Of Loyalty and Morals Chapter 5
-
Chapter 5: Fighting in the Forest of Death.
-
The next day, the Suna teams were escorted over to the entrance of Training Ground 44. Jack groaned when he saw the place that was also called the Forest of Death. “Trees. It just had to be trees.”
“I’m sure that it’s called the Forest of Death for something other than the trees,” Daniel said.
“I don’t know, those trees look like they could kill on their own,” Vala replied.
“Well, it can't be worse than some of the places we’ve been to,” Sam offered.
“All that’s missing are the P-90s,” Cam said, gripping his staff.
“At least we’ll have the radios,” Sam said. She tapped the one in her ear and grinned as they all reacted to the brief moment of static. “I’ve adjusted them so that there is no chance of their interfering with the radios here.”
Jack checked his watch and then glanced at the people who had already started to gather. “We still have some time before the exam starts, so why don't we find a quiet spot to wait?”
“Over there,” Vala said as she pointed at the trees opposite the Forest of Death. “Let’s wander around first and meet up over there.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jack said.
They split up, wandering through the area and doing a bit of reconnaissance as they made their way over to the meeting spot. Vala and Daniel took the longest to meet up at the trees and once there, she and Daniel scrambled up a tree to look around. Having notice that the two other Suna teams were going to a meeting spot, team Baki joined them to see what was going on.
“So, theories,” Jack asked after they were all settled, wanting to hear his teams’ thoughts before giving his own.
“They have scrolls in the tent, my guess would be that we need to deliver them,” Sam answered with her own report.
“Too simple,” Vala said as she dropped out of the tree. “Demon boy says that the scrolls have different colors, I bet they have a twist built into that.”
“There are also several entrances into that training ground. I’m guessing that each team will be given their own entrance into the place.” Jonas reported. “But, man, are there some scary things on the edge of that place.”
“Just think of what goes on deep in there,” Cam said with a whistle.
“So how do you suggest that we get back together once we're in there?” Jack asked.
“Don't worry about us,” Temari said. “We’ll make it through on our own.” She led her team into the crowd of Genin. Gaara glanced back and gave Daniel a shrug.
“We do have the radios and I’ve been working on something like the Ancients Life tracker like Atlantis uses, so we should be able to find one another in there,” Sam said. “We could also use the radios to tell ourselves apart in case any other teams try to impersonate us, as I understand they are likely to do. Even if they try to disguise themselves like us, they won't know about the radio and even if they appear to have a radio, if it’s a genjutsu it won't work like the real radio.”
“Sounds like a plan, but we'd better get a move on, kids,” Jack said, starting to move to join the crowd of Genin when the proctor showed up. They joined the crowns, coming to a halt next to team Baki.
The proctor for the second exam, Mitarashi, explained that all teams would be given a scroll, either a heaven or an earth scroll, and they would have to take the other kind of scroll from another team and proceed to the tower in the center of the Forest of Death. While explaining the rules, the Proctor threw a Kunai at one of the Genin for questioning her and then sent them off to sign liability waivers before receiving their scrolls.
“One other thing, you’re not allowed to open the scroll at all during this test, those who do so will die a very painful death,” the proctor said with a grin.
Of the three Suna teams, Jack’s team went into the tent first and accepted a heaven scroll, something that had Vala snickering as she hid it somewhere on her person. Jack and Daniel didn’t look, but they knew her well enough first not to look as she hid the scroll and second to know that she didn’t have it in any one of the normal places. She was too much of a thief to put it someplace where the regular thieves would look for it - like her weapons pouch - which made her the perfect person to carry it.
Team Tomo left the tent and were led over to one of the entrances into the training ground. On the way, Vala bumped into one of the team members of the silver haired kid who had been in the middle of the fuss at the start of the first exam. Despite the fact that Konoha Genin seemed to be the less violent of the Genin taking the exams, Jack still watched out for retaliation from the group that Vala bumped into. There were groups who would take exception for being bumped into, but Jack also had a pretty good idea of what else Vala did when she bumped into the group and he wondered when they would realize that their scroll was missing.
He leaned in to talk to her as they waited to be let into the training ground. “Really? And is it at least the scroll that we need?”
