After the battle between Temari and the Aburame Clan's Genin concluded, the remaining matches seemed to be in fast-forward, plak plak plak, rushing forward swiftly and, in a blink of an eye, it was already afternoon.
"Haah~~"
Leaning against the towering wall at the edge of the arnea, Kanpū watched the three-person battle in the center with boredom, occasionally yawning and looking drowsy.
"It's so slow."
Perhaps, in the eyes of other people, the three-way fight was extremely exciting, but in Kanpū's eyes, it looked like little chicks pecking at each other, utterly dull.
He looked up at the enthusiastic cheers from the spectators on the stands and shook his head slightly: 'The spectators are not good this year. How long has it been… How can they already forget the 'fake match' from the first round?'
'What a shame.'
After more than half an hour, the three participants were exhausted and the match ended in a draw with Kanpū's intervention.
After sending the three participants out of the arena, Minato loudly declared the successful conclusion of this Joint Chunin Exam!
As for the list of people who advanced to Chunin, it would be announced in five days.
It was originally scheduled to be announced three days later, but Fugaku, who is in charge of the economy, insisted on delaying, pushing it to five days later.
Thousands of spectators orderly left under the guidance of the Military Police Force.
The participating contestants also left the venue through the contestant's channel.
Mei and Baki, each leading their own teams, headed towards the Ichigo Hot Spring Inn.
Suigetsu followed behind Mei, with arms crossed near his chest. His mouth slightly open, revealing his sharp fangs, his eyes squinted at Temari, who was following behind Baki next to him, and he said with a sneer: "You must be Temari, huh? Humph, I was almost fooled by your pretentious appearance earlier. I thought you were powerful, daring to provoke me. But now, it turns out you're externally strong, but internally weak. You can't even beat a Konoha's Genin. But I'm really curious. What method did you use to make that Konoha's Genin voluntarily give up? Hey hey, did you use your beauty? So vulgar~~"
Veins popped on Temari's forehead, and she turned to glare at Suigetsu: "Bastard, say that again!!"
"Don't worry, I understand you." Suigetsu sneered and continued to provoke Temari, "As Shinobi, no matter what method we use, as long as we can complete the mission, it's fine, right? Using underhanded means… Temari-sama?"
Bang!
Temari couldn't control her frustration, and she used her backhand to take out the fan behind her and slammed it heavily on the concrete ground: "Hozuki Suigetsu! Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!!"
"Temari, don't be impulsive!" Baki sternly stopped her.
"Suigetsu, shut up." Mei also called out Suigetsu.
Since they first arrived, both of them had already guessed the reason why they were deliberately arranged together by Konoha was so that there will be friction between the two sides. Therefore, even if there was any friction between the two sides, they had to restrain themselves to avoid letting Konoha reap the benefits.
"Terumi Mei-sama, I won't speak, so can I just cut her into two pieces?" Suigetsu asked seriously.
Bang!
Mei slapped Suigetsu on the head and said: "How many times have I told you not to cause trouble in Konoha! Have you got water in your head?"
Plak!
Suigetsu's head cracked under Mei's palm, and countless splashes splattered.
"…" Mei's forehead twitched angrily, "Hozuki Suigetsu! Are you provoking me?"
"No…I didn't, it was a subconscious reaction. It's not what you think…" Seeing Mei's expression, Suigetsu didn't dare to argue anymore.
"Put your head over here!" Mei raised her delicate hand.
"…" Suigetsu showed a look of hesitation, but in the end, he didn't dare to disobey Mei, so he obediently stretched his head over, receiving a solid slap from Mei.
'Bastard, when I get the real Kubikiribocho, I will cut you in half!'
Suigetsu is filled with malicious thoughts.
"Baki-sensei…" Temari still looks unwilling as she looked at Baki. The match in the morning had already left her feeling frustrated. And now, being provoked like this by Suigetsu was pushing her to the edge of exploding!
"Remember what I told you before?" Baki whispered, "If we have a bad relationship with Kirigakure, it will only benefit Konoha!"
"I… I understand." Temari thought of her father and finally swallowed her anger.
The two troublesome individuals ceased their hostilities, then Mei and Baki immediately exchanged smiles to reconcile. After turning away, with tacit understanding, the two both dispersed their smiles and continued to lead their team back to Ichigo Hot Spring Inn with expressionless faces.
Night gradually fell.
In the deepest part of the Ichigo Hot Spring Inn's courtyard.
Mei went to the roof to drink again tonight.
After three cups, Ao bravely approached her: "Mei, let me accompany you."
Looking at the moon, Mei threw a bottle of sake at him, and said a word: "Drink."
Ao took a big gulp of half the bottle, then wiped off the sake at the corner of his mouth, and then asked: "Mei, what are your plans next?"
"Plan? I want to accompany Suigetsu and the others back to the village, but Elder Genji will definitely not agree." Mei said with melancholy.
Elder Genji asked her to stay in Konoha to investigate the death of Yondaime Mizukage and Sanbi's disappearance. However, after nearly a year, Mei knew that she couldn't fulfill the task, unless… Kanpū betrayed Konoha, but how could such thing possible?
"Actually… Mei, if you have other relatives at home, I can help you bring them over." Ao coughed and said.
"Hmm?" Mei frowned slightly upon hearing this.
Seeing her reaction, Ao quickly explained: "What I mean is, if you have other relatives at home, I can arrange for someone to help you send letters or whatever. In this way, even if you're in Konoha, you won't feel too far from your family and won't feel lonely."
Mei furrowed her brows slightly, looking at him with a gaze filled with alcohol: "Ao, you… you're so strange today."
Ao forced a smile: "Really? I don't feel any different."
Obviously, Gekko Kanpū often chats with you about family matters, mentioning parents, friends, houses, and cars. Why does it suddenly become strange when it comes to me?'
Ao couldn't figure it out.
After thinking for a while, he decided to try again!
"Mei, actually, you can treat this as a trip, like an educational trip, or a honeymoon or something." Ao said, "I mean, your parents must be hoping that you can settle down and live a happy life as soon as possible. This way, even if you don't return home for a year, you won't feel lonely…"
'What am I talking about…' As soon as Ao uttered those words, he felt a chill coming from Mei.
"Ao…Thank you…" Mei looked at him expressionlessly.
'If it weren't for your reminder, I would have almost forgotten that I've aged another year in Konoha.'
Boom!
Mei kicked him cleanly, sending him rolling down: "Get away from me!!"
After saying that, Mei picked up a bottle of sake, and started chugging it.
Finishing the bottle, Mei burped fiercely.
On the grass in the small courtyard.
Ao, with his face on the ground, crawled up in a sorry state. He spat out a few pieces of grass from his mouth, looking both depressed and aggrieved: 'Damn it… what went wrong?'