It was night in Kumogakure.
It was even colder due to its location on the mountains.
Outside Kumogakure's guesthouse for Konoha, Shinji looked back at the brightly lit guesthouse and recalled the scene from earlier.
He wondered if Kumogakure had intentionally arranged Suna ninjas' lodging right next to theirs. They could come over by just walking across a short sky bridge.
He hadn't seen any sign of Iwagakure, but that was fine. Tomorrow would be the start of the Chunin Exams.
However, the Fourth Kazekage... he was so weak.
This was Shinji's first thought upon seeing Gaara's father.
Rasa should have the Kekkei Genkai Magnet Release, right?
But during that brief encounter, not only his intuition but also the data on the panel showed Rasa's actual strength. However, the obvious 'weakness' displayed made Shinji speculate. It was likely due to the frequent use of his Kekkei Genkai to create wealth for Sunagakure through gold dust, overdrawing his own vitality, which had greatly diminished his strength.
After the Third Great Ninja War, the Land of Wind had drastically cut the funding and military expenses for Sunagakure.
This led to Rasa, who was appointed in a time of crisis, constantly patching up the holes to ensure that Sunagakure's overall combat strength did not decline.
It should be noted that Sunagakure's gold dust exports in recent years were not insignificant.
Shinji shook his head, no longer dwelling on it.
Anyway, Hiruzen probably wouldn't underestimate this person, so it was better to be vigilant.
"What are you thinking about?" Kakashi had his hands in his pockets, appearing very leisurely.
"Nothing, is tomorrow a direct elimination round?" Shinji shook his head in response, asking casually.
"Some time ago, Dodai from Kumogakure came by and said that the written exam wouldn't be necessary." Kakashi nodded.
Shinji pondered silently. Without the written exam, the elimination rounds would be even more chaotic. He wondered what Kumogakure was thinking. After all, the strength levels were too uneven.
It was possible that some small ninja villages might not even have any Genin returning after the competition.
...
"Hokage, your demeanor is as impressive as ever."
In the guesthouse's reception room, Rasa looked at Hiruzen, a formal smile on his face.
"Kazekage, you are still in your prime. I cannot compare." Hiruzen smiled faintly, gesturing for Rasa to drink tea.
Rasa nodded slightly and picked up the teacup. His eyes unconsciously drifted to Shisui standing behind Hiruzen.
"Hokage, why haven't I seen your disciple?"
Combining the intelligence obtained by Sunagakure, Rasa confirmed that the person standing behind Hiruzen was not Shinji, and couldn't help but ask.
"He doesn't really like this kind of atmosphere, he just left." Hiruzen waved his hand, completely ignoring Rasa's curiosity.
Rasa paused, then took a sip of tea. His thoughts drifted to the figures he had seen when he first entered.
"I wonder, Kazekage, what are your thoughts on tomorrow's elimination rounds?" Hiruzen chuckled, interrupting Rasa's thoughts.
Hearing this, Rasa's eyes narrowed slightly. To be honest, he hadn't initially wanted to come and join the fun. However, it just so happened that Sunagakure and Konoha were having another procurement transaction recently.
Even the two elders of Sunagakure had to show their faces and signal to Rasa not to antagonize Konoha for now.
However, every ninja in Sunagakure was a valuable resource. Therefore, Rasa had only brought some Academy students who weren't even Genin.
No, it should be said they were just some ordinary students who had undergone basic training.
"Everything will be according to Hokage's arrangements." Rasa said, lowering his stance.
Hiruzen waved his hand and said very calmly, "I have no arrangements. This time, I mainly invited the Kazekage to watch a play together."
Is that all?
Rasa was taken aback. He couldn't quite understand what Hiruzen wanted to do.
—
While Hiruzen and Rasa were discussing, in another guesthouse.
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, who had just returned, walked into his guesthouse with a heavy heart.
"Kitsuchi, what do you think of what that barbaric Fourth Raikage just said?" Ōnoki turned to his son standing behind him and asked.
"What we can confirm is that the Raikage is targeting Konoha this time, but he suddenly proposed holding a so-called Jonin confrontation between the Four Great Villages..."
At this point, Kitsuchi fell silent. He really couldn't understand why.
Seeing his son's expression, Ōnoki couldn't help but sigh.
This son had good strength and leadership abilities, but his thinking wasn't flexible enough.
"When the time comes, if you need to go, just go." Shaking his head, Ōnoki said somewhat helplessly.
"Yes." Kitsuchi immediately responded upon hearing this.
Waving his hand, Ōnoki motioned for Kitsuchi to withdraw.
As the door closed, Ōnoki slowly walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the unique scenery of Kumogakure under the night outside the window.
Ōnoki naturally knew what the Raikage wanted to do. Nothing more than to regain face, and even to ensure the death of that Konoha genius.
As for whether a Ninja War would break out because of this, the Raikage didn't care, and Ōnoki himself cared even less.
From learning Dust Release at the age of thirteen, to later being defeated by Madara alongside his master, the Second Tsuchikage. After he took over the position of Tsuchikage, he had always been a staunch hardliner.
Normally, he might not even bother with the Raikage's invitation. However, six months ago, his disciple, Deidara, left Iwagakure and then disappeared without a trace. And then, a genius suddenly appeared in Konoha, a brilliant genius after Minato.
Defeating the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, that battle record was enough to make people take notice.
It made Ōnoki, who had always viewed Konoha as a great enemy, worry once again. That's why he agreed, thinking of coming to see for himself.
To see what kind of person this newly risen Konoha genius truly was.
If he was just a person seeking fame, then he would naturally be happy to watch Hiruzen make a fool of himself.
But Konoha... was uniquely blessed.
Every famous genius was a dazzling existence.
He didn't believe that Hiruzen would be so senile as to take such a disciple.
If he really was another genius like Minato, then he must be crushed in the cradle.
Thinking of this, Ōnoki's eyes couldn't help but erupt with tangible killing intent.
It wasn't that Ōnoki overly demonized Konoha. But how many figures had Konoha produced in just a few decades?
Madara, whom he and the Second Tsuchikage regarded as a demon god, and Hashirama, who suppressed Madara.
And then, during the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, the figures that emerged one after another in Konoha made Ōnoki's heart even more unwilling to gamble.
If the Raikage had such a thought, Ōnoki wouldn't mind giving a push from behind. At least, Konoha could not produce another figure capable of changing the course of a war.