“No one said that the exam had to start when we entered the training ground and with the way the proctor acted, I have a feeling that they would say that the second exam started the moment we reached the grounds outside of the Forest of Death,” Vala replied. “Besides, what kind of ninja doesn't notice something like that?”
“What are you guys talking about?” Daniel asked, peering over at them. The proctor that escorted them to the gate didn't seem to be paying attention to them at all, but this was probably the time where the teams spent their time planning and he was probably used to that over discussing thievery.
“We’re coming up with our plan, Danny boy,” Jack said. He threw an arm over Daniel’s shoulders and drew him into the conference.
“Akio,” Daniel corrected.
“Whatever,” Jack said. “We’re going to change our plans a bit, first checking out what sort of scroll we have and then either going ahead with our plan or heading straight to the tower.”
“What do you mean? I thought we had a heaven scroll?” Daniel asked. He then caught on to what was going on and gave Vala a look.
“I couldn’t help it, he had it in full sight when he reached into his weapons pouch and it is an earth scroll,” Vala replied.
“So we’re going to be heading straight to the tower after this, where we’ll be setting up base for a while,” Jack said.
“Setting up base? Shouldn’t we be going into the tower and winning?” Vala asked.
“We need to be there in case any of the other teams need our help, and I doubt that they’d let us back into the Forest to help them,” Jack said.
“Whereas they don’t have any rules about helping out teams within the forest during the test,” Vala said with a nod. “You know, if you didn't mind waiting for a bit, you could always wait around the tower and ambush the perfect team to take the scroll that you need. You’d need to pick a team who had a bit of trouble getting a scroll, but not so beaten down that they’re determined to keep the scroll. But, they would be almost guaranteed to have the scroll that you need.”
“The almost is in there because you pick pocketed the scroll off of that one team, isn’t it?” Daniel asked with a sigh.
“You know, they don't have to be the only ones, if we find any other teams that are easy to get, we should get them,” Vala said.
“I doubt that Sam or Cam would really go for that,” Jack said.
“Yeah, they’d want to make their own way, especially after the way that they failed their previous exam,” Daniel said.
“We’ll keep it in mind just in case, though,” Jack said. “As it’s not that bad of a plan.”
“It’s almost time to let you through the gates,” the proctor broke in.
“Get ready to run,” Jack said as they all got into position. “Because we’re off to see the Wizard.”
“Now,” the proctor said as the gates swung open.
Team Tomo darted off into the thick tangle of branches, taking to the trees and heading straight for the tower.
--
Sam, Cam, and Jonas waited until Team Baki went through the tents before they entered to turn in their waiver forums and receive their scrolls. They got an earth scroll and took a minute to figure out who would hold it.
“They’re probably expecting Jonas to have it,” Sam said, “or, barring that, for me to have it, so I think that Cam should hold it.”
“It makes sense that a normal team would either guard the weakest member, who would be holding the scroll, or that they would give the scroll to the strongest fighter to defend it,” Jonas said. “That is why I think that you should hold it, Sam.”
“And if anyone tries to take it from you, they’ll probably end up with an exploding device,” Cam said as he nodded in agreement. He handed the scroll to her.
“Not all of my devices will explode if touched wrong,” Sam said with a huff. But she still hid it away in her pack.
“And, to guard against the possibility of the scroll exploding, we’ll pretend like Jonas has the scroll,” Cam said as he reached into his pack and grabbed a blank scroll before handing it to Jonas
“I’m not very good at genjutsu, but I can do this,” Jonas said as he accepted the scroll from Cam with a smile. He concentrated and the scroll shimmered before turning into a heaven scroll. He then stuffed the scroll back into his pack.
“Why a heaven scroll?” Sam asked as they made their way out of the tent.
“Because it’s another layer of deception,” Jonas said. “If we say that we have a heaven scroll, no one will be expecting an earth scroll. Vala taught me that.”
“She’s gone a bit too far back into her old ways,” Cam said with a sigh. “But, if it means that we actually win this exam, I’m all for it.”
“This isn’t earth, so I suppose that we do have to act differently and I think that Vala’s experience in a variety of worlds really did help us here,” Jonas said. “After all, we’ve all had to adapt to living here and I think that even Teal’c and I found it harder to adjust than Vala did.”
