Chunin Ninja Exam Registration: All Sides Gather

"Don't peel it off yet."

Haku gripped Chiba's wrist. Ice spread upward along the grain, sealing it off, but the bark that had grown to his elbow bypassed the cold and continued advancing toward his shoulder.

"It feeds on natural energy. Leave the remaining channels open for it."

Chiba pressed his wooden right hand against the broken trunk. The Poison Wood conduits opened in reverse, and the silver patterns on his chest receded into his palm.

Bai Ye raised his bone blade.

"Cut now?"

"Cut the bark. Don't touch the silvery-white tissue underneath."

The bone edge slid along his arm, shaving off the outer bark piece by piece. Even after falling to the ground, it continued drawing natural energy from the soil.

Haku sealed all the wood chips in ice.

"It's still growing."

"Send it into the Cultivation Tree."

Roots emerged beneath Chiba's feet, curling the wood chips into the broken tree. The remaining natural energy finally had somewhere to go.

The bark patterns stopped beneath his shoulder, then retreated along the same path to the back of his hand.

Haku ran her fingers over the skin, which had regained its elasticity.

"It's suppressed for now. Your right hand can't touch the Cultivation Tree again."

"How long?"

"Until new conduits grow back."

"Registration for the Chunin Ninja Exams starts today."

Haku looked up at him.

"You're still going?"

"Yeah."

Bai Ye sheathed his bone blade.

"What if your hand turns into a tree again?"

"I'll fill out the form with my left hand."

Two knocks came from outside the clan gates. Asuma entered the training ground holding the registration documents, his foot landing directly on a frost-covered wood chip.

"I came at just the right time. Have you finished taking Chiba apart already?"

"Only his right hand is left."

Haku