Underground Training, Purification, New Branch Sprouting

"It still hasn't lit up."

Haku looked at the grain of sand in Chiba's palm. Thin ice sealed the tailed beast chakra within it.

"It only showed a preview."

Chiba slipped the grain into his metal wristguard.

"Don't touch it before the exam."

Bai Ye drove his bone blade into the basement wall.

"Then what are we training today?"

"Sage Mode and purification."

The old storage room beneath the training ground had been widened by roots. Metal Wood was embedded in all four walls, while Haku's ice sealed every exit.

Bai Ye pulled out his bone blade.

"I'm responsible for pushing you to your limit?"

"Go all out."

"Lethal moves?"

"Use as much as you can."

Haku placed three ice needles beside Chiba's feet.

"I'll keep lowering the temperature. Once your Sage Body circulation speeds up, you'll only have one chance to cut off the pathway."

"That's enough."

"Let's be clear first."

Haku pressed down on the last ice needle.

"If your right hand turns to wood again, I'll freeze your meridians directly."

"Mm."

"There might be lasting damage after that."

"Don't make me say it twice."

Bai Ye shattered the ice beneath his feet. His bone blade had already stabbed in from Chiba's side.

Silver-white roots blocked the edge, but a second bone spear burst from the ground, grazing Chiba's leg and tearing away a strip of cloth.

"Slow."

"We're just getting started."

A bone blade grew from each of Bai Ye's arms as he slipped through a gap in the Root Network.

Chiba raised his elbow to block the left blade. Metal Wood extended from his wrist and hooked toward Bai Ye's right shoulder.

Bones bulged beneath Bai Ye's clothes, forcibly holding back the roots.

"You're holding back."

"My right hand isn't healed yet."

"Then use your left."