“At least we’re all together,” Sam said. “That’s something at least.”
“There is that,” cam said. “It’s always hard to adjust when you’re all alone in a situation like that.”
“At the very least we all know who we are,” Jonas said with a shrug.
“Oh yes, that was never fun, being cut off from earth and thinking that you were someone else,” Sam said.
“In any case, we should figure out how we want to play this,” Cam said as they finally made it to the gate that they would enter through. He stared at the darkness of the forest of death as he started planning.
“We’re going to have to go after someone with a heaven scroll,” Sam said. “Which means that we need to find a team first.”
“That’s probably one of the biggest obstacles in this exam,” Jonas said.
“But, lucky for us, I have this,” Sam said as she pulled out a device. “The life signs detector I was talking about earlier.”
Cam leaned back a little. “Are you sure it won't explode?”
“Of course it won't explode,” Sam said, frowning at him.
“That’s what you said about the gun the last time and remember what happened with that?” Cam pointed out.
“We would have won if you had just tossed it at the Genin instead of holding onto it,” Sam said.
“Well excuse me for freaking out for the split second it took to explode,” Cam replied.
“Come on, now,” Jonas said, stepping into the middle of the two. “It’s been six months since we failed the Chunin exams and we all know that Sam’s gotten better with the technology in this world. Besides, even if the life signs detector explodes, it probably won’t knock us out.”
“Besides, I think I can calibrate this to pick up the Genin teams instead of any of the animals in there,” Sam said. “So we don't try to ambush three tigers or anything like that.”
“Can you make it so that we’re at least aware of the animals in the area?” Cam asked. “Because I don’t think I want to run into any of the animals that the instructor was talking about.”
“Of course, but the other Genin teams will be in a different color from the animals so we can tell them apart,” Sam said. She fiddled with the device for a second before tilting it to show it to Cam and Jonas. “See?”
“There are a lot of teams,” Jonas said as he looked at the screen. He pointed to the red dots that circled all of the blue dots in the mass of blank space. “You can see each team at each gate and the groups still getting their scrolls.”
“So, should we aim for the closest team and hope that they have the sort of scroll that we need?” Cam asked.
“That might be the best way, or we could even predict where they’re going and set up a trap,” Sam said.
“Do you have any stun guns that won’t explode on us?” Cam asked. He grinned as a plan came to him.
“I have one set that’s based partly on the Zat guns and part on the tasers that should work like they should,” Sam said. “What are you planning?”
“We predict where the team is going to end up, wait for them, and then stun them as soon as they enter our ambush zone. Then we can find their scroll without having to fight them,” Cam said.
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Jonas said.
“So, are we heading after the ones on our left or right?” Sam asked.
“Which way has less animals in it?” Cam asked.
Sam consulted the life signs detector. “To our left.”
“Then we’ll head to the left,” Cam said.
“I’ll figure out the angles,” Sam said, already doing the calculations.
“Then you’ll lead the way,” Cam replied.
“Got it,” Sam said.
“We’re letting you guys loose in a second,” the proctor spoke up. “You can go when the gates open.”
“Get ready,” Cam said as they tensed up.
The second the gates open, they took off, angling into the forest on their left. Sam led the way, keeping a careful eye on her life signs detector to see where the other team was going. They seemed to be taking a route almost straight into the forest, though they also seemed to be meandering to the right.
As they ran through the forest, making their way through the trees and bushes, their radios went off. It was a brief moment of static, the code that was agreed upon in order to keep the radios hidden from everyone.
“Team Toshiro here, over,” Cam said in response.
“We’re heading straight to the tower, over,” Jack replied.
“Why are you heading straight to the tower? Over,” Cam asked.
“Because we’ve already acquired the scroll that we needed, over,” Jack replied.
“How’d you do that?” Cam demanded. “We’ve been watching things and there’s no way that you’d be able to find a team this soon, over.”
“Let’s just say that we stumbled into it,” Jack replied. “I just wish I could see that team’s face when they discover that, over.”
“Only your team,” Cam said as he shook his head. “In any case, we’ve got our plan ready, so we’ll meet you at the tower, over.”
