"That Konan child, she really made us proud. I didn't expect her to actually win against Yahiko," Hashirama said, a little incredulously.
Mito also nodded. "You can say that again. Torifu taught them both so well. It feels like watching Torifu and Naori back in the day."
Naori, upon hearing this, joked, "There's still a gap between them and us. After all, we were the First Hokage's disciples, and everything they learned was passed down by Master."
At that, Hashirama immediately sat up straight, puffing out his chest, looking incredibly proud. "Exactly, Naori's words are spot on."
"No one else in the entire Hidden Leaf Village possesses my level of talent."
Mito smiled, pinching Hashirama's soft flesh at his waist where others couldn't see, and muttered under her breath, "Can't you eat without bragging? Did you teach Torifu to destroy a nation at twelve? Did you teach him Sage Mode too?"
Hashirama grimaced in pain but immediately regained his composure. However, Minato still noticed the change.
"Grandmaster, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Hashirama let out a laugh and waved his hands dismissively. "Nothing, I just got a little emotional seeing Konan win the championship."
Minato suspected nothing and didn't press the matter further.
With Konan and Yahiko's match decided, the arena competition officially concluded.
However, the competition venue wouldn't close permanently. The Chunin Exams only happened once a year, and leaving the arena idle the rest of the time seemed wasteful.
Torifu simply decided to convert the venue into a public arena, open to any ninja who wished to spar.
This also solved the problem of villagers having nothing to do and nowhere to pass the time on weekdays.
Moreover, while the Hidden Leaf Village was generally harmonious and united, with so many people in one village, some friction or conflict was bound to arise among ninja.
Having a sparring ground could resolve many issues. Of course, such dispute-settling spars would undoubtedly have regulations and restrictions.
After Torifu announced these changes, it sparked a wave of lively discussion.
Most, however, were highly supportive. Ninja could spar and resolve disputes, while spectators could watch the matches for free.
It was a great new initiative. Now, in addition to games, there was another place for entertainment.
Many ninja, it was believed, had long wanted to spar with friends, but the village prohibited meaningless fights, so they had to go outside the village.
And if any accidents occurred, like a jutsu going awry, it was difficult to get timely medical attention.
The arena, however, was different. Here, they could spar and fight with peace of mind, and it was all legal and legitimate.
After the lively discussion, the villagers soon dispersed, as the arena wouldn't officially open until after the New Year, needing renovations and repairs during the interim.
About ten minutes later, the arena was empty, save for the top three contestants and a few Kage.
Yahiko and Konan looked natural, while Sasori seemed subtly excited, wondering what his third-place prize would be.
Would it be the same medicinal herb from that day?
The awards ceremony had arrived, and Torifu no longer looked down from the spectator stands.
Instead, he joined the other Kage on the arena floor.
The arena, after three days of battles, was now riddled with cracks and on the verge of collapsing.
Even the repaired sections had been blown to smithereens by Konan's explosive tags.
Finding a makeshift spot to stand, Torifu was the first to address Sasori. "Sasori, do you have any thoughts on your prize?"
"Huh?" Sasori was momentarily bewildered. He didn't understand what Hokage-sama meant.
He could only look at Torifu then at his master with a puzzled expression.
"Hokage-sama, what do you mean?"
Torifu nodded. "Let him state what reward he desires. I'll see if I can provide it. If I can, I will; otherwise, he'll receive the predetermined prize."
Sasori immediately looked surprised and delighted upon hearing this. "Hokage-sama, can I really say it?"
"Go ahead. Otherwise, if you receive something you can't use, wouldn't that negate all the effort you put into earning your place?"
Hearing that, Sasori immediately felt that Hokage-sama was truly thoughtful!
"Um... Hokage-sama, would a chakra herb be possible?"
The Kazekage's mouth twitched involuntarily. 'This brat really asks for anything, doesn't he!' he thought.
How could something so precious be given to him twice?
But Torifu's next action completely astonished him.
Torifu simply nodded lightly, then, with a flick of his wrist, a yellow flower emitting a faint glow appeared in his hand.
"This is a Yuzu Flower. It primarily enhances your chakra intensity, not instantly, but gradually. This effect will last one or two months, allowing your body to adapt to the chakra."
Sasori immediately took the Yuzu Flower and put it away, not scrutinizing it in front of so many adults.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama, I like it very much."
Torifu nodded, thinking, 'Even if you don't like it, there's nothing else. This is already the most suitable item he could pick for a puppeteer.'
Otherwise, the original plan was just to give him a set of puppet materials, but Sunagakure definitely had more of those, and giving them would have been a bit embarrassing. That's why he decided to offer a self-selection opportunity.
It was just a medicinal herb, after all. The child hadn't seen much of the world, so he wouldn't pick anything too extravagant.
Sasori happily put away the herb, while Ōnoki, who was nearby, watched without any expression.
Nor did he seem surprised that Torifu had produced a chakra herb.
Next, it was Yahiko's turn, but he didn't get the option of self-selection.
Torifu directly presented a long sword. Its blade was engraved with flowing patterns like water, and its hilt was carved with several white clouds.
Just by looking at it, one could tell it was extraordinary.
"This is the sword Master used in his youth, named Flowing Water. I hope you make good use of it."
This sword was actually one Torifu discovered in a secret room within the Kumotsuru Clan compound when he was a child. However, Torifu chose the Crane Cry Blade, which was more suitable and precious to him.
This particular sword had simply been gathering dust in his ring ever since.
Watching Yahiko and Konan's match today, Torifu realized that Yahiko's offensive methods were severely lacking.
He was merely relying on ninjutsu to wear down his opponents.
That was why Torifu gave it to Yahiko, for him to use as a backup plan.
Torifu's swordsmanship was quite good, and teaching it to Yahiko would significantly boost his strength.
It could also break Yahiko out of his current, somewhat awkward situation.
Konan had developed many lethal ninjutsu, but Yahiko's ninjutsu seemed to have gone slightly astray.
With the emergence of Boil Release, Yahiko had leaned even further towards attrition.
To rectify this promptly, Torifu could only ask Yahiko to work a little harder.