In response to Hōzuki Mangetsu's inquiry, Zabuza let out a cold snort and chose not to reply.
Feeling ignored, Mangetsu grumbled under his breath, "What a cold-blooded guy."
Terumi Mei, who had been silently observing the group, couldn't hide the worry that crept onto her face as she watched Zabuza's demeanor.
The atmosphere in Kirigakure had been deteriorating for some time. Zabuza had infamously massacred all his classmates upon graduating from the Ninja Academy, yet instead of facing punishment, the Mizukage—who fervently promoted the Blood Mist policy—had glorified his actions.
The Kaguya clan was annihilated, and other ninja clans constantly clashed with the Fourth Mizukage, both in the shadows and openly.
What worried Mei most, however, was that the Mizukage had grown increasingly reclusive, seen only by the ANBU who delivered his orders.
What would become of Kirigakure if this continued?
Mei's thoughts turned to her last conversation with Uchiha Mirai. His ominous words weighed heavily on her heart.
Could it be that Kirigakure was truly destined to sink deeper into darkness?
As the Chūnin Exams approached, shinobi from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure had already arrived in Konoha. Soon after, ninja from smaller villages began trickling in as well.
Hearing about the grand scale of the exams, daimyō from various nations also arrived in their luxurious palanquins, eager to witness the spectacle firsthand.
To them, shinobi were nothing more than lowly tools. Still, the battles of ninja were far more thrilling than the formal duels of samurai.
Merchants flocked to Konoha as well. Konoha's strict restrictions on trade were momentarily lifted, presenting a rare opportunity for profit.
The day before the exams began, Sunagakure's delegation arrived in Konoha.
As they took in the bustling streets of the Leaf Village, the Sand ninja couldn't help but feel envious. Compared to Konoha, Sunagakure was nothing more than a barren wasteland.
"If only we could live here…"
Some of the Sand ninja turned to their leader, Pakura, unable to suppress their curiosity.
"Pakura-sama, why hasn't the Kazekage arrived yet?"
"Indeed. Ever since the last battle with Orochimaru, the Kazekage has been acting alone."
"I wonder what the Kazekage would think of Konoha's prosperity…"
"Why do the people of Konoha get to enjoy such a good life?"
Pakura silenced them with a stern rebuke. "Stop speculating about the Kazekage and behave yourselves!"
Though Mirai hadn't shared all the details with her, Pakura was well aware that Rasa was likely dead, and the so-called Kazekage was merely an imposter.
Even so, as she looked at the throngs of people filling Konoha's streets, a spark of hope lit in her heart.
If Uchiha Mirai's plan succeeded, perhaps one day, Sunagakure's people could enjoy a similarly prosperous life.
For that dream, she was willing to endure anything—even if it meant personal sacrifices.
The Chūnin Exams commenced as scheduled.
Mirai left the exam format unchanged.
The first stage was still the ninja theory test, overseen by Morino Ibiki, who had recently joined the Torture and Interrogation Force.
Unlike his future scarred and intimidating appearance, Ibiki was now a sharp-featured young man with single-lidded eyes.
Much like in the original timeline, Ibiki began with an elaborate introduction after distributing the exam papers.
"Cheating will result in a lifetime ban from the exams," he declared.
"If one member of your team fails, the entire team will be disqualified."
"However, if you choose to withdraw, you will only lose your individual qualification and not affect your teammates."
Despite his intimidating delivery, only Konoha's ninja seemed to take his words seriously.
After all, shinobi from the other villages knew that Konoha had no authority to decide their promotion to Chūnin.
Ibiki couldn't help but feel frustrated. He had spent considerable time crafting these rules, thinking they would shine in this exam. Instead, his efforts were met with indifference, save for Konoha's own participants.
In the monitoring room, the Raikage, Ay, burst into hearty laughter.
"Hokage, your village really loves complicating things! A simple theory exam, yet you pile on so many rules. You must have too much free time!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing.
His mind was elsewhere. Had Uchiha Mirai not pressured him into attending, he wouldn't have wasted time on the exams.
After reassuming the role of Hokage, Hiruzen had come to understand just how tightly Uchiha Mirai controlled Konoha.
Seizing power was no longer his priority—ensuring the survival of the Sarutobi clan had become his primary concern.
Seeing Hiruzen's silence, Ay clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Stubborn old man."
Ay recalled how, during a recent negotiation with Konoha, they had secured significant benefits. Additionally, they had gleaned an important insight:
Konoha's clans were rife with internal strife, their outward unity a mere facade.
The annihilation of clans like Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane, coupled with Hiruzen's sudden return to power, indicated that Konoha was grappling with internal chaos.
It seemed likely that Konoha had suffered significant damage and was now attempting to mask its weakness by showcasing its younger generation's strength through the Chūnin Exams.
Smirking, Ay felt his suspicions were confirmed.
However, Onoki, the Tsuchikage, scoffed inwardly. Fool.
Like his predecessor, the Third Raikage, Ay was nothing but muscle without brains.
As long as Uchiha Mirai lived, Konoha would possess power far surpassing the other villages. That much was indisputable.
Onoki knew all too well the true power of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
It was this fear that had brought him to Konoha personally—to confront the haunting eyes that still lingered in his memory.
Meanwhile, Gengetsu Hōzuki of Kirigakure meditated in silence. His village wouldn't have bothered attending the exams if not for Mirai's veiled threats.
Underneath the Kazekage's hat, "Rasa" gazed at Hiruzen.
'Sensei,' he murmured to himself, 'this time, I will personally send you on your final journey.'
'For this perfect finale, I've spent countless hours perfecting the forbidden technique.'
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Read more than +80 chapters and support me on Patreon
Patreon(.)com/Jixo