The clash between Team Asuma and Team Kitsuchi was just the first, but the number of clashes continued to increase.
But the first ones to get the Tag didn't do it through combat, but through cheating!
Neji, Tenten and Lee were fighting against Team Shira, but it was while Lee and Shira were having a "manly" Taijutsu-on-Taijutsu challenge that Team Kurenai attacked.
From behind the trees, while Neji was distracted, Kiba emerged with Akamaru, each advancing with a Gatsuga towards Neji and Tenten.
The pair's eyes widened in surprise, they hadn't expected an attack from a Konoha team, but considering the exam, it was clear that Team Kurenai was after their Tag!
Neji dodged hastily, clearly being the target, but from the angle he dodged, Hinata, with her Byakugan already activated, advanced.
Hinata might not have been able to defeat Neji alone, but with Kiba and Akamaru's help, it was enough to give Shino time to retrieve Tenten's Tag!
Yes, through the Byakugan, Hinata had already discovered that it was Tenten who possessed the Tag. More precisely, Hinata couldn't find the Tag on any of them, but among the three, Tenten is the only one carrying sealing scrolls, so Shino pointed out that their Tag was probably inside one of the seals.
So, while Lee fought with Shira and Neji was being held back by Hinata and Kiba, Shino advanced towards Tenten.
Tenten was unlucky, Shino was the least afraid of her weapons, his insects far outnumbering the weapons she carried. Furthermore, Shino had set up an ambush. The moment he attacked, Tenten was covered in insects, screaming in fear and trying to break free. Shino grabbed her storage seals before fleeing quickly.
As soon as they realized Shino had succeeded, Kiba, Hinata and Akamaru ran away at high speed.
Neji looked at Lee fighting in the distance and at Tenten with a face full of disgust and fear, and sighed. He wanted to pursue them, but without Lee and with Team Kurenai clearly having time to prepare, following them alone would be very reckless.
If it were Lee, he would already be chasing after them, but Neji knew how to stay calm.
Besides, he no longer hated Hinata and wanted her to pass the exam, so what if he lost his Tag? He only needed to get three more!
Thus, team 2 was the first to reach the goal of 6 points!
Unfortunately, there was nothing like a tower to take refuge in, they needed to hold those 6 points for the remainder of the next 3 days.
But precisely because of that, Neji knew they couldn't wait any longer. He opened his Byakugan and saw that the Tag was with the tall blonde woman. He moved directly towards her, he needed to secure that Tag.
Unfortunately, he could no longer let Lee have fun alone.
//-//
(POV Time Dosu)
Not far away, Team 4 was also pursuing Team 13. A trio of Genin, aged between 16 and 18, were advancing through the forest. They didn't lie in wait, but moved away, knowing their strength wasn't very high.
-Goto-kun, Team 2 is a Konoha team, what do we do?- A woman among them asked, confused.
-Right now we're all opponents, and besides, we don't need to kill them, just get the Tag.- The Genin leader sighed and spoke.
The other Genin narrowed his eyes, looking apprehensive. -But... the target has a Hyuga, an Inuzuka, and an Aburame! How are we going to get close?
They all remained silent as they ran, knowing that passing this exam would be difficult.
But as they were thinking, a soft melody began to be heard through the forest, so soft that at first none of the three noticed it, but as the melody grew louder, the group became increasingly confused.
Not because they had noticed the melody, but because their thoughts were slowing down more and more, it wasn't until the woman suddenly widened her eyes. - Damn it, it's a Genjutsu!
She quickly raised her hands to make the release seal, but it was too late.
Ryuta stepped forward, lifting his long sleeve to reveal a gauntlet with holes, a sonic gauntlet that Dosu used.
Ryuta waved his arm, attacking all three at once. The next moment, the trio screamed in pain, falling and writhing on the ground.
Nanami and Kenta jumped up at that moment, running towards them ready for combat.
The battle didn't last long, hampered by Ryuta's sound-based jutsu, the trio became extremely vulnerable.
-I found it!- Nanami shouted, holding a black tag with the number 13 in her hand, she had found it on the Genin leader of Konoha.
-Good job, Nanami!- Kenta smiled at her, relieved.
-Silence!- Ryuta shouted at them. -I hear people approaching, let's get out of here quickly!
Saying this, he was the first to run away.
The pair looked at each other, waved to one another, and ran after Ryuta.
Not long after they left, another trio arrived, Kumo's team. Their target was precisely Team 4, if they had stayed a little longer, they would have been caught.
-They ran fast.- Samui sighed, looking at the group of Konoha Genin lying unconscious and injured on the ground.
-Come on! We have to catch them quickly!- Karui shouted hurriedly, without caring about the injured genin.
Omoi sighed, sucking on his lollipop, he began to look for tracks while pointing. - This way!
The trio immediately took off running, searching for Dosu's team.
The second exam had just begun, yet small and large battles were taking place everywhere.