Chapter 208 None of Them Are Good People
Soon, the teams of the Seven Stars Society, who had once dominated Konoha Ninja Academy, received messages from Sasuke's communication snake and dropped what they were doing to head towards the location Sasuke had indicated.
Considering the meeting point was in the center of the map, and that they might encounter trouble on the way, Sasuke, Neji, and Naruto chose to split up to meet their companions.
Shikamaru and Hinata's team didn't encounter any trouble, but Sakura's team, perhaps because they seemed a little easier to bully, encountered three teams on their way to the meeting point. One team from Kirigakure turned tail and ran upon seeing Rock Lee's attire, while the other two teams from the Land of Rain and the Land of Lightning targeted the three, wasting a lot of their time fighting them.
However, once Naruto arrived to meet them, these two teams became easy targets.
The following afternoon, the four Konoha genin teams regrouped, while Kurotsuchi gathered the other two Iwagakure teams.
A total of seven genin teams converged at a resource point in the center.
"This is all the life-sustaining supplies we have," Kurotsuchi said, placing two scrolls before everyone.
"All the supplies Konoha has collected are here," Sasuke added, placing the rations and other life-sustaining supplies brought by Shikamaru and his team on the table.
"So, shall we distribute them according to need?" Kurotsuchi asked.
"Of course," Sasuke nodded. Actually, in the distribution of these life-sustaining supplies, Konoha's four teams were at a slight disadvantage, as Sakura's team had brought a large number of rations. However, given that both sides were still cooperating, arguing about these things wasn't very meaningful.
However, this only concerned life-sustaining supplies; regarding combat equipment, both sides tacitly agreed not to divide them equally, but rather to keep some for themselves.
"Our seven teams can cover a defensive area of about one square kilometer. Judging by the current rate of shrinkage of the safe zone, it should shrink again around tomorrow morning," Sasuke said. "Therefore, we must ensure that we can completely occupy that safe zone the moment it appears, excluding everyone else." "
You don't need to worry about our strength," Kurotsuchi smiled. "What do you plan to do about the remaining two spots?"
"You guys find a decent team from Amegakure, and we'll find a team from Kirigakure. Is that alright?" Sasuke asked.
"Okay, then, meet here in three hours." Kurotsuchi nodded, then turned and left with the three teams from Iwagakure.
"Let's go too," Sasuke said, turning to look at the others after Kurotsuchi left.
"Are you sure they'll really abide by the alliance?" Shikamaru reminded him at this moment. "Iwagakure has never been a village that follows the rules; they don't have a habit of keeping their promises."
"Not sure, but regardless of whether they intend to follow the agreement or not, I don't intend for them to take up three spots," Sasuke sneered.
"Huh? That's not a good idea." Naruto's eyes widened upon hearing Sasuke's words. Weren't they all getting along well when they were dividing up the supplies? How come they're already scheming against each other as soon as they separate?
"What's wrong with that?" Sasuke laughed. "For Konoha, the fewer people from other villages who advance, the better."
"You must have left messages along the way when you came," Sasuke asked.
"Yes, all messages were left according to Konoha's latest encryption scheme. Judging by the time, someone should have seen them by now," Sakura said.
"Eh? Did you do anything else on your way here?" Naruto looked at Sakura in disbelief. He had been traveling with the three of them on the way here, but he hadn't noticed anything Sakura had done.
"You idiot, you were probably thinking about what kind of ramen to eat after the exam while you were on the road. It would be strange if you noticed Sakura's actions," Karin couldn't help but facepalm. Although her clan leader was definitely a strong fighter, in terms of ninja skills, graduating from the Ninja Academy was really lucky.
"So what are we going to do now?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Let's split up. The three of us will find a lucky team from Kirigakure. Shikamaru, you two contact the other Konoha teams that might receive the signal. Have them ambush west of the second shrinking safe zone the next day and wait for my signal. As for the specific battle plan, that's up to you."
"Yes." Shikamaru nodded and left with the other two teams.
...
"You two, you left messages when you came, right?" After the three teams led by Kurotsuchi had gone some distance, she turned to look at the other two elite teams from Iwagakure who had come to join them.
"As you instructed, we all left messages. However, Miss Kurotsuchi, isn't this a bit inappropriate? This could be considered betraying our allies, right?" a
genin from Iwagakure said. "You really believe what that Uchiha guy said?" Kurotsuchi glanced at the person who had just spoken.
"Uh, the Uchiha clan's reputation is still trustworthy, isn't it?" the person said after considering for a moment.
Most of the Iwagakure genin's impression of the Uchiha clan was still based on their fighting prowess and arrogance. After all, this was the reputation the Uchiha clan had left behind in the ninja world for generations. In their eyes, the Uchiha clan should be strong people who disdained to use underhanded tactics.
"Heh, the Uchiha's reputation?" Kurotsuchi said with a sneer. "Believe it or not, that guy has already planned how to eliminate us all tomorrow."
Iwagakure genin: ...
"Those three people before should be the Fifth Hokage's personal disciple team. Apart from that seemingly foolish blond guy, the other two don't look like good people. Plus, the old man specifically told me to be careful of the Fifth Hokage's personal disciples. They might be just as despicable and shameless as their teacher."
...
In the VIP room, upon hearing Kurotsuchi's evaluation of Uchiha Touko, most people in the VIP room fell silent.
Only Ai laughed out loud without restraint: "Hahahaha, Onoki, your granddaughter seems to have a big misunderstanding about our Hokage."
"Hehe, it's all my fault. I've spoiled my granddaughter and she offended the Hokage. I'm truly sorry." Onoki then displayed his humility, decisively shutting up Uchiha Touko's mouth.
