Chapter 11: Let's play hide-and-seek

Toru, Hinata and Ino looked at Yamato with a poker expression, after all the exam will be a child's game.

"Hide and seek, is it serious?"

Crossing her arms, Ino asked, she still couldn't believe that the exam will be a kid's game. Just thinking about it made her want to laugh.

"It's very serious, this game will be very different from the original, it will be much harder" Yamato narrowed his eyes and spoke, apparently he already had the whole exam planned to perfection.

(Playing hide and seek may sound ridiculous, but knowing the Jounin's abilities I can deduce that this will be troublesome).

After hearing Yamato's words, Toru couldn't help but think that it was indeed not going to be a child's game. Not only because of the fact that they were going to play hide and seek, but because Yamato still hadn't said the rules they will have to follow in order to take the test.

"Yamato-sensei, can I ask something?" Hinata said as she raised her hand, her cheeks were a little red due to the morning chill.

"Go ahead."

"If we play hide and seek, we have to choose the seeker and those who will be searched. There are also certain rules that I don't know if they will apply for this exam, what will you do about that?"

Hinata asked with a soft tone of voice, she had never played hide and seek before, however, she knew all the rules that this game entails.

"I was about to say that."

Yamato spoke as he leaned back against a nearby tree, he already had everything decided, and that was because he was following Kakashi's advice to the letter.

"Well, the rules are simpler than the common hide-and-seek game. There will be one seeker and three seekers, in this case I will be the seeker and you three will be the seekers. The maximum duration of the test is until noon, when the first wanted is found the test will end, so a single mistake will cause you to end up being found."

Ino looked at the ground as she thought, she hadn't understood the explanation very well, there was something missing, but Yamato still didn't say it.

"Ah, that's right. The first one to be found flunks."

Ino's eyes widened like saucers when she heard what Yamato had said, if she fails she can no longer join any team, so her whole life as a ninja only depends on not being found in the course of the exam.

"But it's unfair, sensei. You are a Jounin rank ninja, finding three children having so much experience would be very easy, that's something that puts us at a disadvantage" With an anxious expression on her face, Ino spoke, at that moment her mind could only think of the worst outcome.

But something like that didn't seem to matter much to Yamato, as with a long sigh he replied.

"That's true, that's why I brought this" Taking out a handkerchief from his pocket, Yamato looked at his students.

"I'll cover my eyes with this, it will cause my ability to see to be obstructed, making me have to use my other senses to be able to find them."

Having listened to Yamato, Ino sighed with relief, after all if the sensei covers his eyes the chances of winning will increase.

"If it's like the original hide and seek game, then we'll have some time to hide, right?"

After being silent for a long time, Toru spoke, this caused an annoyed expression to form on Ino's face.

"That's right, you will have five minutes to hide, you can hide in the trees, bushes, underwater or on the ground, the only thing you have to do is not to be found" Yamato said, answering Toru's question.

"Then there is only one thing left, when does the exam start?" Ino asked, even if Yamato covers his eyes there were still the heightened senses that all Jounin usually have.

Hearing Ino, Yamato closed his eyes for a moment before answering.

"The test will begin when a leaf sprouts from this branch" Yamato said as he clasped his hands together, at the same time a small branch came out of the ground, this made Hinata and Ino look at the strange jutsu the sensei wields.

"Now I will leave, when the leaf sprouts on the branch the examination will begin, I will return when the five minutes have passed, after that I will start looking for them."

Although she was nervous, Hinata responded with a slight shake of her head, it was the same with Ino, she could only think of the worst possible outcome. While Toru just looked at the sky without saying anything, not even his hidden skills could save him from being found.

"Then, let the exam begin" Yamato said to then disappear in the blink of an eye.

(I'm going to pass this exam, I have to pass, even if I have to stay in the same team as that weirdo. All for Sasuke)

Speaking internally, Ino tried to encourage herself, now it all depends on luck.

(My Byakugan will go a long way in being able to escape in case Yamato-sensei is around, I don't have to worry because I know I'll pass. Still... Toru-kun, I hope you can pass this exam too.)

Although Hinata was nervous, she was still confident. She knew that her eyes would help a lot, all she had to do was to stay away from Yamato and her teammates.

(5... 4... 3...) Toru stared at the branch intently, and when he felt the leaf was about to sprout on the branch, he turned around facing the forest in front of him.

"Now."

When the leaf sprouted on the branch, Toru shot off in the direction of the forest, this made Hinata and Ino surprised, after all they didn't know that Toru could become so fast.

(I won't let them beat me) Replicating Toru's action, Ino also ran off in the direction of the forest.

The same thing happened with Hinata, with a regular speed, she went into the forest and stayed behind a tree.

(Here will be fine, it's not too far from where we were a while ago, here I can use my Byakugan more easily.)

