asked, he hadn't paid attention to it.
The trio exchanged glances, Nanami wasn't much better off and Ryuta's vision was blocked. In the end, none of them knew who Team 13 was.
An awkward silence enveloped the group.
//-//
(Kitsuchi's POV)
-Hey, Akatsuchi, do you know who Team 8 is?- Kurotsuchi asked.
-Actually, no, I wasn't paying attention.- Akatsuchi scratched his head, embarrassed.
Kurotsuchi clicked her tongue in irritation, but beside her, the Jonin sent by her grandfather spoke. - Kurotsuchi-sama, Team 8 is Taki's team.
-Taki? That small village? It looks like passing this exam will be easy!- Kurotsuchi exclaimed excitedly.
//-//
(General POV)
But while Team 5 was talking, ready to ambush Taki's group, not far away an eagle was following them from above, observing them clearly.
On the ground, Sakura led the way while Choji carried Ino on his back. The trio advanced slowly along the Pathway the Iwa team had taken, going much slower to avoid being noticed.
-Ino is really clever, having come up with the idea of possess an eagle so we can track our opponents.- Choji said happily.
Sakura snorted slightly, unimpressed. After realizing that Ino's chakra senses were lacking in finding her specific target, Ino had the idea to use a bird to do the job. With an eagle's excellent vision, they quickly located their targets.
Sakura wished she could have done more to help, but the fact was that Ino became the most useful at that point, even though the woman's body was left unprotected, so Sakura still kept a constant watch, afraid that something might go wrong with her friend.
They remained like that, following the eagle from a distance until Ino returned to her own body, she jumped off Choji's back and spoke. - They stopped, one of them separated, the woman and the big guy seem to be waiting for something.
-Did one of them leave? Do you think they noticed us?- Sakura asked quickly.
-I'm not sure...- Ino sighed, but just as she was about to speak, two arms emerged from the ground, grabbing her legs. With a sharp cry of despair, Ino was pulled down, leaving only her head above the ground.
-Ino! - Choji was startled and ran to help.
Sakura's eyes widened and she thought quickly, raising a fist and waving it against the ground. - Shannaro!
Before anyone could comprehend what had happened, the ground suddenly opened up, throwing Choji and Ino far away, while the Jonin from Iwa jumped out of the hole, looking at Sakura with narrowed eyes.
Not far away, a pair appeared among the trees. - So there really were some little mice behind us, a Konoha team. - Kurotsuchi laughed excitedly, ready for battle.
-Kurotsuchi, they are not our targets.- Akatsuchi sighed and spoke.
-So what? Isn't it even better to reduce the number of teams now?- Kurotsuchi just wanted to fight on that point.
Choji helped Ino to her feet. The girl looked at Sakura with a mixture of irritation and relief, she thought she was going to die when Sakura destroyed the earth.
-Looks like you weren't lying, Broad-Forehead.- Ino sighed and got into a battle stance, with Choji stepping in front of her.
-Pig-Ino, I told you, I'm much stronger now.- Sakura smiled, adjusting the gloves on her hands.
-Let's go! Just as planned!- Choji shouted, lunging forward with his hand growing larger as he landed a punch on the Jonin from Iwa. -Partial Expansion Jutsu!
Sakura smiled and ran towards the other two. Ino took some shurikens out of her pocket and began to provide support from a distance, looking for an opportunity to use her mind transfer jutsu.
The two sides went straight into battle.