“Hmm, it’s not as crazy out here as it was a few days ago.” Rin commented.

  “Hmm?”

  “There used to be refugees and mercenaries out here. Well, no skin off my back.”

  ‘Mercenaries? I wonder why’

  The two started along the Rain Road that lead north of the village.

  “Is it safe for us to just follow the main path?”

  “Who’s the escort here hmm?”

  “Y-You’re right, sorry.”

  “First question! No-bo-ru!”

  “Alright, shoot.”

  “That necklace, why is it so important to you?”

  “Oh, this?” Noboru gently caressed the pendant in his hand, “It’s my understanding that gifts are meant to be cherished.”

  ‘I still needed to get a gift for Chocho.’

  “Oh, and what gave you that idea?” Rin raised her arms, stretching them up and as high as they could go.

  “The idea itself I’ve always had, but practicing it is new to me. I guess you could say, a person did.”

  “Are they a special person?”

  “Yeah, they are.”

  “And what about-”

  “Hey, Rin?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Rubin mentioned that you’re from Kiri. If that’s true won’t we be enemies during the Mock Exams?”

  Rin already knew that he hadn’t mastered his ‘Air Current Dance’ and on top of that she’d seen him cast it with one hand. If they had to fight during the exams she’d have the advantage.

  ‘But in exchange for that knowledge, I have the pendant. I guess it was worth it all things considered.’

  “Come on, don't give me that. Really, we’re all on the same team; we’re competitors… not enemies,” Rin corrected, “By the way, you don’t get out much do you?”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “Embarrassingly so, put your head down. What are you trying to do? Stare the birds out of the sky?”

  “S-Sorry,” Noboru said, putting his head down.

  He’d been looking up at the gray sky, and admiring the trees and how high up they were. He saw squirrels leaping over branches, and watched cats, possums, and other animals scurrying about.

  "Kirigakure is the capital of the Land of Water. Every time the Mock Exams are held our village comes out on top, it shouldn't be any different this time around.”

  “Is that so? T-Then If I had to guess, Amegakure is usually last.”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  Noboru couldn’t help but to smirk at such a cheeky reply.

  It wasn’t long until Rin took Noboru off the main path, and the pair made their way into the forest to get to their destination. Noboru looked at the trees with a striking sense of unfamiliarity, and Rin watched him carefully absorbing every detail.

  “So why is Miss Mikan so secretive?”

  “If your family history was full of misery would you openly share that with others? Especially a student that looks up to you?”

  “Hmm okay fine, but she’s secretive about everything. What does she even eat?”

  “You’re her student, and you’ve never seen her eat?”

  Noboru watched Rin puff her lips out unintentionally. She was pouting in her own weird way, but then her cheeks grew flush red.

  ‘She’s embarrassed’

  “Well her taste in food leaves a lot to be desired.” Noboru began. “She dips her rice balls in her coffee for example.”

  Rin’s expression seemed to warm a bit, “she does what now?”

  “You should ask her about it next time you see her. She has her reasons.”

  “What you just told me is far worse than anything you could’ve told me about your family.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  Noboru continued to entertain Rin to the best of his ability, answering almost all of her questions.

  After a few more hours a grassy opening presented itself, and both genin decided to take a moment to relax. Noboru slumped himself against a rock and stared up into the night sky.

  Rin took out a canteen of water and drank some before handing the bottle to Noboru; he stared at it for a few moments before taking a sip,hydrating his body.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Rin asked.

  Noboru turned toward her and saw Rin carefully maintaining her hair; but her brown eyes were fixated on the stars in the sky.

  Stolen story; please report.

  For the first time in years Noboru was truly at ease; for once the stars in the sky were obtainable, for once he was free to make his own decisions-he couldn’t help, but blatantly smile.

  “Uh, hello, earth to Noboru.” Rin said.

  “Oh, uh… Yeah, It is, especially now that I’m free to enjoy it.”

