Even though the grueling workouts had built up muscle mass over the past few months, there would always be a difference in strength between a short, slender girl and a beefy guy a head and a half taller and almost twice as broad in the shoulders, even with chakra.
The same goes for her ability to repel a piece of metal thrown with all her might - she was able to pull it aside with a twist of her torso, saving her partner, but her arm with the kunai was literally pounded into his chest, only miraculously not breaking the limb.
- Then let's heal quickly and move somewhere else," the iryonin looked around nervously, "or someone else will show up.
- I don't mind," the leader of the squad hummed, taking off her hood and smoothing her hair, "I don't want to have to fight again just because someone else will show up.
After a few minutes of tidying up, team number seventeen left the clearing, safely avoiding the inhabitants of the Forest of Death, who had begun to gather at the smell of blood.
After moving a few kilometers inland, the kunoichi set up a resting place under one of the forest giants - manipulating elemental chakra, Asani had created quite a nice shelter in the ground two by two by two meters, carefully camouflaging a small passage with greenery and grass.
Ryo-sensei's insistence that the first order of business was to hone direct dōton manipulation, rather than learning techniques, once again allowed the trio of kunoichi to not worry about finding a safe haven, but simply create one in any suitable location. A piece of fuin paper on the wall and even good sensors would pass by without sensing anything.
Relaxing in safety and freeing themselves from the annoying equipment, the girls took out supplies and had a substantial snack - it was past lunchtime, and the short but intense fight had taken a lot of energy, mostly nerves, of course.
- Hoshi saluted her teammates with a bottle of water, "It takes a lot of effort to run into a strong team in the beginning, even though the chance was one in five.
- The main thing is that we fought back without losses and the necessary bracelets are already with us, - Surizawa waved away, - then we can just follow to the tower, not distracted by the hunt.
- But not now," Asani muttered and explained to her partners' questioning looks, "the vast majority of the candidates will be tracking other teams to get the bracelets, disturbing the local inhabitants and making a mess of the forest, and they won't start looking for a place to stay until later in the evening, so we should stay here, get some rest, and get on the road in the evening.
- Hoshi rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "If you go straight ahead at top speed, it'll take you about three hours to get to the tower," she said, "if you leave before sunset, you'll be able to get there by nightfall.
- I don't think anyone would choose to move through the Forest of Death at night," Asani nodded, "or sit in ambush at the tower 24 hours a day.
- That's a good idea, the strongest ones can finish the stage by then, and the rest of us will be hiding in the crevices," Surizawa agreed enthusiastically.
Ryo-sensei's survival training had impressed her the most, and the possibility of completing the second stage as quickly and safely as possible, back in the village, would have made the girl agree with anything.
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