Konoha, in preparation for the exams, formed elite Genin squads.
Similarly, the three major shinobi villages participating in the Chunin Exams were doing the same.
In Kumogakure, the son of the deceased Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails, Fuyumu's son, Blue B, was selected by the Third Raikage to become the Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails.
To restore the reputation lost due to defeat in the Second War, the Third Raikage shamelessly paired his son, who already had Jonin-level strength, with Blue B, who also had Jonin-level strength and had stabilized as the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki.
With one aged fifteen and the other eighteen, both possessing Jonin-level strength, along with a genius Genin who graduated last year and had remarkable skill in Lightning Release, they formed Kumogakure's strongest elite Genin squad.
Similarly to the Raikage's approach, in order to better showcase Iwagakure's younger generation's strength, the Tsuchikage Onoki also sent his son, Kurotsuchi, who possessed Jonin-level strength, to lead a team to participate in the Chunin Exams.
Sunagakure , which was now the weakest, had also sent out the only disciple left by the Third Kazekage, Rasa, who had just mastered the Magnet Release Bloodline Limit, and Karura, who was good at sand ninjutsu, to lead the team to participate in the Chunin Exams
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It could be said that in order to snatch some opportunities from Konoha and regain some lost reputation due to defeat, the three major ninja villages sent out the most talented young ninjas from their respective villages.
Perhaps because Kizaru had shone too brightly during the Second War, making the recent graduates from his era in the village seem insignificant, it gave the three major villages the wrong impression.
Apart from Kizaru, Konoha's younger generation didn't have many outstanding talents.
After confirming that Kizaru would participate as an examiner in the Chunin Exams, everyone couldn't help but feel confident.
As long as Kizaru didn't participate, Konoha might not necessarily perform the best in this Chunin Exam. After all, the young ninjas from their own village were also very outstanding!
Leaving Kizaru aside, Konoha's young ninjas might not necessarily be opponents of their own village's geniuses.
With such confidence and reassurance, the leaders and escorts of the three major villages, along with the arranged Jonin leaders, led the elite Genin squads formed by their villages to leave the village around the same time and head towards Konoha.
At the entrance of the Konoha Hospital, Tsunade, still working during office hours, wore a pure white coat exclusive to medical personnel, with her hands in the outer pocket of the white coat.
Looking at the paper document handed to her by Kizaru, Tsunade looked up at him.
"What's this?"
"The research project on Hashirama's cell transplantation technique, your share of the investment."
Hearing Kizaru's words, Tsunade instinctively frowned.
Tsunade frowned not because the village was researching her grandfather's cells.
For this, Tsunade had long stopped being angry.
After all, the first to start researching Hashirama's cells in the village was none other than her own grandfather, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Moreover, as a medical ninja with a compassionate heart, Tsunade also felt that it would be a good thing if more lives could be saved through research on her grandfather's cells.
Tsunade believed that if her grandfather were alive and knew that researching his cells could save lives, he would definitely laugh happily and express strong support!
What truly disgusted Tsunade was that some people, in order to obtain her grandfather's power, used his cells to conduct inhumane experiments.
Therefore, for Kizaru's proposal to develop medicines to cure diseases through the research on Hashirama's cells, Tsunade was very supportive.
"I don't have money!"
Just a few days ago, Tsunade had lost most of her annual rent income in a big gamble, so she directly stated the reason for her frowning.
"Oh ho!" Laughing, seeing Tsunade in a bad mood, Kizaru knew she must have lost a lot again, "Tsunade-senpai, your complexion is so bad, you must have lost money again, right!"
Eyes widening, Tsunade stared at Kizaru and said, "Why do you slander me like this out of thin air?"
"Yesterday, Nawaki asked me to treat him, saying you didn't give him pocket money." The smile on his face turned sly, Kizaru said in a teasing tone.
"I don't give Nawaki pocket money, what does that have to do with me losing money? I don't give him pocket money because..." Speaking up to here, Tsunade, who hadn't thought of an excuse yet, suddenly stopped.
Cursing her annoying little brother in her heart, Tsunade, while thinking of an excuse, explained, "It's because Nawaki hasn't been obedient lately, always causing trouble and wanting to take missions outside the village."
Nodding with his hand on his chin, Kizaru said, "So Nawaki wants to leave the village! Next time, I'll take him to visit other ninja villages!"
Grimacing at Kizaru, Tsunade asked, "Are you taking him out of the village for a mission, or are you itching for a fight outside?"
"Oh ho ho! It's all the same!"
"Tch!" She snorted, crossing her arms in front of her chest, Tsunade emphasized again, "I don't have the money for that investment, so don't even think about me."
"You don't need to pay!"
With a hint of confusion on her face, Tsunade looked at Kizaru seriously and said, "Kizaru, you're not allowed to front me the money! Give my share to other ninjas!"
After saying that, Tsunade suddenly thought of something and added, "Don't give it to the Uchiha!"
Tsunade strongly supported the practice left by the Second Hokage to suppress the Uchiha and support civilian ninjas.
When Tobirama disbanded the Uchiha clan, young Tsunade didn't quite understand her grandfather's actions.
But now, having grown up and witnessed a lot of political struggles among the village's higher-ups, Tsunade began to understand her grandfather's actions.
Those ninjas from Uchiha, after rising to high positions, always tended to favor their own clan.
Even her own teacher, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, would sometimes favor the Sarutobi clan.
For Tsunade, who considered the entire Konoha as her own family after the dissolution of her clan, she didn't like such behavior.
"The Hashirama cells come from the First Hokage, and the existing research results were left by the Second Hokage."
"What they left behind is your investment in this project."
"So, you don't need to contribute any more money!"
After listening to Kizaru's explanation, Tsunade paused for a moment, a reminiscing expression appearing on her face.
Recalling her childhood with her two grandfathers, Tsunade couldn't help but smile.
Taking the document from Kizaru's hand, Tsunade looked at him and said softly, "Then I'll accept it."
"Tsunade-senpai, don't go gamble it away." Looking at Tsunade, Kizaru kindly reminded her.
The smile disappeared from her face, and Tsunade stared at Kizaru with widened eyes, saying, "Don't jinx me to lose! Jerk!"
"So, are you really planning to gamble it away?" Noticing the flaw in Tsunade's words, Kizaru asked back.
"Do you think I'm a gambling addict? I'm planning to leave this to Nawaki, as his starting capital for marriage in the future."
Tsunade said this very seriously, as she also intended it.
At this point, Tsunade, although she liked gambling, hadn't reached the level of decadence as portrayed in the original plot, where she started to act recklessly after the consecutive deaths of her loved ones.
"I trust you!" Nodding, Kizaru affirmed just as seriously.
Being trusted by someone was a happy thing, especially by someone close!
Tsunade regained her smile, looking satisfied as she invited, "Tonight, I'll treat you to drinks."
"I'm only ten years old, Tsunade-senpai!"
"Don't mention age! Jerk!"