  Rin reached for the canteen she had handed Noboru earlier and continued to carefully analyze the boy she was traveling with.

  “Hmm, what exactly do you mean by that?”

  Noboru immediately regretted his words; he didn’t want to share his life story with Rin- He didn’t want to share it with anybody.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Related to this Kosutta misery of yours no doubt!”

  “We should keep moving.”

  Rin was curious, but respectful; she decided to honor Noboru’s privacy for now.

  The two walked for a few more hours in silence. Noboru thought about asking more questions, but one thing about his fight with Sejin had stuck with him, and he couldn’t get it out of his mind.

  ‘You lack resolve.’ Noboru thought, ‘what did he truly mean by that? It’s not like I wasn’t determined… It’s not like I didn’t want to win.’

  Noboru continued this train of thought for hours on end, and Rin was happy to mull over him the entire time. The two were deep into the woods with almost no source of light to keep them company; so naturally, when one appeared just beyond a shrub a few feet away they were drawn to it like moths.

  “Careful Noboru.”

  She moved her arm back, and carefully motioned him to follow. Soon the two were behind a few bushes; all they’d have to do is raise their heads to see what was going on in the area.

  Rin, and Noboru carefully stuck their heads out to get a better look. What they saw was a dimly lit torch sticking up from the ground, and behind it was a child bound and gagged to a tree. Noboru’s eyes widened in shock, but before he could speak, he felt a cold grasp on his arm- It was Rin.

  “Noboru, I know what this looks like, but we need to think rationally here okay?”

  Noboru turned his head and looked again at the child. It was a boy with blonde hair, and blue eyes; what stuck out most to Noboru however was the headband on his head.

  “H-He’s from the ‘Hidden Frost', " Noboru said, “I’m going to go take a look.”

  Noboru tried to pull his arm up, but Rin hadn’t let go.

  “Hold on,” she said resiliently.

  The girl finally let go of Noboru and placed her hands firmly on the ground.

  “Ninja Art: Sensory Effect”

  Noboru watched as a dim light appeared on the earth in the shape of a hexagram.

  “It’s a jutsu that lets me sense all the people, and animals around us as long as I channel chakra into it,” Rin said, “there isn’t anyone nearby.”

  She motioned toward the boy. “Go untie him, but like I said before, be careful.”

  Noboru heeded Rin’s warning, and carefully stepped out of the bushes. Upon revealing himself the boy began to tremble in fear.

  He looked at Noboru and started crying uncontrollably, shaking his head. Noboru noticed red marks on his chest just above the rope.

  ‘It’s hurting him.’

  He pulled out a kunai, and used his good hand to cut the ropes, and as soon as he did the boy's internal organs flooded out of his body and onto the floor. His eyes locked onto Noboru's as he began to whimper loudly, then silently, then nothing. His head fell forward, and his headband fell off, and into the pool of blood.

  Noboru started to shake in fear; his body quivering and convulsing repeatedly. Noboru brought his hands to his stomach, and immediately threw up; while on the ground he saw the boy’s headband, and decided to pick it up, and place it inside his pouch.

  Before he could do anything else he was jolted up by Rin. She grabbed his hand and started to run.

  “I’m sorry about what happened, but you need to focus now!” Rin said.

  Noboru felt his body being dragged along through bushes, and dirt; they were both running, but to Noboru it felt like he wasn’t moving at all. All he saw was the boy’s face; all he saw was his insides smeared all over the dirt.

  “I was too focused on people.” Rin said, “I wasn’t paying attention to the animals nearby!” Rin beat herself up.

  “I’m not sure how they detected us, but as soon as the boy died, I could sense three beings moving in our direction at incredible speed,” Rin said, “Noboru, we won't last long out here in the dark without a sense of direction. I could create a source of light, but it would only make us easier to target. Your Kiidogan Noboru, use it now!” Rin yelled.

  Noboru could feel tears welling up in his eyes; he barely paid any attention to his comrade

  “I-I lack resolve.” He muttered.

