In the conference room, Ōnoki's face had turned purple with rage.
His precious granddaughter, Kurotsuchi, was among the candidates for this Chunin Exam! How could he possibly remain calm when such a massive disturbance had erupted in the Forest of Death?
Without hesitation, he floated directly over to Tsunade and demanded in a low, stern voice:
"Hokage-sama, would you mind explaining the meaning of all that noise?"
"Don't tell me this was just some scuffle between Genin. Even I couldn't cause such destruction if I tried!"
"You'd better give me an answer!"
Beside him, Rasa was even more anxious than Ōnoki, but lacking Ōnoki's raw strength and position, he didn't have the nerve to confront Tsunade directly—especially with Uchiha Hikaru standing nearby.
Still, Rasa set aside their earlier tension and openly agreed with Ōnoki's demand.
"Tsuchikage is right. The next generation of our villages is also participating. We have every reason to be concerned."
"If Konoha is unable to manage the Chunin Exams properly, Sunagakure is prepared to take over."
The Raikage, who had been quietly standing by, finally lost his composure.
Just moments ago, Killer Bee had covertly signed to him in code: that explosion had been caused by a Tailed Beast Ball—and there was another strange, powerful chakra mixed in.
Damn it! A Jinchūriki?!
How bold could these villages be?! You're actually sending Jinchūriki to the Chunin Exams!?
If not for Yugito being too proud to lower her rank, he would've forced her to participate too! Now these scheming bastards were just showing off!
As for the minor village leaders present, they were clearly curious—but no one dared speak up. This was the cruel reality for shinobi from small nations.
Konan, who had been standing off to the side, had also sensed the explosion. Though she couldn't pinpoint its origin, it was clear to her that only a Jinchūriki could produce such overwhelming power at the Genin level.
She silently observed the expressions of the Five Kage, trying to piece together the truth.
Meanwhile, Tsunade was growing increasingly uncomfortable. She raised her right hand slightly, curled it into a loose fist, coughed twice into it, and said:
"Ahem. As Hokage, my duties are numerous. This year's Chunin Exam was mostly delegated to my assistant."
"He'll be the one to explain what's going on. I'm not very clear on the details."
Without waiting for further questions, she stepped behind Uchiha Hikaru and drove her fist sharply into his lower back.
"Guh—! Ahem… ahem…"
The sudden blow made Uchiha Hikaru bend forward slightly, gritting his teeth as he forced a casual cough to cover up the pain.
Then he straightened up, put on a calm face, and began speaking as if nothing had happened.
"Everything that's occurred during this Chunin Exam…"
"…is proceeding exactly according to plan."
"The noise just now? That was likely the result of a Tailed Beast Ball released by our village's Jinchūriki."
As soon as he finished, Ōnoki's expression turned stormy.
That kind of power fluctuation… is this really just a Jinchūriki!?
Terumi Mei furrowed her brows slightly as she began to consider the situation.
It couldn't have been Utakata or Yūkimaru—she had explicitly ordered them to maintain friendly relations with Konoha during the exams.
If that's the case, only Sunagakure or Kumogakure could have deployed their Jinchūriki.
Rasa said nothing, keeping his thoughts guarded.
Uchiha Hikaru glanced at the expressions around the room and finally exhaled.
Phew~
Tsunade… you really tried to kill your own husband just now!? When we get home, I'll show you what real cruelty looks like!
A faint smirk crossed Hikaru's lips before his eyes turned cold. He swept his sharp gaze toward Ōnoki, Rasa, and the others.
"You think I stationed myself at the gates of Konoha to welcome you all for sightseeing?"
"No. I came to check if you were the ones who sent your Jinchūriki into this Chunin Exam."
He immediately turned toward Rasa, the Takigakure leader, and Terumi Mei.
His expression was harsh and unyielding, though his sharp demeanor softened slightly when his gaze landed on Mei.
"The One-Tail. The Seven-Tails. The Three-Tails. The Six-Tails. And our own Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. All of them are present in this Chunin Exam."
"Since you've all deployed your Jinchūriki, it's only natural for Konoha to send out ours."
"And if Jinchūriki clash, of course it's going to be loud."
Ōnoki's face turned dark. He slumped onto the bench and let out a heavy sigh.
"Tch. This is just the Chunin Exams. Takigakure's too small and underpowered to even have a Jinchūriki worth sending…"
"Why do Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and your Konoha need to bring in Jinchūriki? Don't you have any other talented Genin?"
Mei Terumi raised her hand to delicately cover her lips and chuckled twice, then turned toward Ōnoki with a cold smile.
"Old man, why don't you just send your Jinchūriki, too?"
"Oh—wait. I forgot. Your village's Jinchūriki, Roshi, doesn't even like you and is off wandering the world right now~"
"I'm so sorry, Tsuchikage-sama. I completely forgot. I hope someone as wise and esteemed as you won't take offense at a little slip-up from a younger woman like me~"
Our favorite cranky flying potato, Ōnoki, had already held back his temper through Hikaru's provocations. But now, facing this sarcastic Mizukage, how could he keep his fury in check!?
He immediately entered full sarcasm mode.
"Mizukage, if memory serves, didn't Konoha beat your Hidden Mist to a bloody pulp just three years ago?"
"And now here you are, defending them?"
"What's wrong? Has Kirigakure become Konoha's lapdog now, speaking only when they tell you to?"
Ōnoki's barbs didn't faze Terumi Mei—but they made her guard, Ao, practically seize on the spot from sheer secondhand embarrassment.
Damn it! How could this old bastard be so vicious and shameless!?
Mei ignored Tsunade, who was now glaring daggers through Uchiha Hikaru, and gave Hikaru a soft, affectionate glance. Her expression turned melancholy, eyes slightly red, as though she might weep at any moment—giving the perfect impression of a wronged beauty.
"e=(′o｀*))) Alas~"
"Our Hidden Mist Village has followed a strict isolationist policy since the Second Mizukage."
"The Fourth Mizukage was manipulated by an Akatsuki traitor and initiated the Blood Mist era. Later, thanks to the wisdom and power of Konoha's Hokage's assistant, Lord Hikaru, that traitor was eliminated, and the Fourth Mizukage was freed."
"How could we resent Konoha for that? If anything, I haven't even had the chance to properly thank Lord Hikaru yet…"
At that, Tsunade's eyebrows nearly twisted into knots.
This fox-faced vixen from Kirigakure dares to say something like that!? Just wait until we get home…!
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