Chiba winced as he ascended the stairs, his hand rubbing his chest. He returned to Hirohiko and Yukina, his teeth gritted against the pain.
The eyes of the audience tracked his every movement, and the gazes of the Sannin settled upon him with keen interest.
"This kid's talents in physical exercises and ninjutsu are extraordinary," Orochimaru remarked, his voice tinged with admiration. "From what we've seen, defeating Kakashi might not be as impossible as it once seemed."
Jiraiya's eyes flicked towards Tsunade. Chiba's kick had stirred memories of Tsunade's monstrous strength. While the boy's power paled in comparison to hers, it was still terrifying for a seven-year-old child.
'Mastering the shadow clone at his age, and that kick...' Jiraiya mused, stroking his chin. 'What an intriguing kid.'
It was clear that Tsunade, too, had developed a newfound interest in Chiba.
As Chiba approached the top of the stairs, several ninjas stepped aside, creating a path for him. Their eyes darted nervously between the boy and the sizeable crater he had left in the ground.
Chiba paid them no mind. Upon reaching Yukina and Hirohiko, he turned to the former, his face etched with concern. "Yukina, could you check me with your eyes? Something feels off. Are my bones and internal organs injured?"
Yukina nodded, activating her Byakugan. As she scrutinized Chiba's condition, a faint worry clouded her features.
"What's wrong?" Chiba asked, anxiety creeping into his voice. The pain in his back and chest was intensifying, a stark reminder of Might Guy's formidable strength. Despite having knocked his opponent unconscious, Chiba was far from feeling victorious.
"The muscles and bones in your back have sustained varying degrees of damage," Yukina reported, her eyes still glowing with chakra. "And the ribs in your chest have been cracked."
"Is it serious?" Chiba inquired, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Of course it's serious!" A sudden voice rang out, followed by a sharp knock on Chiba's head. A small bump formed with an audible "thump".
"Kushina-sensei!" Yukina and Hirohiko exclaimed in unison, their heads swiveling towards the newcomer.
Behind Chiba stood Kushina Uzumaki, her face a mask of seriousness. A female ninja hovered at her shoulder, watching the scene unfold.
"When a ninja is in a safe environment, the first priority is to assess their injuries and employ various healing methods," Kushina lectured sternly, her red hair seeming to bristle with disapproval.
"I understand..." Chiba mumbled, rubbing his head. The new pain there almost overshadowed the ache in his chest.
"Yuriko, if you would," Kushina said, gesturing to the ninja behind her.
"Of course, Lady Kushina," the female ninja, Yuriko, responded. She stepped forward, addressing Chiba directly. "Please remain seated, and I'll tend to your injuries."
Chiba glanced back, taking in Yuriko's appearance. She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a gentle face and kind eyes. Her warm smile put him at ease almost immediately.
'So Kushina noticed my injuries and they brought a medical ninja to heal me,' Chiba realized, gratitude washing over him.
He nodded, settling into a comfortable position. "Thank you, Yuriko... nee-san," he said, the honorific feeling right on his tongue.
Yuriko's smile widened at the address. She placed her hands on Chiba's back and began channeling her chakra.
'Is this medical ninjutsu?' Chiba wondered, fascinated by the sensation.
He could feel the pain in his back subsiding rapidly, the ache in his chest diminishing to a dull throb. Through the chakra Yuriko was directing into his body, Chiba sensed the intricate manipulations characteristic of medical ninjutsu.
Though the principles behind the technique eluded him, Chiba could appreciate the complexity of the chakra control required. It was clear that not just anyone could become a medical ninja. Like Genjutsu specialists, medical ninjas must be a rare and valued asset to any team.
Kushina watched the process, relief evident on her face as the pain slowly eased from Chiba's expression.
At that moment, the Ninja Proctor's voice rang out across the arena:
"The next match... the opponents are..."
All eyes were drawn to the large screen once more. Despite his seated position, Chiba had a clear view of the names scrolling by. His gaze sharpened as the first name locked into place.
Mito Kiko.
Seconds later, the second name appeared.
Hirohiko Uchiha.
"It's my turn," Hirohiko stated calmly, his eyes leaving the screen as he prepared to descend to the arena.
"Wait," Chiba called out, halting his teammate's departure.
Hirohiko turned, a questioning look on his face.
Chiba tossed something towards him, which Hirohiko caught effortlessly. Glancing down, he recognized his own ninja pouch.
With a nod of thanks to Chiba, Hirohiko resumed his path to the arena, his face a mask of calm determination.
"Do your best, Hirohiko," Yukina and Kushina chorused as he passed. Hirohiko acknowledged them with a slight inclination of his head.
'This should be an interesting match to watch,' Chiba thought, settling in to observe.
"I'll be going now," Mito announced from the other side of the arena, her eyes flicking toward Kayami Hyuga, her teammate.
But Kayami's attention remained fixed on the crater Chiba had created, before shifting to Hirohiko's retreating form.
His face betrayed no emotion; it seemed Chiba's performance had failed to elicit any particular reaction. However, as he watched Hirohiko Uchiha, a hint of solemnity crept into his expression.
'A prodigy hailed as Kakashi's successor.' Kayami mused. 'Hirohiko Uchiha, who awakened his Sharingan at just seven years old, is likely to be my ultimate opponent.'
'The strongest contender in this year's Chunin exam... and I'll be the one to face him.'
These thoughts raced through Kayami Hyuga's mind, his anticipation building.
Even with Chiba's impressive showing, Kayami still didn't consider him a significant threat.
"You can do it, Mito!" Sata Nozawa cheered, his voice cutting through the tension.
Mito didn't respond, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. She seemed not to hear Sata's encouragement. Noting Kayami's indifference, she cast a bitter glance towards Yukina Hyuga before descending the stairs, her shoulders slightly slumped.
By now, Hirohiko stood waiting in the arena, his posture relaxed but alert.
The ninja proctor observed the handsome, stoic boy before him.
'So this is the Uchiha clan's most promising talent?' he mused. 'Awakening the Sharingan at just seven... I'm eager to see what the Uchiha are capable of these days.'
Hirohiko's gaze lingered on the massive crater Chiba had created, a slight frown creasing his brow. 'It seems that to reach such levels of strength, one must be willing to break a few bones,' he reflected.
At that moment, Mito Kiko entered the arena. She looked at Hirohiko Uchiha, taking a deep, steadying breath.
'Come on, Mito, you've got this!' she told herself. 'This is the Chunin exam! You must pass and become a Chunin alongside Kayami.'
'Yukina Hyuga may be more beautiful, but you can surpass her in other ways!' she reasoned, her determination growing. 'Otherwise, Kayami will never notice you.'
"Hup!" Mito Kiko slapped her cheeks, psyching herself up for the battle ahead.
The sound jolted Hirohiko from his thoughts, bringing his full attention to the ordinary-looking girl before him.
"Now, Mito Kiko versus Hirohiko Uchiha," the Ninja Proctor announced, his voice ringing with authority. "Let the match begin!"