Tension Begins to Mount

Those ninjas who let their guard down and were thus killed deserved to die.

As for the commander of the Sunagakure's combat forces, Gaara has his own criteria for judging Baki's warning.

Don't make it too prominent?

That's obvious.

The solution is simple: just lose.

But the Kazekage's order is to win the championship, which is a contradictory command.

As for Baki and Kazekage, they naturally follow Kazekage's orders.

"Then, the first match will be between Hozuki Suigetsu and Uchiha Clan Haku," Uchiha Shingen announced. "The rest of you, proceed to the rest area and wait for your names to be called."

Hozuki Suigetsu, a former member of the Time-Space Team Taka, is undoubtedly a powerful figure.

However, Bai's strength also surpassed that of the original timeline.

It wasn't that Uchiha Shingen, but among all the disciples he personally taught, none were more diligent or absorbed the knowledge more thoroughly than Uchiha Clan.

Most of the Ninjutsu that Uchiha Shingen developed for Ice Release have already been taught to Haku.

In terms of technique, Haku's Ice Release is a replica of Uchiha Shingen's at that age.

Haku also possesses exceptional talent in Chakra control; at least, when Haku was his age, Uchiha Shingen had not yet been able to perform true one-handed hand Hand Seals.

"Apart from the participants, everyone else may leave now," Uchiha Shingen urged the others to depart.

With only Hozuki Suigetsu and Haku remaining in the room, he announced the event to the audience again, then waved his hand, signaling for the two to begin.

Both were born in Kirigakure and Genin whose clans were destroyed. Although they now have different identities, they can both smell a familiar scent about each other.

"I've heard of you. You're a descendant of the Yuki Clan." Hozuki Suigetsu looked at Haku. "Our clans all bear the same sin."

"The Yuki Clan may bloom in Leaf Village; if not, then let it disappear." Haku's tone was not heavy.

Unlike Hozuki Suigetsu, he had little sense of belonging to his mother's clan.

"I see. Then... the question of who is stronger between the Yuki Clan and the Hozuki Clan can only be decided by us."

The two activated their Ninjutsu simultaneously.

A thick white fog dissipated from the stadium, and complaints immediately arose from the audience.

As the chief examiner, Uchiha Shingen was helpless; this was the starting stance of the Kirigakure Ninja.

However, he also taught Bai techniques like the Hiding in Mist Technique and the Silent Killing Technique, so this match was basically a Hidden Mist Village style.

Uchiha Shingen activated his Sharingan, and sure enough, there was a huge, chaotic mass of Chakra before him.

Chakra perception isn't very useful either.

The two young people didn't have enough Chakra to deeply interfere with Uchiha Shingen's Sharingan.

However, there are still some troubles.

Although it was a bit troublesome, it didn't affect his performance as an examiner.

The Cursed Seal was activated, Matatabi's Chakra surged in, awakening his Rinnegan.

With the Rinnegan's Chakra perception, the Hiding in Mist Technique's disruptive ability was completely neutralized.

As Haku and Hozuki Suigetsu Uchiha Shingen's attention began to focus on the several Kage on the top-floor stands.

The original Konoha Crush began after Gaara was injured by Uchiha Sasuke.

To be honest, the Konoha Crush was a failure.

In the original timeline, the planner of the Konoha Crush was Rasa, and the one who actually carried it out was Orochimaru, who joined as a mercenary.

Although a replacement was made at the last minute, it's not a big problem. After all, Orochimaru never does anything unnecessary, and his ability to implement plans is still very strong.

Therefore, it's unlikely that Rasa, the employer, would be killed without a reason, nor would a sudden attack on Sarutobi Hiruzen be launched. It can only be said that these actions were part of the so-called Konoha Crush, which reveals a great deal of unnaturalness.

The only explanation is that the Konoha Crush did not proceed as originally planned, and many unexpected events disrupted the plan.

For example, after Gaara was injured by Uchiha Sasuke, he started having seizures, which led Kabuto Yakushi to determine that Gaara could no longer function. So he activated his powers ahead of schedule. The original activation time might have been when Gaara won the championship and was received by the Hokage and Kazekage in the stands.

At the same time, Sunagakure is clearly one of Orochimaru's targets.

After Orochimaru became the executor, this plan should actually have been renamed the "Leaf Village and Sand Village Joint Collapse Plan".

Orochimaru's so-called "making the windmill turn" is basically the same as "divine punishment" that existed in modern Japanese movements such as the Blue Star the Emperor and Expel the Barbarians and the Meiji Restoration. It means assassinating high-ranking officials who are the beneficiaries of the system and using changes in the upper echelons to drive changes in the situation.

The destruction of Leaf Village was merely a means to achieve this goal, not the end result. Orochimaru was an experimental maniac, but not a murderer. He was a ninja with a strong sense of purpose and did not indulge in killing.

Of course, Orochimaru in this timeline cannot be the same as in the original timeline.

Firstly, Leaf Village isn't that weak; there are several ninjas who can fight him, and some are even stronger than him.

Secondly, with four of the five Kage present, it couldn't possibly be Orochimaru's turn.

More than whether the "Konoha Crush" still existed in this timeline, Orochimaru Uchiha Shingen was curious whether Living Corpse Reincarnation at this point in time.

In any case, if there are any changes, they will either happen to a few actors or start from the audience.

Since the founding of Hidden Leaf Village, Uchiha Shingen was probably the only person who could simultaneously mobilize ANBU and the Konoha Military Police Force.

Having leveraged this advantage, the stadium has now come under the joint attention of both military forces.