“Watch yourself, we’ve already seen how violent some of these people can be, over,” Cam said.
“Like that whole fuss before the exams started,” Jack said. “We’ll see you there, over and out.”
“Seems like returning to her old ways can be a help sometimes,” Jonas said with a grin.
“Let’s get this finished as fast as we can,” Cam said. “We can't let them beat us too bad.”
“Right,” Sam said with a grin.
Cam put on an extra burst of speed and the others followed suit. Thanks to the life signs detector, they were able to make their way around all of the giant bugs and animals and avoid any fights with them as they made their way to where the one Genin team would show up. In about half an hour they made it to the point of the triangle where they would meet with the Genin team and they started getting ready to ambush them.
Even though they were not ones for trees, each of them still climbed up to the top of a tree to lie in wait for the Genin team. Whether they were traveling on ground or in the trees, Team Toshiro being in teams meant that they had the higher ground for the ambush. They switched over to their private channel to allow for Sam to tell them where the three team members would appear.
It only took just a little over a minute’s wait until the three team members darted into the field. They were running on the ground and the shots lined up perfectly. In unison, Sam, Cam and Jonas shot the three Genin. Electricity shot out of the guns and hit the Genin, who jolted and fell over.
Sam, Cam, and Jonas darted down from the trees and hurried over to their captures. “Be careful, who knows what these guys carry,” Cam said as they frisked them.
“Right,” Sam replied.
“Found it,” Jonas said as he pulled the scroll out of the weapons pouch of one of the Genin. He then replaced it with the genjutsu scroll. He grinned at the others as they started to leave. “The genjutsu won’t last long, but it should hold it long enough for them to check their scrolls. In any case, it won’t really harm anything if they do discover that it’s fake, but it would be amusing if they didn’t notice the genjutsu.”
“You’ve really been spending too much time with Vala,” Cam said with a sigh.
“Let’s go join the others,” Sam said before it could break into a banter session. She put on a burst of speed and the other two joined suit. This time they kept an eye on the life signs detector to be able to avoid every life sign, not wanting to lose either one of their scrolls.
-
Chapter 6
Chapter 5: Fighting in the Forest of Death.
-
The next day, the Suna teams were escorted over to the entrance of Training Ground 44. Jack groaned when he saw the place that was also called the Forest of Death. “Trees. It just had to be trees.”
“I’m sure that it’s called the Forest of Death for something other than the trees,” Daniel said.
“I don’t know, those trees look like they could kill on their own,” Vala replied.
“Well, it can't be worse than some of the places we’ve been to,” Sam offered.
“All that’s missing are the P-90s,” Cam said, gripping his staff.
“At least we’ll have the radios,” Sam said. She tapped the one in her ear and grinned as they all reacted to the brief moment of static. “I’ve adjusted them so that there is no chance of their interfering with the radios here.”
Jack checked his watch and then glanced at the people who had already started to gather. “We still have some time before the exam starts, so why don't we find a quiet spot to wait?”
“Over there,” Vala said as she pointed at the trees opposite the Forest of Death. “Let’s wander around first and meet up over there.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jack said.
They split up, wandering through the area and doing a bit of reconnaissance as they made their way over to the meeting spot. Vala and Daniel took the longest to meet up at the trees and once there, she and Daniel scrambled up a tree to look around. Having notice that the two other Suna teams were going to a meeting spot, team Baki joined them to see what was going on.
“So, theories,” Jack asked after they were all settled, wanting to hear his teams’ thoughts before giving his own.
“They have scrolls in the tent, my guess would be that we need to deliver them,” Sam answered with her own report.
“Too simple,” Vala said as she dropped out of the tree. “Demon boy says that the scrolls have different colors, I bet they have a twist built into that.”
“There are also several entrances into that training ground. I’m guessing that each team will be given their own entrance into the place.” Jonas reported. “But, man, are there some scary things on the edge of that place.”
“Just think of what goes on deep in there,” Cam said with a whistle.
“So how do you suggest that we get back together once we're in there?” Jack asked.
“Don't worry about us,” Temari said. “We’ll make it through on our own.” She led her team into the crowd of Genin. Gaara glanced back and gave Daniel a shrug.
