Accompanying Killer Bee were two Ninja, one male and one female.
The male looked exhausted, as if he had been ravaged by several strong men. He had a lollipop in his mouth, his steps were unsteady, and he looked listless.
This was Omoi, who Ino had controlled with her Sharingan last night.
After he sobered up, he felt that something was wrong with his body, but he didn't know what it was. On the way here, he had already self-diagnosed seven or eight terminal illnesses.
If he had encountered such a situation in the past, he would have long since gone back to lie down and play dead. However, today's blind date, Karui, was his senior, so he had to come and see her, both out of respect and personal feelings.
So, with an extremely pessimistic mood, he came to see his good senior's "last moments."
This person was usually a bit eccentric, but among the rough men of Hidden Cloud Village, no one noticed his problem.
Omoi looked unmotivated, but the blonde Kunoichi beside him was very eye-catching.
This woman had skin so fair that she didn't look like a Cloud Ninja at all. What was even more striking was her extremely ample bosom; looking through her mesh top, it was truly unfathomable!
Ino stared for a long time without blinking. Even the three young men, who weren't very interested in women, were drawn by the feminine hormones emanating from her.
Shikamaru, who had a history of "marrying an older woman brings good fortune" in the original timeline, couldn't help but sneak several glances.
"You like this type?" Ino feigned sudden realization. "So this is the real Shikamaru!"
The large-chested Kunoichi looked indifferent, seemingly accustomed to the stares of the male Ninja.
She was Samui, a Jonin of Hidden Cloud Village, and also the captain of Omoi and Karui. She was 28 years old, and belonged to the same generation as Kakashi and Shizune.
Finally, the Fourth Raikage's right-hand men, the ever-busy C and Darui, arrived.
This was Ino's first time meeting Darui. This future Fifth Raikage was indeed very lazy. Shikamaru's laziness was a sign of confidence, but Darui's laziness often seemed more like a form of humility.
This Lightning Release Ninja, known as the "Kakashi of Hidden Cloud Village," had unfocused eyes and looked spaced out as soon as he arrived.
Ino walked over to C and suggested a change to the blind date rules: "I think if our Village's Chunin demonstrate their unique skills, Karui won't have to fight them one by one, right? It's too troublesome and wastes everyone's time."
The original plan was a martial arts contest for marriage. Whoever could defeat Karui would get to marry the dark-skinned beauty.
It was a simple, crude, and very Kumogakure-style blind date scenario.
Ino originally had no objections, but now that the Fourth Raikage himself was present, the outcome immediately changed.
Under the powerful pressure of the Fourth Raikage's aura, Shikamaru and Kiba could still hold on, but Choji's mental fortitude was lacking. Choji was their designated son-in-law, and the Fourth Raikage hadn't said a word, yet his mere presence was extremely intimidating. The fatty was now so scared he didn't even dare to eat potato chips.
In this situation, asking him to fight Karui? He'd be defeated in two moves.
C said pointedly, "A plan that has been made should not be changed. Even if there are many difficulties and obstacles ahead, we should overcome them and break through all barriers. I believe that is what a true Ninja does."
The "mansplaining" tone in his words annoyed Ino. She said with a hint of sarcasm, "Identify the goal, then stick to it unswervingly? Senior C's words sound like the will of stone of Iwagakure?"
This was too big a burden for C to bear. He said loudly, "That's not how you should interpret it. Our Hidden Cloud Village is about perseverance, not conservatism. After enduring wind and rain, only the mountains remain. The mud and stones are always trampled underfoot. Tempering one's will and honing one's body are essential lessons for Ninja."
He was implying that Konoha Ninja lacked willpower.
The willpower of Konoha Ninja, one only needed to look at their indulgence in gambling, alcohol, and prostitution to know it was indeed lacking.
While arguing with him, Ino kept most of her attention on the Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, and Darui. The three Kage-level powerhouses put a lot of pressure on her.
The large-chested Samui also put a lot of pressure on her, mainly visual pressure. The Sharingan's visual enhancement in its normal state was simply too great.
In this situation, if Shikamaru and the others encountered danger in their fight with Karui, and she was targeted by the three Kage-level powerhouses of Hidden Cloud Village, it would be difficult for her to rescue them in time. Therefore, she strongly opposed moving to the combat phase.
"What is there to argue about in such a simple matter? Let Karui choose first, then have a fight. It's settled!" The Fourth Raikage made the final decision directly.
As the Raikage of a Village, his words were the final command, and Ino had little room to argue.
Shikamaru came to her side and whispered a few words. She thought carefully and finally nodded, agreeing to this blind date plan of first an "interview" and then "practical application."
Shikamaru then whispered a few words to Choji. The fatty looked at his best friend with surprise, then looked at Ino with a questioning gaze. Ino nodded slightly.
He felt quite anxious, but thinking that his two best friends would certainly not harm him, he clenched his fists, indicating that he would go all out.
Ino said loudly, "Alright, we agree. Let's start now."
The "interview" wasn't about looks either.
They were all Ninja, so they had to at least show some Ninja flair, or rather, perform two unique skills.
Shikamaru went first, demonstrating his Shadow Imitation Technique.
Black shadows surrounded the dummy from the left, center, and right, then tightened, directly breaking the dummy's neck.
Karui shook her head vigorously. "What kind of rubbish is this? Am I supposed to play with ropes with you at home after marriage? This clearly looks like the ability of an old schemer, too different from the values of Hidden Cloud Village."
Shikamaru was rejected.
Kiba was second.
Kiba could use a Secret Technique to transform Akamaru into a clone identical to himself, and naturally, he could do the reverse.
A human turning into a dog was certainly easier than a dog turning into a human.
With a "bang," a puff of white smoke rose. As the smoke cleared, Karui looked at the two identical Akamaru and was completely stunned.
Originally, she was most satisfied with Kiba: young, handsome, and caring. The Inuzuka Clan was not a top Konoha Ninja family, but it wouldn't be marginalized either. The family's strength was neither too high nor too low, which was perfect for a Kunoichi like her, who would easily attract suspicion if she married into a powerful family. Now? What the hell was this?! Let him live with his dog!
Finally, Choji took the stage.
According to Ino's teasing, this was the moment for Choji, underestimated by the woman and her elders, to show off, slap faces, and make a stunning impression as the grand finale.
The fatty didn't dare to look up at the fierce Fourth Raikage. Following Shikamaru's advice, he made a request to C, like reciting a text: "I'm incredibly strong. This dummy can't fully demonstrate my abilities. Please prepare a sturdier prop for me. Hmm, the sturdier, the better."
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