Ch 415: Not Bad

By now, even Naruto, who’s usually so carefree, could sense that his best friend wasn’t as strong as he’d imagined.

Although Yuta always had a lot of ideas, his strength was all fake!

So Naruto became even more dejected.

“But you only lost to Neji because of bad luck, Naruto.”

Yuta hadn’t finished speaking.

“When I meet him later, I’ll avenge you!”

“Really!?”

Although Naruto already had some doubts about his best friend’s strength, he was still willing to believe Yuta!

“Of course it’s true, don’t you know what kind of strength I have?”

Yuta chuckled, giving himself a thumbs-up.

Naruto scratched his head.

Come to think of it, he really didn’t know how strong Yuta actually was. He just felt that with his best friend’s personality, if he wasn’t strong, he would have been beaten to death long ago.

On the distant viewing stand.

Orochimaru adjusted his Hokage Hat, a smirk playing on his lips, and asked Rasa beside him.

“Hehehe, isn’t it time to begin yet, Fourth Kazekage.”

Rasa was taken aback, then his expression remained unchanged.

“I don’t understand what you mean, Fourth Hokage. Isn’t the exam still in progress?”

“I see. It seems that the Kazekage-sama, like me, wants to watch this interesting exam to the end. Let’s wait and see.”

Orochimaru nodded, pausing again.

This made Rasa extremely uncomfortable.

He couldn’t be sure if Orochimaru knew something, but Orochimaru wouldn’t say it directly. Every word seemed to hint at something, yet seemed to say nothing.

He didn’t dare to ask directly, fearing that Orochimaru was just being neurotic or making a casual remark.

He couldn’t let Orochimaru trick him into revealing his trump card with a simple attack, could he?

Rasa did have arrangements, but they didn’t have much to do with Sunagakure.

Before the Chūnin Exams began, a mysterious person found him. That mysterious person possessed a very powerful technique and told Rasa that they wanted to join forces to destroy Konoha.

Destroy Konoha?

Rasa himself was a Kage; this made him want to laugh.

What kind of strength would it take to destroy a village?

For example, was Hiruko, who destroyed Hozuki Castle, strong enough? Rasa dared to guarantee that a ninja of that strength wouldn’t be able to leave any of the five great ninja villages alive.

The major ninja villages had too many trump cards. The secret techniques possessed by veteran ninjas and clans were unimaginable. Ninjutsu wasn’t just about exchanging big moves; various sealing techniques could torture a strong person into any state.

But Rasa didn’t refuse.

After the Third Great Ninja War, Orochimaru rose to power, and Sunagakure, due to its pathetic economy and tragic losses, directly humbled itself and became Konoha’s subordinate.

Coupled with the death of veteran strongmen, the retirement of some, and the defection of others, Sunagakure could barely defend itself, but it was powerless to wage war in the Ninja World again.

So, tagging along behind Konoha wasn’t unacceptable; at least the Sunagakure ninjas didn’t have many complaints.

As for those with complaints, it’s simple: if you think you can do better, go ahead and kill Orochimaru, and we’ll support you as the Fifth Kazekage.

The mysterious person’s words about destroying Konoha sounded like a joke, but judging by the technique they demonstrated, it wasn’t impossible for them to achieve something.

At least disrupting Konoha’s order, undermining Konoha’s morale, and affecting Konoha’s atmosphere would be achievable, right?

So Rasa didn’t refuse.

Why not?

If it succeeded, there would be benefits; if it failed, there would be no harm.

Rasa only verbally agreed, but in reality, he wouldn’t let Sunagakure take any action. He would only let his son vent his anger in Konoha.

Sunagakure wouldn’t do anything. Gaara? That was Shukaku running amok; what does it have to do with me?

But Rasa could guarantee that his meeting with the mysterious person was extremely secretive; it was impossible for a third person to have seen them.

So what did Orochimaru mean by “begin”…?

“Shukaku.”

Suddenly, Orochimaru spoke, uttering the keyword.

Rasa subconsciously raised his head, meeting Orochimaru’s eyes, which were fixed on him, full of amusement.

Oh no…

…….

Thump thump thump—

The large screen scrolled.

“Sasuke Uchiha VS Sai! Please have the contestants come to the stage!”

Hayate Gekko shouted.

Yuta looked at the large screen and stroked his chin.

This Chūnin Exam was different from the original version. The original version didn’t have any champion or runner-up designations; this round should have ended after this fight, although it hadn’t finished.

But the Chūnin Exam hosted by Orochimaru was to continue until only one person remained.

Sakura and Ino both lost their eligibility to compete, meaning that only nine people entered this round, with one bye.

Seeing that Sasuke’s opponent wasn’t Gaara, Yuta knew that Gaara had a bye.

As everyone knows, the randomness of this Chūnin Exam is fake, meaning that Orochimaru might be saving Gaara, who is somewhat overpowered, for last.

Actually, this is very strange.

Because the subsequent battles didn’t have that half-month period for rest and improvement.

To take down Gaara, it would be best to use a carrousel battle against him, keeping him constantly engaged in combat. Why would he be put last?

Unless… Orochimaru has arrangements beyond the exam.

“Then I’ll go, but I don’t think I’m Sasuke’s opponent.”

Sai mumbled, not knowing who he was talking to.

Actually, slightly autistic children speak to everyone; whoever responds to them, they will immediately speak to that person next.

But unfortunately, Kimimaro didn’t respond to him, and Yuta was thinking.

The poor child scratched his face and walked down from the viewing stand alone.

“Sai.”

Sasuke saw Sai walk to his opposite side and curled his lips.

“You’re strong, but after half a month of training, I’ve become even stronger. If you lose, don’t cry!”

Sai nodded hesitantly.

So middle-school-ish. Even though they’re teenagers, why is there such a pre-battle declaration? Even standing opposite him, as the target of the declaration, Sai felt embarrassed.

“Very well, the two of you, begin the battle!”

Hayate Gekko didn’t waste words; he chopped down with one hand and immediately retreated to the sidelines to watch the battle.

Once this Chūnin Exam ended, he could be promoted to Jonin and retire peacefully. Although he wasn’t old, early retirement wasn’t bad.

“Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!!”

The Uchiha’s signature opening move. Now Sasuke’s Great Fireball was quite proficient.

Sai naturally wouldn’t be outdone. Getting beaten was out of the question; he, Sai, was only a little autistic, but he wasn’t an honest person!

“Ninjutsu! Super Beast Imitating Drawing! Eagle Hunt!”

After a flurry of attacks, the two exchanged several blows, and ultimately Sai was defeated.

His Super Beast Imitating Drawing hadn’t progressed much. That thing relied heavily on inspiration and couldn’t improve too quickly, so now he couldn’t even beat Sasuke in his normal state.

Back on the viewing stand, Yuta put his arm around Sai.

“You can be more flexible in battle; don’t be confined to ninjutsu. Just now, when you got close, you could have poked him in the armpit with your brush. When you separated, you could have hooked his leg. I guarantee he’d be lying down~”

Sai twitched his mouth.

Older Brother, we were entrusted to Kakashi’s team by Red Bean sensei. Shouldn’t you look at who’s standing behind you?

“Hey, that’s pretty good already~”

Yuta patted Sai’s shoulder, which made Sai feel much better. Yuta rarely comforted people.

“I was just a little short.”

“…”

…….

…….