Uchiha Hikaru jumped down directly from the gate and landed steadily in front of A and Killer Bee. His gaze swept over Ōnoki and Rasa, then finally met A's eyes.
"Bee, what are you talking about?"
"It's always a pleasure to welcome friends from afar. As the saying goes, guests are to be treated with hospitality."
"How could I not prepare good food and fine sake to welcome you?"
A couldn't help but recall the exquisite wine he'd tasted near the Land of Hot Springs more than three years ago. His mouth watered as he raised a hand to wipe the corner of his lips.
"Hahaha! Since you put it that way, Uchiha Hikaru, I'm relieved."
"Darui! Take our squad inside. You're in charge of getting them settled for the Chunin Exams."
Behind the Raikage, Darui led hundreds of Cloud Village shinobi through Konoha's gate in an orderly line.
Ōnoki, watching the Raikage stride in first, gave a cold snort.
"Hmph. To think the proud Raikage has turned into a boozehound. How disgracefully lazy."
"If your father, the Third Raikage, knew about this from the Pure Land, he'd be spitting thunder."
Ōnoki's cutting words triggered a sudden flare of blue lightning from A's body. Uchiha Hikaru immediately sensed the surge of chakra—it was stronger than three years ago.
The flickering arcs across A's body were on the verge of forming his Lightning Release Armor.
Uchiha Hikaru calmly placed a hand on A's shoulder.
"I already said—everyone who comes is a guest. Let me smooth things over."
"You and Bee should head inside."
Only then did A suppress the violent chakra radiating off his skin. He gave Ōnoki one last glare before waving his hand.
"Bee, let's go. Leave the rest to Brother Hikaru."
"I'll go prepare something nice for my precious subordinates."
As the Raikage left, the smile on Uchiha Hikaru's face grew even brighter. He turned toward Ōnoki, his lips curled into his signature nuclear-grade kindness.
Without a word, his Mangekyō Sharingan activated, casting a seamless genjutsu.
From Ōnoki's perspective, Uchiha Hikaru suddenly transformed into a towering, hundred-meter-tall black Susanoo, looming over Konoha's gate. In its hand was an overwhelming spiritual blade, and it stood atop six shining crystals. The giant looked down on him with icy contempt.
A suffocating aura of death wrapped around Ōnoki's body. Cold sweat drenched his back.
"Th-This is…"
"Old man," Hikaru's voice echoed like thunder, "Don't mistake courtesy for weakness."
"Let me make something clear. Anyone who dares violate Konoha's borders—no matter how far—will face retribution."
"Don't think we haven't noticed your petty schemes at the border."
"As someone weak, you'd best remember your place."
"The fact that I let you walk away on your own two feet is the greatest mercy I'll ever show."
The moment Hikaru's voice fell, a name burst forth in Ōnoki's mind—one that sent chills down his spine.
Uchiha Madara.
He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms. He used the sharp pain to fight back the terror rising in his chest.
The bitterness and indignation of all these years surged up in a roar:
"Don't think I'm still the same weakling I once was!"
"I am Ōnoki !"
"In the name of Iwagakure, I will never yield!"
But just then, a burst of chakra flared behind him, disrupting the genjutsu's hold. The Susanoo vanished in an instant.
A low, teasing voice rang out behind him.
"Grandpa, you sure know how to stir up drama for an old guy…"
Kurotsuchi's quiet complaint made Ōnoki freeze in place. He realized he had just put on a complete spectacle—right in front of everyone.
Still clenching his fists, he stared hard at Uchiha Hikaru, inner vigilance surging to the extreme.
Does this kid really have power on par with Uchiha Madara back then…? Dammit!
Why does Konoha not only have the richest land in the shinobi world, but also keep producing these monsters?!
The heavens are unfair! So damn unfair!
Suddenly, thick mist rolled in around Konoha's gate. A sultry, teasing voice drifted through the fog:
"What are you boys doing clogging up the gate?"
"If none of you are going in, I guess I'll lead Kirigakure's shinobi in first~"
But before the fog could envelop them completely, a powerful chakra burst out from Uchiha Hikaru, sweeping the mist away like a storm.
All eyes turned to him.
A woman in a dark blue, high-slit combat outfit sauntered up and placed her left hand on his shoulder. With a delicate finger, she hooked his chin and stared deep into his eyes with open affection.
Killer Bee, watching from the side, swallowed hard. Mei Terumi's high-cut dress and the black fishnet stockings wrapping her firm, shapely thighs made him nearly drool.
Damn… lucky bastard…
Ao, standing behind Mei Terumi, sighed and rubbed his forehead in silence.
At this rate… Kirigakure might as well just marry into Konoha.
He wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Kirigakure had improved visibly over the past few years, but Ao had gradually realized something important—the peace and prosperity they enjoyed hadn't been earned through their own power.
It came from sheltering beneath the towering tree that was Konoha.
If one day Kirigakure truly merged into Konoha, it might not be a bad thing. The people would live in peace. But for someone born and raised in the Mist… there was always going to be a little resistance in his heart.
Uchiha Hikaru gently pushed Mei Terumi's hand away and gave a casual wave, smiling faintly.
"We're in public. Mind your image."
"Looks like the guests from Iwagakure and Sunagakure want to linger. In that case, let Kirigakure head in first."
With a graceful wave, Mei Terumi led nearly a hundred Kirigakure shinobi through the gate and into the village.
That left only Iwagakure and Sunagakure—who had arrived early but were now still loitering at the entrance.
Rasa didn't object at all. Watching the "mighty" Ōnoki flail around had been quite entertaining. With a faint chuckle, he turned and led the Sunagakure delegation into Konoha.
Seeing this, Ōnoki had no choice but to let it go.
After all, pressing the issue would be the same as admitting he'd just been caught in a genjutsu.
Rather than admit fault, he would rather lean into shamelessness and act like a feisty old man.
What's wrong with a little youthful spirit in an old heart, huh?!
By midday, the remaining teams arrived from Kusagakure, Yukigakure, Hoshigakure, Takigakure, and even the distant Loulan.
At long last—
The curtain of the Chunin Exams began to rise.