On the Northern Lands Konoha–Northern Lands Highway leading to Konoha, three cars were driving slowly.
"Teacher Anko, is it true that Jinchuriki in Konoha?"
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Xiao Fu looked out the window and asked Anko was in the driver's seat.
They were ninjas heading to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams. Each instructor was driving a small car, just enough to take their respective teams.
"Yeah! That guy is a pitiful one too. His parents are both heroes of Konoha, but he suffered Byakugan from a young age and has already experienced the coldness of human nature at a young age..."
Anko told her about Naruto, things she'd heard from Orochimaru in her spare time, with the intention of warning them to treat Fu better.
Orochimaru was trying to train Fu into Perfect Jinchuriki, but if she continued to refuse Northern Lands's approval, then all his efforts would have been in vain.
"Isn't Konoha a great ninja village? How could they let him live such a miserable life?"
Karin couldn't help but chime in, saying that in her mind, the Great Ninja Villages had a more complete system and should be more friendly to Jinchuriki.
"Hmph... Whether it's good or bad is just a matter of the ruler's word. Look at Lord Gold Kage, with just one word, who in the Northern Lands dares to point fingers at Fu?"
Anko didn't have a good impression of the Third Hokage. In her opinion, her teacher was so outstanding back then, how could he be inferior to Minato Namikaze? In the end, she still didn't choose Orochimaru.
Now that's great, if you don't want to choose, fine, we'll just create a new great ninja village for you. Just thinking about it makes me feel so good.
"So it's true that things are better in the Northern Lands! Even a deformed person like me gets respect!"
In the passenger seat, Kidomaru rested his head on one hand and crossed his other arms over his chest, a satisfied smile on his face that seemed genuine.
While they were discussing matters concerning Konoha, two cars behind them were doing the same, except their drivers were not from Konoha and were not very clear about the specifics.
However, they all had a list containing the names and photos of the Konoha members participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams, including details about their preferred ninjutsu.
These were mostly general intelligence reports sent back by Kabuto Yakushi, who was stationed in Konoha, but they were limited to Konoha ninjas.
As for the ninja squads from other countries mentioned in the documents, those were collected by other spies.
"This generation of Konoha is really strong!"
Sakon and Ukon looked at the names on the list. Most of the participants were ninjas from Konoha, and each of them came from an extraordinary background.
There were Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, members of the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan, the Nara Clan... all of these people came from illustrious backgrounds.
"Don't underestimate Sakon. They may have better backgrounds than us, but your education may not be worse than theirs. It's not certain who is stronger or weaker!"
Bai Wenrou's gentle voice makes people feel very safe; that's just his personality. He always encourages his students when they are in trouble.
As his student, I would feel ashamed to fail Bai's teachings if I didn't work hard; he just has such a strong affinity for people.
Unlike the relaxed and cheerful atmosphere in the first two cars, the atmosphere in the last car was somewhat somber.
Kimimaro, Dosu, and Jirobo are all relatively quiet characters; the only one who is somewhat lively is probably Kin Tsuchi.
Of the three, she was the ninja that Kimimaro valued the most.
The other party's Earth Curse Mark is combined with that of the Kaguya Clan, and he usually pays the most attention to her training, so the two of them have a lot to talk about.
Don't be fooled by Kimimaro's cold demeanor; it's related to his upbringing. In his previous life, Orochimaru only treated him as a tool, and there was almost no warmth between them.
But in this life, not only does Bai take care of me, but my two older sisters Anko Guren also do, which is much better than in my previous life.
He's just not very good at expressing his feelings, but he's still very warm-hearted.
"Kimimaro- sensei, have you ever been to Konoha? Is it as prosperous as the Northern Lands?"
While eating potato chips, Kin Tsuchi in the passenger seat spoke to Kimimaro.
Jirobo behind them also turned his gaze over, while Dosu continued to look at the intelligence data in his hand.
"I've never been there, but it can't possibly compare to the prosperity of the Northern Lands!"
Kimimaro said decisively that he had never been to Konoha, but he was originally from Kirigakure. Konoha should be similar to Kirigakure. Kirigakure is not as good as the Northern Lands, so Konoha is naturally not as good as it either.
"I wonder what good food they have over there!"
Jirobo was also eating snacks, mumbled something.
"Eat, eat, all you ever do is eat, you fat pig!"
Kin Tsuchi bluntly retorted that she actually had no right to say anything, because she ate just as much as Jirobo.
However, Kin Tsuchi has a physique that allows him to eat whatever he wants without gaining weight, which has made countless girls envious.
Seeing that the atmosphere was gradually becoming more lively, Kimimaro turned on the car's music.
As the song "Until the End of the World" began to play softly in the car, it stirred the passion within the group...
Since they weren't in a hurry, the group walked and stopped along the way, taking in the scenery as they went.
Bai also brought a camera and took pictures of many people. They didn't look like they were going to take an exam; they looked more like they were on vacation.
After all, these guys have spent the entire year training and training, with absolutely no time for entertainment. This is a reward for them.
It took them a full half month to reach Konoha.
"There are quite a lot of people, looks like we're not too late!"
Anko looked at the long queue in front of her, and there were many other people who had driven there just like them.
Ahead of them was a minivan. Perhaps sensing they had arrived, the minivan's door suddenly opened with a "whoosh."
Next, one ninja after another got off the vehicle. I glanced at their Forehead Protector and realized they were from Iwagakure (Iwagakure).
Iwagakure also purchased a lot of cars produced in the Northern Lands, and naturally built many roads in the Land of Earth, but no road was built that led directly from Iwagakure to the Northern Lands.
They were traveling along the way when they arrived at the same time as the ninjas from Iwagakure, who were quite far away. It was just the right time for them to arrive.
As one ninja after another poured out of the van as if it were a bottomless pit, Anko in front, was dumbfounded. She roughly counted and estimated that there were almost twenty people.
"My goodness, is this a mobile office for Iwagakure?"
Not only her, but even the ninjas in line ahead of her were stunned. Was this Earth Lion van really that practical?
If you encountered such a light infantry transport vehicle on the battlefield, a sudden stop would probably scare away five squads of ninjas.
Moreover, the Iwagakure ninjas who got off the bus were all carrying a ninja file, so it seems that the people who rode this bus all love to read.
The air conditioning in this car isn't very effective; even the ninjas who got out didn't complain about their hands being freezing...
"Hmm! I didn't expect it to be him leading the team!"
Anko saw a somewhat familiar face in the other person's rearview mirror: Ōnoki's son, Kitsuchi, and the person in the passenger seat was none other than his daughter, Kurotsuchi!