Farm more rewards and become a monster of raw stats and broken abilities rolled into one!
The more Yongye thought about it, the more excited he became. He raised his voice, speaking with the solemn openness of someone saying, "Listen closely, all of you."
"Anyone can enter the selection. Birth, profession, age—none of it matters."
Another wave of commotion swept through the crowd below the dais.
"No age limit? Can my seventy-three-year-old father enter?"
"You're just making up the numbers, aren't you?"
"No restrictions on where you're from? Does that mean people from other villages can enter too?"
"Wasn't Lord Yongye clear enough?"
Yongye went on to explain the rules of the sword selection, and everyone listened intently.
Meanwhile, Zhan Zhao approached from one side and took Rasa by the arm. Wang Chao came up on the other, and together they supported him toward the side passage. Chains still trailed from Rasa's feet, rattling across the stone floor as the sound faded into the distance.
No one noticed him.
Every eye was fixed on that plain white scabbard.
Tenseiga had stolen the show so thoroughly that Rasa, a Kazekage, had become all but invisible.
Once Yongye finished explaining, he put Tenseiga away, returned behind the desk, and sat down again.
He raised his right hand, gripped the edge of the gavel between his fingers, and brought it down.
Crack.
The churning conversation fell quiet for an instant.
"Court dismissed."
Eight Water-and-Fire Staffs rose and fell together, their ends striking the stone floor with eight muffled thuds in perfect unison.
"Mighty—!"
Eight voices became one, swallowing the last stray sounds.
Urged on by the Konoha Military Police Force, the crowd below the dais quickly surged toward the door.
Some hurried, as though eager to spread the news. Others lingered, still looking