"So, from the very beginning, you joined these Chunin Exams in order to form an alliance with Konoha?"
After listening to Hada Ichiba finish speaking, Hada Ryuhiko stared intently at him and spoke each word slowly.
So that was it...
From the start, their target had been an alliance, not merely requesting aid.
Was that why they had all seemed to have their own hidden agendas...
That thought flashed through his mind.
At the same time, Ichiba's words seemed to loosen his suspicions somewhat.
"That's right."
Hada Ichiba nodded and said as much.
Would saying that be enough? At the same time, that thought crossed his mind.
"Who are you trying to fool!"
Hearing this and seeing Hada Ichiba's certain expression, as if that were truly how things had been, Hada Ryuhiko rolled his eyes. His face abruptly turned disdainful.
Are you kidding me? Did he think I'm some clueless brat who'd believe such garbage?
That thought flashed through Hada Ryuhiko's mind.
What did he mean, they had been aiming for an alliance from the beginning rather than aid? Where was the logic? It didn't make any sense at all!
Why would Konoha shift from providing aid to forming an alliance just because Kusagakure displayed its strength? And even offer a written alliance agreement? Those were completely unrelated matters! It didn't explain any of your abnormal actions, you idiot Ichiba—actions that nearly pushed Kusagakure into an abyss of eternal ruin! And if displaying Kusagakure's strength could earn Konoha's alliance—or even just Konoha's aid—then why had you stressed from the beginning that we must not reveal our strength or attract too much attention? Who did you think you were fooling?
After that thought, Hada Ryuhiko began ranting furiously in his heart.
What Hada Ichiba had just said about how he and