"Seriously? You're actually going through with this?!"
Seeing Hinata's serious expression, the Rain Ninja were fucking stunned. One of them kept shuffling backward as he spoke:
"We've already surrendered! The scrolls are on us, and we've fired the signal flare asking for help. You can't keep attacking us!"
"It's true you fired the flare, but you're acting like a bunch of cowards. It's unbearable to watch..."
Hinata looked thoroughly displeased as she approached the Rain Ninja, tossing the kunai in her hand.
Like a thug cornering a poor student and shaking him down for money, she said:
"The way you're acting is a disgrace to the name of ninja.
I have to teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"
"This is getting downright brutal..."
Kiba Inuzuka sighed, then covered Akamaru's eyes with his hand.
"Akamaru, you're still too innocent. We don't need to watch this kind of violence!"
One ninja was about to bully his own little brother, while another preferred to turn a blind eye.
Fortunately, although Kazeka was the one who'd made the three of them end up in such a sorry state, he still tried to stop Hinata and make her quit.
But what he said next sounded even more terrifying:
"Hinata, I still have use for these experimental subjects.
I'm going to study transplant rejection next, as well as how connecting the nerves of Water Release users with the same nature affects the combined power of their jutsu...
If you hurt them like this, it'll interfere with my upcoming experiments!"
The three Rain Ninja exchanged glances and swallowed hard. While dreading the horrific fate they might face, they also began to privately wonder:
"These guys are pretty strong, but they seem a little crazy. I suspect there might be some connection between the two!"
The lead Rain Ninja voiced the suspicions the other two shared, then continued:
"I have one more move. I can sacrifice myself to help you escape the battlefield for a while.
Remember, you must report my suspicions and information about these three ninja to the leader!"
The lead Rain Ninja let out an indignant roar and rapidly formed Hand Seals.
He was about to show the Konoha Ninja the Rain Ninja's way of the ninja.
Unfortunately, his dream was doomed to fail. A Great Snake suddenly appeared behind him and swallowed him whole with a single bite!
"With that kind of resolve, he's certainly a worthy man. I hope his convictions help him last a little longer in my experiments..."
Kazeka spoke calmly, despite his terrifying words.
He couldn't be bothered with the other two Rain Ninja, whose faces had gone pale. He directed the Great Snake to swallow them too!
"We're in luck. They had the Earth Scroll!"
Kiba Inuzuka picked up a scroll the Rain Ninja had dropped. The character for "Earth" was clearly marked on it.
Just then, two Konoha Ninja appeared behind and to Kazeka's side.
"Hyuga Kazeka, Hyuga Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka. We just saw the distress signal.
We followed the trail here. Did you find anything?"
"No!"
Kazeka replied without batting an eye.
"We just got here too. We found a terrible scene, as if a huge battle had just taken place.
Judging by the evidence, the other side seems to have been a team of Rain Ninja, and they were no amateurs. From the traces around us, they must have included users of poison and Water Release.
But their opponents were even stronger. They could toy with their enemies with ease. That kind of strength is truly unsettling!"
At first, the two ninja had looked merely professional, but now their eyes had begun to narrow.
They looked Kazeka up and down, then asked again:
"Hyuga Kazeka, you know that during the Chunin Ninja Exams, you're not allowed to kill or imprison other ninja unless absolutely necessary, right?"
"I know!"
Kazeka nodded.
"Konoha has always been a village that values peace.
I may have dissected, experimented on, and threatened some ninja, but I'm still a good person who loves peace.
Everything I do is to develop better techniques and benefit others!"
"All right, then. That's that..."
The two ninja wore strange expressions, but they hadn't been particularly concerned about killing in the first place.
Ninja were surrounded by cruel battles; anyone entering a brutal Chunin selection exam should be prepared for that.
The two ninja couldn't be bothered to argue with Kazeka any longer. They simply said, in an official tone:
"Remember, after the exam, someone will investigate. If you find any clues, report them promptly!"
"Understood!"
After getting Kazeka's reply, the two ninja vanished from the spot. Kiba Inuzuka looked at Kazeka and rolled his eyes.
"Kazeka, you went a little overboard just now. Those two ninja were only suspicious before, but after what you said, they can tell for sure that you did it!"
"Ah, I did it on purpose..."
"Hm?"
"What are you 'hm'-ing about?"
Kazeka looked at the surprised Kiba Inuzuka.
"Those three Rain Ninja were decent enough, but I've lost interest in ordinary ninja like them.
Besides, dealing with them is a hassle. If anything goes wrong and people find out, that old Hokage will nag me again.
I deliberately exposed myself so I can ask him for a ransom when he comes looking for me later!"
"Uh..."
Kiba Inuzuka looked at Kazeka with mixed feelings, but then he seemed to think of something.
"Even if you're shaking people down, Lord Hokage won't give you much money, will he?"
"I'm not picky. Even a mosquito is meat..."
Kazeka paused, then a trace of wistfulness crossed his eyes.
"After all, bringing change to this world takes an enormous amount of resources. I can't afford to waste even the tiniest bit!"
"Bringing change and all that..."
Kiba Inuzuka curled his lip.
"I think you just want to run experiments!"
"Kiba, if you keep running your mouth like that, I won't mind giving you a mouth of iron!"
"...Got it. Please spare me!"
"All right, break time's over..."
Kazeka took the scroll from Kiba Inuzuka's hand.
"Since we've completed half the mission and still have plenty of time, we should go find a few more interesting enemies and check them out!"
"Sounds good..."
Hinata nodded in agreement.
"The last bunch had no backbone at all. I'm itching for a fight. We should find a few more people to teach a lesson!"
"Yeah, definitely..."
Kiba Inuzuka didn't object to the idea.
"We're in good shape, and the ninja taking part in this Chunin exam have all kinds of different abilities. It'll be a good way to gain experience.
We'll have to deal with people from other villages on missions sooner or later, so it's good to get a sense of them now.
Kazeka, where do you want to go?"
"Boom!"
As soon as Kiba Inuzuka finished speaking, a loud crash rang out in the distance.
Looking at the huge snake tail whipping above the canopy of a giant tree, Kazeka smiled inscrutably.
"Looks like things are lively over there. Let's go check it out!"
Before you continue