Bab 131: **Chapter 131: Hidden Danger!**
Twelve more ninjas emerged as "lucky ones," exchanging either for their number cards or for potions. With their rewards in hand, they made their way to the destination as quickly as possible.
"Everyone here can enter," Reiki announced as he lifted the curse marks from their wrists. "The Chunin Exam's next stage is based on your cumulative scores, so you all still have a chance to become Chunin."
As Reiki began treating the nine ninjas who'd just been stunned, one ninja looked at him with uncertainty. "Reiki, aren't you afraid we'll turn on you now?"
"Not afraid," Reiki replied calmly without even glancing up. "If you're going to make a move, do it now."
The ninja clenched his fist in frustration, hitting the ground but ultimately hesitating. Attacking Reiki meant facing not only him but also the watchful Konoha ninjas surrounding him, many of whom eagerly anticipated any challengers. Reluctantly, he decided against it.
Just then, a girl named Sando Yu from Kirigakure stepped up to Reiki. "Reiki, I want to buy a number card from you," she said, offering 100,000 Ryo per card.
"Sure, how many do you want? If you're short on cash, supplies work too." Reiki laid out a set of number cards, even placing his own No. 10 card up for grabs.
Sando Yu pooled her resources and her friends' belongings, totaling around 1 million Ryo, and took a stack of cards summing up to 10 points.
Watching this, the assessment ninjas stood in stunned silence. In past exams, genin fought fiercely to qualify, but this was the first time anyone had treated number cards like a marketplace. "Is this…allowed?" one proctor muttered, unsure if such a strategy violated any rules.
In the exam proctor room, the lead ninjas and village representatives observed the scene with a mix of amusement and disbelief. Cangzi stifled a laugh. "Tsunade-sama, your disciple and Konoha ninjas have quite the knack!"
"Don't envy me," Tsunade replied with a proud smile. "Reiki's full of surprises, I'll admit."
But Kato Dan, who had a strained relationship with Tsunade, spoke up with disdain. "Tsunade, Reiki's actions are inappropriate. He needs discipline."
A Kusagakure jonin nodded in agreement, a sour look on his face. "We aren't a wealthy village. Some of my students could've passed the assessment, but now this has become a financial competition."
Ai from Hidden Cloud added with a stern look, "Konoha's conduct is excessive. Tsunade Senju, you owe us an explanation."
Tsunade, unfazed, met their gazes calmly. "Your genin were simply too weak. Blaming the stronger ones only reflects poorly on you."
Angry murmurs rippled through the room, but Tsunade cut through them. "If anyone has an issue, feel free to meet me on the training ground," she said, raising her hand as if ready to duel them all.
When Ai looked ready to challenge her, his masked companion stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, whispering into his ear. Ai relented, unwilling to provoke Konoha's legendary kunoichi further. Meanwhile, Kato Dan, still fuming, attempted to voice his objections once more, only to be silenced by Tsunade's powerful glare. He clenched his fists, filled with resentment, and stormed out of the room.
Outside, in the shadows, Kato Dan met with an accomplice. "Are we ready to proceed?" he asked.
"Yes, as planned," the accomplice replied, vanishing into the darkness with a nod.
---
Back at the destination point, Reiki completed treatment on the remaining candidates, who then entered the checkpoint to conclude the assessment.
An examiner announced the final scores, "Kumogakure's Darui: no number card, last to reach the destination, failed the assessment, 1 point."
Darui, clearly frustrated, approached Reiki. "Reiki, do you have the guts to face me one-on-one?" he challenged, his tone bitter.
Reiki waved him off with a smile. "I just treated your injuries, which you haven't even paid for. If we fight again, I'll need to treat you all over, and I'm not offering freebies."
Darui grumbled but didn't push further, knowing he wouldn't gain anything against Reiki's composure and his team's well-earned reputation.
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