“We do have the radios and I’ve been working on something like the Ancients Life tracker like Atlantis uses, so we should be able to find one another in there,” Sam said. “We could also use the radios to tell ourselves apart in case any other teams try to impersonate us, as I understand they are likely to do. Even if they try to disguise themselves like us, they won't know about the radio and even if they appear to have a radio, if it’s a genjutsu it won't work like the real radio.”
“Sounds like a plan, but we'd better get a move on, kids,” Jack said, starting to move to join the crowd of Genin when the proctor showed up. They joined the crowns, coming to a halt next to team Baki.
The proctor for the second exam, Mitarashi, explained that all teams would be given a scroll, either a heaven or an earth scroll, and they would have to take the other kind of scroll from another team and proceed to the tower in the center of the Forest of Death. While explaining the rules, the Proctor threw a Kunai at one of the Genin for questioning her and then sent them off to sign liability waivers before receiving their scrolls.
“One other thing, you’re not allowed to open the scroll at all during this test, those who do so will die a very painful death,” the proctor said with a grin.
Of the three Suna teams, Jack’s team went into the tent first and accepted a heaven scroll, something that had Vala snickering as she hid it somewhere on her person. Jack and Daniel didn’t look, but they knew her well enough first not to look as she hid the scroll and second to know that she didn’t have it in any one of the normal places. She was too much of a thief to put it someplace where the regular thieves would look for it - like her weapons pouch - which made her the perfect person to carry it.
Team Tomo left the tent and were led over to one of the entrances into the training ground. On the way, Vala bumped into one of the team members of the silver haired kid who had been in the middle of the fuss at the start of the first exam. Despite the fact that Konoha Genin seemed to be the less violent of the Genin taking the exams, Jack still watched out for retaliation from the group that Vala bumped into. There were groups who would take exception for being bumped into, but Jack also had a pretty good idea of what else Vala did when she bumped into the group and he wondered when they would realize that their scroll was missing.
He leaned in to talk to her as they waited to be let into the training ground. “Really? And is it at least the scroll that we need?”
“No one said that the exam had to start when we entered the training ground and with the way the proctor acted, I have a feeling that they would say that the second exam started the moment we reached the grounds outside of the Forest of Death,” Vala replied. “Besides, what kind of ninja doesn't notice something like that?”
“What are you guys talking about?” Daniel asked, peering over at them. The proctor that escorted them to the gate didn't seem to be paying attention to them at all, but this was probably the time where the teams spent their time planning and he was probably used to that over discussing thievery.
“We’re coming up with our plan, Danny boy,” Jack said. He threw an arm over Daniel’s shoulders and drew him into the conference.
“Akio,” Daniel corrected.
“Whatever,” Jack said. “We’re going to change our plans a bit, first checking out what sort of scroll we have and then either going ahead with our plan or heading straight to the tower.”
“What do you mean? I thought we had a heaven scroll?” Daniel asked. He then caught on to what was going on and gave Vala a look.
“I couldn’t help it, he had it in full sight when he reached into his weapons pouch and it is an earth scroll,” Vala replied.
“So we’re going to be heading straight to the tower after this, where we’ll be setting up base for a while,” Jack said.
“Setting up base? Shouldn’t we be going into the tower and winning?” Vala asked.
“We need to be there in case any of the other teams need our help, and I doubt that they’d let us back into the Forest to help them,” Jack said.
“Whereas they don’t have any rules about helping out teams within the forest during the test,” Vala said with a nod. “You know, if you didn't mind waiting for a bit, you could always wait around the tower and ambush the perfect team to take the scroll that you need. You’d need to pick a team who had a bit of trouble getting a scroll, but not so beaten down that they’re determined to keep the scroll. But, they would be almost guaranteed to have the scroll that you need.”
“The almost is in there because you pick pocketed the scroll off of that one team, isn’t it?” Daniel asked with a sigh.
“You know, they don't have to be the only ones, if we find any other teams that are easy to get, we should get them,” Vala said.
“I doubt that Sam or Cam would really go for that,” Jack said.
“Yeah, they’d want to make their own way, especially after the way that they failed their previous exam,” Daniel said.
