In the spectator stands.
"Hanabi, don't cling to Aoba-kun so much!"
Hinata looked somewhat distressed at her younger sister who was hanging all over Aoba.
'At home is one thing, but now even outside too?'
The other girls around Aoba were also eyeing the lollipop-licking Hanabi with hostility.
They too wanted to sit in that spot.
"What's the big deal? Aoba-oniisan isn't an outsider," Hanabi not only didn't listen but also happily rubbed her face against Aoba's chest.
"Even so, this is outside…", Hinata's little face turned red.
He wasn't really an outsider… Aoba had said before that they were family, after all.
"Then does big sister want to sit? I can give you half the seat, you know," Hanabi smiled slyly and scooted her little butt over, really making room for Hinata.
"Hanabi…", Hinata glared at Hanabi.
This Hanabi, even when they were at home and no one else was around, she'd already monopolize Aoba, and couldn't be pulled away. Now, even out here, she was tempting her like this. It was really too much.
If she sat down now, she'd definitely get bullied later by Tenten and the others.
"Damn it!", Tenten and the others were also glaring unhappily at Aoba.
Even Hanabi wasn't spared. Aoba was quickly turning from a scumbag into a full-on perve*t.
"Look over there!", Tenten's surprised voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone followed the direction she was pointing.
It was the exclusive viewing platform reserved for Kage. A figure was already seated up there. It was a woman wearing a Mizukage hat, and her appearance surprised everyone.
"That big-brea*ted woman really became the Mizukage!", Ino was in disbelief.
The one now sitting atop the high platform was none other than Terumi Mei. However, she wasn't officially the Mizukage yet.
She was the acting Mizukage temporarily appointed by Kirigakure, mainly for the sake of forming an alliance with Konoha.
They needed someone with a presentable status.
———
And Terumi Mei happened to notice them, more precisely, she noticed Aoba.
She immediately waved toward Aoba.
"Something feels off with Konoha today...", Unlike the average bystanders who were just enjoying the spectacle, Terumi Mei's bodyguard Ao clearly felt the atmosphere in Konoha was a bit unusual today.
"What feels off?", Terumi Mei cheerfully withdrew her hand.
After seeing Aoba, her mood, which had been gloomy for the past few days, improved quite a bit. It had only been three days, but she already felt sick. Every night when she closed her eyes, she saw Aoba's face.
'Should I just find a way to trick Aoba back to Kirigakure?'
If she couldn't see him for long periods, she might go crazy.
"A lot of shinobi around the venue seem on edge, and Konoha also seems to have mobilized quite a few people today," Ao also followed Terumi Mei's gaze and looked downward. Naturally, he spotted the young man surrounded in the middle.
He had already learned quite a bit about this acting Mizukage's life in Konoha during this time.
To put it simply… She was addicted to handsome men. This left them bodyguards unsure of what to even say.
"What's so strange about that? A lot of important figures will be attending this match. It's reasonable to have more shinobi protecting the scene," Terumi Mei casually brushed it off.
She actually knew the real reason, Aoba had told her. But she hadn't shared it with the others in Kirigakure.
He had promised her it wouldn't involve Kirigakure, so they only needed to stay put.
Since it didn't concern Kirigakure, she wouldn't betray Aoba either.
"Maybe...", Ao shook his head, pushing aside the stray thoughts in his mind.
Kirigakure came this time just to acknowledge a big brother. They even had to eat humble pie. Surely Konoha wouldn't betray them.
'But seriously, what is with Mei-sama's current state?'
'Could Aoba be a succubus?'
'He actually has Mei-sama so smitten.'
The acting Mizukage was a love-brained woman. And everyone else was a bunch of bugs.
'Damn it, when did Kirigakure become like this!'
———
"Why is Aoba still alive?", In the Kazekage's lounge, Rasa was angrily questioning Uchiha Itachi in front of him.
But Uchiha Itachi's expression didn't change in the slightest as he replied coldly, "He has been sticking close to Tsunade these past three days. If we act now, it will alert the enemy."
"You guys… couldn't find any opportunity at all?", After hearing Itachi's explanation, Rasa gritted his teeth.
That three hundred thousand, he couldn't just throw it away.
"I'll act when the operation begins," Uchiha Itachi didn't bother explaining further.
"Then… fine," Hearing this, Rasa's mouth twitched, but he had nothing more to say.
Compared to Aoba, the success of Sunagakure's operation was more important.
"Later, pretend to be my guards and follow me."
"We absolutely can't fail this time!"
———
After exchanging waves from a distance with Terumi Mei, Aoba scanned the rest of the spectator stands.
He spotted quite a few familiar faces.
Kurotsuchi was also happily waving at him.
The three big-sister types from Kumogakure were huddled together, discussing something.
The golden wavy-haired Samui still had her cold expression.
Then he looked toward the siblings from Sunagakure. The moment they noticed Aoba's gaze, they all lowered their heads.
Guilty as thieves.
From the look of it, they probably knew about their village's plan too.
"Temari! You're shinobi from Sunagakure!", Standing behind the three, Baki also noticed this and couldn't help but remind them aloud.
Even he was a bit confused, 'Didn't the Kazekage say we would deal with Aoba?'
'Why does this guy still look completely untouched?'
To divert the trio's attention, Baki repeated the plan again, "Gaara, when you fight Aoba later, take the opportunity to release Shukaku and attack the surrounding people."
Gaara's eyes flickered, and he clenched his fists, "I understand."
'Attack the surrounding people…', Temari felt conflicted inside.
'There are a lot of ordinary spectators nearby. If Gaara attacks, it will be a massacre. And the area is filled with Konoha's Anbu and elite jonin. Even if Gaara does manage to release Shukaku, will it really succeed…'
'This plan is way too sloppy.'
"Shukaku's main role is to attract Konoha's other jonin. The Kazekage-sama will take out the Hokage in the shortest time."
Baki explained to the three, "Once the Hokage is gone, Konoha will be leaderless, and chaos will erupt instantly."
"Take out the Hokage?", Temari couldn't help but glance toward the highest platform, at the acting Mizukage from Kirigakure.
"This suddenly appeared Mizukage is definitely a variable," Baki also noticed Terumi Mei with the Mizukage hat.
But it seemed she only came to observe the Chunin Exam and didn't bring many people.
Unlike Sunagakure, they didn't bring many either, but all were elites, and there were allied forces outside.
Kirigakure was the weakest among the Five Great Nations. They wouldn't be able to stop them at all.
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