Using his speed and special teleportation techniques, Shisui quickly dismantled all the traps surrounding the area, each one exploding in quick succession.
"Hm?" Nozuki murmured, hearing the distant blasts. "Looks like Shisui has started. Guess it's my turn."
She vanished and reappeared atop a large tree, scanning the surroundings. "Wind Release: Great Wind Sphere!" She aimed toward the ninjas' location, unleashing a powerful gust.
Three figures were forced out of hiding.
"Not a fake after all. We've been spotted," one of them muttered.
"Let's make this quick. Capture one of them to use as leverage," a tall, thin ninja ordered, charging at Nozuki.
Without hesitation, Nozuki responded, weaving signs. "Wind Release: Sickle Blade!" A massive wind blade materialized, slashing toward her attackers. As they dodged, Nozuki executed another jutsu. "Lightning Release: Paralysis Needle!"
Lightning needles zipped through the air, piercing her opponents. Although the needles didn't cause severe damage, the paralyzing effect slowed their movements, making it difficult for them to close in.
"Are you ready?" Nozuki asked, smirking as lightning threads appeared between her fingers. "Lightning Release: Thunder Net!"
The threads connected to the needles embedded in her opponents, creating a charged web that sparked and crackled, detonating in a burst of electricity and dust.
"Space Conductor!"
In that instant, Reiki joined the fight, extending his hand and pulling Nozuki out of the blast zone. The moment she left, earthen spikes erupted from the ground where she had been standing.
"Watch out. There's a stronger ninja hiding in the shadows. The ten we detected are only the lower-tier ones; we can handle them," Reiki whispered before disappearing with Nozuki.
As soon as they were safe, Reiki felt his chakra reserves draining fast. Fighting was far more taxing than treating injuries.
"Reiki, should we keep going?" Nozuki asked, noting his fatigue.
"This is the Chunin Exams, Nozuki," Reiki replied, smiling. "We can't back down now. Besides, I'm a medical ninja—I'm here to help, not necessarily to fight."
Nozuki gave him an incredulous look. He had been more aggressive than her during the battle, and yet he was claiming he was "just" a medical ninja.
Just then, Shisui reappeared, guided by the mark he had placed on Reiki. "Most of the traps are destroyed," he reported. "I also set a few traps of my own. The three that Nozuki fought are incapacitated, and their allies dragged them away. That leaves seven."
Nozuki nodded. "But one of their number is hiding. Whoever it is, their strength could be Jōnin-level," she warned, using a recovery potion to restore some chakra.
"I'm here for support," Reiki reminded them with a grin. "You two take the lead."
Both Shisui and Nozuki rolled their eyes.
"Reiki, what are you planning?" Shisui asked, not entirely convinced he'd stay out of the fray.
Reiki's eyes glinted. "I thought I'd bring back our injured guests. I need them for… treatment practice."
Nozuki sighed, exasperated. "Please tell me you're not just looking for more 'patients'."
Shisui stared at Reiki, his eyebrows raised.
"Medical ninjutsu requires practice," Nozuki explained with a casual shrug. "Want to be my next patients?"
"No way!" Shisui and Nozuki replied in unison, recalling his interrogation methods.
"Fine. Shadow Clone!" Reiki created a clone and located the three injured opponents.
"Be careful—they're all Chunin-level," Nozuki warned him. But before the injured ninja could even register the threat, they were gone, teleported away by Reiki's clone.
"Hong? Zhi?" Their comrades gaped in shock, glancing around in disbelief. Three injured allies had been "stolen" right before their eyes.
"If you want your friends back, tell your captain to come out," came a taunting voice. "No use hiding."
Both ninjas drew their kunai, bewildered by the sudden disappearance.
"Hey, hey, I'm just logistics," Reiki's voice continued, mocking. "You'd better worry about my two friends coming for you right now."
"Room Scalpel!" Reiki's clone raised its hand, and with a quick swipe, removed both ninjas' hearts in one swift movement, leaving them stunned and weak.
"Room: Slaughterhouse!" Another wave of space manipulation whisked the injured pair away.
*Poof!* The next second, a kunai struck the clone, dispersing it into white mist.
"A shadow clone?" muttered a tall, muscular ninja who had been hiding nearby. He watched the clone dissipate, his expression grim. "Is this 'medical ninja' actually a kid who can use space-time jutsu?"
These three kids had eliminated most of his team before he could even react. Were these really just Genin?
"Got you!" A voice rang out as flames and wind surged toward him in tandem.
"Fire Release: Flame Dragon Bomb!" shouted Shisui.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" Nozuki added, sending the combined attack hurtling toward their hidden foe.