"Your sister is scary as hell, Rei." Daigo said as he too shivered seeing Kaho's gaze.
"Tell me about it." I said as I clapped for Kaho's victory.
"She's strong." Sayuri commented calmly. As I turned my head towards her, I noticed her Byakugan active.
As if answering my unasked question, she spoke up, "Practise for looking further than I can."
I just gave her a slight nod hearing that.
Just before the conversation could start again, the next fighters were announced, and the fights continued.
The fights were really enjoyable, and the number of new abilities I got to see was numerous. Exams like this must be a gold mine for a Sharingan user.
The ability to copy any jutsu they saw once is very overpowered by itself. The three tomoe sharingan was already really powerful by itself, but when it comes to Mangekyou Sharingan, impossible becomes possible. The two Uchihas sitting beside me were enough proof of that. And that is why, despite knowing that they were still good people... well, maybe just Shisui. Itachi will always be a wild card.
I stopped thinking about the future for a moment. I've been doing that a lot lately, and that'll only increase my stress level. Nothing more.
Rather, I tried to enjoy the tournament for the rest of the time.
Kaho was really strong in comparison to other participants, and her combination techniques with Kuroha were devastatingly powerful. She was much more adept at Inuzuka fighting styles than I am. Then again, Umbra wasn't exactly a close-quarters fighter like Kuroha.
Even if Kaho was strong, I knew that she wouldn't be able to win the tournament. Because her opponent this time is a shinobi of Kumogakure who could use both lightning and water release.
A long-ranged ninjutsu specialist, the worst match for Kaho, who relied heavily on her taijutsu.
The match went as expected. The Kumogakure ninja kept her distance and used lightning and water to keep her at arm's length. Kaho got injured and slowly but surely as her endurance decreased gradually. In a last-ditch attempt, she charged in with Kuroha and tried to land one last punch.
But unfortunately all she could manage was a claw scratch on his arms. The referee declared the end of the match, and Kaho was taken to the medic. She hadn't exactly lost consciousness yet, but due to how badly she was hurt, direct medical attention was needed.
I excused myself from the group and went towards the infirmary. I could at least congratulate her on making it to the finals. As I reached there, I found sounds of laughter coming from there. It seems that the injured people were bonding over their shared loss.
As I entered the room, I found Akina and Kaho laughing together while a nurse tried treating her injuries. Just as I saw the nurse, I recognised who she was just as she recognised me. She was my mother's assistant.
"Hey, Rei. Can you help me out, please? You should already know how to fix up Kaho. I really need to go and take care of something in the hospital."
I was startled by her request but accepted it nonetheless. I was already competent enough to treat Kaho's injuries.
As Umbra went towards the side of the room towards Kuroha, I went towards Kaho. Akina spoke up just as soon as I started healing Kaho.
"You were absolutely right! He walks in a really smug manner."
Akina's nose was covered in bandages, and there will most probably be scars on her face. And she was just casually hanging out with the culprit.
This time Kaho chimed in.
"I told you so. You have no idea how smug he can be sometimes."
They were talking about me while totally ignoring me, weren't they?
I cleared my throat very loudly and took both their attention.
"Are you two...like friends now?"
"Yeah. Got a problem with that?" Kaho asked in a threatening tone.
"Nope, nothing like that. But how? I mean the last time I saw you two, Kaho was punching you till you were unconscious." I said, looking towards Akina.
I expected to see a flash of anger passing through her eyes, but what I noticed was admiration.
"Kaho is ruthless as hell. And I like that in a friend. Most shinobis in Konoha are either too timid or too soft. She's a breadh of fresh air at least. She's not boring."
"Awww, thanks, Akina. I never expected to make a new friend here. My instincts told me you were going to kill me there if I didn't punch you to oblivion."
"You weren't wrong. I had a lethal poison on my left hand. If you didn't keep punching me then, you would already be dead by now."
"Damn. That was sneaky. Thank god I didn't die." Kaho said with a loud laugh.
As Kaho and Akina talked about the weird ways they were thinking about killing each other, I genuinely felt out of place. After all, I am not a crazy person. I could already feel that Akina was going to be a really bad influence on Kaho.
Not that I can tell her how to choose her friends.
So, after healing her injuries to a degree, I left the room with Umbra. I wasn't going to let their crazy rub off on me.
I wanted to meet back with my teammates, so I closed my eyes and used my sensory capabilities to the fullest. With concentration, almost the whole village was within my sensory power. That extra effort and concentration took effect as I sensed them a few seconds after.
Sayuri and Daigo were both walking towards the academy. Their chakra signatures and smell were distinct, just like a fingerprint.
It seemed our team had been called out for a mission. Otherwise, I don't see any logical explanation as to why they were there.
'Umbra, it seems that we're being called out on a mission.'
'Finally. We've been doing the same exercises every day. I'm bored.'
I chucked in my mind hearing his expression. Honestly, I too was quite interested in testing out the clan jutsus in an actual battle.
As I reached the complex, I found all three of my teammates there. Reiga sensei was there already with Daigo and Sayuri.
After sensing their chakra, I rushed directly here. Reiga sensei looked towards me and spoke.
"Good, you're already here. I really didn't want the extra hassle of calling you here."
"Nice to see you too, sensei."
Reiga just ignored my snark like usual. He called us along and told us to follow him.
"Where are we going this time, sensei?" I asked.
"We are going to the Land of Whirlpools."
"Land of Whirlpools! That means..." Daigo exclaimed.
"Yes, it's exactly what you think it is. This is going to be a B-rank mission."
"B-ranked? But we aren't authorised to take B-ranked missions."
"Usually that is the case. But Lord Third has given special permission to two genin teams for this mission. This was all that we could give input on, as the lead of this mission will be from Kirigakure. Considering where the mission is, Konoha has clear interest in the matter."
My mind went through different possibilities. B-ranked mission in the Land of Whirlpool in collaboration with the Land of Water.
This is going to be... interesting, to say the least.