CH_95

Tōji wasn't sure if these tokubetsu jōnin had been instructed to go easy on the examinees during the exam, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Raidō had held back.

『Probably the real test was figuring out where the scrolls were. As long as you're competent enough in other areas, the proctors would hand over the scrolls.』

Natchi found the scroll on Raidō and confirmed it had chakra on it, nodding.

"Don't worry—it's real." Raidō said with a hint of exasperation. "Now let me go."

Neru retracted her hair, and the 【One-Thread Lamp Formation】 was dispelled.

"Thank you, senior." Tōji said with a smile.

"Honestly, this year's exam was set up to be pretty lenient. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten it that easily…" Raidō was still a bit reluctant to accept that a few genin had pinned him down.

"Thanks, senior!" Natchi chimed in cheerfully.

"Hmph—just a bunch of kids." Raidō, still saving face, stretched his limbs.

"Thanks, senior~" Neru added her own half-hearted thanks.

"Alright, alright. Come with me—I'll take you to see Lord Shinku. There's no more trials." Raidō said.

"This scroll can lead us to Lord Shinku too, right?" Tōji had just dispelled his two clones and tossed the scroll in his hand.

"It can." Raidō glanced downward and to the side.

"Trying to trick us, senior?" Tōji smiled knowingly.

He knew a little about reading expressions. Raidō had averted his eyes when answering.

"Can't fool you little brats, can I." Raidō admitted. "Fine—you're on your own."

"Hold on…" Tōji pulled out a fake scroll and tossed it to Raidō. "Senior, take this—add a little fun for the other examinees."

"What the… what's your name, kid? You're full of tricks!" Raidō said, but didn't hesitate to pocket the fake scroll.

"Kazamatsuri Tōji. And these two—Izuno Natchi and Itoi Neru." Tōji was noticeably more formal now.

He had his reasons for being so proper—the man before him was about to become a rising star in the Hokage's circle.

"I'm Namiashi Raidō. Alright—I'm off." Raidō sheathed his sword, turned casually, and gave a deliberately cool wave.

"See you, Raidō-senpai." "See you, senior." "Goodbye."

And with that, Raidō vanished from sight. The Body Flicker he used as he left seemed to silently declare—I wasn't even trying back there. Look how fast I really am!

Tōji chuckled and shook his head. Still just a teenager at heart, even as a tokubetsu jōnin.

Neru was already using the 【Healing Technique】 to stop Natchi's bleeding. She looked at Tōji and asked, "How does the scroll tell us where to find Lord Shinku?"

"There's a technique I've never seen before—the chakra on it seems to act as a guide." Tōji glanced down at the scroll in his hand.

"Then let's go—bleeding's stopped." Neru's 【Healing Technique】 had improved again.

"Don't we need to adjust anything?" Natchi asked.

"Getting out of the Forest of Death is what matters most, right?" Neru countered.

"No—we don't need to leave the forest…" Tōji tossed the scroll again and smiled. "The scroll says to head to the central tower."

"Could Lord Shinku have been inside the central tower all along?" Natchi was sharper than usual.

"If the scroll isn't a fake, then we're heading to the central tower to find the head proctor." Tōji confirmed.

"And…" Tōji pulled out two more scrolls—his fakes. "Take one each."

"You're way too calculating." Neru said with a tone of disdain—but her hands didn't hesitate to take one.