88. Some lessons


    <span style="font-weight:400">The next day soon came and so the trio stood inside the fourth training ground waiting for their sensei to appear. Or so it would seem.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hinata, use your byakugan to scan the area. I doubt sensei would make us wait too long. In fact, I bet he is hiding somewhere around here.” Listening to Tomoka’s words Hinata did as instructed. She began to steadily scan the area until she found a tree that had a chakra signature.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Over there, that tree has a chakra signature” Having found her target Hinata was about to deactivate her Byakugan but Tomoka stopped her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Not yet, have you finished the full scan? It could be a clone after all” Tomoka was right and in fact she hadn’t finished the scan. A whileter she detected another signature one hiding underground.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“There is another one underground about five meters in front of us”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Remember Hinata. The greatest tool a ninja has is misdirection. Whenever you find something make sure it’s not a trap or your own senses will be your worst enemy.” Having said that Tomoka began walking towards the tree Hinata had pointed out first.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It so happens that by walking straight towards the tree she would have to walk on top of the second signature first. As she did Nozomi was about to warn her but before she could Tomoka turned around and ced a finger on her own lips while winking.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As soon as Tomoka stepped right on top of the underground signature a pair of hands broke through the ground grabbing her ankles. The next second Tomoka had been buried to the neck on the ground while Yamato jumped and stood in front of her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh no, I am caught~” Hearing Tomoka’s nonchnt attitude Yamato felt like something was amiss.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Just kidding” The sound of Tomoka’s voice came from elsewhere inside the forest as she appeared from behind a tree.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“As I said, misdirection is the key. We can’t be sure if this is the real Yamato-sensei or if the one on the tree is. For all we know neither of them is the real one. The same can now be applied to myself. Am I the real Tomoka?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Or am I the real one” continued the one underground


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Erm, what is going on?” Being lost Hinata had to ask as this situation was a bit too much for her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Simply, our test started right when sensei told us we were dismissed. We had the entire day yesterday to prepare for the test and it would truly begin as soon as we walked inside this training ground. Am I missing something sensei?” Yamato had to admit he was impressed. However, he needed to keep it cool.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You are correct.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Then why didn’t you tell us!?” Nozomi felt a bit betrayed since Tomoka could have told them and made thing easier for them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I didn’t tell you because some lessons are better learnt through experience. This being one of them-” At that moment Tomoka’s easy going demeanor changed to a serious one.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“-Never let your guard down, ever. We are shinobi and the difference between us living and dying could be something as small as noticing a puddle of water or not. Who knows, a kiri-nin might be hiding in said puddle” Hearing Tomoka’s words the two girls began thinking.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was true. Were it not for Tomoka telling Hinata to scan the surroundings they wouldn’t have noticed the ambush at all. Were it not for her, Hinata wouldn''t have continued her scan after finding their “target”.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“There will be a time when we can’t cover for each other. When that timees, I don’t want either of you dying because I stunted your growth by being overprotective.” Yamato almost smiled hearing Tomoka. He had been worried about that same thing. Part of the test was to look out for this very thing as well.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well said Tomoka. Now let''s begin the more normal part of the test.” The one who spoke this time was the Yamato that had been hiding in the tree.