Chapitre 121: **Chapter 121: It’s Okay, Tsunade Will Take Action!**
*Gulp…* Yahiko watched Tsunade drag Xin over, barely able to believe what he was seeing. The battle had lasted a mere three minutes, and the jōnin had stood no chance. By the looks of him, most of his bones were shattered without even needing a thorough check.
"We'll rest here until they wake up," Tsunade said, her tone calm. "Yahiko, are you staying with us or heading out?"
Yahiko looked at Tsunade and gave a slight smile. He admired her calm authority and her faith in her students.
"I'll stay. At full speed, we'll reach our destination in half a day, so there's no rush," Yahiko replied.
Tsunade nodded, moving over to her students. She began treating them, replenishing their energy and chakra. While their physical injuries weren't serious, their mental exhaustion was severe, and she needed to prevent any lasting effects.
Once the treatments were underway, Yahiko turned to the nine young ninjas he had brought along from Amegakure, all selected to participate in the Chunin Exam.
"You saw how they fought," Yahiko said, his voice stern. "Now, tell me what you think."
One of the Amegakure ninjas spoke up, shaking his head in disbelief. "If we had to face those three, we wouldn't stand a chance. Their strength, their strategies, their courage… It's beyond anything we could hope to match."
"Are they really just seven or eight years old?" another asked, looking deflated.
The Amegakure ninjas, the youngest of whom was nine and a half and the oldest just eleven, had been the top of their class. Yet the gap in skill was staggering.
"It's good that you're acknowledging the difference," Yahiko said. "But don't let it discourage you. We're joining Konoha's group for the Chunin Exams so that you can learn from them. Don't let age or pride stand in the way. True strength comes from always aiming higher."
His encouragement had the desired effect; the young ninjas felt Yahiko's sincerity and were inspired to press on.
---
Three hours later, Shisui stirred awake. He blinked, disoriented, as he saw Tsunade hovering over him.
"Teacher, we… I'm sorry, we—"
"You did well, Shisui," Tsunade interrupted, her voice soft. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Shisui nodded, accepting her praise and sitting up to center himself. Nozuki awoke soon after and followed suit, closing her eyes to meditate and recover fully.
Reiki, however, remained asleep, his exhaustion too deep for even his teammates' stirring to rouse him.
"Summoning Jutsu!" Tsunade called, and in a puff of smoke, a small slug appeared at her side.
"Lady Tsunade," the slug greeted.
"Help him replenish his chakra and stimulate his recovery," Tsunade instructed, gesturing to Reiki. "He'll need extra rest."
The slug wrapped around Reiki, gently infusing him with energy.
As he lay resting, Tsunade couldn't help but feel proud. Reiki had shown immense tactical skill, balancing his own abilities with those of his teammates, coordinating effectively, and recognizing when to call for help. His performance had been exceptional.
---
As night fell, Reiki finally opened his eyes, feeling warmth beneath him. He blinked, realizing he was nestled in Tsunade's arms, and for a moment, felt blissfully at ease. But then he noticed a giant slug lying atop him, and he jolted upright in surprise.
"Awake?" Tsunade called from beside a campfire. "Come have something to eat."
"Just in time—I'm starving!" Reiki grinned, quickly joining her by the fire. He glanced at Yahiko and then back at Tsunade.
"Teacher, was it you who stopped Brother Yahiko from helping earlier?" he asked, still puzzled by that decision.
"Yes," Tsunade replied bluntly. "Did you feel hopeless out there?"
Reiki shook his head. "Not at all, because I knew you were here, Teacher. If you weren't around, I'd have found another way to avoid any real danger."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, impressed with his calm confidence. "You're a bold one," she said, a hint of pride in her voice.
"But… I thought you'd killed them all," Reiki said, glancing at Xin and his team. "They're still alive?"
"Yes. What do you want to do with them?"
"I'll interrogate them," Reiki replied, grabbing a skewer of grilled meat and heading toward the group.
Tsunade watched him go, intrigued. "Interrogate them?"
Nozuki and Shisui exchanged an uneasy glance.
"Um… Roy's interrogation methods are… unique," Nozuki muttered, blushing slightly at the memory of his "special" technique.
Tsunade raised a curious brow as she watched Reiki approach the group. He crouched beside Xin, examining him with a detached look.
"So, tell me," Reiki began, his tone calm and steady. "Why did you attack us?"
Xin laughed. "Interrogated by a kid? How amusing. But I'll tell you—I needed money. That special potion Tsunade has? I wanted the formula, so I targeted you."
"Oh? Is that all?" Reiki asked, raising an eyebrow. Then, without warning, he stomped down on Xin's arm with a sickening crunch, breaking the bone.
"I don't believe you," Reiki said flatly.
Xin's face twisted in pain, but he continued to glare at the young ninja, refusing to speak.
Nearby, Tsunade folded her arms, impressed by Reiki's composure. He was direct, effective, and completely unfazed. Reiki's unique interrogation method was unconventional, but Tsunade could see that it had its own brand of efficiency. She couldn't help but feel that her disciple was proving himself even more capable than she had anticipated.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone