"Naruto-kun, it would be best if your teacher treated your injuries."
Hinata lowered her hands, sweat pouring down her face, and looked up at Naruto.
This injury is beyond the scope of her ordinary healing techniques, even with her Byakugan's ability to see through it.
"Huh? Is it really that exaggerated?"
Naruto instinctively reached to scratch his head, but was stopped by the stinging sensation in his hands.
"Hiss..."
Hinata grabbed Naruto's arm, her face very serious, and said, "Naruto-kun, let's not move for now."
"Naruto-kun, you should be more familiar with this technique. Countless Chakra needles directly severed the meridians in your hand."
"Although your regenerative abilities are already helping to repair you, it's still far from sufficient for now. If you can't find your teacher soon, Naruto-kun's hands..."
Hinata stopped there, as the outcome was obvious.
Upon hearing this, the people present fell silent.
The most important thing for a ninja is his hands, which are most evident in hand seals during combat.
Losing both hands means he can no longer be a ninja.
Naruto was taken aback at first upon hearing this, but he quickly suppressed his panic and gave a bright smile, "No need to worry."
"Teacher Hagoromo is omnipotent, she should be fine."
That's what they say, but they're still taking their second exam.
But Hagoromo wasn't even inside the examination hall.
Shikamaru secretly considered every possible method, while Sasuke gritted his teeth and said:
"Dead Last, maybe you should just give up on this race."
Because of Orochimaru's surprise attack, they were unable to reach the Central Tower immediately, and it will take them another hour or so to get there now.
If we can send a signal flare to summon the examiner, we should be able to find Hagoromo for treatment as soon as possible.
"Don't want!"
Naruto rejected Sasuke's idea outright.
"This is our exam, we've come this far, how could we possibly give up!"
Giving up now would be tantamount to denying my belief.
Sasuke wanted to say that if his hand was crippled, he really wouldn't be able to be a ninja anymore.
Shikamaru raised his hand to stop the pointless argument and said seriously, "From now on, we will do everything we can to get to the Highland Tower."
Naruto nodded in agreement.
If he can get to the tower now, he will be able to find Master Hagoromo to treat him.
Instead of giving up on the exam as Sasuke suggested.
He was unwilling and did not want to do it.
Sasuke looked at Naruto's stubborn face, slowly exhaled, walked up to Naruto, squatted down, and said, "I'll take you there from now on."
The fact that both hands are temporarily unusable is already a problem for traveling.
Naruto was stunned; he never expected Sasuke to do something like this.
"That's right, I can do it too." Choji patted his chest, indicating that he could take over when Sasuke got tired.
After confirming the direction, Shikamaru said, "I will lead the way for the rest of the journey and try to reach the Highland Tower in the shortest possible distance."
"Everyone, is it possible to do this?"
After all, taking a shortcut means having to wade through dangerous areas.
"There's no need to worry about that. You know, we've trained in the Forest of Death over the past few years."
Ino raised a smirk and said nonchalantly.
Seeing that no one had any objections, Shikamaru nodded, got up, and was the first to rush out.
Leading the way involves more than just considering the shortest distance; in the context of an exam, it also means facing the first potential opponent head-on.
"Set off!"
Naruto, riding on Sasuke's back, shouted loudly.
Sasuke pursed his lips and silently followed Shikamaru.
The small team of several people continued to advance rapidly through the dense forest.
Hinata, on the other hand, walked alongside Shikamaru, and they had to avoid all threats that might disrupt their journey.
Everyone's goal was to get to the Highland Tower as quickly as possible.
Naruto, who was being Sasuke's back, looked at his companions in front of and behind him, and his usual optimistic demeanor became sparse.
Looking at Hinata's hands, which were wrapped in medicine and bandaged.
If... if I had been able to cultivate to Sage Mode before, perhaps my companions wouldn't be so worried about this now.
For the first time, Naruto felt an even stronger urge to become stronger than ever before.
Sasuke, carrying Naruto on his back, kept a close eye on Shikamaru's steps. If it were his buddy...
Perhaps it wouldn't have been so embarrassing.
He wasn't strong enough; he recalled the words spoken by the reflection of himself in the mirror image.
If...
As this idea took root, a unique Chakra began to stir within Sasuke's mind.
"There are two squads fighting at approximately ten o'clock ahead."
Hinata immediately relayed what she had observed, Shikamaru turned and headed in another direction without hesitation.
He had already mentally planned out the entire location of the Forest of Death many times over.
Without needing to think, it can make the optimal route forward.
Because Sasuke had a Military Rations Pill in his mouth before setting off, he didn't let Choji take over.
After an unknown amount of time, as the figures leaped out, a towering tower appeared before them.
Arrive!
This was everyone's subconscious thought, but they didn't have time to be happy.
Swish--
Several Shuriken shot from afar at great speed, their target being Sasuke, who was carrying Naruto on his back, or rather, both of them were under the target.
"Partial Expansion Jutsu - Two Hands!"
Choji took the lead, his gigantic hands covering the Yang Release Armament.
The Shuriken that came from the shadows was blocked.
"Well, I thought it might work."
A flippant voice rang out, followed by several figures slowly emerging from the shadows.
Hinata barely managed to raise her hands into a Gentle Fist stance. She had been using her Byakugan constantly along the way, which had caused her Chakra to become extremely depleted.
"Hinata, Sasuke, take Naruto and leave."
Shikamaru stepped forward slowly. Now that they were here, it was best to get Naruto to the tower as soon as possible.
"Leave these people to us."
"Not bad." Choji and Ino followed Shikamaru, both ready for battle.
Naruto paused, thinking about when to speak.
"Do as Shikamaru says." Sasuke looked up at the figures in the dense forest and said calmly.
Shikamaru tossed an Earth Scroll to Hinata, while Hinata took out a Heaven Scroll she was carrying and gave it to Ino.
To reach the tower, both corresponding scrolls are essential.
"Pshaw, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue when you say that?"
A girl walked out, her voice deep and sneering at Shikamaru and his friends' actions, sounding almost like a boy's.