Mei Terumi Kyu didn't refuse his daughter's request. He'd also wanted to send people to Kumogakure to learn from them, and this was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.
He even dispatched two elite squads from the camp to assist. Once the two groups had met up, they boarded a train to Kumogakure together.
"It really is enormous!"
When they arrived in Kumogakure and gazed up at the World Tree, which towered like a mountain, Mei Terumi was utterly stunned.
She'd heard before that Kumogakure had a huge tree, but the shock of seeing it in person was beyond words.
She simply couldn't understand how a tree in this world could grow so large.
The six who had come with her, Kisame among them, were just as stunned. It was unbelievably huge.
"Is that the power of Wood Release?"
Kisame murmured to himself. Before they'd set out, the Mizukage had specifically asked him to study all the intelligence on Kumogakure. He knew more about this tree than the others did.
"We call it the World Tree. Every Sunday, we hold a tree-climbing competition there. Anyone in the village can sign up. The weight vests are set according to each participant's strength, and there are prizes for reaching the top."
Tamura Hiroshi explained with a smile. There was nothing mysterious about the World Tree itself. Its roots even spread throughout the entire village, and anyone could touch them.
"Today's Friday, so the competition is the day after tomorrow?"
Mei Terumi worked out the date and grew even more excited. She decided she'd enter the tree-climbing competition the day after tomorrow.
"The day after tomorrow, head to the foot of the World Tree. There'll be a team there taking registrations. Lots of people enter every time."
Tamura Hiroshi chatted with them