The next day

Chapter 82: The Next Day

The second day, the final test

day, dawned early. Morning mist filled the first practice field, and outside

the infirmary, a drop of water slowly dripped from the faucet.

"Tick tock..."

"Squeak..."

The sound of water falling and the

door opening occurred simultaneously.

Kiba walked out of the infirmary,

shaking his bandaged hand. "Hirohiko, I feel like this hand is almost

healed."

Behind him, Hirohiko emerged,

holding some toiletries. Kushina had brought them from their house, though they

weren't sure why she had. Still, they were grateful.

Handing the toiletries to Kiba,

Hirohiko touched the bandaged half of his face. "It doesn't hurt

anymore."

"Looks like we're ready for

the final test," Kiba said as he took the water and went to wash up.

Washing with one hand was a bit troublesome, but Yuriko would come to remove

the bandages later, and they'd be ready.

Hirohiko washed up at the sink.

After cleaning up, they returned

to the infirmary, waiting for Yuriko. They sat on their respective beds,

feeling quite bored.

"What do you think the final

test will be?" Hirohiko asked casually.

"I'm not sure, but it should

be something practical," Kiba replied.

Reflecting on Kakashi's Chunin

Exams and Naruto's original exams, he noted they all involved real combat.

"The trials we participated

in were duels between ninjas. Kakashi's test involved rescuing hostages, and

Naruto's exam had the Forest of Death. They all tested a team's ability to

perform tasks," Kiba continued.

Kiba believed the final test would

likely involve an experiment testing their mission execution abilities.

As Kiba finished speaking, the

infirmary door opened, and Yuriko, a female medical ninja, stepped in.

"You're already up! I'll help

you remove the bandages," Yuriko said, smiling.

She checked Kiba and Hirohiko's

injuries and found they were almost healed. Even Kiba's right hand moved

freely. Yesterday's treatment had been effective. After carefully removing

their bandages, she checked again, confirming they were completely healed, with

no scars from the steel wire cuts.

"Okay! There's no problem at

all. But, Kiba, be careful with your right hand. The new muscles shouldn't be

exercised too vigorously," Yuriko reminded.

Kiba looked surprised. "What

might happen if I exercise too much?"

"Don't worry. As long as you

don't overdo it, you'll be fine," she reassured him.

Kiba nodded, understanding what

she meant. The fourth gate of the Eight Gates technique couldn't be used in the

next experiment.

However, he had no intention of

using it. Opening the Gate of painwas a real step into the dangerous zone of

the Eight Gates technique, and the damage to the body in the Gate of painstate

was significant. Unless his body became stronger, which was limited by his age,

it wouldn't be feasible.

What he could do now was adapt to

battles in the Life Gate mode and speed up the development of the Gate of

painmode. Once developed and mastered, the Gate of painmode would give him

chakra levels of an elite Jonin. His previous estimate of having Jonin-level

chakra was too conservative.

Having elite Jonin-level chakra

excited Kiba. Developing the Gate of painmode would give him the basis for

self-protection in the Third Ninja World War!

"I see. Thank you,

Yuriko," Kiba said.

Yuriko smiled, gentle and

graceful. She turned to Hirohiko, "You too, don't overdo it."

"Yes," Hirohiko nodded.

At that moment, Yukina arrived.

Seeing the bandages removed and no severe injuries, she breathed a sigh of

relief. "Good morning."

"Oh! Good morning!" Kiba

greeted with an irrepressible smile. The injuries had healed well, and he could

resume training.

"Good morning," Hirohiko

added.

"Little Yukina, you got up

early!" Yuriko, clearly fond of Yukina, went up and touched her head.

"Your wounds healed nicely, no scars."

"Thank you, Yuriko,"

Yukina thanked her politely, her demeanor ladylike, though her expression

remained neutral.

"Oh? You're here?"

Uzumaki Kushina's voice echoed.

They saw her carrying a lunch bag.

"I guess none of you have had breakfast."

Kiba touched his stomach, feeling

hungry.

Yukina took the bento bag, set out

the bentos inside, and Kiba started eating hungrily.

"Thank you, Yuriko. Thank you

for your hard work," Uzumaki Kushina smiled and thanked Yuriko.

Yuriko shook her head. "This

is what I should do, Lady Kushina. I'll take my leave now."

Yuriko left the infirmary.

Uzumaki Kushina watched Yuriko

leave, then turned to the trio. "The next final test is crucial. Don't

relax because of your previous successes. Those who remain are really

tough."

Kiba paused while eating, looking

at Uzumaki Kushina. Her face was unusually serious.

It must be a test of performing tasks, Kiba thought.

A ninja's first priority is to

perform and complete various tasks, whether possible or impossible. The higher

the ninja's level, the more difficult the tasks. If the Chunin Exam didn't test

task performance, it wouldn't be normal!

A ninja's value doesn't simply

depend on strength but also on the ability to perform tasks well. The reason

Namikaze Minato became Hokage was his ability to complete various tasks with

unparalleled strength during the Third Ninja War, leading Konoha to victory.

Therefore, this is the most

critical test of the Chunin Exam!

Kiba had a hunch that if he didn't

perform well in this test, no matter how good the previous tests were, he might

not become a Chunin.

In short, he had to take the next

test seriously!

Kiba lowered his head, thinking, When did I become so eager

to pass the Chunin Exam...