Chapter 79: Recovery
When Kiba woke up, it was already
ten o'clock in the evening.
"You're awake," Hirohiko
said, noticing him stir, half of his face covered in bandages.
"Hiss!" Kiba winced,
pain evident on his face as he attempted to sit up.
"Hush!" Hirohiko
signaled him to be quiet.
Kiba frowned slightly, about to
ask something, but he saw Uzumaki Kushina sitting at the edge of the bed
between him and Hirohiko. She had fallen asleep with her chin resting on the
bed's edge, her red hair slipping from her forehead.
"How long have I been
unconscious?" Kiba asked softly.
"Five or six hours,"
Hirohiko responded just as softly.
Kiba adjusted the pillow and
leaned back slowly, pain surging through his body. He gritted his teeth,
looking at his tightly bandaged right hand, smiling wryly. Sure enough, it was too
much.
Then, out of the corner of his
eye, he noticed Yukina on the other side, also asleep with one hand resting on
the bed, propping up her chin. She looked much more disheveled than Kushina,
her body covered in dust and small wounds on her hands.
Kiba was taken aback.
"Yukina scored three points;
we all advanced," Hirohiko said in a low voice.
When Hirohiko said this, Kiba
quickly understood. He played three games, and the match against Hyuga Yutaka
was likely considered a draw. With two wins out of three games, he was
definitely promoted even if he couldn't participate in subsequent matches. But
Hirohiko played two games, one win and one loss, totaling zero points. If he
couldn't participate further, he would have negative points.
According to the rules, three
points could revive an eliminated teammate. Yukina's three points undoubtedly
revived Hirohiko, allowing all three to advance.
Thanks for your hard work, Yukina... Kiba thought, looking at her. He could
tell her battles were tough.
"Are you... are you
okay?" Kiba asked Hirohiko.
"It's lighter than
yours," Hirohiko answered concisely, but Kiba knew his own injuries were
more severe.
This guy... always refuses to admit how serious his
injuries are!
"You used that technique
after eating my military ration pill, then you beat me with one punch,"
Hirohiko said suddenly.
Kiba was slightly taken aback,
then replied, "You saw that?"
"The action of wiping sweat?
You put the military ration pill out of your pocket into your mouth. When I
tied you up, you ate the pill, replenished your strength and chakra, then
activated that technique?" It was rare for Hirohiko to say so much.
"That's right. Without the
military ration pill, my physical strength and chakra wouldn't have been enough
to open the fourth gate," Kiba said.
The reason he could open the wound
gate was indeed due to the military ration pill Hirohiko had given him when he
was hungry before the match.
Kiba didn't expect that the
military ration pill he didn't want to eat would save him at a critical moment.
He discovered the condition for opening the fourth gate of the Eight Gates on
the last day of training before the Chunin Exam. Although he didn't initially
intend to use it, his body's capability to open the gate didn't mean he could
withstand the violent chakra. It was too much.
In the end, he couldn't help but
use it.
Fortunately, it didn't cause irreversible
consequences. Though I feel pain when I move, I know it's not a big
problem—just rest and recuperation.
"Speaking of which, you
performed that combined ninjutsu on purpose," Kiba suddenly said.
"What?" Hirohiko still
had a poker face.
"You deliberately used
combined ninjutsu to consume your own chakra. You had other ninjutsu options
that didn't consume so much chakra," Kiba looked at Hirohiko.
"No, there was no other
choice," Hirohiko's poker face remained unchanged.
Lie! I know you felt I had consumed a lot of stamina
fighting Hyuga Yutaka. You used that ninjutsu to even out our advantages.
Kiba knew in his heart that
although combined ninjutsu was powerful, it wasn't the best choice due to its
excessive chakra consumption.
At this time, Uzumaki Kushina and
Yukina let out soft moans and slowly opened their eyes. Seeing Kiba and
Hirohiko awake, they smiled and said, "You're awake!"
Then, Uzumaki Kushina's red hair
fluttered slowly.
Why? Why are you mad? Didn't we all advance?
Kiba blinked, seeing Uzumaki
Kushina's expression, he had a bad premonition.
Then...
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Two heavy punches landed on Kiba
and Hirohiko's heads, immediately forming large red bumps.
It hurts!
Kiba covered his head, tears
almost falling. Hirohiko's movements mirrored Kiba's.
"You two!" Uzumaki
Kushina said, anger evident on her forehead. "Don't you know what the
second test is about?"
"I know, it's about
mentality, tactical choices, and the ability to sustain battles," Kiba
replied.
Hearing Kiba's answer, Uzumaki
Kushina spewed out two streams of air from her nostrils and said, "Then
why did you choose tactics that consume so much chakra, rendering you unable to
fight? If this were a battlefield, you might already be dead!"
"Yes, Sensei Kushina,"
Hirohiko admitted his mistake.
"We won't do it again,"
Kiba also admitted his mistake.
Seeing the two wrapped in
bandages, Uzumaki Kushina's red hair slowly fell. She sighed and said,
"There is no 'next time' in life-and-death battles. Take reasonable
actions. Otherwise, your injuries or inability to fight will likely lead to
your teammates' deaths."
Although she felt their
performance was good, as their teacher, some things had to be pointed out.
"Yes, Sensei Kushina,"
the two responded, then looked at Yukina and said, "Sorry, Yukina."
Yukina quickly waved her small
hand, indicating it was okay.
Indeed, if this were a battlefield, Hirohiko and I
losing combat effectiveness would implicate Yukina, possibly leading to her
death too. Sensei Kushina is right. The three-point revival system likely tests
this aspect too.
This rule might seem playful, but it covers many
battlefield scenarios and decisions.
Whoever came up with this rule is very wise, Kiba thought, feeling more and more that
the Third Great Ninja War was approaching, and the village was preparing for
it.
The current goal, besides the Chunin exam, is to
consider developing the Gate of pain mode. Although it's tough to open, I must
plan ahead.
However, no training today... I feel too
uncomfortable.
"Then, rest well today.
Yukina, you should rest too. Your injuries should recover by tomorrow. Yuriko
has confirmed it. Tomorrow is the final test. Don't slack off," Uzumaki
Kushina said seriously.
The three nodded simultaneously.
"Yes, Sensei Kushina."
Uzumaki Kushina nodded, then
smiled slightly and said, "I'll leave you for now and get something to
eat."
Turning, she left. The three of
them looked at each other and then at the empty infirmary.
"So, before Sensei Kushina
comes back, does anyone want to play cards?" Kiba glanced at the table
beside the bed, noticing a deck of cards.
"Play!" Hirohiko said
concisely.
"Okay!" Yukina agreed.
Yukina took the cards, Hirohiko
got out of bed, and the three played cards on Kiba's hospital bed.