The ability to feel different emotions was something that characterized human beings, and Toru was aware of that. So, what was this feeling he was experiencing at that moment? Seeing Ino so happy made him feel better about himself in a rather enigmatic way.
'How strange... I think... I didn't get enough rest,' Toru thought, shaking his head.
"Toru-kun! They have the Heaven Scroll!" Hinata said.
"How convenient. With this, we finished the mission a day early. Although we still have to reach the tower."
Putting his thoughts aside, Toru took the Heaven Scroll and looked at it for a few seconds.
A few meters away from where Hinata and Toru stood, Ino was having a small argument with herself.
'See that, Toru?! Why did I say that?!' She wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole. 'Normally, it wouldn't matter because we got the scroll we were missing, but... why did you have to look at me like that?!'
When she had been celebrating her victory, Ino had gone out of her way to give Toru her best smile, but what she hadn't expected was that boy's reaction; he had been completely captivated, staring at her!
'Ah! Why do I feel so weird?!'
Ino desperately scratched her head.
'Wait... I can't let this distract me! Even if Toru was staring at me, it was only because I'm beautiful, and nothing more. There's no way I have feelings for him, or that he has feelings for me!'
Ino nodded as if her own thoughts were the absolute truth. Then, she rejoined her team.
"Now we're heading for the tower. We need to be careful, since we could be ambushed. If that happens, we'll probably have to fight again," Toru said.
"I'll use my Byakugan to guide us along the safest route."
Toru nodded. Ino cleared her throat before speaking.
"The tower is really far away, and it'll take us quite a while to get there by running. Eventually, we'll run out of chakra and be forced to stop and rest. Besides, if we're close to the tower, there will probably be other teams nearby too."
"I know, but we have Hinata. Even if we can't rely on her Byakugan the entire time, it'll save us, just like it has since the beginning," Toru said.
Hinata nodded seriously. She was determined to be the pillar of this final effort.
"So we'll have to start running again..."
Ino let her arms fall with a long sigh. She wasn't the fastest member of the team, so this could become a problem.
"When you can't run anymore, I'll carry you. The point is not to leave anyone behind."
"I don't need you to carry me! I'm not a little girl anymore!"
—Hours Later—
Jumping from branch to branch like shadows appearing and disappearing in the darkness of the night, Team 11 moved at incredible speed.
"Toru-kun, there's a team fifty meters away. They're to our right," Hinata said.
"We need to move farther away," Toru replied.
Again and again, with almost perfect coordination, Hinata, Ino, and Toru leaped between the branches of the trees. They were getting closer and closer to their destination. Only a few more hours remained...
'I think there are three hours left until dawn. If we keep going like this, we'll reach the tower in a couple more hours.'
For a few seconds, Toru looked at Ino, who was trailing behind the others. She looked exhausted, her breathing was heavy, and beads of sweat ran down her forehead.
'I can keep going for a few more minutes, and I think Hinata can too, but Ino is a different story. I guess I'll have to help her again.'
Stopping for a few seconds, Toru picked Ino up in his arms.
"What are you doing?!"
"Don't yell. You'll make them find us."
"I don't care. Put me down!"
"I won't. If you pass out, you'll become a burden to the team. Just accept it so we can finish this last run."
Ino was too tired to keep arguing, so she sighed and resigned herself to it.
They had been running nonstop for more than three hours without resting because of the teams nearby. Stopping to rest in a place full of enemies would have been stupid, which was why they hadn't been able to catch their breath after everything they had gone through.
Finally, after a long while, they found a suitable place and decided to stop there.
"Are there any teams nearby?" Toru asked.
"Apparently not. I think we'll finally be able to rest soon."
"Okay. As for Ino... Looks like she beat us to it. She fell asleep."
Toru looked at the girl in his arms, sleeping peacefully as if they weren't in mortal danger.
"She looks tired," Hinata said.
"Yeah. When this is over, she's really going to have to start training. Unlike us, she needs it badly."
"Yeah... We've been trained for as long as we can remember."
Toru nodded. Amid the silence, the cold, and the darkness, several fireflies lit up, blinking in different patterns throughout the forest. Hinata watched the spectacle, her eyes reflecting their faint light.
'How beautiful...'
