"So, will you still go to Konoha a month from now?"
In a quiet room, Tsunade sat opposite Uya, drinking tea, while Kushina sat in the middle with a smile, placing a plate of sweets on the table.
It was just casual chatting.
The Amekage Building is the tallest building in Amegakure, and the top few floors are where Uya and others live. Ordinary people cannot enter casually. Tsunade, Konan, and others also live here, and Tsunade often comes to visit.
"Why are you asking me?" Uya smiled and looked at Tsunade, saying, "If you don't want to go to Konoha, who dares to force you to go? What difference does it make whether I go or not?"
Tsunade's meaning was that the Kazekage of Sunagakure would go to Konoha to watch, and Amegakure, as the sixth great ninja village, was also invited. Uya was the first Amekage and Tsunade was the second Amekage, so either of them could go.
If Uya doesn't go, it won't be easy for Tsunade, as the Amekage, to refuse, but she just doesn't want to go to Konoha at all.
"Too."
Tsunade her head and said, "That's settled then. Whether you go or not, I'm not going."
Uya ate a Kushina had put in his mouth, then chuckled, a strange look on his face, and looked at Tsunade, saying, "Perhaps if you don't go this time, you won't be able to see some people one last time."
"Um?!"
Tsunade, being a woman of her stature, reacted almost immediately upon hearing Uya's words. Her eyes flashed, and she said, "Could it be...?"
"Hmm, it can't just be the Chunin Ninja Exams. The Third Hokage... he's quite old, isn't he?" Uya's words were pointed, carrying a strange implication.
After learning about Orochimaru's plans from Uya, Tsunade remained silent for a long time, but ultimately chose not to go to Konoha and stay out of the matter.
She had already said that she would no longer interfere in Konoha's affairs, especially since the person who was causing trouble this time was Orochimaru, her former comrade.
After becoming the Amekage, Tsunade was able to understand many of Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts, but she never liked the position of Hokage, nor did she like the gradually decaying Konoha.
A month passed quickly.
The third official Chunin Ninja Exams Konoha finally began in grand style as scheduled.
Celebrities and elites from various countries gathered in Konoha and took their seats in the grandstand of the huge martial arts arena, which was far superior to the temporary preliminary selection venue inside the tower.
In the center was a huge arena, surrounded by extremely high stands, which would be difficult for ordinary attacks to cross.
Moreover, even if Shuriken, Kunai, or some other Ninjutsu were to fly over such a high platform and fall towards the audience, they would be instantly stopped by the Anbu Ninja distributed around the area using a barrier.
Of course, this barrier isn't powerful; the Four Violet Flames Formation, capable of trapping a Kage Level expert, is just a relatively ordinary barrier.
Although it's far inferior to a barrier of the Four Violet Flames Formation level, it's more than enough to block ordinary attacks. However, the ninjas participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams today are all capable of launching extraordinary attacks.
"Wait a moment. No matter what happens, do not act rashly. If the One-Tail goes berserk, the three of us can fight One-Tail. This is Lord Uya's order."
The ninjas participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams entered the arena one after another, and Kimimaro addressed Karin and Haku with a serious expression, something that Uya had told him a month ago.
"Understood."
Karin nodded, looked around, and after carefully sensing her surroundings, a thoughtful expression appeared on her face.
The matchups for the Chunin Ninja Exams were arranged a month ago, after the preliminary rounds ended. The first match was between Kimimaro Gaara.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had arrived early, smiling as he looked down at the stands and the arena, carefully observing the training ground as he tried to find out if Uya had come.
However, after searching carefully for a while, Uya was nowhere to be found.
"Didn't they come?"
He felt something was strange. Yu Ye had come to the preliminary Uya, but not to the official exam, even though he had specially reserved a spot for Uya.
There are three seats in this place: one for himself, one for Kazekage, and the last one for Uya. However, Uya has not yet been seen.
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was pondering, the Kazekage, wearing a veil, finally entered the arena. His gaze was very calm, and he did not exude any special aura, but rather the solemnity of a Kazekage.
"Oh, welcome, Lord Kazekage."
When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the Kazekage of Sunagakure approaching, he immediately smiled and greeted him warmly.
This Kazekage is naturally Orochimaru now. The real Kazekage was killed by Orochimaru halfway through the process, and Orochimaru had almost recovered by half a month ago.
Orochimaru's body is filled with Hashirama Senju's cells, giving him extremely strong regenerative abilities. Combined with his special Ninjutsu, it's very difficult for ordinary people to hurt him, and even if they do, he can recover quickly.
However, Uya's punch was not just a simple physical attack; it also impacted Yuya's soul, which had been weakened by the Living Corpse Reincarnation. It took him a full half month to recover, just in time for the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara's father Rasa, to travel to Konoha.
Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, sat down in a chair without saying a word, while also glancing slightly at the third chair.
It's not hard to guess that this chair was prepared for Uya, but Uya doesn't seem to have come.
"You must be tired from your journey."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled at Kazekage and continued with his greeting.
Orochimaru's lips, hidden beneath his veil, curled into a slight, mocking smile, but his eyes remained impassive. He calmly stated, "No... it's best to hold it here. Although you are still young, traveling far might be too strenuous. It's better to appoint the Fifth Hokage sooner rather than later."
This statement implied that Hiruzen Sarutobi was too old. Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself that the Kazekage was still young, so he didn't think much of it. He simply smiled and said, "Don't treat me like an old man. I still want to work for a few more years."
With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, walked to the front, and announced the start of the Chunin Exams.
Orochimaru, Kazekage as the Kazekage, sat upright, gazing down with a hint of interest in his eyes. Although the Konoha Crush Plan was about to begin, he didn't mind watching this interesting battle.
" Kimimaro versus the One-Tail Jinchuriki? That sounds like an interesting duel."
Orochimaru looked down with great interest, and at that moment, following Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech, the examiner Genma Shiranui finally spoke up in a low voice.
"Alright, round one, Gaara of the Sand Waterfall vs. Kaguya Kimimaro. The rest of you, please go to the rest room to watch." (To be continued.)