Whoosh—
A cheer suddenly erupted in the valley.
This duel was too spectacular, causing everyone present to hold their breath, with no discussion. They were afraid of missing a single moment. But as the duel ended, the audience loudly cheered.
Kitsuchi's superb Earth Release performance and Baki's steadfastness made the villagers of Kumogakure acknowledge both of them.
Halfway up the mountain, while lowering his gaze, Shinji glanced at the Kazekage. This guy was good at enduring.
However, if Kitsuchi hadn't had that intention, Baki would probably have lost his life here. Moreover, he even thought of using such a vicious scheme at the last moment.
Didn't he see that Ōnoki's face was completely grim now? He had only given Rasa a glance just now and then remained silent.
If Kitsuchi himself hadn't intended to kill Baki, perhaps Rasa would be using this incident to confront Ōnoki right now, wouldn't he?
Who among the people halfway up the mountain was a fool?
Ōnoki and A looked at Rasa with disdain, while the Raikage Guards behind them had solemn expressions.
After all, an enemy village's Kage had such a vicious mind. This was not a good thing for them.
Although such tactics were not uncommon, using them here was more or less shameless.
Hiruzen, on the other hand, seemed oblivious, maintaining his cheerful expression.
However, based on Shinji's understanding of him, it was highly probable that Rasa had already been noted down in Hiruzen's book.
Although an alliance was just a contract, Hiruzen did not wish for the other party to be a petty person who would act without bottom lines regardless of the occasion.
Rasa, sitting on the stone chair, had a gloomy expression, he was just that close. And as the Tsuchikage's son, he was actually so soft-hearted.
Useless!
At the foot of the mountain, Kitsuchi withdrew his fist. He looked at the slumped Baki, and then turned his head towards the mountainside shrouded in thin clouds.
He couldn't help but sigh and slowly said, "Someone will come to pick you up for treatment later."
Baki did not respond, staring blankly at the Sunagakure forehead protector in front of him.
Seeing this, Kitsuchi stood still, waiting for Kumogakure's medical personnel to arrive. He didn't want to bear baseless hatred.
It wasn't until Kumogakure's medical personnel rushed over that he finally moved.
"It's not that the wind of Sunagakure cannot blow away the mountains of Iwagakure, but I am too weak."
A faint remark came from behind Kitsuchi.
Kitsuchi glanced sideways. He did not respond, and then floated lightly towards the mountainside.
Upon reaching the Kage viewing platform, he walked directly towards Ōnoki.
Seeing his son in this state, Ōnoki's expression finally improved.
At least, Sunagakure's scheme did not succeed, it was just overly disgusting.
"That was truly a magnificent battle. Tsuchikage, you have a worthy successor." Hiruzen said cheerfully at this moment.
"Hokage flatters me, but sometimes, when seeking allies, one must keep their eyes wide open." Ōnoki, however, did not accept Hiruzen's praise and took the opportunity to mock him.
Hiruzen seemed unaware of Ōnoki's words, maintaining his cheerful expression.
"Hokage, next is our duel." A, leaning his right hand on his head, looked at Hiruzen and said.
Hearing this, Hiruzen pointed to the towering rock formations and the dilapidated mountain foot on the screen.
He slowly said, "At least the venue should be tidied up, right?"
A scoffed, saying carelessly, "That's just a minor matter."
Samui, standing on the wall, took out another signal flare from her ninja tool pouch and fired it into the sky.
At the foot of the mountain, a Kumogakure squad, having received the signal, streamed in through the entrance. They then used Lightning Release from their mouths to clear the ground, which made Shinji speechless.
Were they using Lightning Release as a plow?
In just about ten minutes, not only the dilapidated ground but even the rock formations Kitsuchi had just created were completely cleared.
On the screen, one could see that the mountain foot, which had some greenery, was now barren.
"Hokage, are you satisfied now?" A asked.
"The guest follows the host's lead." Hiruzen puffed on his pipe and said faintly.
"Good!"
A stood up excitedly and loudly declared, "Then this round will be by my brother. That is Bee, entering as the contestant."
A's voice echoed far and wide.
Whoosh—
"Bee-sama!"
"Raikage-sama is mighty!"
Hiruzen ignored the fact that A's voice had spread throughout the venue, and asked casually, "Oh? I remember this person is your partner and sworn brother, Raikage?"
"That's right, but Bee is also a member of my Raikage Guards. If the Hokage doesn't believe me, I can show you his appointment report." A said to Hiruzen as if it were a matter of fact.
"Heh—" Hiruzen chuckled.
Such a trick was crude.
Shisui and Kakashi, standing behind Hiruzen, both simultaneously thought of stepping forward.
Thud—
Their shoulders were simultaneously patted down, and they couldn't help but turn to look.
Shinji, with a relaxed expression, said to Kakashi and Shisui, "You two, you're not allowed to snatch my opponent."
Kakashi frowned, while Shisui directly said, "Shinji-sama! I have—"
Thud—
Shinji unhappily slapped Shisui's forehead. Kotoamatsukami wasn't some common item.
Why did he want to blurt it out as soon as he opened his mouth?
Moreover, the cooldown period of more than ten years, couldn't it be used for other purposes?
The last time Shisui used it on Danzo, Shinji had already been somewhat against it.
"Alright, if I don't go, there will be plenty of reasons to make me go later." Shinji said, then patted Kakashi and Shisui's shoulders, signaling them to step back.
Turning to Hiruzen, he said, "Old man, then I'll enter the arena, okay?"
"Mm, go ahead, show Konoha's prestige." Hiruzen nodded with a light smile.
Shinji's strength was currently a mystery. Before he left the village, he had already had Jiraiya fight Shinji. Undoubtedly, Jiraiya couldn't defeat Shinji, and Shinji hadn't even used the technique that caused the Eight-Tails' injury.
"No problem." Shinji's lips curved into a smile, and then he leaped.
As he passed Samui, he even glanced at her.
Tsk tsk—
Shinji's entire body erupted with Chakra, and he plummeted towards the foot of the mountain at high speed, landing on his feet. The audience, watching this scene on the screen, gasped.
This was reckless!
Rumble—
As Shinji's feet touched the ground, the entire ground at the foot of the mountain instantly cracked, and stones on the ground scattered, with Shinji as the epicenter.
Innumerable wide cracks spread out like a spiderweb, and the ground that had just been smoothed by Lightning Release collapsed. The cracks extended towards the mountain.
Rumble—
The entire valley seemed to have experienced an earthquake. Not only the audience seats, but even Raikage and others halfway up the mountain felt a tremor. Caught off guard, they almost fell, and the stone chairs behind them developed several fine cracks.
Only the positions of Hiruzen and others remained intact, with Hiruzen still cheerfully puffing on his pipe.
Kakashi and Shisui looked at the slight cracks that appeared beside them with trepidation.
Brute!