Some distance away, Kitsuchi (Kurotsuchi's father) caught sight of several clansmen from the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans. He couldn't help but feel irritated.
"Look at all these Leaf ninjas," he commented. "What's their deal?"
"Relax, Kitsuchi," Akatsuchi reassured him. Akatsuchi was a loyal shinobi from the Stone Village. Well-known for his support of the third Tsuchikage, he served as his trusted bodyguard. Notwithstanding his cheerful and laid-back personality, he was also a fierce warrior, always ready to protect those in harm's way. "Not all of them are here to fight. They could just be here to support their village!"
Despite Akatsuchi's attempt to ease the mood, both Han and Monga remained perplexed by their respective Kage's absence. That was because two other Kages had actually been present as spectators.
Monga, also a member from the same village, was a tough shinobi. He possessed a deep sense of devotion for his comrades, and his combat abilities used earth style techniques that his village was well-known for.
In terms of appearance, he was physically imposing with a large build, and his dark features added to his presence. Even without ninjutsu by his side, he's got a strategic way of thinking that solidifies his reputation as a shinobi.
And as for Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, many were shocked by his appearance here. Forget that this was a famous ninja; his steam ninjutsu was enough to make his enemies defecate themselves.
His imposing physique was also nothing to shy from. In fact, he's even taller than Monga, easily dwarfing all of the fighters here.
Much of the crowd eyed his towering height and heavy armour. All that could be seen from his face was his piercing eyes, adding to his scary presence.
The steam armour he wore, powered by a furnace on his back, was what fueled his abilities. What many didn't know about him was that he was currently regarded as the world's fastest taijutsu user, triumphing even over the likes of Might Guy outside of the Eight Inner Gates.
Just what was Arthur thinking by inviting a monster like this to the tournament?
"Is it too much to ask for our leader to show up when something like this is happening?" Han frowned.
"It's almost laughable," Monga added as they eyed the Mizukage and the Raikage.
Both Mei Terumi and the Raikage, A, decided to come because those from their village got accepted into the tournament. As such, their seats were stationed far above the public, showing their high regard.
A was written to be a commanding presence, characterized by his impressive physical appearance. He was actually quite tall with a robust, muscular build, embodying the ideal image of a leader. And his dark skin complements his features, including a small moustache and goatee that frame his pronounced cheekbones.
Adding to his fierce demeanour was a crease on his forehead. His hair, although stated to be white, was actually blonde, like in the animation. It was also combed back, giving him a polished look. His outfit even included a gold belt featuring a boar's face, large golden vambraces, and shinobi sandals.
Despite his aesthetic appeal, his true strength lied in his abilities as a shinobi, being recognized as the strongest members of his village with a fighting style known as "nintaijutsu."
Not even those endowed with the Sharingan or the Susanoo could outpace his might.
"That's my first time seeing him in person!" William said to Naruto.
"Wait, you mean you read about him, too?"
"Ugh, yeah!"
Truth be told, this was the first time anyone from earth had actually seen any other Kage outside of the Hokage.
And last William recalled, the Raikage was especially brute. So much so, it made William recount the time when A severed his own arm without hesitating. Just to escape the amaterasu inflicted on him by Sasuke Uchiha three years from now.
"I wanna fight him, too!"
"Naruto!"
Next to A was Mei. Everyone already understood her background. What dazzled them was her appearance, as it was their first time seeing her so up close.
Her figure was striking, exuding a blend of beauty and strength that was captivating those around her. Tall and slender, her fair skin seemed flawless. The playful arrangement of her auburn bangs made it difficult to believe that she was a kunoichi.
"She's so beautiful in person," Margaret commented, admiring Mei's hair.
"I am just as impressed with the Raikage from the Cloud Village," Lee added.
"Yes, well," Neji said, "it would be troubling if something bad were to happen."
"Don't go jinxing anything!" Margaret said, punching Neji's arm.
Those who sat by the Kage were none other than the feudal lords of the various countries. They all had larger than average seats, with a select few guards at their sides to ensure their safety.
While the Kages had their own personal guards from their villages, the lords of this country weren't allowing those guards to enter that specific seating area. So personal entourages had to either wait by the door, at the stands, or in one of the boxes with the fighters. If either them or their Kages didn't comply, they would be forced to leave.
Not long, protuberant figures from many regions continued to pour in as a steady influx of spectators filled the stands.
"There's got to be at least fifty thousand here," Mei commented, looking around.
A waiter brought her refreshments as she kept her legs crossed.
A, not privy to waiting, added, "Yes, I hope the show's good. Otherwise I'll be upset that I spent time coming all the way out here."
The arena eventually became full with a myriad of colours, banners, and eager ninjas. Things were finally set, and all the participants were in their respective groups, including Arthur, who by all means was going to fight with both an alias and a disguise.
He currently stood alone in Group 12, adopting the name "Hoshikaze," an unknown figure with casual charisma and a hint of prowess.
His build stood at an imposing 183 cm (approximately 6 feet), with a 91 kg frame (over 200 lbs). His now-black hair flowed freely, framing a stoic face that was layered beneath a black blindfold that obscured his eyes.
To further add an element of mystery to his persona, he came prepared with the Chakra Disguise technique to ensure no one could distinguish his chakra signature.
In terms of attire, he wore loosely fitting black pants that allowed for agile movement, paired with a simple dark shirt that accentuated his well-defined biceps and toned chest. All of it meshed well while hinting that he was indeed strong.
Since he had allowed those from earth entry to this event, he wasn't going to use the same fighting methods that others had witnessed him perform. That meant people, most notably Jada, would not recognize who he was behind the transformation.
Regarding ninjas like Lee and Naruto, who had personally felt the sting of defeat by his combat prowess, the chances of them fighting Arthur were slim.
Arthur knew this because he knew what the bracket looked like.
All the Leaf ninjas who weren't from earth would need to be at their highest level if they hoped to advance at least past the second round. That was the main reason Arthur permitted more Leaf shinobi than any other village: because those ninjas had a one-track mind.
The distant cheers of the crowd soon began to engulf his ears. The arena was now like a roaring tide, bringing forth the thrill of impending confrontation.
So as the fighters prepared themselves accordingly, Arthur scanned the field with regard.
Every face and every posture of the competitors revealed vital information to him. Nervousness here, a display of confidence there. Nothing was hidden from what was sure to be epic.
Arthur had spent a lot of time to ensure the right invitations were sent in the shinobi world. All for the purpose of gauging his strength without setbacks.
And was his ideal plan coming to fruition? Indeed it was, for there was one fighter who had dared to register who Arthur was not going to say no to: Lars Alexandersson!