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"Yay! Brother, you won!" Ino exclaimed excitedly, practically bouncing in place. She moved as if to give Inoiki a hug but hesitated, her eyes falling on his broken arm and numerous injuries. She stopped herself, settling for a bright smile instead.
Shikamaru and Choji stepped forward to congratulate him as well. Though they had always known about Inoiki's formidable strength, his overwhelming victory while injured deserved recognition.
"Nice work," Shikamaru said with a small nod, his usual laid-back tone carrying a hint of admiration.
"Yeah, that was awesome!" Choji added with a grin.
Inoiki offered them a faint smile, his expression calm despite his exhaustion.
Meanwhile, Kankuro had been freed from the wall, his movements stiff and sluggish as he made his way back to the inner balcony. Gaara's cold, emotionless gaze followed him.
"You embarrass me," Gaara said flatly, his voice devoid of sympathy.
Kankuro lowered his head, his face burning with shame. "I'm sorry," he muttered, barely audible.
On the balcony, Neji's sharp eyes followed Inoiki's every movement. "He really is on another level," he mused, his voice thoughtful. "But I wonder... who managed to leave him in that state?"
Others around Neji shared the same confusion, their curiosity evident. But no one stepped forward to clarify, leaving the question unanswered.
Among the Jonin, Asuma crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Inoiki. "He's operating on a completely different level compared to the other Genin here," he remarked.
Kurenai nodded in agreement. "That much is obvious."
Anko, her voice carrying a note of finality, added, "He seriously injured Orochimaru. Twice. What else would you expect?"
Her words sent a ripple of surprise through the group, though they quickly nodded in agreement. Few could imagine a feat more daunting than facing Orochimaru and surviving, let alone inflicting damage on him.
The preliminaries continued, and after the fourth match concluded, the screen flickered to display the contestants for the fifth match:
Kankuro vs. Misumi Tsurugi.
With this revelation, it became clear—Kankuro was the unlucky Genin who had to fight twice. A collective sigh of relief swept through the room as the other candidates realized they wouldn't be forced into a second match.
Inoiki glanced at the screen and exhaled softly. "Well, now it's settled," he said, his voice steady but tired. "If I had been matched again, I'd have stayed to fight. But now that it's clear Kankuro's the one who has to go twice, I'm leaving."
He turned to Team 10, offering them a faint but reassuring smile. "I'll head to the hospital immediately."
Ino nodded, a hint of worry still lingering in her expression. "Okay, Brother. If my match was already over, I would have gone with you."
Shikamaru chimed in lazily, "Yeah, same here."
Inoiki offered a faint smile. "No problem. Focus on your matches. I can handle myself."
With that, Inoiki turned and began making his way out of the hall. He approached Hayate to ask for permission to leave. The proctor, though initially hesitant, eventually nodded and allowed him to go. As Inoiki walked away, Hayate subtly gestured to one of the invigilators.
The invigilator understood the signal and followed after Inoiki, catching up to him just outside the hall.
"Wait," the invigilator called from behind.
Inoiki paused and turned, his gaze questioning. "Hmm? Do you need something?"
The invigilator held up a small box and said, "Yeah. Can you draw one piece of paper from this box? It's related to the third round of the Chunin Exam."
Inoiki nodded and reached into the box, pulling out a folded slip of paper. He handed it to the invigilator, who took it with a nod.
"Thanks," the invigilator said. "And best of luck in the third round."
"Thanks," Inoiki replied with a polite nod before continuing on his way.
As soon as Inoiki stepped outside the Chunin Exam venue, his eyes landed on a familiar figure waiting for him. Standing just beyond the entrance was his father, Inoichi Yamanaka, his face a mix of relief and concern.
"Inoiki," Inoichi said, his tone anxious, "are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Dad," Inoiki replied, his voice calm and reassuring.
Inoichi's expression hardened slightly, and his voice took on a stern edge. "Why didn't you give up? You should have withdrawn—you'll have countless other opportunities to become a Chunin."
Inoiki met his father's gaze, his tone firm but respectful. "Dad, you fought in the Third Shinobi World War. You've seen injuries far worse than mine, haven't you?"
Inoichi hesitated, then nodded slightly, his stern expression softening.
Inoiki continued, "I'm a psychic—I know my body better than anyone else. If my injuries were life-threatening, I would have given up without hesitation. I'm not reckless enough to risk my life over a Chunin Exam."
For a moment, Inoichi stared at his son, processing his words. Then he sighed, nodding in reluctant agreement. "Fair enough," he said, his tone more subdued.
Placing a hand on Inoiki's uninjured shoulder, Inoichi added, "Let's get you to the hospital. A reservation has already been made for you."
Inoiki offered a faint smile, grateful for his father's support, and together, they headed toward the hospital, the weight of the day slowly beginning to ease.
Before heading for treatment, Inoiki suddenly stopped and turned to his father. "Ah, Dad, I almost forgot. I left my specially customized kunai on the battlefield where I fought Orochimaru. The investigating ninjas must have found it by now. Could you retrieve it for me?"
Inoichi nodded, his expression calm and reassuring. "Don't worry, I'll make sure your kunai is returned to you in no time."
With that settled, Inoiki was escorted to the hospital, where a medical ninja began examining him. His treatment started immediately, with the staff working efficiently to tend to his injuries.
Meanwhile, back at the Chunin Exam venue, the preliminary round had come to an end, with all the matches concluded. The Hokage addressed the remaining candidates from the high platform.
"The third round of the Chunin Exam will take place one month from now," he announced, his voice calm yet authoritative. "Use this time to train and prepare yourselves."
Following the announcement, the candidates were asked to draw slips of paper from a box—just as Inoiki had done earlier. This process determined their opponents for the third round. Once everyone had drawn, the matches were announced, giving the Genin ample time to prepare for their specific opponents and showcase their skills to the fullest.
After the announcement, Team 10—Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji—left the venue. Concerned for Inoiki, they decided to head to the hospital to check on him.
When they arrived at the hospital, however, they were met with confusion. Visitors weren't being allowed to see Inoiki, which left them wondering about his condition.
Fortunately, as they waited in the reception area, they spotted Ino's parents, Inoichi and her mother, entering.
Shikamaru approached them first, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "What's Inoiki's condition? Is he alright?" he asked, his voice carrying his usual calm but curious tone.
Inoichi gave a reassuring nod. "Don't worry," he said. "Inoiki will be fully healed in two to three days. I've called for the best medical ninja available to handle his treatment."
Hearing this, Ino let out a sigh of relief, her worry easing. Choji grinned. "That's great news!" he said, his cheerful tone lifting the mood.
Even Shikamaru, though he didn't say much, seemed visibly more at ease. Together, the group lingered a little longer, relieved to know that their friend and teammate's brother was in capable hands.
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