Sakura took the first watch and stayed on high alert. Ino and Hinata were just as vigilant when their turns came, but nothing happened that night. It passed peacefully.
At the first hint of dawn, Sakura and Ino both got up. It wasn't that they had slept enough in such a short time. Their nerves were so taut that the slightest rustle woke them at once.
When sunlight began filtering through the branches, the two sensed the change in light and immediately rose. Hinata looked a little startled.
But she understood a moment later. After resting and getting themselves ready, they headed for the finish. It was the fourth day of the exam, and many capable teams had already passed. They were now waiting and resting at the finish.
Tenten's group was among them, as were Gaara and his companions. With strength like theirs, it was no surprise they had already passed.
Samui had stayed behind the three girls, and she was getting anxious for them. More than half the allotted time had passed, and few people remained in the forest. Their chances of finding someone on the way and passing were growing slimmer.
But no matter how worried Samui was, she couldn't interfere. This was their exam. She was following them only to keep them safe.
Hinata activated her Byakugan as they traveled, scanning as far ahead as she could. Before, they had done everything possible to avoid other teams. Now they were searching for them desperately. With only two days left, they had to find the Heaven Scroll and the Earth Scroll somehow.
Ino and Sakura weren't particularly good at sensing others, but they watched their surroundings as closely as they could, afraid of missing even the faintest clue.
At last, they caught a break. Hinata stopped abruptly