The team of seventeen crossed the river at dusk, expecting an immediate attack on each bank, but everything went unexpectedly quiet. After half an hour of travel, the kunoichi visibly relaxed, but did not stop monitoring the situation. The area around the tower was much safer, as the Anbu regularly cleared the area of the most dangerous predators, and the constant guarding played a role - having been hit a few times, the chakra-using critters preferred to stay away.
Of course, there was still the factor of a possible ambush, but that was why the girls made a huge detour and came to the tower from the other side, where they could not be expected. The only thing left to do was to make a careful reconnaissance, which was no problem at all, given the equipment that almost completely concealed the chakra without any effort on the part of the wearer and the darkness that had almost fallen.
Such precaution was not in vain when Asani detected the presence of an intruder not far from the tower entrance. Taking every precaution to get closer, they found Genin Takigakure bandaging his wounds, cursing through clenched teeth. Apparently, his team had picked the wrong victim and had taken a beating for their arrogance.
The kunoichi looked at him and silently decided not to touch the guy - he wasn't going to make it past the second stage anyway, and there was no need for him to get his hands dirty. Quietly moving away from the genin who hadn't noticed anything, the team of seventeen went straight to the entrance of the tower.
The Chunin on guard became alert, and the oldest of them stepped forward.
- Your bracelets," he demanded.
Hoshi noticed the disappearance of one shinobi and hurried to demonstrate the necessary items of the task, and after her her partners took out theirs.
- Well done, you are the third, - he praised them sparingly, accepting the bracelets, - you can rest for the rest of the time, your mentor will guide you.
Poof!
With a quiet pop and a cloud of smoke, the familiar figure of Nara appeared nearby, dressed exactly the same.
- Well done! Even I didn't expect you to be able to complete the second stage before the first day was over," Ryo praised the Genin heartily, "and ahead of most of your competitors, even from Konoha!
The kunoichi straightened up proudly, enjoying both the sincere praise of the sensei and the approving glances of the genin, the former more warming to the soul than the latter.
- Sensei, who arrived before us? - Hoshi asked a question that had escaped her tongue.
- One Genin Takigakure and a full team of Sunagakure," Nara said, signaling for them to follow him and heading for the tower stairs, "but that's later, you should rest now.
- Yes, Sensei
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