Everyone moved to the reception room, where the atmosphere was slightly calmer than Office.
The two parties sat on both sides of the long table. Bi and Gonbei stood behind Genji like a shadow, their eyes as sharp as eagles.
Neji is holding "Great Sun Calamity Cutter" and sitting next to Hiashi. Byakugan's power is quietly gathering, ready to detect any subtle changes in Chakra.
Tenten and Rock Lee sat on both sides of Kai. It was their first time entering such a formal diplomatic occasion, and they subconsciously straightened their backs.
Hyuga Hiashi is sitting opposite Genji, and Tokuma and Kamon stand behind him like two silent guardian stone statues.
Hiashi was not too polite and gently pushed Third Hokage's handwritten letter and Joint Chunin Ninja Exams's detailed charter across the smooth tabletop, facing Genji.
"Genji Senior, this is the official invitation letter from Lord Hokage and the details of this Chunin Ninja Exams. Konoha sincerely invites Kirigakure to send outstanding Genin to participate, promote communication and understanding between Five Great Shinobi Villages, and consolidate the hard-won peace situation."
The voice of Hiashi is smooth and powerful.
Genji's wrinkled hands did not immediately pick up the document.
His skinny fingers slowly stroked the cold carving on the top of Snake-Head Cane, and his turbid eyes wandered over Hiashi's face, as if he was weighing the true intention behind this "invitation".
Genji's brows furrowed deeply, carving several deeper grooves on his forehead.
After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, his voice filled with deliberate confusion and a hint of prevarication:
"Joint Chunin Ninja Exams? We Kirigakure... haven't we made it clear before that we will not participate?"
Hyuga Hiashi didn't have any surprise or sullen look on his face. Originally, it was just a matter of course that they were invited to take the mass examination.
But you still have to show it.
Hiashi's body leaned forward slightly, his eyes were calm but very penetrating, looking directly into Genji's eyes that were trying to hide his thoughts, his voice was clear and steady, with unquestionable strength:
"Haha, Senior may be too old and too busy to remember."
He chuckled lightly and said in a calm tone, "The official reply from Guicun was Sunagakure, not Konohagakure."
Hiashi paused slightly, glanced at the files on the table, and then refocused on Genji.
"And we, Konohagakure, as the organizer, are sending a brand new invitation to Kirigakure."
Genji raised his eyebrows.
Isn't this different?
What?
You Konoha have a big face, don't you?
Do you think your Hyuga Hiashi is Minato Namikaze?
A name with deep fear and complicated emotions appeared in Genji's mind.
The legend who single-handedly turned the tide of the Third Shinobi World War and made all enemy countries Ninja fearful and flee.
If 'Yellow Flash'Minato Namikaze were still alive...
Then I may still be able to tolerate this tone today. If you ask me to participate, I will just find a few people to go there.
After all, that is Minato Namikaze.
But Minato Namikaze is already dead!
Konoha is supported by Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Sannin has gone to nowhere.
This generation of Hiashi is only the strength of Elite Jonin. The following is...
Genji's eyes glanced at the serious Might Guy who looked a little dumbfounded and wondered if he had surpassed his father.
Then there is the generation of students around Might Guy, who have not grown up yet and are nothing to be afraid of.
What qualifications do you Konoha have to talk to Kirigakure from your position of strength...
You really have to think about it, if you speak rudely, will the green-skinned watermelon head next to you directly open Eight Gates Formation, and then make a scene where Kirigakure kills Konoha Envoy.
I don't know if this routine Konoha is Genji, but Kumogakure is playing it very smoothly!
Thinking about this, Genji made a decision. He had to refuse this matter, but he had to give Konoha some face.
"Actually, it was before Kirigakure... Alas, there were some minor changes internally. There was a shortage of manpower and complicated affairs. Even Lord Mizukage was unable to meet you all because of various things.
Even with my old bones, I can't go to Konoha, and I can't let someone with weight lead the team like Sunagakure.
We accept this kind invitation from Joint Chunin Ninja Exams, Konoha."
His tone was sincere, with just the right amount of exhaustion.
"However, please ask your village to understand our difficulties. How about... in two years, when our internal affairs are smoothed out, we can participate again?"
What Genji said was impeccable, his attitude was low-key, and his reasoning was sufficient. It gave Konoha enough face and blocked the other party's excuse to use the topic.
He was determined that Hiashi could no longer be entangled. After all, Konoha could not force other villages to take the exam, which would make Konoha unreasonable.
Bihe Gonbei's tight muscles also relaxed slightly.
Hyuga Hiashi quietly listened to Genji chanting and resisting, with no trace of rejection or dissatisfaction on his face, not even a hint of wavering.
It seems that the topic Chunin Ninja Exams is really just a stepping stone for him and should be thrown away after use.
When Genji said "two years later", he didn't even look at him, but very naturally raised the real issue of this trip that hit Kirigakure:
"In that case."
Hiashi's voice is as steady as a deep pool.
"Then let's discuss Byakugan's matter again."
After hearing Byakugan, Genji, I understood the real purpose of Hiashi, which was to get back the Byakugan that Third Shinobi World War Shi Qing got.
He didn't take the invitation just now to heart at all.
Hiashi didn't bother and asked directly.
"I wonder if Guicun is willing to exchange Qing's Byakugan for the Kubikiribōchō we got."
Third Shinobi World War When Hyuga First Elder's grandson went to the battlefield, he didn't expect that only one eye was destroyed before he died, and the other Byakugan was captured.
I thought I wanted to have a big wave, but I didn't expect that I would show my butt instead of showing my hands.
First Elder still has less say than Third Elder and Sixth Elder because his grandson humiliated Hyuga and lost a Byakugan.
"You killed Zabuza Momochi?"
Genji was stunned.
Zabuza Momochi took Kubikiribōchō with him when he escaped. Now Kubikiribōchō is in the hands of Konoha, which means that Zabuza either died in the hands of Konoha or joined Konoha.
Konoha can use Kubikiribōchō as a bargaining chip, which really makes Genji a little excited.
After all, even if Qing deducts a Byakugan, he can only use it himself and cannot inherit it.
Although Qing used Byakugan to see through Yagura being controlled by Genjutsu, compared to Kubikiribōchō, Byakugan is not only hot to the touch but also difficult to use.
With Kubikiribōchō, Kirigakure can send a team to hunt down Kisame Hoshigaki, recapture Samehada, and then reorganize Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Seeing Genji lost in thought, Hiashi spoke again to urge.
"Should I change it?"