In Naruto: Drinking Makes Me Stronger — Chapter 38

"I'm not going!"

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could even finish speaking, Yuu replied with a look of disgust.

"Uh... wh-why?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression froze instantly.

"Too much trouble. I'm not going."

Yuu was a little drunk, but he wasn't stupid.

"Yuu, the village is surrounded by danger right now. You don't want anything to happen to the Konoha you love, do you?..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi began earnestly trying to persuade him.

He had already sent invitations to several major ninja villages. If Yuu backed out now, how was this supposed to work?

That was right. This was the method Hiruzen Sarutobi had come up with to display Konoha's current strength!

The Chunin Exams were generally held between allied nations, but this time, Konoha had sent invitations even to several major ninja villages that were not allies.

This had been Hiruzen Sarutobi's proposal.

The recent situation had been extremely unstable. Kumogakure aside, that village had always pursued military expansion as its primary strategy.

But even Kirigakure, which had not participated in the Second Great Ninja War at all, had begun moving frequently.

This filled Hiruzen Sarutobi with a sense of crisis.

Konoha was located in the Land of Fire, the nation blessed with the richest resources.

But at the same time, it lay right in the center, surrounded by the other four great nations.

Whether during the First Great Ninja War or the Second Great Ninja War,

Konoha had ultimately faced the situation of fighting many enemies alone.

Now, not long after the end of the Second Great Ninja War, Konoha had suffered enormous losses.

The Senju Clan, the main force during the war, had even lost Nawaki, the young clan heir, in battle.

After Tsunade left, the Senju Clan could be said to have completely withdrawn from public life.

Coupled with the death of the Konoha White Fang, Konoha's strength now appeared vastly inferior to what it had once been in the eyes of outsiders.

That was why Hiruzen Sarutobi was so eager to demonstrate Konoha's strength.

And the Chunin Exams were the perfect opportunity!

As a cradle that produced geniuses, Konoha

had given birth to countless prodigies.

Even throughout the long years since Konoha's founding,

Kakashi counted as one of the most exceptional geniuses!

Yet even Kakashi had been utterly unable to fight back against Yuu.

One could imagine that against the genin from other ninja villages, Yuu would absolutely crush them!

Let the major ninja villages see the strength of Konoha's new generation and make them restrain themselves somewhat.

That was why Hiruzen Sarutobi had invited the other major ninja villages that were not allies to Konoha for the Chunin Exams!

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Konoha Ninja Academy, principal's office.

"Huff... huff... Why is this brat so impossible to persuade?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at Yuu, feeling rather helpless.

Just now, Hiruzen Sarutobi had truly reasoned with him and appealed to his emotions.

He had brought the eloquence of an outstanding politician to its fullest extent.

But Yuu's answer had been just two words.

"I'm not going!"

If it had been anyone else, would they dare disobey the Hokage's orders?

But when dealing with someone drunk, emotional appeals were useless. How could threats work? They would only backfire.