„Give me that roll!"

„Roll? What roll? Do you see one here?"

„I'm not stupid, I know you have one, so hand it over," said the tall dark-haired genin, taking another step towards my three teammates including the shadow clones. How else could I have done it. Otherwise, our opponents would have noticed immediately, since we were the only team of four in this test.

I myself grinned to myself. He was definitely much too careless. If he had paid more attention to the ground, he would have noticed the treacherous shine in the dusty ground. But he only had eyes for Kiba, who drove him to white heat in record time.

Slowly, but surely, I crept up to the smallest of the team. I had suppressed my chakra and made the body invisible. I risked a look upwards. Well hidden in the trees waited Shino's leeches, should things get tight, which I did not want to assume. But nevertheless, it was good to always have a plan B.

With her Byakugan Hinata had already recognized the enemy team from afar and warned us in advance, so that we could still prepare ourselves.

Practiced and without trembling, my thin fingers fished the earth scroll out of the leader's pocket. The leader seemed to be unaware of this, as nothing had rustled when the scroll was stolen. In addition, the scroll was hanging loosely in his pocket. How careless of him not to attach it to his body.

Well well, he could know nothing of my ability, but nevertheless.

„Say. Shouldn't you be worried about your own roll?" sneered Kiba, and the brown-haired genin glared at him with a mixture of confusion and anger as his hand carefully groped for the supposed roll.

„What do you mean..." He froze in motion.

Drops of sweat trickled down his forehead and a panicked expression crept into his eyes. Now we had the squad almost where we wanted them.

Clear uncertainty emanated from them. They looked up into the trees as if assuming someone might jump out and attack. Whereas...there would actually be another load of leeches waiting for them up there.

Now visible again, I appeared next to Kiba. The second roll safely and invisibly stowed in the bag. The leader of our opponents had seen how I had made myself visible before his eyes. Shock, surprise and ... bottomless rage. My shadow double stopped beside me.

„Give us back the scroll girl," he growled, reaching into his pocket in a flash to throw a handful of shuriken at my team. But they bounced off the invisible shield I had silently erected around us.

Confused, he looked at his hands.

„I don't understand...I should have..."

„It doesn't matter now Hibiko. We have to get to their part as soon as possible or we're out. Get a grip," his teammate said, taking a step forward.

A mistake.

Because right there, hidden in the ground, lay one of my traps. Another reason why we hadn't moved from the spot. To irritate the opponent until he would make the first and thus also the last step.

With a startled cry, one genin after another was sent flying. Like fish on a hook, they now dangled down from the treetop. And due to Hibiko's energetic wriggling, they also released the net, which immediately closed tightly around their bodies and held them captive. That had gone quite well after all. Now we would only have to make it to the tower in one piece and the second test would be passed.

Thoughtfully, I whittled away at my new bow. I had already attached the string to it, but somehow, I didn't quite like the style yet. With one of my knives, I traced over the wood and worked on the spots I didn't like. Concentrated, I squinted my eyes, but at the same time I had to be careful that the weapon did not slip. I had already injured myself several times while carving.

In this situation, an injury would be extremely disadvantageous.

So engrossed in my work, I did not even notice how Kiba sat down with me. Only when the Inuzuka cleared his throat did I look up.

„Do you still have smoke bombs? I forgot to bring some," he said, baring his teeth in annoyance. With a nod, I put the half-finished bow aside and turned to the three bags lying beside me.

„I don't have that many myself. But the leader of the team with the earth scroll had a lot of them," I grinned, and Kiba's expression brightened.

„Tell me...how did you manage to do that in such a short time. I didn't even see your hand movements," Shino asked, moving his glasses back.

Since I had just reached for the bow again, I carefully put it back. My fingers were trembling slightly. Either way, I would have to tell my team eventually. We had to trust each other if we were going to get through this. And that would only work if everyone put down their barriers.

„Stealing has to be learned," I finally said, licking my lips nervously as I studied the expressions on my team's faces. The Inuzuka would probably speak up first, but Kiba was unnaturally quiet.

„You once lived on the streets. That's why you're so good at stealing," Shino stated. I shrugged my shoulders.