Clasping her hands together, veins began to sprout around Hinata's eyes.

(Byakugan!) Activating the Dojutsu in her eyes, Hinata began to analyze the surroundings.

After a few seconds of watching, Hinata came across Toru, he was on the branch of a tree looking around.

(Toru-kun, he seems to have taken a good position. If he keeps still and doesn't make any noise he can go unnoticed among the leaves of the tree).

A few more seconds passed while Hinata was using the Byakugan, in those seconds she could see the figure of a girl, that girl was Ino, who was hiding in the bushes near two trees. That place was somewhat dark due to the height of the trees.

(Ino... she is in a very bad hiding place, she should have climbed a tree, if she stays there she can make a lot of noise, if that happens she will be found in a very short time.

-Toru's hiding place.

Taking a strategic position on the strongest branch of a tree, Toru looked around. There were still two minutes left for Yamato to appear, so he still had a chance to change his hiding place, but if he did that he wouldn't be able to find a better place again, since the place he was currently in was surrounded by the branches of more trees, making him able to hide the noise with the leaves of the trees.

(Thirty seconds left now. I still can't see it, if I can find it I can ensure my victory).

Looking at the place where he was a few minutes ago, Toru tried to find Yamato, until...

*wind sound*

Just when the five minutes were up, Yamato appeared, he had a blindfold covering his eyes completely.

(He's already here)

Toru tried to keep his gaze on Yamato, for if he lost sight of him his chances of being found would increase too much.

(He hasn't moved since he appeared).

Toru tried to keep still so as not to make any noise, although he could disguise the noise with the movement of the leaves, he could only do it when the wind blows, otherwise he would only be revealing his position.

(I don't know where Hinata hid, much less Ino, I just hope he doesn't find us until noon).

A few more seconds passed until Yamato decided to start looking.

His steps were slow, he seemed to be trying to get used to being blind.

-Ino's hiding place-

(He already appeared!)

Ino was hiding her presence as best she could, if she so much as moved an inch, she would be found instantly.

(It's farther than I thought, maybe I can stay in this place until it's noon).

Without looking away from Yamato, Ino moved her foot a few centimeters, big mistake.

Yamato instantly noticed the unusual sound coming out of the forest, so while keeping his hands in his pockets, he started walking in Ino's direction.

(No! He's going to find me!)

Ino covered her mouth so that her breathing wouldn't be heard, but that was only a temporary solution. Yamato was about twenty-five meters away from where Ino was, if she moved one more centimeter, she would be found and the test would be over.

But something strange happened, somewhere the sound of wood being hit by something alerted Yamato, at that moment everyone realized that this was no child's play, because, upon hearing the noise, Yamato appeared instantly in front of the place.

Upon witnessing this, Ino's eyes widened in disbelief at what they saw.

(No way... if I had made more noise Yamato-sensei would have appeared in front of me instantly).

A bead of cold sweat slid down Ino's forehead, she was terrified, she didn't know the Jounin were so fast, even blindfolded Yamato was able to appear in front of the noise that was formed due to the weathered branch that broke off from a tree.

Even Toru and Hinata witnessed what happened.

-Hinata's hiding place-

Hinata's eyes watched Yamato closely, she was trying to find a good time to change her hiding place in case Yamato got too close, but after seeing the sensei appear in one place instantly, Hinata knew that her Byakugan would no longer be of any use.

(Something like that is...)

Hinata's breathing became heavy, she was too nervous, she didn't know how, but Yamato was able to move at an incredible speed.

(If I ever move from this place... I will be found...)

Even if she tried to move from that place, Yamato would hear Hinata's footsteps and appear in front of her instantly. At that moment, everyone understood that, if they moved even one centimeter, the test would end.

(No, I shouldn't be scared, now I just have to keep quiet, Yamato-sensei is blindfolded, so he won't be able to see me, if I keep quiet I might get confused with the trees).

Activating the Byakugan again, Hinata directed her field of vision to Toru, who was just observing everything silently.

(So far, Toru-kun hasn't moved from the same place).

-Toru's hiding place-

Toru's eyes narrowed as he witnessed the terrifying speed that Yamato can reach. But still his expression and breathing remained relaxed.

(It was a good choice to have picked up these things on the way).

Toru observed his hand, which was closed, hiding something between the palm.

(If it gets too close to me, I'll use this...)

Toru held his breath, as Yamato appeared right below him. Although he hadn't made any noise, even so, he was still about to be found.

(What was that? How is that possible? I didn't make any noise, but still the sensei appeared.)

Trying not to move, Toru let his breathing regulate, if he did that the sound of his breathing would not be heard by Yamato.

(This is bad, I can't use 'it' if Yamato-sensei can hear our breaths, even if I try the sound of my clothes will instantly alert him and if he finds me the exam will be over).