“We’ll keep it in mind just in case, though,” Jack said. “As it’s not that bad of a plan.”
“It’s almost time to let you through the gates,” the proctor broke in.
“Get ready to run,” Jack said as they all got into position. “Because we’re off to see the Wizard.”
“Now,” the proctor said as the gates swung open.
Team Tomo darted off into the thick tangle of branches, taking to the trees and heading straight for the tower.
--
Sam, Cam, and Jonas waited until Team Baki went through the tents before they entered to turn in their waiver forums and receive their scrolls. They got an earth scroll and took a minute to figure out who would hold it.
“They’re probably expecting Jonas to have it,” Sam said, “or, barring that, for me to have it, so I think that Cam should hold it.”
“It makes sense that a normal team would either guard the weakest member, who would be holding the scroll, or that they would give the scroll to the strongest fighter to defend it,” Jonas said. “That is why I think that you should hold it, Sam.”
“And if anyone tries to take it from you, they’ll probably end up with an exploding device,” Cam said as he nodded in agreement. He handed the scroll to her.
“Not all of my devices will explode if touched wrong,” Sam said with a huff. But she still hid it away in her pack.
“And, to guard against the possibility of the scroll exploding, we’ll pretend like Jonas has the scroll,” Cam said as he reached into his pack and grabbed a blank scroll before handing it to Jonas
“I’m not very good at genjutsu, but I can do this,” Jonas said as he accepted the scroll from Cam with a smile. He concentrated and the scroll shimmered before turning into a heaven scroll. He then stuffed the scroll back into his pack.
“Why a heaven scroll?” Sam asked as they made their way out of the tent.
“Because it’s another layer of deception,” Jonas said. “If we say that we have a heaven scroll, no one will be expecting an earth scroll. Vala taught me that.”
“She’s gone a bit too far back into her old ways,” Cam said with a sigh. “But, if it means that we actually win this exam, I’m all for it.”
“This isn’t earth, so I suppose that we do have to act differently and I think that Vala’s experience in a variety of worlds really did help us here,” Jonas said. “After all, we’ve all had to adapt to living here and I think that even Teal’c and I found it harder to adjust than Vala did.”
“At least we’re all together,” Sam said. “That’s something at least.”
“There is that,” cam said. “It’s always hard to adjust when you’re all alone in a situation like that.”
“At the very least we all know who we are,” Jonas said with a shrug.
“Oh yes, that was never fun, being cut off from earth and thinking that you were someone else,” Sam said.
“In any case, we should figure out how we want to play this,” Cam said as they finally made it to the gate that they would enter through. He stared at the darkness of the forest of death as he started planning.
“We’re going to have to go after someone with a heaven scroll,” Sam said. “Which means that we need to find a team first.”
“That’s probably one of the biggest obstacles in this exam,” Jonas said.
“But, lucky for us, I have this,” Sam said as she pulled out a device. “The life signs detector I was talking about earlier.”
Cam leaned back a little. “Are you sure it won't explode?”
“Of course it won't explode,” Sam said, frowning at him.
“That’s what you said about the gun the last time and remember what happened with that?” Cam pointed out.
“We would have won if you had just tossed it at the Genin instead of holding onto it,” Sam said.
“Well excuse me for freaking out for the split second it took to explode,” Cam replied.
“Come on, now,” Jonas said, stepping into the middle of the two. “It’s been six months since we failed the Chunin exams and we all know that Sam’s gotten better with the technology in this world. Besides, even if the life signs detector explodes, it probably won’t knock us out.”
“Besides, I think I can calibrate this to pick up the Genin teams instead of any of the animals in there,” Sam said. “So we don't try to ambush three tigers or anything like that.”
“Can you make it so that we’re at least aware of the animals in the area?” Cam asked. “Because I don’t think I want to run into any of the animals that the instructor was talking about.”
“Of course, but the other Genin teams will be in a different color from the animals so we can tell them apart,” Sam said. She fiddled with the device for a second before tilting it to show it to Cam and Jonas. “See?”
“There are a lot of teams,” Jonas said as he looked at the screen. He pointed to the red dots that circled all of the blue dots in the mass of blank space. “You can see each team at each gate and the groups still getting their scrolls.”
