Everyone Was Shocked

Konoha

Live footage from the Forest of Death played on television screens throughout the streets and alleys.

The major casinos were already packed to capacity. Nearly every betting board today concerned the Forest of Death.

Those obscure ninja competitions had become noticeably deserted, and even their tickets were becoming hard to sell.

After all, the organizers of such events generally lost money just to build publicity, while ticket sales from ninja competitions were their main source of income.

Without that revenue, Konoha would probably be left without even a pair of pants.

Left with no choice, Konoha temporarily shut down the Forest of Death broadcast to keep the other ninja competitions from becoming too deserted. Instead, it aired the footage in three daily time slots: from 7 to 9 in the morning, 3 to 5 in the afternoon, and 7 to 9 in the evening.

This infuriated the viewers, and curses flew everywhere. But it was useless. Just like internet trolls on Blue Star, whenever something displeased them, they would spout nonsense in the comments.

After venting, they cursed once and accepted reality!

Once Konoha's people had cursed to their hearts' content and exhausted themselves, they cursed again, then went right back to buying tickets or visiting brothels.

In short, the horses still ran, the dances still went on. When the sun rose, the trolls found new things to rage about, while the higher-ups could watch the battle in the Forest of Death anytime they wanted.

As one of those higher-ups, Tsunade sat before the television, staring fixedly at the screen.

"Lady Tsunade, didn't Xiao Yun tell you to bet everything on him winning? Why did you deposit all the money instead?"

Shizune brought over a bowl of fruit.

"Shizune, starting today, I'm done gambling. Once Xiao Yun pays off my gambling debts, I'll settle down, have this child, support my husband, and raise our child."

Tsunade's eyes were filled with tenderness as her hands gently stroked her belly. Her beautiful face glowed with happiness.

But the next second, Tsunade's expression abruptly changed. She smashed the table to pieces with one punch and roared at Shizune, "Shizune, withdraw all the money and bet it all!"

Shizune stared at the suddenly furious Tsunade in astonishment. What was going on?

Following Tsunade's gaze, Shizune looked at the television screen. There, Xiao Yun was carrying Hyuga Yumi on his back as he strolled leisurely through the Forest of Death.

Inside the Forest of Death

"Yumi, I get that you sprained your ankle, and I don't mind carrying you, but can you stop rubbing yourself against my back?"

Xiao Yun said helplessly, irritation rising in his chest. I hope Tsunade didn't see that.

"No! Brother Yun, my chest is itchy. I asked you to scratch it for me, but you wouldn't, so I had no choice but to rub against you myself."

Hyuga Yumi whined coquettishly, completely ignoring Naruto beside them.

"Sister Yumi, Uncle can't scratch you while he's carrying you. How about I help you?"

Naruto said with a cheeky grin.

"Get lost! You little brat, how dare you flirt with your aunt!"

Hyuga Yumi instantly activated her Byakugan and shouted furiously at Naruto. She looked so much like Tsunade that Naruto flinched in fright.

"By the way, Brother Yun, how are you as smart as Shikamaru? You actually came up with such a battle plan. I admire you so much. Mwah."

Hyuga Yumi wrapped her arms around Xiao Yun and planted a kiss on his neck. She pressed herself even more tightly against him and looked at him with an expression of worship.

It left Xiao Yun both irritated and vaguely pleased. What man didn't like being admired by a woman, especially a beauty whose looks and figure were no worse than Tsunade's?

As it turned out, Xiao Yun and Shikamaru had devised this battle plan together, dividing the ten of them into three groups.

Sasuke, Sakura, Hyuga Hakutaku, and Yamato formed one group.

Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Shikamaru formed another.

Xiao Yun, Naruto, and Hyuga Yumi formed the last group.

The groups maintained a distance of roughly one hundred meters from one another at all times. That was the Byakugan's maximum observation range, allowing them to support each other in the shortest possible time if they came under attack.

If the enemy outnumbered and outclassed them by too much, the attacked group would only be responsible for fleeing while the remaining groups launched a sneak attack. If they encountered opponents weaker than themselves, they would kill them on the spot.

There was also one major advantage to spreading out the team: it lowered their enemies' guard and let them strike a fatal blow at any time.

Even if the enemy had sensory-type ninja, they would at most be Genin. It was impossible for them to sense all three groups at once.

