The arrogant Kumogakure

With Kazuhiko overseeing them, the noisy Genin immediately settled down. Even Naoto abandoned his usual arrogance and meekly apologized to Madara Uchiha. After all, Kazuhiko belonged to the Sarutobi Clan, and the current Third Hokage was Hiruzen Sarutobi. Even setting aside Kazuhiko's role as the leader of this expedition, they had to show respect to the clan behind him. Who would dare slight the Sarutobi Clan?

In the end, under the protection of Kazuhiko and a group of ANBU, Madara Uchiha and the others arrived at Sunagakure without incident.

Unlike the well-provisioned Konoha, Sunagakure stood in the middle of a desert. Throughout the journey, all Madara Uchiha and the others saw was an endless sea of sand. Even someone as powerful as Madara Uchiha could not help admiring Sunagakure's ability to survive in such a miserable place. Had it been him, he would have led his people out and conquered better land long ago. Of course, history showed that Sunagakure's people had entertained the same ideas as Madara Uchiha. The difference was that Sunagakure ranked at the very bottom among the Ninja Villages of the Five Great Nations. By this era, even the Land of Wind's daimyo was considering abandoning them, assigning more difficult missions to mercenaries or other Ninja Villages instead. That alone showed how dire Sunagakure's situation was.

Once they entered Sunagakure, they found it little different from the desert outside. The only distinction was that steep mountains and cliffs surrounded the village, shielding it from windblown sand, though the ground inside was still covered in sand. After Kazuhiko Sarutobi explained their purpose to Sunagakure's ninja, Konoha's Genin were assigned lodgings in a corner of the village. Even the houses there looked as though they had been hastily thrown together from sand and earth. Compared with Konoha, the living conditions were worlds apart.

"Sunagakure is utterly destitute. If they can't afford to host people properly, they shouldn't have been so eager to hold these exams. Now we can't eat or sleep well, while their own people are used to it. If you ask me, Sunagakure will probably have the highest pass rate in these Chunin Ninja Exams."

"Yū! Watch what you say. This is someone else's territory. Not casually criticizing their surroundings while you're on their turf is basic courtesy."

After settling into Sunagakure, some of Konoha's Genin could not help complaining about the dreadful living conditions. In contrast, there were also a few sensible people among them, who promptly stopped the complaints of the ninja named Yū Inuzuka.

Everyone tacitly accepted that the village hosting the Chunin Ninja Exams enjoyed a home-field advantage. It was also an unspoken understanding that villages used that advantage to improve their own ninja's chances of passing. But truly strong ninja could demonstrate their excellence even under harsh conditions. If a mere change in surroundings was enough to get you eliminated, then ultimately, you simply were not strong enough. As long as Sunagakure did not go too far, the other Ninja Villages would say nothing about it. As for the miserable accommodations, that was simply how Sunagakure was. If you disliked it, you were free not to come. Once you came, you had to follow their rules.

"What? You want to restrict our movements? Does Sunagakure want another beating from us? Since when do you get to restrict the freedom of Kumogakure's people? If we wanted to do something to your village, we'd attack outright. We wouldn't need to sneak around. I suggest you know your place and stop asking for trouble."

After Konoha's people had spent two days behaving themselves in Sunagakure, the ninja from the Land of Lightning arrived as well. Just as they had done with Konoha, Sunagakure's officials informed Kumogakure's people of the village rules when they moved into their lodgings. But Kumogakure's overbearing team leader immediately voiced his displeasure.

"This is our village, and we expect you to observe proper courtesy. If you refuse to listen, beware—you might come here and never leave!"

The man in charge of Sunagakure's defense force had short chestnut hair and a fierce face, and looked to be around thirty. His name was Arakawa Kiba. Seeing how overbearing and disrespectful Kumogakure's leader was, he answered just as forcefully.

"Ridiculous. We'll come here and never leave? Have you forgotten how we chased you all over the place during the Third Shinobi World War? If it hadn't been for Konoha, Kumogakure would have razed Sunagakure long ago. Now your ally is half-dead too, and you're nothing but a bunch of useless weaklings. I'm going wherever I please today. Kill me if you have the guts. If you kill me, Kumogakure will immediately declare war on you. If we die to expand Kumogakure's territory, our deaths will have been worthwhile. Isn't that right?"

"Yes!!!"

Every one of Kumogakure's Genin answered their leader with an impassioned roar. As Arakawa Kiba watched their vicious, supremely confident faces, he felt bitterness creep into his mouth.

Had he followed his own temper, he would have gathered his men and slaughtered these belligerent Kumogakure bastards on the spot. But he knew he could not. Before the Chunin Ninja Exams, Lord Kazekage had even specifically instructed him to do everything possible to ensure the safety of Kumogakure's Genin during the exams. Even if one of them died at someone else's hands, there had to be a record of it. If so much as one Kumogakure ninja met an untimely death, the domineering, warlike Raikage might well use it as a pretext to start another war.

Sunagakure's ranks were now depleted, and Konoha's Fourth Hokage had only recently died. If the Fourth Shinobi World War broke out now, Sunagakure, which had already suffered devastating losses in the Third Shinobi World War, could very well be wiped out by Kumogakure. That meant Sunagakure had to exercise restraint when dealing with them.

"I understand your request. Please allow me to consult Lord Kazekage. Once he grants permission, I will inform you."

Gritting his teeth, Arakawa Kiba yielded to Kumogakure's team leader, but his concession would not earn his opponent's respect.

"Hmph. Since when do we need your Kazekage's permission to do anything? Report whatever you like. We're going to take a look around your village right now. Stop us if you dare!"

Ignoring Arakawa Kiba's attempts to stop him, Kumogakure's leader strode past him with his Genin.

"Only you Sunagakure people would treasure this dump. Don't worry. Even if Kumogakure conquers your village one day, we wouldn't want to live here."

"Hahaha, exactly. Don't worry. We're only here for the Chunin Ninja Exams, and to have a look at your local customs while we're at it."

As Kumogakure's people walked past Arakawa Kiba, some of their Genin openly mocked him as well. Though fury burned inside him, Arakawa Kiba could only swallow the humiliation.