The tower was brightly lit.
Several teams that had arrived early sat scattered around the spacious hall.
Elite squads from prestigious clans rested in a corner with their eyes closed. The three gray-clad youths from the Anbu stood like statues in the shadows, while Kinsharo from Sunagakure leaned against a pillar. A small mound of gold dust flowed unconsciously across the floor at his feet, and no one dared come within five meters of him.
When Riku and the others pushed open the door, quite a few people in the hall looked over in surprise.
No one had expected these four ordinary academy Genin, who seemed to possess no special bloodlines and had pitifully weak chakra, to actually reach the finish line alive.
"Average heart rate, one hundred thirty-five. Elevated body temperature. Mild dehydration. Muscle groups on the verge of fatigue-induced spasms."
A calm voice sounded just inside the entrance.
Dressed in his dark black tactical uniform, Chisen approached with his walking stick, holding four glass tubes filled with pale blue liquid.
He offered no pointless remarks such as "thanks for the effort" or "congratulations." Instead, he simply pressed the tubes into their hands.
"Electrolyte-Glucose Mixture.
Drink it in three portions. Don't swallow it all at once. Give your stomach lining time to absorb it.
Then find somewhere clean to sit down and elevate your legs to let the blood return to your heart."
"Teacher Chisen-" Aoi held the cold glass tube. At the sound of that familiar, utterly level voice, her tightly wound nerves finally relaxed completely.
Her eyes reddened, and tears spilled without warning.
"If you want to cry, I suggest you finish drinking first." Chisen adjusted his glasses and looked at Aoi. "Tears will deplete your already limited water reserves. You don't currently have spare bodily fluids