Naruto: Konoha’s Kanpu

Chapter 783: Timid Hozuki Suigetsu

“Temari, and the rest of you!”

In the small courtyard, Baki sat sternly at the stone table, with serious expression, “At the Konoha’s gate in the morning, do you know why I stopped you from filling out that registration form?”

Temari and the others, with empty stomachs, shook their heads.

“You!”

Baki slammed the stone table, pointing at Temari and reprimanded her, “Temari! Although you've just graduated, you've been accompanying me outside the village for missions for over a year. Why didn't you notice such a shallow conspiracy from Konoha!”

“And the rest of you!”

Baki glared at the other Genin, “You've graduated one to two years ago, you’re Genin with rich mission experience. Why haven't you noticed anything?!”

Growl…

Baki became angrier the more he spoke, and his stomach growled audibly.

Baki’s face blushed, and he waved: “Let’s get something to eat first! When you come back, each of you will write a three-thousand-word self-review!”

“Three… three thousand?” Temari immediately begged for mercy, “Baki-sensei, can it be two thousand?”

Baki: “Okay!”

“Eh?” Temari was shocked. If she knew Baki would agree so readily, she would have asked for eight hundred.

After everyone walked out of the small courtyard, they ran into the group of ninjas wearing Kirigakure’s headbands. The one leading them is the alluring and fragrant Mei, next to her was Ao and behind them are the Genin, with Hozuki Suigetsu at the lead.

“Aren't these Shinobi from Sunagakure?”

Mei frowned slightly, “Why are you also staying here?”

“This is Konoha’s arrangement.”

Baki’s gaze shifted from Mei to Suigetsu and the others, then he said with a smile, “Why? Does Kirigakure also intend to participate in the Joint Chunin Exam held by Konoha?”

“This is not a Chunin Exam held by Konoha, but a Joint Chunin Exam held by multiple countries! At most, Konoha can be considered as the host!” Ao stepped forward.

“Why bother talking to them!” Suigetsu impatiently pushed Ao aside, and said with a snort, “Hey, you're blocking our way. Hurry up and move.”

“You're the ones blocking the way!” Temari, as the daughter of Kazekage and the rising star of her generation, stepped forward boldly to confront Suigetsu, “Such rudeness! Is this how the Yondaime Mizukage of Kirigakure teaches his subordinates?”

Suigetsu sneered, revealing sharp fangs: “Our Yondaime Mizukage is already dead. Are you trying to provoke us?”

“Eh?”

‘Yondaime Mizukage… is dead?’

‘Is this a joke?’

Temari turned to Baki, looking somewhat bewildered.

Baki furrowed his brows at this.

In fact, there are indeed rumors that Yondaime Mizukage is dead, and there are even more outrageous rumors, saying that Yondaime Mizukage died under the Gentle Fist of Konoha’s Hyuga Clan. However, none of these rumors can be verified.

But now, Baki found that Yondaime Mizukage might indeed be dead!

“Suigetsu, don’t say things that shouldn’t be said.” Ao, somewhat troubled, tried to pull Suigetsu away, but as soon as his hand touched Suigetsu’s shoulder, half of Suigetsu’s body turned into water, and Ao’s hand passed through the water, grabbing nothing.

‘It’s Hydrification Technique…’ Baki immediately recognized it, and coldly said with a snort: “So, it's a little brat of Hozuki Clan. No wonder you're so arrogant.”

Although Hozuki Clan is not Kekkei Genkai Clan, but because Nidaime Mizukage is from Hozuki Clan, the influence of this clan in Kirigakure is still very impressive.

“Recognizing my origin, it seems that you, the leader of Sunagakure’s Shinobi, are not so incompetent.” Suigetsu, with both hands crossed, looked at Baki with arrogance.

Baki lowered his gaze, and a powerful killing-intent instantly enveloped Suigetsu.

‘What?!’

Suigetsu's expression changed. At this moment, he felt as if invisible ropes were binding him tightly, restricting his every move.

“Stop it.” Mei stepped forward and intercepted Baki’s killing-intent.

‘Phew!’

‘Close call!’

Suigetsu looked at Baki's stern face and, after confirming through eye contact, realized that he had provoked someone he couldn't afford to offend. He hurriedly hid behind Mei and shouted: “You’re just bullying the weak. If you're really brave, let that girl come up and face me one-on-one. I'll show you how I cut her into two pieces!”

