"Well done, I knew you could do it, Lin."
Kakashi, who had been observing quietly from the side, let out a subtle sigh of relief. In order not to disturb Lin, he had remained silent until now.
Hearing Kakashi's praise, Lin wiped the sweat from her forehead. A bright smile bloomed across her rosy face.
"You both did well," Tsunade commented. "You've met the prerequisites for this test."
"But don't celebrate just yet—the real test is only beginning."
As she spoke, Tsunade held up two rabbits that her Shadow Clone had caught earlier.
"See? One for each of you."
"Now, these rabbits are your injured companions. Whoever can keep their patient alive will be qualified to study."
Without waiting for a response, Tsunade condensed her chakra into a scalpel and swiftly slashed deep wounds into the rabbits' abdomens—one significantly more severe than the other.
Then, unexpectedly, she turned her head away, almost as if she couldn't bear to look at what she'd just done.
"Ah!"
Seeing the blood flow from the rabbits' bellies and stain their snow-white fur a vivid red, Lin gasped and instinctively covered her mouth.
Kakashi stepped forward without hesitation, taking the two rabbits from the clone. He handed the less injured one to Lin and quickly began inspecting the more critical one. The moment his gaze locked onto the wound, his pupils contracted.
The rabbit's heart had been pierced—it was on the verge of death!
At that moment, the traumatic image of Lin being impaled through the heart in the original timeline flashed through Kakashi's mind. There was no time to hesitate. He immediately focused his chakra, and a soft green glow enveloped his hands as he began treatment.
I have to save him. I must!
Meanwhile, Lin steadied her breath and started treating her rabbit, doing her best to calm her nerves and focus.
Ten minutes passed.
Sweat drenched Lin's forehead, her breathing became ragged, and the green light on her palms flickered erratically. She had clearly reached her limit.
Not enough!
Lin gritted her teeth and forced her chakra to flow, trying to draw every last bit of energy from her cells. But her meager chakra reserves weren't enough to completely close the wound.
Bang!
With her strength depleted, Lin collapsed sideways, her forehead hitting the ground hard. But even then, her healing hands remained fixed on the rabbit's injury.
"Sister Tsunade... I've stabilized the condition for now," Lin said weakly, her voice trembling but determined. "Please... help me finish the treatment. Please..."
"You know you've already failed, right?" Tsunade said, surprised. "You're disqualified regardless of whether the rabbit survives or not."
"That's okay. I give up. Just please... save it!"
Though Lin's voice was barely audible, it carried a firm, unwavering will.
"I understand," Tsunade murmured thoughtfully, then gestured toward her assistant. "Shizune."
"Yes!" Shizune stepped forward and continued the treatment from where Lin had left off.
Moments later, the rabbit stirred and lay gently beside Lin. Its bright ruby eyes sparkled with life, gazing curiously at the human who had fought so hard to save it.
Lin smiled in relief. Her eyes softened.
"If winning or losing doesn't matter to you, then why push yourself this far?" Tsunade asked as she squatted beside Lin to check her vitals. "You realize pushing your chakra like that could cost you your life."
"Winning and losing do matter—this spot is something Kakashi helped me earn," Lin whispered. "But compared to a companion's life, it means nothing."
Tsunade paused. Her expression turned wistful.
"...You remind me of myself when I was younger. So full of compassion, yet still naive."
"By the rules, you've failed. I won't take you as my apprentice—not yet."
Lin's face fell ever so slightly. Though she had expected it, disappointment still crept in.
I'm sorry, Kakashi... I let you down...
Her heart ached at the thought of how much Kakashi had sacrificed for her chance.
"But..." Tsunade suddenly added, "Until Shizune reaches Chūnin level, I'll be staying in the village. While I teach her, you're welcome to listen in."
"Huh?!"
"Thank you, Tsunade-sister!!" Lin's eyes lit up, and a brilliant smile returned to her face.
Tsunade couldn't help but smile in response.
But Lin's gaze quickly shifted to Kakashi.
Right—Kakashi was still treating his rabbit.
Despite having chakra reserves that rivaled a Chūnin, his rabbit showed no sign of recovery. It was still barely clinging to life.
Oblivious to everything around him, Kakashi's mind screamed a single command: I must save it. I have to. I must!
Tsunade glanced his way and noticed his strained expression. She assumed it was the pride of a genius pushing himself and thought nothing more of it.
Time passed—twenty minutes... then thirty... then forty.
Forty minutes! Far beyond what any Academy student should be capable of.
Yet Kakashi didn't stop.
Unlike Lin's rabbit, the one Kakashi had chosen had a pierced heart—impossible to save with current medical techniques, at least for anyone short of Tsunade herself.
In fact, this was the rabbit Tsunade had originally intended to give Lin. Lin's participation had been unexpected, and she hadn't planned to let her study at all.
But Kakashi had insisted on taking the more critical case.
That was fine.
Tsunade had already silently changed her own evaluation: if Kakashi could just persist for twenty minutes, he'd pass. With his chakra reserves, that should've been enough to heal the other rabbit. So technically, it wasn't a breach of the rules.
After all, when you're the one making the rules, you can bend them as you like.
"Stop now, Kakashi," Tsunade finally called out. "For someone your age, keeping it alive for forty minutes is more than enough. You've passed my test!"
But Kakashi didn't respond.
Sweat poured from his pale face. His lips moved unconsciously. "I can save him... I can save him... I must..."
"Kakashi? Kakashi!" Tsunade frowned and walked over to him.
She placed a hand on his arm.
"That's enough. Let go. You passed."
Kakashi slowly looked up, his expression blank.
Tsunade's frown deepened. There was something off in his eyes—a flicker of fear?
Then, without warning, Kakashi collapsed.
Tsunade caught him just in time and hoisted him over her shoulder with ease.
She lifted the equally exhausted Lin as well and turned back toward the village, a confused Shizune trailing behind.
Today's test had gone far beyond her expectations.
Lin was easy to understand. With her kind heart, decent talent, and respect for life, she was well-suited to becoming a medical ninja.
But Kakashi...
Kakashi puzzled her.
It was just a rabbit. He'd already passed. What exactly was he so afraid of?
Come to think of it, the conversation they had yesterday was also telling. Although he later showed the resolve to protect his comrades, he initially used self-preservation as an excuse.
That boy always hides his true feelings.
Was it the death of his father, the White Fang, that made him so guarded?
Tsunade sighed.
Kids really are the most troublesome thing. Why do I even bother with this nonsense?
Oh right, the apprenticeship fee.
Tsunade's fingers subtly brushed the inside of her sleeve, checking for the thick envelope stuffed with ryo.
The heavy, reassuring weight brought a smirk to her lips.
Yoshi. Once she delivered these two back to the village, it was time to visit that newly opened gambling house.
After all, what kind of "Legendary Sucker" would she be if she didn't at least try her luck?