Chapter 133: **Chapter 133: Falling into the Abyss, the First Battle Begins!**
"Reiki, did you intentionally end that fight with a tie?" Shisui asked as the three of them walked through the Forest of Souls, their hunt underway.
"Yes," Reiki admitted, smiling. "Darui has potential, but his combat sense is still developing. Give him some time, and he'll become an excellent ninja. Ending in a draw was the best option."
Turning, Reiki noticed Shisui and Nozuki looking at him with curious expressions. "To put it simply," he continued, "we've drawn enough attention already. If we keep pushing too hard, Konoha might become a target."
He punctuated his words by flinging a kunai, swiftly taking down a nearby wild goat for their meal.
Shisui and Nozuki exchanged glances, realizing how far ahead Reiki was thinking. While they'd been basking in their victory, Reiki was already strategizing at a higher level, foreseeing potential conflicts if Konoha stood out too much.
"It's impressive that Reiki thinks this way," Shisui said, feeling a newfound respect. "While we're out here competing, he's already working to protect our village."
"Yeah, he's like a force of nature," Nozuki agreed. "If I didn't know him, I'd never believe he was a medical ninja."
The three continued gathering food and met at a creek as planned. Reiki set to work, seasoning and preparing the game they'd collected, turning their catch into a satisfying outdoor barbecue.
---
Meanwhile, in the guesthouse where the village leaders and proctors were staying, Ai, the Kumogakure leader, was in deep discussion with Gulal, the masked ninja. "You're saying Konoha's power has reached a frightening level?" Ai asked, a grim expression crossing his face.
Gulal nodded. "The Konoha Sannin, Konoha's White Fang, Namikaze Minato...and now this generation of genin. Konoha's strength is undeniable. If you can't oppose them, it might be wiser to seek an alliance instead."
Ai looked skeptical but pondered his brother's words. Konoha's influence and military power were clearly growing, but the idea of an alliance was hard to accept. At the same time, standing idly by while Konoha continued to rise was a risk he couldn't ignore.
---
Elsewhere, Kato Dan approached Tsunade again, attempting to engage her in conversation. "Tsunade, we need to talk," he began.
Tsunade's response was icy. "Kato Dan, if you have any decency left, spare me your lies. You're just a task to me. Yes, I despise you," she said, voice filled with cold disgust.
Kato Dan's face twisted with anger. He had always relied on his charm to influence others, but Tsunade's indifference broke through his facade. Silently seething, he muttered to himself, "I'll make you regret this, Tsunade. Just a woman…"
With that, he disappeared, his mind clouded with resentment and twisted thoughts.
---
The next day, all the remaining genin assembled at the training ground for the final actual combat assessment. Tsunade addressed the group. "This is the last phase of the Chunin Exam. Today, you'll be facing opponents from Sunagakure Village."
She handed Reiki the battle list, and he scanned it quickly. "Pisi, Kayu, and Osawa," he murmured. "They're average in strength, so it's best if we prolong the fight, making it look like a struggle to conserve chakra."
Shisui nodded, catching on to Reiki's strategy. "We're practically assured of passing based on our scores, so this round is all about showing restraint."
The first match soon began, and Reiki found himself across from his opponent, Osawa, a skilled puppeteer from Sunagakure. Osawa gave him a resigned look. "Great, of all people, I get matched against you."
While Osawa hadn't fought Reiki directly in the Forest of Souls, he'd witnessed Reiki's strength in his bout with Darui and knew the odds weren't in his favor. But as a proud ninja of Sunagakure, he refused to back down.
The referee raised his hand. "The first battle of the Chunin Exam: Konoha's Reiki versus Sunagakure's Osawa. Begin!"
Osawa wasted no time, summoning his puppet and sending a barrage of kunai and senbon in Reiki's direction. Reiki deftly blocked the projectiles, but Osawa's relentless assault prevented him from closing the gap. As a puppeteer, Osawa's strength lay in maintaining distance; as long as Reiki couldn't breach his puppet's defenses, he'd be safe.
Reiki observed Osawa's movements carefully, analyzing his technique. The real challenge lay in understanding how to break through the puppet's defenses without showing too much of his true strength.
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