Reiki placed his hand on Cangzi's wrist while Tsunade pressed her hand gently on Reiki's back, boosting his chakra.
"All hands!" Reiki called, channeling his chakra into Cangzi. As his chakra entered, the toxins in her body recoiled as though facing an enemy. Cangzi's meridians became a battleground between her own energy and Reiki's purging force. Pain flashed across her face, but within ten minutes, a strange energy was expelled, leaving her face flushed with renewed vitality.
"It's done, teacher. You can stop the chakra flow now," Reiki said, releasing his hands. "Teacher Cangzi's poison has been neutralized."
He hesitated before continuing, "But... this toxin isn't ordinary. It's not synthetic or natural—it's more like a special kind of chakra. It's... the chakra of a tailed beast. Specifically, Nanabi, Chōmei."
Tsunade's expression shifted. "The tailed beast from Takigakure... Nanao Chōmei? But Takigakure usually avoids ninja conflicts and keeps Nanao under close guard. Could Cangzi have some connection to the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki?"
"These questions are beyond us, teacher," Reiki replied. "I'm not curious either. I'll head back to rest." He left with a polite bow.
---
Meanwhile, in a quiet courtyard in Takigakure, Cangzi arrived.
"You're back… Your aura feels different," a man said, noticing the absence of the chakra that had previously plagued her.
"Yes," she replied calmly. "The Konoha ninjas healed me, restoring my meridians."
The man looked relieved. "Good. After the Chūnin Exams, we'll go and thank them properly." He gently took her hand, guiding her inside.
In a dark cave somewhere in Takigakure, a pair of massive eyes blinked open, emitting an eerie sound that echoed through the shadows.
---
The next morning, the genin candidates assembled at the training ground. Those who had failed the written test were gone, while those remaining prepared for the next round. The proctor addressed the group.
"Today's assessment will be held in the Forest of Souls. Your objective is to cross the forest and reach your destination. You'll receive maps and numbered cards upon entry."
The examiner motioned to two banners that displayed the rules:
1. **Murder will result in immediate disqualification.**
2. **If your number card is taken, you'll be declared a loser after the test.**
3. **Lower-ranked participants will fail.**
4. **Using special weapons, summoning scrolls, or psychic scrolls will result in instant defeat.**
Reiki raised his hand and stepped forward. "Konoha Genin, Reiki. I have a question."
The examiner nodded, allowing Reiki to proceed.
"If we use items like soldier pills during the assessment, would that count as a failure?" Reiki asked directly.
"Recovery items like soldier pills are allowed," the examiner confirmed.
"Thank you." Reiki nodded and returned to the group.
"Alright, if there are no more questions, please collect your number cards and maps," the examiner said.
Once everyone had their cards, the genin rushed into the Forest of Souls, quickly dispersing like scattered leaves on the wind.
Observing the hopeful young ninjas, the examiners murmured among themselves. "This group has potential. With any luck, we'll see more chūnin emerge from among them."
---
Inside the Forest of Souls, the remaining genin moved swiftly, protecting their cards while advancing toward their destination. However, mere survival wouldn't secure a high rank; scoring depended on the number cards each held, which encouraged competition and confrontations.
Reiki turned to Shisui and Nozuki. "Time to split up. Be cautious. Use the potion I gave you sparingly and reach out if you need my help. Also, I have a reward prepared."
He handed each of them a bottle. "This is the Foundation and Potential Potion. If you impress Teacher Tsunade, she might even let you keep it."
"Got it!" Shisui grinned, drinking the potion and darting away.
"Good luck, Nozuki!" he called as Nozuki smiled, then vanished into the forest.
As the trio dispersed, six enemy ninjas appeared at the spot where they had stood moments before.
"They've split up. Let's catch their number cards!" the lead ninja sneered, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
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