Ryuzetsu was on high alert.
To him, anyone capable of convincing Jonin Masahiko and Yoshino to willingly withdraw their candidacy could not be an ordinary person. He even considered the possibility that the masked, black-robed figure before him might be an elder who had miraculously survived.
At that moment, the black-robed figure removed their mask, revealing a youthful face.
"It's you?!"
Ryuzetsu was stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He never could have imagined that the black-robed figure was the Uzumaki remnant he had once aided in the village.
Undoubtedly, the masked, black-robed person in the cave was Karin, who, under Uchiha Shinji's orders, had hurriedly traveled from the Hidden Leaf Village to the Land of Grass.
"Big Brother Ryuzetsu, it's been a while!"
Karin smiled.
Due to her status as an Uzumaki remnant, she and her mother held an extremely low position in Hidden Grass Village, treated as mere tools. Few in the village regarded them as equals.
Ryuzetsu and his sister Ryuzetsu were among the rare Hidden Grass shinobi who didn't discriminate against her, so Karin held a favorable impression of the siblings.
Ryuzetsu was puzzled. "Didn't you defect from the village and get taken in by the Hidden Leaf?"
At this point, Mizawa, the ramen shop owner's superior, entered the cave and explained, "Karin didn't defect. She was sent by the elders on a secret mission to infiltrate the Hidden Leaf and steal their secret techniques. She's the unparalleled genius unanimously recognized by the elders and the hope for Hidden Grass Village's revival!"
Ryuzetsu's expression shifted. "You're still delusional about reviving Hidden Grass Village?!"
Jonin Masahiko stepped forward. "Shouldn't we be?"
Jonin Yoshino echoed, "Ryuzetsu, don't forget that reviving Hidden Grass Village is the duty of every Grass shinobi!"
Ryuzetsu's face twisted with bitterness. "Haven't we paid enough for this dream? The village is already in ruins, and you still want to chase this madness? Do you need to destroy the village completely before you're satisfied?"
Mizawa shook his head. "Ryuzetsu, you misunderstand us! We don't intend to keep vying for dominance with the five great shinobi villages. We only want to protect the Land of Grass and restore the village's dignity!"
Ryuzetsu sneered, unconvinced by Mizawa's words. "Just say it. Why did you summon me here?"
Masahiko and Yoshino exchanged a glance before declaring in unison, "We nominate Karin asa the next leader of Hidden Grass Village!"
Ryuzetsu was speechless. "Have you lost your minds? She's just a child!"
Karin spoke up, "Big Brother Ryuzetsu, I'm the most suitable person to become the leader of Hidden Grass Village right now! Only I can lead the village to restore its dignity!"
"Karin, do you even know what you're saying?!" After a pause, Ryuzetsu continued, "Hidden Grass Village is teetering on the edge of a cliff. One wrong step, and it's doomed forever! How could I possibly entrust the village to a child like you?"
Mizawa smiled. "Ryuzetsu, what do you think our village's leader needs most right now?"
Ryuzetsu replied, "Sincerity, of course! The 'Grass Seed' faction's past actions were what led to the village's disaster! The village needs unity now, not the kind of division we had before!"
"Mm." Mizawa nodded, acknowledging Ryuzetsu's answer, then continued, "Sincerity can unite the villagers, but if the Akatsuki or 'Upper Moon' returns, can sincerity fend them off?"
"This…"
Ryuzetsu was momentarily speechless.
The old Hidden Grass Village couldn't withstand 'Upper Moon's' subversion, let alone the current one. If the Akatsuki or 'Upper Moon' targeted the village again, Hidden Grass would be finished.
Mizawa smiled. "You're right. The 'Grass Seed' faction did make mistakes, but we were correct about one thing: without strength, everything is just talk! In my view, the village's new leader needs strength above all—strength to protect the village and fend off external enemies!"
Ryuzetsu seemed to realize something and looked at Karin. "Karin, you…"
Karin said, "Big Brother Ryuzetsu, you know I'm from the Uzumaki clan, right? The elders sent me to the Hidden Leaf to steal the Uzumaki clan's secret techniques, and now I've mastered them!"
Mizawa added, "Ryuzetsu, let's hold the leadership election right here! You'll face Karin one-on-one. If you win, we'll all support you as the next leader. But if Karin wins, she'll be the village's next leader!"
Ryuzetsu looked at Masahiko and Yoshino.
Both Hidden Grass Jonin nodded, endorsing Mizawa's proposal.
Though it felt unfair to challenge a child, for the village's future, Ryuzetsu finally nodded. "Alright, then!"
Mizawa, Masahiko, and Yoshino stepped back, clearing space for Ryuzetsu and Karin.
Ryuzetsu said, "Karin, be careful!"
Karin didn't waste words, merely nodding lightly.
Mizawa announced, "The match begins!"
Ryuzetsu raised both hands, beginning to form seals.
He and Ryuzetsu both possessed a unique Bloodline Limit, giving them innate advantages in training taijutsu and ninjutsu.
As a result, his strength was among the top in today's Hidden Grass Village, one of the reasons he was a strong contender for the next leader.
At that moment, Karin raised her hand.
She didn't form seals. With a gentle wave, a shimmering golden chain shot from her body, instantly binding Ryuzetsu, who was still forming seals.
"This?!"
Ryuzetsu was dumbfounded.
The moment the golden chain wrapped around him, he lost control of his chakra. Though his seals were incomplete, he knew even if he finished them, he wouldn't be able to release any ninjutsu.
Karin said calmly, "You've lost!"
As a seasoned Hidden Grass Jonin, Ryuzetsu wasn't about to give up so easily. He abandoned his seals and began to struggle, trying to break free from the golden chain with raw strength.
But no matter how he struggled, he couldn't escape. The chain tightened, gradually rendering him immobile.
Masahiko and Yoshino, watching from the sidelines, shook their heads and sighed.
They hadn't initially supported Karin either. As some of the few remaining Jonin in Hidden Grass Village, both had coveted the leadership position.
But after sparring with Karin, they realized the vast gap in strength between themselves and her, leading them to wholeheartedly back her as the next leader.
Seeing Ryuzetsu still struggling, Karin said, "Give up! This technique is called 'Adamantine Sealing Chains.' It was developed by the Uzumaki clan to subdue tailed beasts. Once bound by these chains, even the Nine-Tails couldn't break free!"
Hearing that even a tailed beast couldn't escape, Ryuzetsu stopped struggling. "I lost!"