When Xuan Zhe reached the entrance to the Research Institute, he saw quite a few Konoha Shinobi lining up to go inside. He watched from a distance and sighed inwardly.
These people had come to investigate, just as he had expected.
He did not move, simply standing there and waiting with the patience of a stone.
An entire day passed like that.
For that whole day, Xuan Zhe said not a word, silently remaining at his post.
This unusual silence set the surrounding Konoha Shinobi whispering.
"Why do you think he hasn't said a word? Has he chickened out?"
"Chickened out? I'd say Hidden Mystery Village is completely finished this time. We've even captured their village chief. What is there left to fear?"
"Exactly. Their village has been wiped out, and Konoha is conducting a full-scale manhunt. They won't be running around much longer."
"I said ages ago that they couldn't win. See? Didn't I turn out to be right?"
Several Shinobi traded remarks, every word brimming with certainty. In their eyes, Hidden Mystery Village's fate was already sealed.
"Easy for you to say. If Hidden Mystery Village could really hold off Konoha, why would we have come here? And why would we insist on making trouble for them?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Hmph. If you ask me, those people in Konoha just aren't very bright. They think Hidden Mystery Village has left itself wide open and they can attack however they please."
"How is that possible?"
"Why wouldn't it be? Have you forgotten those rumors about Hidden Mystery Village we discussed before?"
"Those rumors? You mean... that curse on Hidden Mystery Village? Wasn't that gone long ago?"
"Gone? What makes you say it's gone?"
"I heard Konoha broke Hidden Mystery Village's curse ages ago. Those two villages