"Come to think of it, if I'd injected just a little more chakra during the process earlier, would the effects have been better?"
"No, no, this level was already their limit. Any more and it might have done more harm than good..."
"Then what if I didn't just purify my chakra into neutral energy, but instead refined it to match their individual affinities? Wouldn't it be absorbed faster and produce better results?"
"Hmm... worth thinking about. But the difficulty would rise a few levels, and with my current ability... I probably can't manage that yet."
"Wait, no, that's not the right mindset. It's exactly because I can't do it now that it's worth attempting. If I just stay where I am, I'll never get stronger."
As his thoughts spun wildly, Naruto began recalling the unique experience he'd had while healing the two of them.
Even though the result had already confirmed his long-held theory was valid, and he had previous experience reinforcing Sasuke during their year-long training, this was his first time enhancing two people simultaneously. People's bodies varied in countless small ways, and helping both at once was uncharted territory.
So despite having mentally rehearsed it countless times, this real-world experience was valuable. He needed to reflect on it while the memories were still clear, so he could identify the flaws and refine the theory further.
"Umm... Naruto-kun."
At that moment, Hinata, who had stood quietly to the side the entire time so as not to disturb him, finally spoke up.
She'd seen him pull his hands back and assumed the treatment was over. But when he shook his head in apparent disappointment, she misunderstood and thought even Naruto hadn't been able to help Shikamaru and Ino.
Gently tugging on his sleeve, she hesitated, then spoke up softly as Naruto turned to her instinctively.
"You worked so hard… Are they going to be okay?"
"Hmm? Oh, Hinata?"
Naruto blinked, returning from his train of thought. Feeling the tug on his sleeve and hearing her voice brought him back.
He turned and saw the concern on her face, then smiled warmly and asked, "Why do you ask?"
"Because… they still haven't woken up."
Even though she was slowly getting used to being near him, Hinata still blushed lightly when caught in Naruto's gaze. But she didn't pull back.
Instead, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning into his chest. Looking up with a mix of worry and trust, she whispered:
"If even you can't wake them up… maybe we should take them to the hospital? Once they've recovered, we can continue the exam together."
Because Naruto had revealed himself as the proctor, Hinata no longer panicked like she had during his earlier "stomach pain" prank. She had begun to rely on him as her emotional anchor.
Unintentionally, she had even found a loophole in the exam rules. Rather than asking the hidden exam supervisors for help — which would result in automatic disqualification, she instinctively chose a path that technically wasn't against the rules.
"The hospital, huh... It's in the opposite direction of where the test goes."
"But… I didn't say anything in the rules about not being allowed to backtrack."
Naruto could sense that Shikamaru and Ino would wake up very soon. Hinata's concern sparked a playful urge in him.
With a mischievous glint, he stretched his tone and pretended to consider the idea seriously. As he spoke, he gently flicked the tip of her nose.
"Still, you should think carefully. We've already lost a lot of time. If we turn back to take them to the hospital, the round trip alone might cause us to fail."
"If you don't pass in front of the others, even as proctor, I won't be able to approve your admission."
Of course, this was just a bluff.
Naruto was the rule-maker here. A few adjustments would let him pass anyone he wanted. And even if he weren't, with Hinata being the daughter of Hyuga Hiashi, head of the Hyuga Clan, there was no way the village would refuse her admission.
"Eh? R-really..."
Just as he expected, the pure and earnest Hinata believed him instantly.
She pouted a little, brows furrowing as she mumbled:
"That makes sense... Even if you're the proctor, it would make things complicated if I failed..."
"But we can't just leave them sitting here either… Ugh… What should I do..."
"So? Have you decided?"
Naruto noticed out of the corner of his eye that Shikamaru and Ino's fingers had started twitching. The chakra seed fusion was complete. They'd be waking up any moment now.
Suppressing a smile, he straightened his face and took on a serious look. With narrowed eyes and a sharp tone, he said:
"Will you risk failing the exam by helping non-teammates and taking them to the hospital, or leave them behind and move forward on your own?"
He made it sound like a casual question, but in truth, this was a test — a test of her judgment.
In a competitive exam where everyone fought for a limited number of spots, helping unrelated candidates was the stupid thing to do.
Only a fool would choose that.
"Well… if even Naruto-kun can't wake them… then yeah! I've decided!"
"Let's take them to the hospital!"
Hinata looked up, eyes shining, and gave her answer with innocent determination.
"We can always take the exam again. But if someone's sick or hurt, that's something you can't ignore!"
"Wow… even after I explained everything, you're still choosing to help them? You sure? No regrets?"
"Mhm! Not even a little!"
Sure enough, Hinata was exactly the kind of "fool" Naruto had hoped she'd be.
"Alright, alright… you win."
"Heehee, I knew you were the best, Naruto-kun!"
People who pick the hard road just to help others are often called foolish, naive, or irrational.
But to Naruto, those were the kind of people he liked most.
"Anyway, looks like we won't need that hospital trip after all."
"Look. They're already waking up."
"Eh—huh?! Shikamaru-kun? Ino?! You're awake? But… Naruto-kun, didn't you say…?"
"Hehe, I never said I couldn't wake them up."
"That was just your silly misunderstanding~"
"Wh—Whaaa!?"
Yes. Someone who could be this adorably foolish…
Was exactly his type.