However, Uchiha Shingen did not rely entirely on the Konoha Crush to make his judgment.

If there really is a need, then he might have to let Matatabi enter directly.

Chapter Eighteen: The Atmosphere Begins to Tension

The first match didn't receive a very good response.

The main problem is that nobody can see it.

Then I saw the fog rise, then bang bang bang, then the fog cleared, and the fighting was over.

Uchiha Clan won.

There was no way around it; just look at all those ice shards on the ground, and you'd know that Hozuki Suigetsu had been defeated.

After all, Haku wasn't an assassin like the Yuki Clan; he was trained by Uchiha Shingen and was a power attacker.

He skillfully allocated his Chakra and defeated Hozuki Suigetsu with the most stable fighting style.

Although this game was not good... no, it was practically unwatchable, those who were supposed to make money still made money, and those who lost money didn't lose too much, so no one had any major complaints.

The second match was between Neji Hyuga and Temari.

Many people who were on Temari's side were initially happy, after all, everyone knows that Hyuga Clan is weaker at long range.

But that's how gambling is; if the outcome were always predictable, there wouldn't be an industry like this.

Therefore, although Temari's attacks were fierce, she couldn't withstand Neji Hyuga's speed and couldn't hit him. When Neji Hyuga cut in front of her, the battle ended.

It was only out of politeness on Neji Hyuga that he cut off Temari's Chakra flow; otherwise, she would have been dead after the first finger punch, and having more fat wouldn't have helped.

In the stands, Rasa's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, while Ōnoki drank an extra glass of juice.

"Wow, the Genin from Hidden Leaf Village are really something." Ōnoki wiped his mouth, not forgetting to emphasize, "This time, all the Genin are rookies."

"Oh, not at all. All those who made it into this exam are newcomers," Namikaze Minato said. "It seems the Lord Tsuchikage has hidden away all the village's talents; we haven't been able to see them at all."

"Haha, we at Iwagakure don't train people based on individual martial prowess."

That was all Ōnoki could say at that point.

At the same time, he secretly complained to himself—does this guy even know how to have a conversation?

Meanwhile, in the arena, Uchiha Shingen watched as Neji Hyuga Temari, Mariko, release the pressure points that had been sealed, and nodded with satisfaction.

Indeed, Neji Hyuga that fierce temper in his heart is gone in this timeline, has completely revealed his warm and caring nature.

However, based on his experience in judging people, he knew that a girl like Temari couldn't be won over by warmth.

The only one who could conquer her was Nara Shikamaru, the type who made her feel like she could never lose, only to suffer a crushing defeat in their first encounter.

This refers to the so-called "contrast party."

If the contrast isn't strong enough, you can't win her over.

Someone like Neji Hyuga, just by standing there, you know he's incredibly strong. Even if Temari loses, she won't feel much of a loss.

"Teacher?" Neji Hyuga, who had politely Temari leave, felt extremely uncomfortable under Uchiha Shingen's gaze. "Did I... do something wrong?"

The honest Neji Hyuga truly regarded the Sand Village as allies.

Back in the Forest of Death, he killed a bunch of people.

"No, you did very well. You showed the spirit of the people of Leaf Village." Uchiha Shingen patted him on the shoulder. "Go on, get some rest."

"Yes." Neji Hyuga nodded and left the area.

Uchiha Shingen opened the list and looked at the next pair.

Oh wow.

We've arrived here.

In the stands, the ninja responsible for announcing the match schedule has begun explaining to the audience who will be entering the next match.

"Ladies and Gaara, a ninja from the Sand Village, and Naruto Uzumaki, a Konoha Ninja."

An unusual atmosphere began to spread across the stands.

Temari, who had already returned to the rest area, saw Gaara walking towards the stairwell behind her as she stepped out of the stairwell.

"Gaara... you, be careful," Temari couldn't help but say.

Although she was afraid of her younger brother, she was even more afraid of losing him.

The Leaf Village Genin are all incredibly strong, like monsters.

Although everyone in Sunagakure calls Gaara a monster, Temari still remembers what Gaara looked like when he was a child.

Her younger brother is not a monster.

Gaara paused slightly before continuing on his way past Temari.

Don't compare me to you.

After saying that, Gaara disappeared into the stairwell.

At this moment, Uchiha Shingen was waiting in the arena, was getting a little impatient.

To be Gaara at this point had a problem.

Either they don't walk at all, and just use Sand Body Flicker Technique.

Or, walk slowly.

Truly taking one step at a time.

Back when he watched the anime, Uchiha Shingen thought it was pretty cool, but now, he just finds it a headache.

After all, it's a sunny day today.

The examiner's predicament is that they can't go anywhere until the exam is finished.

Naruto Uzumaki had already slipped down; he was impatient, even more so than Uchiha Shingen.

"Teacher, did that guy forfeit?"

"Even if you forfeit, he won't forfeit either..." Uchiha Shingen said.

Young Ai Ying wouldn't miss any opportunity to feel her own existence.

Finally, Gaara appeared in the doorway.

[Hmm, someone's trying to rip us off...]

Looking at the other person's appearance, Uchiha Shingen figured that he had most likely encountered someone who wanted him to fix the match.

Gaara is about to... hehehehe.

There were also Chakra reactions from Gaara and others inside the building just now.

"Come on over since you're here." Uchiha Shingen beckoned to Gaara. "You should greet the audience first; it's a matter of courtesy."

Gaara looked at Uchiha Shingen, his cackling aura fading considerably, and silently walked to his side.