Chapter 585: Chapter 584 : Participation in the Chunin Exams!!
"Why?"
Because just today, my grandfather said he wouldn’t participate in the Chunin Exams.
But, when Deidara showed up, did grandfather suddenly change his mind?
Watching her grandfather remain silent, she finally spoke again. "Did Deidara say something to you?"
"You don’t need to worry about that. Just focus on participating in the Konoha Exams." Onoki looked at his curious granddaughter, showing no intention of explaining.
He didn’t know why the Atsukara wanted someone from the Land of Earth to join Konoha’s exams, and he had no way to explain it! Atsukara’s invitation was not something to share with others.
"I understand!" Kurotsuchi looked at her grandfather’s serious expression and nodded solemnly. "I will lead people to participate in the Konoha Chunin Exams!"
For some reason, she had agreed.
"Let’s go." Onoki nodded and then turned to walk toward the village.
Kurotsuchi hurried to follow him, asking, "Grandfather... you’re saying Deidara can also use Dust Release? Is that true?"
She still couldn’t understand it. How could Deidara wield Dust Release—and he had used it to carve away two mountain peaks. It was terrifying.
That ability... probably only her grandfather could match it.
"I don’t know," Onoki shook his head. "Probably only Deidara and that person know the truth."
But in his mind, he remembered the Atsukara members who attacked Iwagakure years ago!
He... not only mastered my Dust Release, but he also taught Deidara how to use it!
At the same time,
He was curious just how terrifying the Atsukara truly were, and how many top-tier ninjas they had.
And so...
The farce ended just like that.
Most people had no idea what Deidara intended with his visit.
Kirigakure...
"Who are you two, and why have you come to Kirigakure?" Mei Terumi frowned as she addressed the two who suddenly appeared in the village.
Both wore masks—one of a ox, the other a tiger.
It was originally just an ordinary mask, but when worn by these two, it radiated an intense pressure.
This pressure was even more terrifying than facing the kage.
Beside him, the blue-haired Chōjūrō also watched the two newcomers warily.
"I am Phantom Tiger!"
"I am Wood Ox!"
Shisui and Hayashi simply introduced themselves.
Huh?
Terumi Mei’s eyes widened, and her gaze toward them shifted.
Alert, cautious, even adopting a defensive stance.
Phantom Tiger, Wood Ox...
Members of Atsukara, renowned across the ninja world.
Almost everyone treated them with respect mixed with fear.
But...
What were they doing in the Land of Water?
What did they want?
The Land of Water had been sealed off long ago.
"Nothing... serious." Shisui shook his head at Terumi Mei, his tone softening.
"You’re the Mizukage of Kirigakure, right? On the orders of our leader... we’ve come to invite your village to participate in the Chūnin Exams?"
"Why?" Terumi Mei frowned.
"To watch the show," Shisui nodded.
In truth, Shisui didn’t understand why Genya had asked these villages to attend the Chūnin Exams.
Even if there was an announcement to be made, there was no need for an invitation.
Each village had its own intelligence system.
They would know immediately if anything happened.
So why now?
Why go through the trouble of making these villages participate in the Chūnin Exams?
He could not guess what was in Genya’s mind.
But one thing was clear.
Genya must have a reason, a plan, a strategy behind this.
One thing was very clear.
It was definitely not as simple as it appeared.
"Is that it?" Mei Terumi asked in surprise.
"Yes, that’s it!" Shisui confirmed with a nod.
Mei Terumi spoke again, looking at Shisui. "So your leader is the Hokage of Konoha?"
As she asked, her eyes were fixed on the pair beneath Shisui’s mask, as if trying to read any change in his expression.
Shisui’s eyes, however, remained calm. "No... we’re only here to deliver a message. Of course, if our leader doesn’t see anyone from Kirigakure, we might be sent here again."
Shisui clearly noticed Mei Terumi’s subtle movements. As he spoke, his eyes locked with hers.
"Sent here again?"
Mei Terumi’s eyes trembled slightly. The pressure from these two was immense. If they came back, there would be no chance for friendly negotiation.
Kirigakure might even fall into chaos.
After a long pause, Mei Terumi finally spoke. "I’ll send people over."
She didn’t know what Atsukara’s true goal was, but this time, she had no choice but to comply.
"Thank you," Shisui nodded at her, then placed his hand on Hayashi’s shoulder. "I’ll be waiting in Konoha for your people."
With those words, the space around them shivered lightly, and Shisui and Chūjiro vanished from the sight of Mei Terumi and Chōjūrō.
It was as if they had never been there.
"Where did they go?" Chōjūrō asked, staring at the spot where the two had disappeared, stunned.
They were just talking normally—why did they suddenly vanish?
A space-time jutsu?
Mei Terumi, more meticulous, frowned as she observed the spot where Shisui and Chūjiro had disappeared.
"It is said that Phantom Tiger doesn’t just have terrifying genjutsu—he also has a space-time jutsu that allows him to leap across dimensions. Now it seems to be true."
Watching them vanish, cold sweat trickled down Mei Terumi’s back.
The rumors had been right.
And Wood Ox even had wood-style jutsu. She didn’t dare imagine... what would have happened if she had clashed with them earlier.
She couldn’t think about it.
And who was the leader of Atsukara anyway?
After a long moment,
Mei Terumi finally turned to Chōjūrō. "Chōjūrō, select three elite Chunin to participate in Konoha’s Chūnin Exams."
"Uh? Elite Chunin?" Chōjūrō was stunned. Shouldn’t they just send a few Genin?
"Of course not. If we’re not sending elite Chunin, who else would we send? Do you really think other villages would send ordinary Genin?" Mei Terumi glanced at the slightly dazed Chōjūrō before continuing.
"This is a chance to show off our village’s strength. Naturally, it can’t be too weak. And don’t send anyone too old either!"
When it came to politics, Mei Terumi knew far more than Chōjūrō.
Chōjūrō hurriedly nodded. "Yes!"
The Land of Lightning, Hidden Cloud Village.
"Raikage-sama, are we really going to send someone to the Chūnin Exams?" Dodai asked, frowning as he looked at the Raikage.
At this moment, Raikage Ai sat in his office, reviewing information on the Hidden Cloud Village’s elite Chūnin. They were going to participate in Konoha’s Chūnin Exams.
"Hmph. That Uchiha Genya personally invited us. He wants us to send someone to Konoha’s Chūnin Exams. Do you think we should go or not?" Raikage Ai looked at Dodai, his eyes still burning with anger.
Because behind that invitation, there was an unspoken warning: if they didn’t participate, Uchiha Genya would come again.
And when that happened... he might take the Eight-Tails with him.
Although the odds seemed slim, seeing how Killer B had been performing recently, Raikage Ai decided that the Hidden Cloud ninja would participate in the Chūnin Exams.
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