At the same time, the nocturnal insects began their natural chorus, making Hinata think.
'Toru has become stronger and stronger. He keeps getting better with time. Unlike me, he was made for this. He's already the leader of the team, he seems to get along with Ino now, and he treats me well. He really... is an incredible person.'
Toru stared silently into the distance, watching over Ino as she slept.
'I can't imagine everything he must have gone through in the years after what happened that night... He must have trained so much to become as strong as he is now, and knowing him, he probably suffered even more because of it.'
She looked down, feeling a little sad.
'I really wish I could do something for him, but I can't think of anything. Maybe it's enough to be his friend and make sure he doesn't end up alone again. I'd like things to stay this way for a long time...'
As Hinata thought about this, Toru spoke.
"Hinata, you need to rest too."
"Huh?"
"You look tired as well. You can sleep next to Ino, and I'll keep watch."
"Are you sure? You look tired too, and after what Ino told you..."
Toru shook his head.
"You're the most important part of this team. Without your eyes, Ino and I are nothing. We need you, so get some rest."
"Oh... I understand, but..."
"Good night, Hinata," Toru said, placing Ino beside her.
Hinata looked at him for a brief moment, worried. It made sense for Toru to think that way because it was necessary, but she felt guilty about taking advantage of him so she could rest. However, exhaustion overcame her, and she soon fell asleep.
Toru set up several traps before climbing onto the branch of a tree. Up there, he felt his entire body grow heavy. He was obviously tired, so he decided to eat something to recover a bit of energy.
Then, he silently watched the fireflies until their light brought him back to the past. He tried to think about it, but he immediately rose from his seat and drew his daggers when he saw a female silhouette in the darkness.
He stared at her carefully, but when he blinked, she was already gone.
Confused, Toru jumped down from the branch and checked the surroundings, but he couldn't find or sense anything. Everything was empty, and the silhouette was mysterious, yet he felt like he had seen her somewhere before.
'I really am tired...'
—Some Time Later—
"Toru-kun, watch out!"
Hinata looked toward Toru.
He reacted immediately and jumped into the air, dodging a shuriken thrown with murderous intent.
"Damn it! Why did they have to find us when we're so close to reaching the tower?!" Ino complained as she ran for her life.
"I don't know! We're only a few meters away," Toru added.
Two kunai were thrown at him, and Toru deflected them with his daggers.
"There's a gate right in front of us!"
Using her Byakugan, Hinata could see a gate. Only a few meters remained, so this was their final push to escape this hell.
Ino increased her speed out of desperation. They were so close, but the bastards chasing them were ruining everything.
"Only fifty meters left!" Hinata announced.
"In that case!" Toru shouted.
"Huh?"
"What are you doing?!"
Hinata and Ino were surprised when Toru effortlessly tucked them under his arms.
"I'm going to open the gate with a tackle. If you stay behind, you'll be captured."
"I don't care—"
Ignoring Ino's complaints, Toru charged toward the gate. Using his own back, he broke through the paper seal along with the gate and burst through it like a beast. Finally, he crashed to the ground with a loud thud, cushioning the fall for his teammates.
Then, the gate slammed shut, causing a loud sound to echo throughout the entire room.
"That hurts..."
Ino got up from the floor and dusted off her clothes. Hinata did the same.
"Seriously, this exam is hell," Ino said.
"We made it in time... We passed the second exam."
Hinata felt relieved. So much had happened during this exam, and yet they had lived to tell the tale.
"Looks like it, but look at this, on the wall," Ino said.
Toru raised his gaze. On the wall was a large inscription that read:
[If you do not possess Heaven, gain knowledge and prepare yourself.]
[If you do not possess Earth, run through the fields and seek strength.]
[If you open Heaven and Earth, dangerous paths will become safe. That is the secret of a Chunin.]
"Heaven, Earth, paths..."
Ino tried to understand what the inscription meant.
"I think it's telling us to open the scrolls..." Hinata said.
"Yeah, that's what it's telling us," Toru added. He took the Heaven Scroll and handed the Earth Scroll to Ino. "Let's do it. I don't feel like waiting around anymore."
Ino nodded, and together, they opened the scrolls at the same time. However, it all turned out to be a trap when they saw what was written on the scroll.
"It's a summoning seal!"