allendalepharm Chapter 262 Joint Chunin Exam 4
Chapter 262 Joint Chunin Exam 4
Amidst the bustling activity at the village gates, crowds surged and thronged. Due to the recent joint Chunin Exams, an overwhelming influx of people had entered Konoha, resulting in a consistently busy scene at the village gates.
Tomorrow marks the start of the Joint Chunin Exams, making the already bustling Konoha gates even noisier, forcing Konoha's higher-ups to send more personnel to maintain order.
Just then, a dark shadow streaked across the previously clear sky, swiftly crossing the horizon and heading straight for the bustling Konoha gates. This person was none other than Hyuga Kanan, who had come specifically to witness Orochimaru's meticulously planned spectacle. In reality, it wouldn't have been difficult for Hyuga Kanan to enter Konoha directly from the sky, but Konoha's outer perimeter was protected by a special sensory barrier. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Hyuga Kanan naturally chose to enter through the main gate. However, when he saw the long queue, he couldn't help but realize that his decision might have been somewhat rash.
However, since Hyuga Kanan was already here, there was no need to change his mind. After all, he just wanted to come to Konoha to see what was going on and relax; it didn't matter where he watched. Besides, this way he could better observe the people who had come to Konoha to take the exams. So, Hyuga Kanan casually joined the queue, listening with great interest to the discussions around him about the joint Chunin Exams being held in Konoha.
"The newly established Otogakure (Hidden Sound Village) of the Land of Rice Fields also sent personnel to participate in this joint Chunin Exams. It's said that the Otogakure ninja are quite strong. Although it's only a newly established village, many people specifically come to Otogakure to post missions. This shows that this new ninja village is no ordinary place," a somewhat portly middle-aged man said proudly, his voice filled with confidence and pride. He seemed very satisfied with the information he possessed and considered it something to boast about. His expression was also very smug, as if he had become the center of attention.
However, at that moment, another man suddenly interrupted him: "A mere new ninja village, how can it compare to the deep-rooted, established ninja villages like Konoha and Sunagakure? Don't act like you've never seen anything like it. I've witnessed the strength of the Sunagakure ninjas; a small squad easily defeated dozens of bandits without sustaining a scratch." The man's tone was disdainful; he seemed to disagree with the middle-aged man's viewpoint. He believed that those so-called new ninja villages were nothing special, utterly insignificant compared to Konoha and Sunagakure.
The argument between the two men attracted the attention of those around them, and people began to discuss it animatedly. Some supported the portly middle-aged man, believing that the Sound Village might possess extraordinary strength; while others sided with the opposing side, firmly believing that Konoha and Sunagakure were the truly powerful forces. The scene became lively, with various opinions and perspectives intertwining to form a heated debate.
"Then do you dare to make a bet with me, a bet on whether the Sound Village ninja can make it to the finals? Do you dare?" The portly middle-aged man's voice carried a hint of provocation. He seemed to want to prove his point of view and demonstrate his unwavering confidence in the Sound Village through this bet. This sudden proposal plunged everyone present into a brief silence.
The previously lively atmosphere suddenly became tense, with everyone's attention focused on the portly middle-aged man. Many supporters of the Great Ninja Village were intimidated by his confident attitude and began to re-evaluate the strength of the Sound Ninja Village. A question arose in their minds: Could the Sound Ninja Village truly be capable of reaching the finals? This thought caused some to waver in their previous stance, and they all turned their attention to the portly middle-aged man who dared to propose the bet.
Of course, there were also those who were confident in the great ninja villages and wouldn't be intimidated at all. These were all radicals, and upon hearing this, one of them immediately stood up and loudly responded, "Let's bet! I don't believe that a mere newly established ninja village can make it to the finals. You know, Konoha and Sunagakure are veteran powerhouses in the ninja world, with deep foundations. How could they possibly lose to a newly established ninja village? And even if this ninja village has some strengths, it can only pale in comparison to the powerhouses of Konoha and Sunagakure! Let's leave Konoha and Sunagakure as they are. Once we enter Konoha, we'll go to the betting shop and place our bets." As he spoke, he looked at the others, hoping to gain their support.