“So, should we aim for the closest team and hope that they have the sort of scroll that we need?” Cam asked.
“That might be the best way, or we could even predict where they’re going and set up a trap,” Sam said.
“Do you have any stun guns that won’t explode on us?” Cam asked. He grinned as a plan came to him.
“I have one set that’s based partly on the Zat guns and part on the tasers that should work like they should,” Sam said. “What are you planning?”
“We predict where the team is going to end up, wait for them, and then stun them as soon as they enter our ambush zone. Then we can find their scroll without having to fight them,” Cam said.
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Jonas said.
“So, are we heading after the ones on our left or right?” Sam asked.
“Which way has less animals in it?” Cam asked.
Sam consulted the life signs detector. “To our left.”
“Then we’ll head to the left,” Cam said.
“I’ll figure out the angles,” Sam said, already doing the calculations.
“Then you’ll lead the way,” Cam replied.
“Got it,” Sam said.
“We’re letting you guys loose in a second,” the proctor spoke up. “You can go when the gates open.”
“Get ready,” Cam said as they tensed up.
The second the gates open, they took off, angling into the forest on their left. Sam led the way, keeping a careful eye on her life signs detector to see where the other team was going. They seemed to be taking a route almost straight into the forest, though they also seemed to be meandering to the right.
As they ran through the forest, making their way through the trees and bushes, their radios went off. It was a brief moment of static, the code that was agreed upon in order to keep the radios hidden from everyone.
“Team Toshiro here, over,” Cam said in response.
“We’re heading straight to the tower, over,” Jack replied.
“Why are you heading straight to the tower? Over,” Cam asked.
“Because we’ve already acquired the scroll that we needed, over,” Jack replied.
“How’d you do that?” Cam demanded. “We’ve been watching things and there’s no way that you’d be able to find a team this soon, over.”
“Let’s just say that we stumbled into it,” Jack replied. “I just wish I could see that team’s face when they discover that, over.”
“Only your team,” Cam said as he shook his head. “In any case, we’ve got our plan ready, so we’ll meet you at the tower, over.”
“Watch yourself, we’ve already seen how violent some of these people can be, over,” Cam said.
“Like that whole fuss before the exams started,” Jack said. “We’ll see you there, over and out.”
“Seems like returning to her old ways can be a help sometimes,” Jonas said with a grin.
“Let’s get this finished as fast as we can,” Cam said. “We can't let them beat us too bad.”
“Right,” Sam said with a grin.
Cam put on an extra burst of speed and the others followed suit. Thanks to the life signs detector, they were able to make their way around all of the giant bugs and animals and avoid any fights with them as they made their way to where the one Genin team would show up. In about half an hour they made it to the point of the triangle where they would meet with the Genin team and they started getting ready to ambush them.
Even though they were not ones for trees, each of them still climbed up to the top of a tree to lie in wait for the Genin team. Whether they were traveling on ground or in the trees, Team Toshiro being in teams meant that they had the higher ground for the ambush. They switched over to their private channel to allow for Sam to tell them where the three team members would appear.
It only took just a little over a minute’s wait until the three team members darted into the field. They were running on the ground and the shots lined up perfectly. In unison, Sam, Cam and Jonas shot the three Genin. Electricity shot out of the guns and hit the Genin, who jolted and fell over.
Sam, Cam, and Jonas darted down from the trees and hurried over to their captures. “Be careful, who knows what these guys carry,” Cam said as they frisked them.
“Right,” Sam replied.
“Found it,” Jonas said as he pulled the scroll out of the weapons pouch of one of the Genin. He then replaced it with the genjutsu scroll. He grinned at the others as they started to leave. “The genjutsu won’t last long, but it should hold it long enough for them to check their scrolls. In any case, it won’t really harm anything if they do discover that it’s fake, but it would be amusing if they didn’t notice the genjutsu.”
“You’ve really been spending too much time with Vala,” Cam said with a sigh.
“Let’s go join the others,” Sam said before it could break into a banter session. She put on a burst of speed and the other two joined suit. This time they kept an eye on the life signs detector to be able to avoid every life sign, not wanting to lose either one of their scrolls.
-
Chapter 6