Throughout the award ceremony, Chiyo felt a little dazed.
She couldn't believe she had actually won the Ninja Way Tournament, and that the Second Hokage had really handed her the Rinnegan in front of everyone.
On top of that, she had expended far too much Chakra, and the cheers around her were deafening.
Even after the ceremony ended,
Chiyo still felt as though she were in a dream.
Seeing this, Danzo took the initiative to approach and support her.
Then, under the envious gazes of countless people, he led the other Sand Ninja out of the arena.
The moment they stepped outside,
a huge crowd immediately surrounded Danzo and the others.
Reporters, interviewers, fans, talent scouts, spies, and even fake representatives from anti-Konoha forces all swarmed over, hoping to talk with the newly crowned champion of the Ninja Way Tournament.
Sunagakure had become tremendously famous as a result.
It was worth remembering
that spectators and ninja who had watched the final might have realized that Kagami Uchiha had gone easy on Chiyo at the end.
But to the far greater number of civilians and countries that hadn't watched the match in person, all they heard was that the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure had won the title of the world's best and gained enormous prestige and renown.
Even Sunagakure, which had been at the bottom of the Five Great Villages, suddenly seemed powerful and imposing.
In fact, many anti-Konoha forces immediately pinned their hopes on Sunagakure.
They sent all kinds of representatives, openly and behind the scenes, to offer the village money and investment.
Their only goal was to bankroll Sunagakure so it could bear the brunt of Konoha's might and pressure, thereby protecting the power and status of other nations and their nobles.
There was no helping it.
At present,