As Ke Dong slowly regained consciousness, he saw Reiki treating him and was momentarily speechless.
"All done. Your injuries are healed," Reiki said. "It seems there's some mental strain, though, so stay still."
Seeing Ke Dong's dazed look, Reiki activated his calming jutsu. The recent battle had clearly left Ke Dong mentally shaken. After finishing, Reiki moved to the other two fallen Rain ninjas, quickly treating their wounds as well.
"Are you… really a medical ninja?" Ke Dong asked, his expression shifting from initial contempt to astonishment. In just ten minutes, his view of Reiki had transformed.
"This is combat training—did you misunderstand what that means?" a voice interrupted from behind. One of the Rain jounin stepped forward, hands raised.
*Water Style: Water Prison!* The jounin trapped Reiki in a sphere of water with a swift motion.
"You two, join him!" In an instant, Shisui and Nozuki were also caught in water prisons created by the jounin's clones.
"Teacher…" Ke Dong looked conflicted. Reiki and his friends had defeated them fair and square and had even taken the time to heal their injuries. And now, as soon as they were back on their feet, the jounin stepped in.
"This is a practical drill. Remember, we're dealing with an enemy. If you can't keep that perspective, go back to school!" the jounin scolded sharply, his gaze icy.
"Kato Dan, let's settle this," the Rain jounin—Nagasawa Jo—said, turning to Kato Dan. Since they'd agreed to include the instructors, the deciding factor would be their battle.
"Alright," Kato Dan nodded and released a shadow clone, then sat cross-legged on the ground, preparing for the Spiritual Transformation Technique. Seeing this, Nagasawa Jo's face grew serious. He immediately released his own clone and rushed toward Kato Dan, knowing that Kato's Spiritual Transformation Technique left his physical body vulnerable.
One of the water prisons collapsed as the Rain jounin shifted his focus, releasing Shisui, Reiki, and Nozuki. However, Kato Dan's spirit form had already launched its attack.
*Slice!*
A water clone dispersed before it could get close to Kato Dan. The invisible spirit strike left no visible sign, and even knowing Kato's attack method, countering it was not so simple.
"Room—Surgery!"
Reiki raised his hand, activating the power of the Op-Op Fruit. Within moments, a small block appeared in his hand, and inside, he held a suspended brain.
"Got you!" Kato Dan suddenly appeared behind Nagasawa Jo, striking with his spirit blade aimed directly at the brain.
But to his surprise, Nagasawa Jo continued to advance toward Kato's physical body, seemingly unaffected by the attack.
"What… how?" Kato Dan was shocked. Logically, a hit to the brain should have rendered Nagasawa Jo unconscious.
"I don't believe this!" Kato Dan gritted his teeth. *Spiritual Transformation Technique: Twin Spirit Blades!* He struck again, both blades aiming for the opponent's mind.
*Slash!*
Yet, once again, Nagasawa Jo pushed forward undeterred. Seeing the Rain jounin approaching his physical body, Kato Dan had no choice but to return to it, looking weakened from his spiritual exertion.
*Water Style…* But before Kato Dan could finish casting a jutsu, Nagasawa Jo closed the distance and punched him, sending him sprawling to the ground. The impact left Kato Dan unable to move.
At that moment, a smirk crossed Reiki's face.
"Perfect timing for a little push," he muttered. He activated his Op-Op powers, sending the suspended brain back into Nagasawa Jo's body, stimulating his central nervous system.
"Once you're close, your tricks don't matter!" Nagasawa Jo taunted, standing over Kato Dan. "An assassin ninja resorting to these tactics—Konoha's way of the ninja sure is laughable!"
Nagasawa Jo's disdain was evident as he launched punch after punch at Kato Dan, his attacks speeding up.
*Fire Style: Great Fireball!*
Suddenly, Shisui appeared in front of Nagasawa Jo, forcing him to retreat with a powerful fire jutsu. Shisui, Reiki, and Nozuki immediately took defensive positions.
Despite the attack from the three young ninjas, Nagasawa Jo prepared to face them, knowing that he had to remain undefeated to claim victory for his side.
*Thud!*
Just as Nagasawa Jo was about to counterattack, he suddenly stumbled, a wave of dizziness overcoming him. Losing his balance, he collapsed to the ground.
*Boom!*
Shisui's fireball hit its target, kicking up a cloud of dust as Nagasawa Jo lay unconscious on the ground. The three Konoha ninjas lowered their stances.
"Konoha wins!" Yahiko announced, raising his hand to disperse the dust. He helped the fallen Nagasawa Jo to the side, confirming Konoha's victory in the practical exercise.
Inside the tavern, Hanzo of the Salamander looked grim. Kato Dan had been defeated, but worse still, Nagasawa Jo had been bested by three young genin.
To Hanzo, it was clear that Nagasawa Jo had expended too much energy trying to counter Kato Dan's Spiritual Transformation Technique.
"Hanzo-sama, shall we continue?" Tsunade asked confidently. "Minato and the other three are ready to fight if needed. You and I don't need to join in."
Beside her, Namikaze Minato, Akimichi Choza, and Aburame Shibi stood ready. Each had a strong reputation in the ninja world, and with Minato's mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique, Tsunade felt confident in her team's strength.
"Very well," Hanzo agreed, though reluctantly. Just then, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stepped forward.
"Yes, let us handle this," Yahiko said, his voice calm. With the three of them joining, Hanzo knew that the outcome would be manageable regardless of who won.
Minato stepped forward, nodding at the challenge.
"Minato, maybe we should hold off," Shibi said, quietly leaning over to Minato.
"Understood." Minato turned to Yahiko, his smile warm. "How about we have a conversation instead?" he suggested, extending a scroll toward Yahiko.
>>>>>
Gimme Power stones I'm Poor