The exams had come to a temporary close, and everyone in the High Tower began to leave. Although all the candidates from the Iwagakure Ninja, Kirigakure Ninja Village, and Amegakure Ninja Village had been eliminated, they could still stay nearby to watch the third exam. All Five Kage would arrive in a month, though the Tsuchikage and Mizukage might find themselves rather embarrassed.
Hanzō took his students back to Amegakure Ninja Village's guesthouse. The Amegakure jonin accompanying him had been unable to enter the Forest of Death because his students had been eliminated in the first exam, so he had stayed at the guesthouse to await news. When he heard that Hanzō's students had all been eliminated as well, he said, "In that case, let's just leave."
"Leave?" Hanzō frowned slightly. "Aren't we going to watch the third exam? Representatives from every shinobi village are here. We can see how strong the ninja from the Five Great Shinobi Villages are and build friendly relations with other villages."
"You mean build friendly relations with Konoha Ninja Village," the Amegakure jonin said mockingly.
"What do you mean by that?" Hanzō's gaze turned cold as he stared quietly at the Amegakure jonin.
"Hmph. Don't think you can hide what you've been doing. The leader already knows you've been secretly meeting with Konoha ninja. Can you even count how many members of Konoha's Anbu have slipped through the territory under your watch?" The Amegakure jonin stared fearlessly into Hanzō's eyes.
"You've been watching me?" Hanzō's pupils narrowed slightly.
"If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place," the Amegakure jonin said slowly. "Hanzō, don't forget that our village raised you, not Konoha Ninja Village!"
"Of course I know that. I've been in contact with Konoha Ninja Village, but I've