Choji, mid-bite of a bag of chips, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He knew better than to wade into this particur versation. He knows that, this girl Ino became fan of Kuro’s face.

  Shikamaru sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Fine, but don’t fet: this is a survival test, not a social event. Stick to the pn.” He tugged lightly on Ino’s sleeve, guiding her back toward their designated path.

  Still, Ino cast o gnce over her shoulder as they retreated into the shadows of the forest. Her voice was barely a whisper, almost as if speaking to herself. “It’s not like I need an excuse to help him…”

  Meanwhile, every teams began moving toward the entran clusters, their expressions a mixture of determination and dread. The Forest of Death rose before them, a dark opening promising danger, glory, and the unknown..The gates creaked open, and as the Genin teams ehe Forest of Death seemed to breathe in. The oppressive air pressed down on them right away. Shadows moved strangely, and faint, eerie sounds echoed through the thick leaves. The twisted, old trees stood like silent guards, their branches making weird shapes against the few rays of light that got through the leaves above. The forest felt evil, like it was happy to have new victims.

  Reika went first, each step careful and sure, showing ation. She seemed almal now, radiating fidence. Her sharp eyes sed the thick woods like she was both a hunter and a phe soft rustling of leaves overhead didn’t bother her; if anything, it seemed to make her even more focused. With a quick, subtle hand signal, she told Xero to stay at the back while keeping Kuro close beside her.

  “Alright,” she began, her voice low but anding, carrying an edge that made Xero raise a brow. “The pn is simple: stay cautious, avoid unnecessary fights, and target the weakest team we e across. We ’t afford to waste time or resources.”

  Xero chuckled under his breath, the sound rough and casual as he spun his massive sword onto his shoulder, its bde glinting even in the dim light. His broad grin was almost iious, but the glint in his golderayed his eagerness for flict. “What’s with the sudden bossy attitude, Reika? Trying to show off now that we’re past the gates?”

  Reika didn’t falter; if anything, his teasing only seemed to amuse her. She cast a sly smile over her shoulder, the gesture deliberate. “Someone o take charge,” she quipped lightly. “And besides, I have a pn. You should try following one sometime.”

  Xero snorted but said nothing more, falling into step behind her with the practiced ease of a soldier who knew when to trust his leader.

  Kuro walked a step behind Reika, his pace steady and posed. While his posture seemed rexed, his sharp eyes flicked from tree to tree, silently analyzing their surroundings. Every snap of a twig, every flutter of movement in the er of his vision was cataloged and assessed. He moved like a shadow, quiet and watchful, a hunter biding his time.

  Reika kept looking at him more than she meant to. She stopped fog for a sed. Does he even see how much I'm trying? she thought. She didn't mean to think that, and her face felt a little hot. She tightened her jaw, pushed the thought away, and looked ahead again.

  The three of them went deeper into the forest. It got darker, and the air smelled strongly of wet moss and rotting things. It was very quiet, except for a far-off screech from some animal they couldn't see. Every sound seemed louder in the quiet, and every shadow looked like it could be dangerous.

  A sudden rustling in the bushes to their right shem into alertness. All three froze, their hands instinctively moving to their ons. The sound was growing louder, more frantic.

  “Ambush?” Xero whispered, his voice low but excited. His haed eagerly on the hilt of his massive bde, the promise of a lighting up his golden eye.

  “Maybe,” Kuro replied, his tone measured and calm. “Stay ready, but don’t atil we know what we’re dealing with.”

  The rustling cresdoed, and the bushes parted to reveal... a wild boar. The creature barreled past them, its small eyes wide with panic as it charged deeper into the woods, oblivious to the humans it had startled.

  Xero groaned audibly, letting his hand drop from his sword’s hilt. “Not even worth a swing,” he muttered, clearly disappointed.

  Reika exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and allowed herself a small ugh. “Let’s keep moving. We’re wasting time,” she said, her tone lighter now.

  Kuro just nodded, still looking where the boar had gone. Reika and Xero rexed, but Kuro still felt worried. The bht have been okay, but it showed something: in this forest, real dangers don't usually show themselves so clearly.

  The farther they went, the more dangerous the forest got. The air became heavy a, stig to their skin and making it hard to breathe. Vines hung down like ropes from the tall trees, looking like bony fingers reag for anyone who came in. Lots of bugs buzzed far away, making a loud, annoying sound that opped. Sometimes, deep growls echoed from somewhere they couldn't see, shaking the thick leaves and making them nervous.

  Reika took point, her movements fluid as she pushed through the underbrush with determined precision. Her ability to read the terrain and avoid obvious dangers was uny, her fidence growing with every obstacle she overcame. There was an air of and about her now, her posture tall and proud, and her sharp gaze unwavering.

  “Reika,” Xero teased, his voice breaking the tension as he sidestepped a low-hanging vine. “You’re ag like some kind of queen. Should I start calling you ‘Yhness’ now?”

  Reika paused mid-step, turning her head just enough to fsh him a look that was equal parts amusement and exasperation. “If yoing to be dramatic, Xero, at least keep up. I’d hate for you to get taken out by a stray branch. That’d be embarrassing for all of us.”