Hoshi glanced at her friends - that meant that at least one of the three genin could pass by just taking one of their partners' bracelets and trying to find the tower before anyone else. And judging by the way the other Genin began to look at each other - some cheerfully, some incredulously - they all had similar thoughts.
Only there was a trap for those who decided to take the easy way out - two of the three had to give up their promotion in favor of one and make it to the tower as a team. Any other options, such as force selection or hunting alone, would simply cause the team to fall apart from the start and fall prey to the others.
Hoshi had a sneaky thought of getting rid of Surizawa and guaranteeing herself a pass, but she quickly suppressed it, reminding herself that Team Seventeen was one of the strongest teams in the challenge, and that three-quarters of their opponents wouldn't be able to put up much resistance if they stuck to their plans.
Ryo-sensei would definitely not appreciate such an approach, as he spent quite a bit of time on teamwork in his training.
- We'll hunt down one of the weaker teams and then go straight to the tower," Hoshi quietly suggested the plan of action to her partners.
The girls had learned where it was a long time ago, as well as the most dangerous places in the Forest of Death, so they were going to use it to their advantage.
- Good idea," Surizawa nodded, almost visibly relaxing.
Apparently, she was still assuming that she might be sacrificed for the sake of getting into the third stage of the exams.
Hoshi only hummed at that and ordered:
- Let's go get the bracelets.
The girls signed the slipped papers and followed the chunin who took them to the gate. From this position it was impossible to see the neighbors - the distance between the gates was a little less than six or seven hundred meters - but Hoshi noticed all the teams, which were separated in different directions, and by logic, the first ones should be the farthest away, reducing the chance of getting a worthy opponent next to them.
The chunin standing nearby raised his hand, keeping track of the time and after a couple minutes, swung the gate open in one motion.
- Time!
The tense kunoichi launched herself from her seat and just a couple seconds later disappeared into the green exuberance of the forest.
The hunt is on!
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