Toru's plan had been ruined, he planned to use the stones he picked up from the ground as a distraction to change his hiding place, but now that he realized that Yamato can hear everyone's breaths, that plan was completely ruined.

Now he just had to wait for Yamato to find one of them and the test would be over.

(I must think of something, if I don't think of anything I will be found).

Closing his eyes, Toru's mind began to work, a few seconds passed until the stupidest idea Toru had ever had in his life popped up.

(Maybe 'that' will work)

-Ino's hiding place-

(He's gone!)

A slight sigh of relief left Ino's lips, she was about to be found out, if it wasn't for Toru exam would have been over.

(Damn, if I move, even a little bit all my effort will go down the drain).

Ino closed her eyes, she was trying to relax, this whole exam had made Ino's stress levels reach a new level.

Peeking her head slightly over the bush, Ino could see Toru, he was on a tree branch and just below was Yamato.

(Ha! That's what you deserve, even if you're fast you'll never be able to beat sensei's speed. So make them find you and end this torture) With a crooked smile, Ino spoke in her mind.

She knew that if Toru was found the test ends, something that also benefited her is that if Toru is found he would be out of the team, so she wouldn't have to deal with Toru anymore.

-Toru's hiding place-

(No way, does he really know I'm here?)

With a strange gleam in his eyes, Toru watched Yamato, and decided it was time to execute his master plan, a plan he came up with in less than thirty seconds.

"I will most likely be found, but if I stay here I will be found just the same. I have no choice left."

Toru looked at one of the trees farther away, his eyes glowed due to the darkness of the forest.

*Wind sound*

Toru took a long jump to reach the tree branch, but Yamato appeared right in front of him, trying to touch Toru's head.

(Damn)

Toru spun in the air avoiding being touched by Yamato, he immediately landed on a tree branch, and using the flexibility of the branch Toru jumped once more, but again Yamato appeared behind Toru's back.

(Just a little more, I need to get him a little further away from the place).

Throwing a kunai with a wire attached, Toru used his strength to use the tension of the wire to dodge Yamato.

(If I continue with this I'll be caught, but I still need to get him a little further away.)

Using two wired kunai, Toru swung landing on another tree, Yamato heard Toru's feet touching the branches so in a last effort he approached Toru, but....

*Strike*.

Toru threw one of the stones he had in his hand in order to distract Yamato, something that surprisingly worked, Toru took this opportunity to move a little further away, and so using all the stones he had left, Toru threw them in different directions at the same time, confusing Yamato.

(I did it)

Yamato had been left analyzing the place using his ears, but he had already missed his target. After that Toru hid in the leaves of the trees again.

-Hinata's hiding place-

Hinata had observed everything that happened with Toru, using her Byakugan. She was surprised, she knew Toru was skilled in many things, but she never imagined he was so skilled in combat.

(Toru-kun is strong...)

Hinata looked at the ground while thinking about herself, even though she had trained a lot she was still weak, she wasn't very good at talking to people, but still she had some confidence in herself.

(I don't have to get depressed, I can become strong, I just have to try my best, and for that I have to pass this exam).

-Ino's hiding place-

(How is it possible?!)

Ino's jaw was about to hit the floor, she had always seen Toru as the weird and quiet guy, who besides a mockery to everyone was a weak kid, weaker than anyone.

(This makes me very angry)

Closing her eyes Ino sat down on the floor, she had completely forgotten about her situation, so as she sat down she caused a slight noise, and at that moment, Yamato appeared in front of Ino.

(Huh?)

Ino instantly covered her mouth, didn't move an inch, didn't breathe, didn't blink, her body disconnected from her brain the moment she saw Yamato in front of her.

(No... no... no, no, no, no, no, no!)

After so many years to be able to graduate and become a genin, all Ino could do was give up, it was all over, there was no hope left for Ino to pass.

(Why me?) Remembering Toru and Hinata, she wondered, and as she covered her mouth with her hands, a couple of tears spilled down her cheeks.

(Why?)

Yamato raised his hand to touch Ino's head and finish the exam.

(I don't want to... I don't want to abandon my ninja path. Sasuke, I don't want to walk away from it.)

More tears overflowed down her cheeks, and accepting her fate, Ino closed her eyes and waited for Yamato to finish the exam, but....

"The exam is over."

Ino didn't feel Yamato's hand touching her head, so she opened her eyes and what she saw after that was....

"You...?"

Toru was in front of Ino, Yamato had his hand on the grey eyed boy's head, that meant that the one who failed the exam was Toru himself.

(Why did he...?)

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Author's note: Hi, it's me, the author. And I'm writing this to clarify a few little things.

First: This story will have a very slow development.

Second: Each character will evolve over time.

Third: Also that this story will be very long, and there will be a lot of content for the future.

And lastly: This is my first fanfic