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Inoiki slept through the night undisturbed, the silence in the room a welcome reprieve from the chaos he had endured. From time to time, invigilators checked on him, monitoring his condition carefully. Despite his serious injuries, they offered no direct help beyond the bandages and supplies they had already provided.
The days passed slowly. Inoiki spent most of his time sleeping, allowing his body to recover as much as it could on its own. During the moments he was awake, he kept his mind occupied by reading the few books he had packed with him—a quiet distraction from the pain and the monotony of waiting.
Five days went by in this manner.
The proctor, Anko, never visited, nor did any medical ninjas come to his aid. It was clear that no medical assistance would be granted to him until the second round of the Chunin Exams was officially over.
Inoiki had requested solitude from the beginning, asking the invigilators to bar anyone from entering his room. He had no desire to meet other candidates, especially the Rookie 9, his former classmates who had graduated with him. Conversations with them would only bring questions—questions he wasn't in the mood to answer.
Fortunately, the invigilators informed him of a rule that worked in his favor: once a candidate submitted their Heaven and Earth scrolls, they were not required to leave the designated room until the exam ended. For Inoiki, this was a relief. It meant he could avoid unnecessary interactions and focus entirely on recovering.
Though his wounds still ached, and his arm remained immobile in its makeshift sling, Inoiki used the solitude to prepare himself mentally for the challenges that lay ahead.
On the top floor of the tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had just finished treating Anko, suppressing the curse mark that burned on her neck.
"How is it?" Hiruzen asked, his voice calm but tinged with concern.
Anko adjusted her jacket, pulling it up to cover her neck. "It's fine now, after your treatment," she replied, her tone steady.
Hiruzen nodded, satisfied. His expression then grew serious as he shifted the conversation. "What about Orochimaru? Have you found any trace of him since?"
Anko's jaw tightened, her voice carrying a hint of frustration. "Yes. After his battle with Inoiki, he left, just as we predicted. But two days later, he struck again—this time targeting Sasuke. And... this time, he succeeded."
A heavy sigh escaped Hiruzen's lips, his shoulders sagging slightly under the weight of the news.
Anko continued, her tone turning thoughtful. "By the way, I've conducted a thorough investigation of the battlefield where Inoiki fought Orochimaru. Honestly, I was shocked. The devastation in that area was immense. And..." She hesitated, as if still processing the discovery. "We found two of Orochimaru's discarded skins there, which means—"
"Orochimaru was seriously injured twice," Hiruzen interrupted, finishing her thought. His sharp eyes narrowed. "He was forced to use his exclusive body substitution technique
"Yes," Anko affirmed, a hint of awe in her voice.
Standing near the corner of the room, Asuma Sarutobi folded his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. "Even I doubt I could force Orochimaru that far. Ino's brother is truly formidable."
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone absorbed the weight of Asuma's words. Slowly, nods of agreement rippled through the group, a collective acknowledgment of Inoiki's strength and resilience.
For a young shinobi to challenge someone as dangerous as Orochimaru and live to tell the tale was no small feat—and one that left an indelible mark on all who heard of it.
Hiruzen adjusted his robes and looked toward Anko, his tone heavy with concern. "By the way, what's the condition of Inoiki? Is he alright?"
Anko straightened, her expression neutral but with a trace of respect. "He's seriously injured, but thankfully, nothing life-threatening. We suggested he withdraw from the exam, but he refused."
Kurenai, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "That shows incredible willpower," she said softly, her voice carrying a note of admiration.
Hiruzen nodded, his face thoughtful. "Very well. Now that all the candidates have arrived, it's time to move on to the next stage of the exam."
Anko added, "Yes, though I should mention—more candidates qualified than we anticipated this time."
With that, the group began moving toward the inner hall of the Chunin Exam venue. The invigilators, too, instructed the qualified candidates to gather in the hall.
The large hall began to fill with eager Genin, their voices a low hum of murmurs and excitement. One by one, the teams arrived, until finally, the last candidate entered the hall—Inoiki.
As soon as he stepped inside, all eyes turned toward him. Team 10 was the first to notice his battered state, followed closely by the rest of the Rookie 9. Inoiki's right arm was tightly bound in bandages and supported by a sling hanging from his neck. His left eye was hidden beneath swollen, bruised skin, and his head was partially wrapped with fresh gauze. Despite his injuries, he carried himself with quiet composure.
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