"Kid, your teammate might be strong, but you're just a medical ninja. Are you overestimating your own abilities?" Orange taunted, brandishing his kunai and eyeing Reiki with a wary look. He had clearly chosen the second option, not only aiming to reclaim his card but also to seize Reiki's high-value card.
On the sidelines, the trio of Kirigakure ninjas looked at each other in disbelief. One of them muttered, "Reiki, those three Iwagakure ninjas are about to attack. Are you ready?"
"Let them try," Reiki replied calmly, closing his eyes as if preparing to take a nap.
"What do you mean by that?" Orange sneered.
In an instant, the three Kirigakure ninjas launched their Water Release jutsus.
"Water Release: Water Needles!"
"Water Release: Quagmire!"
"Water Release: Mud Dragon Bullet!"
Caught off guard, the Iwagakure trio found themselves overwhelmed by the swift barrage, helplessly forced to the ground before they even had a chance to retaliate. Moments later, they were dragged and tossed unceremoniously in front of Reiki.
"Nicely done," Reiki said with a nod. He handed each of the Kirigakure ninjas a recovery potion and a stamina potion. "You've earned a reward. You can each pick three."
"Wait—there are rewards?" One of them asked, surprised. "And… our number cards?"
Reiki nodded. "I'll give you back your cards. If you bring me more people, you can exchange them for even more potions. I'm not collecting cards here," he added with a smile. "Now, take your potion and number cards and be on your way. I have work to do."
As they departed, one of the Kirigakure ninjas looked back at Reiki, awe in his eyes. "Reiki, you're strong. Remember my name: I'm Bai. One day, I'll surpass you!"
They took their potions and disappeared quickly into the forest. Ten minutes later, far from Reiki's spot, they stopped to drink the potions, hoping to recover.
Bai paused, feeling the effects immediately. "This… the chakra recovery rate is incredible! This potion must be the famous one circulating the ninja world recently… but I thought it was just hype."
One of his teammates looked equally stunned. "This potion is real?! But Reiki's only a genin, even if he's Tsunade's disciple. How could he have something so rare?"
The three of them exchanged a knowing look. "Forget deceiving Reiki. Our goal's changed. Let's get more potions!"
---
Meanwhile, at the destination point, the examiners grew restless. "Why hasn't anyone arrived yet? By this time, at least some genin not involved in card battles should have made it here."
"I don't know," his colleague replied. "Maybe the competition's fiercer than usual. But at least we get some peace and quiet."
Their conversation was interrupted as a figure appeared at the forest's edge. "Konoha medical ninja… Reiki?" the examiner muttered, surprised. Reiki stood there, casually holding a stack of number cards in his hands.
Reiki glanced around, choosing not to step across the line to his destination. Instead, he sat down just outside it, waiting.
Soon after, a group of three more Konoha genin arrived: Mitarashi Murasaki, Aburame Kai, and Yamanaka Kaizo. They dragged an unconscious ninja along with them, and Murasaki addressed Reiki. "We brought 18 people in total, six of them double-counted."
Reiki nodded, tossing her a sealing scroll. "Good work."
"Thanks," she said, sitting down behind him. Reiki resumed his "work," healing the injured ninja they had brought in, and once they were conscious, they sprinted back into the forest.
The examiners exchanged baffled glances. These three Konoha genin had reached their destination but were somehow returning to the forest.
"This strategy is… what's going on?" one examiner mumbled, struggling to understand the reasoning behind it.
Their confusion only grew when Uchiha Shisui appeared, dragging two more unconscious genin behind him, with Nozuki trailing close by, carrying another. "I've got a few more, Reiki!" Shisui grinned, ready to go back into the forest for more.
Reiki stopped him. "That's enough, Shisui. Let's give the others a chance." Shisui reluctantly agreed, joining Reiki and Nozuki in sitting near the destination.
Each time a genin was revived, they would head back into the forest, leaving the assessment ninjas thoroughly bewildered. "This… they've technically completed the objective, but why are they going back?"
"We're supposed to be the proctors here, yet we can't even guess what's happening," one examiner muttered.
"These Konoha genin… they're a special breed," the other replied, scratching his head in defeat.
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