Say That Again?

The Land of Water was a country centered around one enormous island, with dozens of smaller islands surrounding it.

Because of its unique geographical location, the country suffered the least damage during the Warring States Period and the First Shinobi World War.

However, its distinctive environment undoubtedly also limited the country's resources and development.

Thus, after the Land of Water was established, compared to the other four nations, its higher-ups had a stronger obsession with strengthening the village.

Especially after purchasing Tailed Beasts from Hashirama at a high price, the country's leaders had continuously sought the possibility of finding Jinchuriki.

Even in the Original Plot, they had not hesitated to make Karatachi Yagura, the original Fourth Mizukage and actual Third Mizukage, into the Three-Tails' Jinchuriki.

As a force eager to make its voice heard within the nation,

Kirigakure had proactively requested to host this Three Kingdoms joint Chunin Exam.

Of course, to prevent danger to the village and avoid unnecessary conflicts, the actual venue had been arranged on a nearby small island.

Considering that the Examinees all came from distant foreign nations, they had been given an entire week to gather.

Today was the final day of the gathering period.

Enoshima—this was the small island selected for this Chunin Exam.

Unlike the technologically advanced Blue Star, every small island in this world retained its natural appearance.

Enoshima was no exception.

Apart from the sole dock leading onto the island, only several buildings stood on the plain near the shore.

Other than that, as far as the eye could see, there were endless stretches of forest.

Yet today, this usually deserted island was filled with a rare sight: numerous figures.

They were the Genin from various nations who had gathered here to take the exam.

The Examinees were currently gathered before a White Building.

Contrary to what they had expected, they had waited from morning until noon without a single Examiner or Staff Member appearing.

Unable to make sense of it, they could only wait silently where they stood.

Yet as time passed, the Examinees gradually began forming separate groups.

From Mid-air, one could vaguely see the crowd divided into three groups.

Those three groups happened to correspond to the forces of Konoha, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure.

After all, the war had ended only a few years ago. Even in this so-called era of peace, the conflicts between the nations had never truly stopped.

Under such circumstances, it was perfectly normal for the Examinees of each nation to gather together voluntarily.

However, as every second ticked by, the Examiner they had been waiting for still did not appear.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the scene slowly began to take on an ominous shift.

Most of those present were descendants of families that had practiced being Ninja for generations.

For the vast majority of them, some of their fathers or relatives had more or less died on the battlefields of the First Shinobi World War.

Naturally, the hatred born from the deaths of those loved ones had been passed down to these younger generations.

With no Examiner present, a hint of anger gradually entered the Examinees' gazes.

During the First Shinobi World War, the three nations had naturally fought one another.

Even after the ceasefire, many of their relatives had been killed by Ninja from the Two Other Nations while carrying out missions.

It could therefore be said that the Genin Examinees from these Three Kingdoms basically hated one another.

At this moment, there was no need for anyone to fan the flames. The tense, drawn-sword atmosphere had already formed without anyone noticing.

Sure enough, not long afterward, a burst of commotion arose from the crowd, followed by noisy shouting.

A youth wearing a forehead protector bearing the Konoha Symbol had fallen onto the ground.

He glared furiously at the group of people Before eyes, all of whom wore mocking expressions.

There were both men and women among them, but every one of them wore forehead protectors bearing the Kirigakure Symbol.

Though he was alone, the Konoha youth showed no intention of backing down.

He angrily roared at the people Before eyes:

"What do you mean?

Why did you deliberately push me over?"

Since the Examiner had yet to appear, he had been unable to suppress his impatience and had come to the only building at the scene.

Looking at the tightly shut door Before eyes, he had begun observing it carefully, hoping to find some clues.

But just as he focused intently on examining the White Building Before him, he Only Feel someone give him a hard shove from behind.

Caught off guard by the sudden collision, he lost his footing and was pushed to the ground.

Faced with the Konoha youth's questioning, the group did not answer.

One of them, a youth close to his age and wearing a rain hat commonly seen in the Land of Water, stepped forward.

He cast a contemptuous glance at the Konoha Genin on the ground, curled his lips, and spoke in a frivolous tone:

"Oh, sorry.

Maybe you're too skinny. We didn't see anyone In Front of us and accidentally bumped into you."

After saying that, he looked at the other youth teasingly. He slowly shook his head, clicked his tongue twice, then Spoke Again:

"But has Konoha fallen this far now?

Even Characters like you, who fall over at the slightest touch, are qualified to participate in the Chunin Exam?"

The moment his words fell, the people behind him seemed to have heard something hilarious.

They began laughing loudly in response.

Faced with such humiliation, the Konoha youth immediately stood up from the ground.

A flush of anger rose across his face. He glared at the group with wide eyes and gritted his teeth as he said:

"I won't allow you to insult Konoha's name!

Whether I'm qualified or not isn't for you to decide!

Or do you want to settle this with a fight and see who's more qualified?"

The rain hat youth's grin did not change in the face of the Konoha youth's provocation.

He stepped forward, slightly lifted the rain hat above his head with his Right Hand, and swept his gaze over the person Before him.

Perhaps he had harbored resentment toward Konoha's Ninja for a long time. After several seconds, he Scoffed and said:

"No, you may have heard wrong.

I had no intention of insulting Konoha.

But...

As far as I'm concerned, none of Konoha's current generation here are qualified to take the exam."

Faced with that indiscriminate insult, the other Konoha Genin who had been watching from the side could no longer hold back.

They slowly moved their Footsteps, vaguely surrounding the rain hat youth's group.

Naturally, Kirigakure's others moved at the same time.

They also walked behind the rain hat youth and confronted the Konoha group.

Of course, not everyone from Kirigakure came over.

Not far away stood seven Kirigakure Genin carrying Ninja Swords of all different shapes.

The conflict here did not seem to draw their attention. The Seven People remained seated leisurely where they were.

Some rested with their eyes closed, some looked up at the sky, while some stared blankly at the things in their hands.

In any case, they did not even spare a glance for what was happening at the scene.

At the actions of those seven, a trace of gloom flashed through the rain hat youth's eyes.

He naturally knew that these seven were the special people whom the Mizukage had bestowed with the title of Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

In this Chunin Exam, they were Kirigakure's true trump card.

The people from Kumogakure likewise did not move.

Unlike the somewhat scattered groups from the Two Other Nations, Kumogakure's Genin consciously stood behind a youth with an eyepatch over his left eye.

This youth was Dodai, whom the Third Raikage had placed high hopes upon.

He possessed a steadiness that did not match his age.

Watching the conflict Before eyes, he signaled for the people behind him to remain quiet.

He neither joined in nor even watched. He merely observed the development of events coldly from the side.

Although he had not received the support of those Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the rain hat youth looked at his many Companions behind him.

He felt that the situation was firmly under his control.

Just as the conflict at the scene was about to erupt, the rain hat youth's lips moved slightly, as though he were about to say something more.

A somewhat flippant voice suddenly rang out across the scene:

"Sorry, we just arrived and didn't hear clearly.

What was that you just said about Konoha?

How about you say that again?"