"Hey, stop right there. First, we of the Cloud..."
"Hm?"
Sharner glanced back at the Cloud ninjas chasing him. Two looked like gorillas, one like a weakling. He wasn't interested.
A flicker of light crossed his cerulean pupils.
"Noisy!"
Sharner waved his hand at the pursuing Cloud squad, sending a repulsive force mixed with a gale toward the trio.
"What the hell was that!"
With no room to resist, all three were repelled dozens of meters. Karui was covered in leaves, looking dishevelled.
"Damn it! How dare you treat me like this!"
"Calm down! Karui, this opponent is not simple!"
Omoi desperately held her back. He had a premonition that if Karui charged, they might all perish here.
The opponent had no intention of harming them, merely swatting them away as if a tiger had no interest in ants.
Omoi's face was slick with cold sweat. He wondered if they had already encountered the main boss.
Meanwhile, the Sand ninja squad had also encountered the Mist ninjas.
Temari and Kankuro solemnly raised their weapons. In their view, this battle was unavoidable.
After all, the opponent was on their village's wanted list, and they seemed to be quite displeased with the Sand village as well.
"Tch, you guys look like you want to fight us?"
Hozuki Suigetsu hid behind Kimimaro and provocatively addressed Kankuro.
Kankuro was not to be outdone. He quietly hid behind Gaara's large gourd and mocked Hozuki Suigetsu, "If you have the guts, come at me!"
These two cowards!
Kimimaro was used to it. Gaara, however, discovered for the first time that his brother Kankuro also possessed a cowardly trait.
Kimimaro spoke, "If we meet in the third exam, don't hold back."
Gaara nodded, "Mm!"
Then, they each found a direction and continued their advance, leaving Hozuki Suigetsu and Kankuro glaring at each other.
"What are you looking at! If you have the guts, come here!"
"What about me? If you have the guts, come hit me!"
Immediately after, both bolted, shouting, "Kimimaro (Gaara) wait for me!"
Temari watched them with speechless exasperation. These two were both cowards!
"Um... hello, my name is Haku."
As Temari was about to leave, she heard a soft voice greet her.
"Uh, hello."
Haku bowed politely and then ran towards Kimimaro and the other.
Temari was left alone, her mind in turmoil. Why was this team so strange?
The one called Haku... was probably a girl... right?
...
The exams continued, and news of ninja teams being eliminated spread from time to time, much to the delight of the spectators in the arena.
At this moment, in a lounge area of the arena, a ninja wearing a cloak to conceal his face was speaking with Danzo.
"Shimura Danzo, leader of Konoha's Root, I have long admired you."
"Enough nonsense. What do you want with me?" Danzo's face was grim. This guy from the Star Village was rubbing salt in his wounds. He hadn't been the leader of Root for over a decade!
Although his experiments had progressed over the years, without Orochimaru's help, those fools couldn't research anything. And Orochimaru, that fool, had gone to research the path of science, a greater fool!
Yes, he, Shimura Danzo, was still unyielding. Even as Konoha grew stronger year by year, Danzo felt uneasy because it had nothing to do with him. Danzo believed that if he had become Hokage, he would have done better than Minato Namikaze.
So, when he heard that someone from the Star Village wanted to make a deal with him, offering a peculiar meteorite from beyond the heavens as the price, Danzo's interest was piqued.
Akaboshi lifted his hood and smiled at Danzo, "Lord Danzo, do not be hasty. We are of the same kind. We have a common goal and should cooperate."
Same kind of crap! I, Danzo, have Hiruzen. What do you, Akaboshi, have?!
Danzo cursed inwardly, but calmly said, "What is your goal? And what can you do for me?"
"My goal is simple. I need Lord Danzo's cooperation to take down the leading Jonin of the Star Village in this competition, Natsu Boshi."
"Oh? That's all? What do I get in return?" Danzo asked expressionlessly.
Akaboshi chuckled, "I believe Lord Danzo is curious about the power of the meteorite. I can share it with you. Of course, I also hope that Lord Danzo can represent Konoha in supporting our Star Village to become the sixth great ninja village."
Danzo smiled, "I help you capture someone, and support you to become the Star Kage, and all I get is to share the meteorite with you?"
He, Danzo, was resentful and still harbored ambitions for the Hokage position, but he wasn't an idiot!
And what right did he have to represent Konoha? He'd rather represent the stars and eliminate this scoundrel!
"Lord Danzo, please don't rush."
Akaboshi said confidently, "As long as our Star Village has the title of Kage, I will represent the Star Village in supporting Lord Danzo to become the next Hokage."
Danzo's expression turned numb. This fellow had no understanding of the so-called Kage. If mere recognition from other ninja villages could make one Hokage, why would he have lost to that kid Minato Namikaze back then!
Danzo was filled with indignation. Why hadn't Hiruzen trusted him back then!
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Fourth Hokage Shimura Danzo. If this could be achieved, wouldn't it be a beautiful story in the future!
Hiruzen, why did you lack foresight!
Seeing Danzo in thought, Akaboshi tentatively asked, "Lord Danzo, what do you think? I heard you are conducting secret experiments. I can provide a few Star ninjas for you to use."
"Oh?"
Danzo narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Not enough. I also need you to help me eliminate someone."
"Who?"
"The chief examiner of this tournament, Uzumaki Lin Yu!"
"Uzumaki Lin Yu? How strong is he? And he's the chief examiner. It might be difficult to deal with him here in the arena," Akaboshi hesitated. Although the examiner looked quite weak, there were too many people around, making it difficult to act.
"Don't worry, I will lure him to a secluded place. You just need to bring your people and deal with him."
Danzo thought viciously, Uzumaki Lin Yu, you stole my seat! That seat was meant for me by Hiruzen!
Fearing that Akaboshi might not be reassured, Danzo laughed loudly, "Don't forget, this is Konoha, and I am Shimura Danzo. If one chief examiner dies, I can arrange another one in an instant. Rest assured!"
"Since Lord Danzo says so, then I await your news." Akaboshi was ecstatic. He had so easily convinced one of Konoha's "big shots," Shimura Danzo, to support him in becoming the Star Kage. Indeed, Akaboshi was destined to be the brightest star!
"That's all. I'll go make arrangements."
"Farewell, Lord Danzo."
After Danzo left, Akaboshi took out a box from his怀. He opened it carefully. A palm-sized meteorite lay quietly within, wisps of purple energy emanating from it.
Akaboshi closed the lid, placed it in his怀, his already arrogant demeanor becoming even more smug.
"Natsu Boshi, don't think you can hide just because you brought On and the others to the Chunin exams. Akaboshi will stand before you and watch you die!"
...
On the other side, Danzo's steps quickened as he left the lounge. Despite his old age, his current pace could be described as a flying gallop.
"Hiruzen, Hiruzen, where are you? I have good news to report!"
Danzo was excited. It was another chance for him, Shimura Danzo, to shine in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Hiruzen!
Reaching the spectator stands, Danzo took a few deep breaths, then composed himself into a calm and collected demeanor, which was his usual impassive face, and returned to his seat.
Danzo poked Sarutobi Hiruzen in the side.
"Danzo, watch the exam properly. Why are you poking me?"
Danzo said with a face full of seeking praise, "Hiruzen, I'll tell you some good news, just now..."
Danzo: Heh heh, you Akaboshi are at most on the first level, but with Hiruzen, Danzo has directly reached the fifth level!