This was a decision laid down by the Mizukage himself.
Since he had said Sunagakure would rank fourth this time, they would have to take that fourth-place seat, whether they liked it or not.
Who in the world today had the nerve to slap Gekkō Raito in the face in public?
They would not even dare entertain the thought!
The tense atmosphere instantly dissipated. No shinobi village was foolish enough to step forward and challenge Sunagakure anymore.
Shinki turned his head in surprise, his complicated gaze settling on Gekkō Raito as mixed feelings churned within him.
He had never imagined that losing the fight would turn into a blessing in disguise, securing a respectable ranking for Sunagakure.
At that moment, the hostility in many Sunagakure shinobi's eyes softened considerably as they looked at the man on the platform.
Although the Kirigakure shinobi who had entered the matches had all been vicious, Lord Mizukage himself handled things properly, with something of the bearing of a great nation's leader.
That single move erased more than half the hatred the Sunagakure contingent had just felt toward Kirigakure.
Back with his team, Jūsai wiped away his sweat and glanced back at the platform in puzzlement.
Could Lord Mizukage have seen through my intentions long ago and deliberately gone along with them to smooth things over for me?
That must be it!
After all, this was the unfathomable Lord Mizukage. Seeing through his little act would have been child's play.
In truth, Jūsai's mad-dog behavior in the arena had been entirely according to the script his master, Zabuza, had given him.
In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, the village sometimes really did need a ferocious "demon face" to intimidate petty troublemakers.
Ever since Gekkō Raito had summoned the Hozuki Clan back