Why not take a guess: aside from Yemu and the Five Kage, who were the ten strongest people in the shinobi world now?
Several more days quietly slipped by.
Shinobi from the various great nations finally gathered in the neutral Land of Iron.
In the eastern Land of Iron, a vast snowfield had been completely transformed.
A magnificent Roman Colosseum now towered over what had once been a desolate expanse of ice.
Black stone pillars and heavy iron railings interlocked, forming a steel behemoth sprawled across the snowfield.
Inside, tiers of stone seats rose one above another, enough to hold tens of thousands of spectators, while even the air carried a weighty, forbidding atmosphere.
This Colosseum, built under Yemu's personal direction, was the main venue for the selection tournament.
It was not merely a stage for strength, but a warning to every nation-
The Empire's boldness had already surpassed anything an ordinary shinobi village could imagine.
"Not bad. Yemu really went all out."
Naruto Uzumaki sat eagerly in the Colosseum stands, his hands braced on his knees as he looked all around, his eyes brimming with curiosity and awe.
"You should call him Lord Yemu."
Neji Hyuga spoke coldly beside Naruto, his expression stern, as though deeply displeased by Naruto's casual attitude.
"Fine, fine. Lord Yemu. Happy now?"
Naruto curled his lip, looking unconcerned, though his eyes betrayed an exasperated sentiment: Why do you have to take everything so seriously?
Still, to Naruto's surprise, Neji seemed a little stranger than before-
Not only had his tone grown more serious, but he was also wearing a conspicuously out-of-place hat.
Naruto could not help narrowing his eyes and studying him suspiciously.
"Neji, what's with you? Wearing a hat in the middle of summer? You don't have a fever, do you?"
Neji