"Your Majesty, there's no need for that. Children speak without thinking, and I'm not a petty person." Uchiha Touko chuckled twice before speaking.
"Hey, Hokage, didn't you hear what this little girl said? Her evaluation of you was given by that old geezer Onoki; she just repeated it." Ai clearly didn't want to miss such a good opportunity and continued to fan the flames.
"Lord Raikage seems to have a lot of free time. Instead of worrying about our Land of Fire and Land of Earth's genin teams, you should think about what will happen to your Land of Lightning's genin. If none of your Land of Lightning's genin make it to the final round of the Chunin Exams, it will be a huge embarrassment for your Daimyo to have come all this way to Konoha."
"Hahaha, that's none of your concern," A laughed. "Faced with an alliance like yours, each with their own hidden agendas, we of Kumogakure will naturally crush all your schemes with lightning speed."
"Then we'll wait and see," Uchiha Touko said with a light laugh. He understood that A wasn't just referring to the Chunin Exams, but also alluding to the current alliance between Konoha and Iwagakure. However, Uchiha Touko, already prepared to break the agreement, didn't care about such things.
Inside the exam hall, after escaping from Sasuke, Omoi's team began gathering the remaining Kumogakure teams, intending to concentrate their forces and get revenge.
As evening approached, Sasuke and his companions finally found a Hidden Mist Village team in the examination hall, a team that had managed to
survive by scouting their way in. Sasuke had initially planned to demonstrate his strength before engaging in a proper discussion, anticipating that the Hidden Mist Village team might not simply be his tools.
However, after Sasuke revealed his three-tomoe Sharingan, the three Hidden Mist Village members instantly knelt in submission.
"Is that Lord Sasuke?" The Hidden Mist Village team leader, upon seeing Sasuke's three-tomoe Sharingan, immediately threw down his weapon and began pulling out various consumables from his scrolls, arranging them beside him. Only after doing this did he raise his hands high.
The three men's actions completely baffled Sasuke. Approaching them, he frowned and asked, "Do you know me?"
"Yes, we are all genin belonging to the Kirigakure border defense force, directly under Lord Fugaku's command. Before we came to take the exam, our jonin captain told us that if we encountered you during the exam, we must not cause any trouble for your actions, and if you require it, we will carry out your orders completely." "
Uncle Fugaku seems to have a very high status in the Land of Water," Neji couldn't help but remark.
Sasuke: ...
His father hadn't returned to the village for several years, communicating only through letters. In those letters, Fugaku naturally wouldn't waste time on work-related matters. Therefore, while Sasuke knew his father held a high position in Kirigakure, he only now had a clear understanding of just how high.
It was one thing for the Hidden Mist ninja to obey his orders as the commander of the Konoha garrison, but for three not-so-weak genin from the Hidden Mist to surrender to him simply because of his prestige was a bit too outrageous. Knowing his father as Sasuke did, Fugaku would never have given such an order to these people. The actions of these three, and the so-called Jonin captain they claimed to be, were likely a spontaneous act to curry favor with his father.
Although Sasuke was somewhat displeased at being inexplicably protected by his father and not being given the opportunity to prove his strength, he wasn't one to be stubborn. Now that they were willing to cooperate, Sasuke sheathed his sword, glanced at the three, and asked, "Do you three want to advance to the next round of the exam?"
The three exchanged glances and then shook their heads in unison.
"If you want to…" Sasuke started to say, but then noticed the other person's reaction and felt a little embarrassed. Fortunately, one of them spoke up, "Um, Lord Sasuke, our Mizukage ordered us to keep a low profile during the Chunin Exams."
"What if I wanted you to advance to the third round of the exams?" Sasuke asked directly.
"Lord Sasuke, why don't you just tell us what you need us to do?" The leader of the Kirigakure team said with a fawning smile.
For these Kirigakure genin, if it was Sasuke's order, then ignoring Takagi Seiman's order wouldn't be a big deal. Which ninja in Southern Kirigakure didn't know who was in charge of their village?
"Very good." Sasuke nodded. "Then, the three of you can come with us tomorrow."
"We will obey your orders." The three Kirigakure ninja replied.
Compared to Sasuke's team, Kurotsuchi's operation to find the tools of the Land of Rain wasn't as smooth. First, compared to the Southern Mist Village ninjas who would instantly kneel at the sight of Sharingan, the Land of Rain ninjas were much more principled, and Kurotsuchi's team had to put in considerable effort to subdue them.
Furthermore, even after Kurotsuchi proposed cooperation, they didn't fully trust her; Kurotsuchi had to go to great lengths and even produce a short sword they had previously found to barely gain their trust.
...
Sasuke, with the Mist Village team they had found, reunited with Shikamaru and the others who had gone to the meeting point to make battle arrangements before nightfall.
"How's it going? Is everything arranged? How many people are there?" Sasuke asked.
"Seven squads have been dispatched after receiving the message. The strongest is led by Sarutobi Konosuke, who was in the same year as Neji. The other squads are also quite strong. They have no objections to your plan. Tomorrow, after the safe zone refreshes, they will ambush at the edge of the circle, awaiting your signal. I've also arranged the specific battle plan. After receiving the signal, they will launch an attack from two directions into the circle."
"I understand." Sasuke nodded, then looked at the others. "Get some rest early tonight. A tough battle awaits us tomorrow. This battle could very well be a preview of future wars, so we must gather as much intelligence as possible while securing victory."
"Understood." The remaining members nodded in unison.
...
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(End of Chapter)