At this time, many people gathered in secret.
As a medical sage of the ninja world, the apprentice of Senju Tsunade, and recognized as one of the three prodigies, Reiki naturally attracted the attention of many people.
"Shisui, don't accuse us of bullying you!" he said confidently. "The next battle is between you and Nozuki. I'll be supporting Nozuki." He stepped back behind Nozuki with a grin.
"You're stronger alone than both of us together. Is this arrangement acceptable?" he asked, testing Shisui.
"Of course," Shisui replied, his hands forming seals rapidly. "But choosing Nozuki's side means you might not be able to protect her."
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!" Shisui called, casting a fire jutsu in a blazing display. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" Nozuki countered, and the two powerful jutsus clashed, forcing each other back. They both took out kunai, moving into close combat.
"Sharingan!" Shisui activated his bloodline trait, casting a genjutsu that momentarily entrapped Nozuki. But as he shifted his focus to Reiki, Nozuki broke free with surprising speed, countering with a fierce attack that threw Shisui off balance.
Observers murmured as they watched. "The role of a medical ninja in combat can weaken the group," one said. "Few, like Tsunade, are strong in offense, defense, and healing."
The crowd's initial curiosity about the three prodigies began to wane, with some disappointed by the spectacle. Yet a few stayed, convinced there was more to witness.
The tides turned unexpectedly when Shisui, overconfident in his genjutsu's success, found himself unprepared for Nozuki's sudden counterattack. Reiki, meanwhile, continued harassing him from different angles until Shisui's kunai was knocked away, forcing him to concede.
"Is this truly their strength?" some wondered aloud, looking around in disbelief.
Among the crowd, reactions varied: some were disappointed, others intrigued, and a few, deep in thought, chose to remain, unwilling to believe that Tsunade's disciples were so easily bested.
"The spirit-clearing potion—Nozuki must've used it," Shisui realized afterward. Though Reiki hadn't directly engaged, Nozuki's immunity to his illusion could only be explained by that potion.
"Next, let's have a free-for-all," Reiki announced, "and whoever loses will cover all expenses during the Chunin Exam!" He disappeared into the shadows, employing his unusual invisibility technique.
"Again with this tactic. Should we hunt Reiki first?" Shisui suggested, glancing at Nozuki.
But Nozuki smiled and said, "Sorry, I'm already allied with Reiki. Shisui, you're on your own." Shisui sighed, feeling the challenge multiply as Nozuki launched a swift surprise attack.
---
Half an hour later, Reiki finally emerged, clearly exhausted. "Alright, alright, I lost," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "I didn't expect you two to turn on me!"
"Haha, it's just practice!" Nozuki laughed. "Besides, you're the richest among us, right?"
"Yeah," Shisui added, "You're strong but tried to ally with Nozuki—most cunning of all!"
The three laughed as they walked away, leaving the watchers with new insights. To them, Reiki was the strongest, Shisui the second, and Nozuki the weakest. Though Reiki's battle style remained a mystery, they had enough information for now.
The next morning, the ninjas gathered for the written portion of the Chunin Exam. As Reiki scanned the test, he realized that the questions were ones he had seen before—questions that were difficult for Nozuki and Shisui.
With a grin, Reiki released chakra threads, linking them to his two friends. "Nozuki, Shisui, don't worry," he whispered. "I know the answers. Follow my lead, and remember, this isn't cheating—it's a test of intelligence gathering. Just don't get caught." The three worked seamlessly, with Reiki guiding them through the test.
Inside the examination office, Tsunade's friend, Cangzi, reviewed the papers. "Tsunade, your students did exceptionally well," Cangzi commented, handing her the papers.
Tsunade examined them, her eyes widening at the similarity in answers. Though her face remained neutral, pride shone through. "They're just young," she said with a smile, "but they're definitely mine."