Thus, the discussion about the joint Chunin Exams grew increasingly heated, with people joining the debate and loudly arguing for their chosen ninja villages. Their voices mingled, creating a cacophony of noise. Everyone firmly believed in their own point of view, arguing fiercely with others. For a time, the entire scene became exceptionally lively and intense.
Hyuga Kanan listened quietly to their arguments, finding the lively scene quite interesting and relaxing. This was precisely his purpose in coming to Konoha.
Before even entering the village, he encountered such an interesting scene, making Hyuga Kanan feel that this trip down the mountain had been quite fruitful. This was just the appetizer; knowing Orochimaru as he did, he knew the main course Orochimaru was preparing would be even more exciting. He couldn't help but look forward to it.
The excitement at Konoha's gates didn't last long. These people hadn't come to argue about who was stronger or weaker; they wanted to witness a real battle. For ordinary people, ninja battles usually only existed in legends and stories, and few had the opportunity to witness such a scene firsthand. Today, they finally had this rare chance to observe the ninjas' fighting skills and strength up close, without worrying about their own safety. This rare experience excited them greatly, and they eagerly anticipated the upcoming battle.
With Konoha's thorough preparations, although there were many people at the gate, they didn't have to wait long to enter the village. When it came to Hyuga Kanan, the Konoha ninja responsible for checking at the gate were slightly taken aback. These Konoha ninjas checking at the gate this time were not the inexperienced new generation ninjas who were completely unfamiliar with the Hyuga clan, the powerful family of Konoha. As veteran Konoha ninjas, they had naturally seen Hyuga ninjas before and were very clear about the strength and status of the Hyuga clan in the ninja world. Moreover, they noticed that Hyuga Kanan's smooth and flawless forehead proved that he was a member of the main branch of the Hyuga clan, making them even more cautious.
These veteran Konoha ninjas were well aware of the tense relationship between the Konoha leadership and the Hyuga clan. But they never imagined that members of the Hyuga clan's main branch would exist outside the village.
Without conducting a thorough inspection, they allowed Hyuga Kanan to enter Konoha Village, and even sent people to inform the village's higher-ups about their situation. After all, the sudden appearance of a member of the Hyuga main clan outside the village must indicate important intelligence.
Hyuga Kanan strolled through the streets of Konoha, carefully observing his surroundings. Although Konoha remained bustling and vibrant, he could keenly sense an undeniable air of decay. Over the years, the village's architectural style and layout had hardly changed. This stagnation deeply affected Hyuga Kanan; Konoha had lost the courage to move forward with the times!
However, Hyuga Kanan remained unmoved. He had no emotional attachment to Konoha, so its development was irrelevant to him. It was still somewhat absurd that a village possessing the best land in the ninja world had deteriorated to this state. Perhaps this was a major reason why a corrupt figure like Hiruzen Sarutobi had been able to rule the village. However, Orochimaru's latest scheme might just completely change this decaying village.
Inside the Hokage Building, a beaming Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, a smile on his face, gazing at the bustling village. The streets were teeming with people, children laughed and chatted, and merchants busily solicited business. This scene filled Hiruzen with a sense of satisfaction.
"The decision by Konoha to hold the joint Chunin Exams was absolutely the right one!" Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He knew that the impact of this decision was not just superficial prosperity, but also a crucial boost to the future development of Konoha.
By collaborating with other villages to host the Chunin Exams, Konoha successfully attracted ninjas and spectators from all over. Their arrival not only brought economic benefits to the village but also greatly enhanced its reputation. The previously declining economy was revitalized, attracting merchants who flocked to the village, bringing more business opportunities and wealth.
At the same time, Konoha Village, as the organizer, demonstrated its formidable strength and organizational capabilities. This undoubtedly earned Konoha Village widespread respect and enhanced its reputation. This accumulated prestige will garner more support and resources for Konoha Village's future development.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air outside the window. He felt that under his leadership, Konoha would surely flourish even more.
The sudden knocking interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi's reverie, forcing him to look away. He'd grown accustomed to such unexpected disturbances lately. With so many diverse people suddenly entering the village, and various unexpected incidents occurring daily requiring his decisions, he was used to it all.