Showdown with a Jinchūriki

The time had come.

Without a drawn-out opening, Hiruzen Sarutobi said a few words and announced the start of the final round of the Chunin Ninja Exams.

A group of distinguished figures sat in the central viewing stand.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, a representative of Sunagakure, and Ebizo, who had one foot in the grave yet still called Granny Chiyo "big sis."

There was also A, son of Kumogakure's current Raikage and half of the new AB duo.

Beyond them, leaders from other ninja villages large and small were present.

The final sixteen drew lots on the spot, keeping things fair, impartial, and transparent.

The candidates came forward one by one. When the results were in, the matchups appeared on the screen.

Huh.

The Shinobi World might have been in an age of cold weapons, but thanks to Chakra, its technology was fairly advanced.

There were ice rinks, electric lights, and everything else. You could even watch movies in the world of Naruto!

When the matchups appeared, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression shifted slightly.

One pairing in the final sixteen was True Kazan versus Yugito Nii.

"To think they'd face each other in the first round!"

The two prodigies most likely to gain the upper hand in this Chunin Ninja Exam had met right away.

But that was fine.

The point of this exam was not to make Kazan a Chunin. It was to let him show Konoha's strength.

“Is something wrong, Hokage?”

Beside him, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire hid half his face behind a fan as he asked.

"No. I'm sure this exam won't disappoint you."

"Good."

He had come to Konoha in person because Hiruzen Sarutobi had said he had an important matter to discuss.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had yet to bring it up, but the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had his own sources and could guess what it was.

Konoha wanted the Land of Fire to fund its military buildup.

That would cost a fortune, and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had no desire to pay it.

The Land of Fire already possessed the best territory. The daimyo did not need Konoha to expand its borders; holding on to what they had was enough.

Of course, he still had to provide some funding.

Konoha's relationship with the Land of Fire was not a simple matter of superior and subordinate.

Konoha was more like the Land of Fire's army, but with autonomy.

Kazan had thought that arrangement made no sense for a long time.

With such extraordinary power, why were the ninja villages content to serve as the Five Great Nations' foot soldiers? They could simply take their place.

It was only after he watched an anime called The Kouga Ninja Scrolls that he understood.

Ninjas were loyal to a fault!

The exam soon began.

The first match pitted a Sunagakure ninja against a Kumogakure ninja.

The two sides had been at odds since the Chunin Ninja Exams began. Now that they were facing each other, sparks flew.

Neither held back. Deadly Ninjutsu flew straight at their opponent's face, and the fight was fierce.

In the stands, A and Ebizo traded barbs of their own.

“Sand Shinobi must be running out of people if someone like that can enter the Chunin Ninja Exams.”

A's words dripped with scorn.

A ninja could not enter the Chunin Ninja Exams just by asking. Their Jōnin squad leader had to judge them capable.

"Oh, and I heard the Kazekage you call the strongest in history has gone missing. Is that true?"

He pressed hard. Ebizo's gaze sharpened at once.

Even now, Sunagakure had not uncovered what had happened.

To keep the village from falling into chaos, his retired sister had been forced to return and take charge.

“Raikage's Son, you're well informed. Was Kumogakure involved?” Ebizo did not bother denying it.

Their Kazekage had been missing too long for them to keep it secret.

With his sister temporarily in charge, the entire Shinobi World knew something had happened to Sunagakure's Kage.

“If I had the chance, I wouldn't mind seeing how strong the so-called greatest Kazekage in history really is.” A was forceful, but he was no fool.

Kumogakure feared no ninja village, Konoha included.

But that did not mean Ebizo could pin this on them for no reason.

"It had better be that way. Otherwise, we won't forgive Kumogakure."

"With one foot in the grave, what are you going to do about it?"

Despite his words, A let the matter drop. He did not want to push Sunagakure so far that they lashed out.

As they spoke, the first match ended. The Kumogakure ninja emerged victorious and advanced to the final eight.

"Well done!"

The moment it ended, A turned into Big B of Hung Hing, slamming the table and roaring loud enough to make sure Ebizo heard.

Ebizo acted as though he had heard nothing. His face remained calm, as if it had not been a ninja from his village who lost.

Hmph. What an old tortoise.

A hated people like that most. They could bring you down without a word, and you would never see it coming.

Having gotten nowhere, he sat back down and kept watching.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took it all in. He smoked his pipe and waited quietly.

One match.

Two matches.

Three matches.

The bouts passed quickly. The spectators rarely had a chance to watch ninjas fight.

Otherwise, so many people would not have crowded around when Kazan got into a fight on the street.

They cheered and shouted like spectators in a Roman arena.

Then—

It was Kazan and Yugito Nii's turn.

"Next match: Konoha's True Kazan versus Kumogakure's Yugito Nii!"

Here it was!

At that moment, many Konoha Ninjas held their breath.

Quite a few had heard that Kumogakure had sent its Two-Tails Jinchūriki to this exam.

Kazan, meanwhile, had been personally chosen by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

This match was bound to be something special.

At the announcement, Kazan walked to the center of the Training Ground.

The stands erupted in cheers.

"Here he comes! Kazan!"

"You can do it, little demon!"

"You little punk, Kazan! Win, and your uncle will buy you barbecue tonight!"

"..."

The villagers were enthusiastic.

"He's that young?"

Looking at Kazan, A saw that he was several years younger than even Yugito from his village.

To have reached the final round of the Chunin Ninja Exams at that age, he had to be one of Konoha's prodigies.

But now that he had run into Yugito Nii, his luck had run out.

A folded his arms, utterly confident.

As if Kumogakure's Jinchūriki could lose to a Konoha Genin!

Not a chance!

By then, Yugito Nii had stepped up to Kazan.

She was different from the person he remembered, much younger. She had less of a mature air about her and more youthful innocence.

Her expression was cool and proud, like a little queen's. Her tone allowed no argument.

"What's your name?" she asked Kazan.

Matatabi had acknowledged him as an opponent. That made his name worth remembering.

Kazan merely rolled his neck to loosen up, refusing to indulge her.

"Are you deaf or blind? Even if you didn't hear it, couldn't you see it?"

He did not act like a prodigy at all!

Even Yugito Nii, for all her composure, was furious.

A flush rose on her cool, beautiful face. He had made her angry.