„Well, you have to live on something. And when I got sick of apples, I went hunting." With a nod of my head, I referred to my half-finished bow.

„I taught myself everything. Even controlling my chakra."

„And all the lessons? How could you have caught up. I mean...well..."

Nervously, Hinata's fingertips tapped together. A slight smirk crept onto my lips, as this gesture reminded me of certain situations when a certain Uzumaki was around.

„I was there."

Kiba jumped up.

„How could that be? We never saw you. I don't understand."

Slightly, I shook my head. He should know me by now, even more so I had certain abilities.

„Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it's not there Kiba. There was a very big tree in front of your classroom. I often sat there and listened to the lessons, hoping...to need that knowledge again someday."

My voice had become quieter and quieter with the last words. And this hope had come true. I had been allowed to go back to school, had now become a genin. Everything I had ever dared to dream had come true. And for that I was so grateful to everyone. Naruto, Genma, Kakashi and of course the Hokage. He made a lot of it possible at all.

When Kiba began to laugh softly, I looked up in confusion.

„Really...who goes to school voluntarily...that's...isn't it..."

He fell silent when he noticed my serious expression and seemed to realize what I was feeling. Shino cast an annoyed look in his direction.

„Try to put yourself in her shoes at that time...you idiot."

Kiba fell silent and looked down at the ground, slightly distressed.

„Naruto was my first real friend," I continued and the Inuzuka raised his head in surprise.

I continued, telling him about the many meetings in the forest. When he persuaded me to cut off my hair...

„Stop...stop," Kiba said then, looking at me with almost disbelief.

„You used to have long hair? No shit? I can't imagine that at all."

I laughed at his look. I had heard that many times since then. Especially from Kakashi or Genma. Those two. I sighed. Somehow, I really missed them terribly right now.

„When I met you in front of the Hokage's office...", Kiba began cautiously, and I began to suspect what was coming now. However, I would not be able to avoid it.

„You looked like you'd been in a fight...Sensei Kakashi didn't attack you, did he?"

I shook my head.

„No. He was protecting me from someone. A person I've been running away from for years and who is also the reason I'm a street girl."

After pausing for a moment, I now dared to look them in the eye again.

„My father."

By now it was quite late. Night had fallen and I sat with my back leaning against a tree trunk. Since the others were very exhausted, I had signed up for the first shift of the night watch. They should rest first.

With quiet movements, I whittled away at a new arrow, blowing away small splinters of wood. After I had told the part about my father, it had been pretty quiet. All that had been heard had been the sounds of nightfall. Not a word of pity had passed their lips. For which I was very grateful.

Your father is an idiot. To claim such a thing. And a monster at that. Nobody treats their child like that.

I can't believe that fathers can be so cruel to their children.

I smiled sadly as I thought of Kiba's and Shikamarus words. Somehow these words sounded more beautiful to my ears than all the sympathies in the world put together. And they gave me additional strength. Strength and hope.

The light of the moon had changed a little. So, the night was already a little advanced. Time to wake up the next one.

With careful steps I walked towards Hinata and woke her up by gently nudging her.

„Your turn," I whispered, and the Hyjuga sat up, still slightly sluggish. Gratefully, she nodded to me.

Then I grabbed my bow and stuffed a couple of water bottles into my bag, which also held a few arrows.

„I'm going to get some water."

Pleasantly cool, the water flowed over my hands and made my tired senses awake again. Urgently I would need sleep now. More than anything else. But now it was first important that we had enough to drink again. Who knew when we would get to a spring again? Take precautions.

I paused. Something was wrong. The chirping of the crickets had stopped in one fell swoop and the whispering of the trees had also disappeared. As if the whole forest was holding its breath. A strange feeling spread through me. A mixture of uncertainty and fear. Fear for me and... the others. Something was coming towards us. Or was already there. My fingers became sweaty, and I tried to stay calm, to slow down my frantic breathing. Silently, I screwed down the last cap on the water bottles. I had to stay calm. All the rushing around didn't make it any better. Maybe a feeling was just a feeling.

And then I heard Hinata screaming.