Organ Regeneration

"First!" A scream rang out instantly. Sarutobi Toru's first target was the Rain Ninja who had used Senbon Shower. The technique covered a wide area and attacked from above, making it troublesome to defend against. Combined with its long duration, it was especially difficult for fast, fragile ninjas to deal with.

Fortunately, that technique required an umbrella. The Rain Ninja had just attacked and had not yet withdrawn his umbrella, so Toru casually jabbed out his eyes, saving himself some time.

"Second!" The Grass Ninja who had just used Yellow Springs Swamp turned pale with terror when he was targeted. He hurriedly created two Earth Clones. Sarutobi Toru could not be bothered to distinguish them. Six streaks of silver light flashed, and between two melting piles of earth, the Grass Ninja clutched his face, rolling around and howling.

"Third!" The Mist Ninja maintaining the Mist Servant Technique kept dodging among the illusory figures, but against Sarutobi Toru, whose speed he could not even see clearly, he only lasted a few seconds longer before the world gained another blind man.

"Fourth!" With a muffled grunt, the Rain Ninja who had just used Multiple Shadow Shuriken covered his eyes with one hand, madness appearing on his face.

"I'll take you down with me!" The Rain Ninja suddenly howled and tore open his clothes, revealing that his body was densely covered in Explosive Tags.

With a deafening boom, firelight engulfed the entire forest. The remaining examinees all stared at the center of the explosion with delighted eyes.

Drip, drip. Sarutobi Toru slowly walked out of the flames, tore off his tattered shirt, and revealed his strong, lean upper body.

Inuzuka Hana, who had just covered her mouth, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her eyes remained fixed on Sarutobi Toru's upper body.

Duy had shown no sign of nervousness from the beginning. Having often sparred with Sarutobi Toru in taijutsu, he understood better than anyone just how terrifyingly tough Toru's body was.

If the Explosive Tags had detonated right against his body while Sarutobi Toru was completely unprepared, he might have been injured. But under these circumstances, he had suffered only a few superficial scrapes.

"I underestimated you. That was a real lesson." Sarutobi Toru emerged from the explosion with a serious expression. "Looks like even shooting fish in a barrel requires some real skill. It would be embarrassing to capsize in a ditch!"

With that, Sarutobi Toru formed hand seals with both hands. "Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In an instant, more than a dozen Shadow Clones appeared throughout the forest.

"Not good!" "Run!" "Retreat!"

The examinees had already been shocked that Sarutobi Toru had escaped the Explosive Tag explosion unscathed. Then they saw him create so many Shadow Clones at once, and a chill immediately ran through their hearts!

Shadow Clones had two major weaknesses: they possessed little Chakra, and they shattered at a touch. But Sarutobi Toru was incredibly fast, so none of them could hit him in the first place. Shattering at a touch was naturally no longer a weakness. As for their limited Chakra, Sarutobi Toru fought entirely with taijutsu and did not seem to expend much Chakra at all.

In other words, the examinees now faced more than a dozen high-speed ninjas at Sarutobi Toru's level! If they did not run, were they waiting to die?

However, the now-serious Sarutobi Toru gave them no opportunity at all. Screams rose one after another. In barely a dozen seconds, the forest was left with nothing but a crowd of blind people.

With a pop, all the Shadow Clones dispersed. Sarutobi Toru stood bare-chested, bloody scrapes crisscrossing his body. Behind him was a group of examinees blinded in both eyes. Groans, cries, and wails blended into a miserable backdrop, and the gruesome atmosphere made one's hair stand on end.

Inuzuka Hana was clearly frightened. She quietly asked Sarutobi Toru in a trembling voice, "Captain, why... why do you like poking out their eyes so much? Isn't that... isn't that a little too much?"

Although Sarutobi Toru had been blinding his opponents from the start, blinding dozens of people at once like this was simply too shocking.

Might Duy scratched his head. Being rather thick-skinned, he found Inuzuka Hana's question strange. "I think Toru did well, though? He only blinded their eyes."

Inuzuka Hana shuddered all over. Honestly, I'm so stupid. They're Root members! No matter how friendly or funny they seem, they're still the cold-blooded, utterly cruel Root!

Uneasily, Inuzuka Hana watched Sarutobi Toru turn his gaze toward her. I'm dead, I'm dead. Is he going to say, 'Someone this weak doesn't deserve to be my companion,' and then kill me?

"Oh, right, I forgot you're not a Root member."

It's over! Is he going to brainwash me into a Root tool?

"So you don't know about the Medical Department's newly developed Regenerative Organ Cultivation Technology."

"Captain, I'll behave, please give me another chance... Huh?"

Inuzuka Hana stared blankly. Sarutobi Toru's face twitched as he revealed a frightening smile. "So that's how you see me."

"Wait, Captain, I can explain... Aah! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

Smiling, Sarutobi Toru tapped a finger against Inuzuka Hana's forehead. "Medical Lightning Release—Simulated Nerve Signal—Pain!"

Sarutobi Toru had drawn inspiration for this from the Medical Ninjutsu technique Body Disturbance Charge. It directly sent Lightning Release-simulated pain signals to the brain's nerves. What he had just given Inuzuka Hana was practically a joke in terms of intensity. At maximum strength, even battle-hardened ninjas with minds as hard as iron would instantly lose control of their bowels and bladder. Some could even be pained into amnesia or reduced to idiots.

By now, this had become the favorite ninjutsu of Root's interrogation division. It left no injuries on prisoners while allowing every degree of pain to be freely adjusted. It truly was the ideal interrogation ninjutsu!

After taking an interrogation ninjutsu to the forehead, Inuzuka Hana became completely obedient. However, several examinees who had been close to Sarutobi Toru and heard his words grew excited.

One examinee gathered his courage and asked, "Sir... sir from Konoha, is what you said true? Can the Regenerative Organ Cultivation Technology heal our eyes?"

For a moment, all the groans and cries of pain in the forest fell silent. Every blinded examinee shut his mouth, pricked up his ears, and listened carefully to Sarutobi Toru.

"That's right. Konoha has now developed Medical Ninjutsu capable of regenerating organs. It only takes a week to heal your eyes..."

"Is that true? Wonderful..."

"...The treatment fee is only 10 million Ryo..."

Immediately, the examinees' spirits, which had just risen, sank back to the bottom. 10 million Ryo—although everyone who came to take the exam was an elite, and some had even been Chunin before, they were all under fifteen. Their young age meant they had little savings. Aside from a few from wealthy families, no one could afford 10 million Ryo.

"...Fortunately, since you are all examinees, I can give you a ninety percent discount."

This time, the examinees waited a while longer. When they did not hear Sarutobi Toru continue, they finally sighed in relief. A million Ryo was still something they could afford.

Sarutobi Toru smiled as well. Were they not living advertisements?

Besides, the cost of cultivating regenerated organs was only around 500,000 Ryo. Wasn't he still making a handsome profit?