  Rin looked back at him, but as she did an enormous beast leaped out of the woods and tried to slice through Rin.

  “It’s too late to cast jutsu,” She decided, “Even if I could use one hand I won’t be fast enough,” She smirked. “Alright you beast… go ahead and take it.”

  The wolf's claw tore apart Rin’s left arm; she felt it explode as various blood vessels erupted covering her face with her own blood. The wolf decimated her arm; but it was somehow still attached. Rin winced in pain and screamed.

  She pulled her right arm forward and did her best to throw Noboru to the other side of the beast.

  ‘Now I can cast jutsu.’

  “Wind Style, Gustling Wind Technique!” She yelled.

  Noboru felt the wind beneath his feet tugging on his body.

  ‘W-What?’’

  The wind launched him like a bullet toward the sky; he felt branches, and twigs scrape up his body, but before he knew it, he was closer than ever to the stars. He was above every tree in the forest gazing at the moonlight.

  Before he began his descent, he saw Rin not far from him gliding through the air. She had a kunai in hand and was managing herself against what appeared to be a massive wolf.

  ‘Because of the jutsu’s range, I was forced to bring you up with me. But I took gravity into account. Noboru, and I will survive the fall, but something as heavy as you won’t. Especially if I do this!’

  Rin raised her arm again and cast the same jutsu.

  “Wind Style Gustling Wind Technique”

  A gust of wind flew past Rin, and completely enveloped the wolf, sending it into the forest.

  As Rin, and Noboru glided toward the ground the enemy was nowhere near. As Noboru walked back to Rin he saw her bent down over her hexagram jutsu.

  “I can say for sure that they’re gone. More importantly- why didn’t you do anything?!” Rin yelled.

  “You’re a shinobi aren’t you- from the Kosutta clan, right - Mikan’s brother? Why didn’t you activate your Kiidogan?”

  Rin did her best to stop the bleeding in her left arm, but she’d need serious medical attention as soon as possible.

  “I’m sorry…” Noboru said quietly. “I-I’ve n-never been in a real fight before.” Mikan's little brother was constantly looking around for the enemy- he was scared.

  “A-as for the Kiidogan I-It hasn't been activated yet… I don’t think I ever will.”

  Noboru looked at Rin’s wound, and fought to hold back tears, “You got hurt because of me- I’m sorry,” Noboru said sadly. “If you want to go without me- you can.”

  “You should’ve told me that at the beginning. Are you hiding any more disappointing secrets?” Rin said cradling her bleeding arm, “I can see why Mikan kept you a secret, you’re nothing like her.”

  It stung. Every word. Just as he thought he’d been making progress. He’d finally made it outside, he managed to sneak up on Natsuki, and now he was participating in the Mock Exams. However, the cruel reality of it was that all of those accomplishments had nothing to do with him. He was only outside because Rubin let him leave the village, he only knew where to go because Mikan assigned Rin to escort him, and the only reason that necklace was around his neck was because Minori, and Rin made it happen.

  Noboru said nothing, and instead lowered his head, following Rin from behind. Instead of feeling proud, and gazing up at the stars it felt as though the stars were looking down on him.

  The two finished the trip in silence, arriving on a small hill, overlooking a tiny village, and in the distance the pair could see a small dock with a handful of exam participants waiting.

  “As much as I’d like to stick around and meet your colleagues, something tells me they’re just as awful as you are. I’m heading to the village to get patched up, and then I’m finding my own way to Point Break. See you around.”

  Without looking back Rin trotted off toward the village leaving Noboru alone with his thoughts.

  In the distance were a handful of exam combatants his age. He squeezed the pendant again, and made his way toward them.

  ‘Resolve. I will not freeze again.’

  Prologue Arc. For the time being we are 100% done with POV chapters. Since all the characters will be together for the time being we won't be splitting up too much going forward.

  Children of Eden meaning there's about 80k words written (not including re-writes) prior to the start of the next arc of this story.