"Xiao Yun, enemies seem to be coming from that direction. Put me down."

Hyuga Yumi's Byakugan fixed tightly on the direction where Naruto was walking.

"Don't panic. Relax and keep moving forward. Yumi, how many are there?"

Xiao Yun asked in a low voice.

"Three, just like us."

Hyuga Yumi replied.

"I understand. If a fight breaks out later, you and Naruto stay behind me."

Xiao Yun said seriously. Although Hyuga Yumi was quite capable and possessed the Byakugan, she had been spoiled since childhood and had little combat experience. He had not wanted to let her join them, but she simply would not listen.

"Brother Yun, you're so good to me. Mwah."

Hyuga Yumi smiled happily, kissing Xiao Yun's left cheek one moment and his right cheek the next.

Xiao Yun was speechless, inwardly furious. You little girl, you've never been beaten by society. You have no idea how dangerous the world is.

Stay calm. Stay calm!

She doesn't like you. She's just lusting after your body!

Xiao Yun kept reminding himself...

It was now three in the afternoon, and the Forest of Death broadcast had just begun. This scene was immediately witnessed by everyone.

"Who's that woman on Xiao Yun's back? That figure, that face... damn, she's as hot as Tsunade."

"Holy shit! Isn't Xiao Yun carrying Hyuga Yumi, the flower of the Hyuga Clan?"

"Holy shit again! Doesn't Hyuga Yumi usually look so dignified? Why is she so wild around Xiao Yun? Has Xiao Yun conquered her too?"

"Brother, take out the 'has.' Lady Tsunade was my first teacher, and Xiao Yun took her. Hyuga Yumi is my goddess, and Xiao Yun took her too. Gaara, beat Xiao Yun to death!"

"Beat Xiao Yun to death! Beat Xiao Yun to death! Let him vent the anger of the men of the Ninja World!"

"Beat Xiao Yun to death! I'll take responsibility for Tsunade!"

"Xiao Yun, they're only fifteen meters away from us now. They seem to be Earth Release ninja, and they're coming up from underground."

Hyuga Yumi could not help growing nervous. At this distance, if they did not act soon, they would be at a severe disadvantage once ambushed.

"Yumi, relax. Don't be afraid. Keep kissing me."

Xiao Yun said solemnly, though his hands had stopped supporting the person on his back by the buttocks as he quietly formed a hand seal.

"What?"

Hyuga Yumi's eyes widened. At a time like this, he still wanted her to kiss him? Could it be that he really had a way to deal with this?

For some reason, Xiao Yun's words carried a commanding magic in Hyuga Yumi's ears.

"Mm!"

Hyuga Yumi blushed deeply and pressed her lips against Xiao Yun's neck and face again, covering him in red lip marks.

"They're here! Wood Release—Tree Binding Death Burial!"

Xiao Yun let out a low cry.

At almost the same moment, three Sand Shinobi using Earth Release burst out of the ground and attacked together, aiming directly at Xiao Yun's group.

At such close range—this was practically a guaranteed kill!

Just as everyone thought Xiao Yun was finished, a bizarre scene appeared on television screens throughout Konoha.

The instant the three men raised their kunai and were about to strike, they found themselves unable to move another step. Looking closely, their legs had been wrapped in vines.

"What is this?"

The three stared at Xiao Yun in terror. He had discovered them long ago.

"Puru puru puru."

"You dared sneak up on Brother Yun? You're courting death!"

"Brother Yun, you're amazing!"

Hyuga Yumi stuck out her tongue at the three men and made a face, looking innocent and silly.

"Wow, that's a Wood Release ninjutsu!"

"I never expected Xiao Yun to be a Wood Release ninja. No wonder he dared accept Gaara's challenge."

"Is Konoha about to rise again?"

"I heard Xiao Yun has Wood Chakra talent with level-nine purity. That's even more monstrous than Senju Hashirama's."

"No wonder Tsunade and Hyuga Yumi are fighting over Xiao Yun. So that's why."

"That's all rumors, complete bullshit. Do you even know what Wood Chakra talent with level-nine purity means? Since the Ninja World was founded, no one like that has ever appeared!"

The audience chattered endlessly, while on the top floor of the Konoha Grand Restaurant, a place Konoha used to entertain distinguished guests, the Kage of more than a dozen villages sat watching the Forest of Death broadcast...