“If you can do it, then come and try!” Temari pulled out the fan behind her, and slammed it onto the gravel road with a loud ‘bang’.

“Eh?”

Suigetsu sticks out his head from behind Mei, looking suspiciously at Temari.

‘This girl seems very confident. Could it be that she's a genius even more outstanding than me?’

Suigetsu, despite his impulsive and verbally abusive nature, had a somewhat timid side and didn't like trouble. At this moment, seeing Temari’s bold and fearless posture, he suddenly felt uneasy.

“Speaking of which, you're just a woman. I don't fight women!” Suigetsu immediately found an excuse for himself.

“If you look down on women, then why are you hiding behind one?!” Temari retorted coldly.

“Which eye of yours saw me hiding behind a woman?!”

The furious Suigetsu, without any hesitation, immediately… hid behind Ao.

“…” Temari.

“…” Baki.

“…” Mei.

“…” Ao.

“…” The other Shinobi.

Suigetsu, maintaining a calm expression, couldn't help but boast: “What are you all looking at?! If you want to fight, then let’s fight! I’m not afraid of any of you!”

Unfortunately, after seeing Suigetsu acting like a coward, Temari had no desire to engage with him anymore.

‘So he’s just a pampered child from a prestigious clan, hmph!’

Temari turned her head in disdain and refused to look at Suigetsu anymore.

“When the Chunin Exam officially starts, you'll have plenty of opportunities to fight.”

Baki looked calmly Mei and said, “Right, Terumi Mei?”

Mei smiled charmingly, and the two of them, in perfect harmony, led their group through the narrow path on the right.

Suigetsu followed behind Ao closely, glaring fiercely at Temari and the other Sunagakure’s Genin.

Temari didn’t want to stare at him and only rolled her eyes.

When the two groups of people went away separately, Ao finally expressed his discontent: “Konoha is really too much. They actually placed the Sunagakure’s people at where we're staying.”

While there hadn't been any major wars between Sunagakure and Kirigakure, there are constant frictions between countries due to longstanding tensions.

“Konoha did this on purpose.” Mei said indifferently.

Ao said: “Of course, I know that. They want us to break out of conflict before the start of the exam, and then kill each other in the exam, so that Konoha’s Genin can sit back and become the fisherman who reap the benefits! Sly Konoha!”

“It’s not just that.”

Mei said, “Although the official purpose of holding the Joint Chunin Exam is to deepen the relationship and enhance Genin’s strength, this exam is also a microcosm of the ongoing war between nations. During times of peace, this highly anticipated exam attracted the attention of Daimyo, celebrities, and wealthy merchants, and thus achieve excellence. The side that achieved outstanding results would attract the favor of these influential figures, which allowed them offer missions. Such opportunities had previously only arisen during wars!”

Ao suddenly realized: “In other words, Konoha deliberately guide us and Sunagakure in the same residence to break out conflicts, so that their Genin will rise above others in the exam, so as to win the mission of countries’ Daimyo, celebrities, and wealthy merchants?”

Mei faintly said: “During the Third Shinobi World War, Sunagakure was defeated and signed many unequal treaties with Konoha. One of them is to transfer the missions for the next few years to Konoha in a decreasing manner. After calculating, this treaty has almost expired.”

“So, Konoha deliberately invited Sunagakure to participate in this Joint Chunin Exam, wanting to continue to snatch mission from them?” Ao suck in a breath of cold air, “Yondaime Hokage is really insidious! Wait, why did Elder Genji agree to Konoha’s invitation? We don’t need to participate at all!”

“Idiot.”

Mei said with a snort, “Our village has just managed to break free from the Blood Mist Policy. Only by receiving a large number of missions can we quickly overcome the various disadvantages brought by the Blood Mist Policy, and simultaneously elevate our position in the Shinobi World and deter the other Great Countries. Therefore, this exam is equally important for us. If we can defeat both Konoha and Sunagakure…”

“I see.”

Ao turned his head and looked towards Suigetsu, who followed and glanced around, and said, “In the next few days, I will train Suigetsu myself!”

“Huh?”

Suigetsu raised an eyebrow: ‘What the hell?’