Chapter 311: On-Site Construction
After a brief conversation with Rasa, Tonari finally understood why the Fourth Kazekage personally came to Konoha without any prior information.
It turned out that Gaara had already become the Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Shukaku. Due to the Sand Village's relatively weak sealing techniques, young Gaara couldn't withstand Shukaku's mental erosion.
"I understand. After the Chunin Exams, I will visit the Sand Village and help you deal with this issue." Tonari finally agreed, since it was something he had promised from the beginning. Besides, with his spatial ninjutsu, no number of enemies could truly stop him.
Rasa nodded.
"Thank you in advance."
As he walked to the door, he paused.
"By the way, how do you plan to handle relations with the Cloud Village?"
Tonari smiled.
"That's a secret."
Rasa wasn't surprised since this was a significant decision for Konoha.
"Regardless of what decision you make, the Sand Village will stand by Konoha's side. Consider it a lesson learned from past failures."
With that, Rasa left the conference room, and Tonari watched him leave with a faint smile.
"Clever guy."
When Rasa was gone, Minato and Shikaku returned. Shikaku was holding a transparent crystal ball, which he placed on the table before sitting down.
"Any particular participants we should pay attention to?" Tonari asked.
Shikaku nodded and activated the crystal ball, showing the images of various participants.
"Among them, one that requires special attention is Zabuza Momochi from the Mist Village. During his graduation exam, he killed all his fellow students, leading to the abolition of the 'Bloody Mist' policy."
"Another one is..."
Shikaku continued introducing the notable Genin, mostly from the major villages. Despite being classified as Genin, many of them had strength comparable to or even exceeding that of Chunin.
"Oh, and there's one more peculiar case—from the River Country's River Village."
Shikaku focused on the crystal ball, projecting the image of a pale-skinned young man with long blue-white hair, wearing a loose white robe and a yellow scarf. His eyes were closed, giving an eerie and serene impression.
Tonari furrowed his brows slightly. There was something oddly familiar about the figure, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.
"What's unusual about him?"
"Actually... not much. He doesn't seem particularly outstanding. In fact, his blindness puts him at a disadvantage. But when I sent people to investigate, we found something strange—no records of him in River Village at all."
"None? What about his teammates?"
"We found records of the other two. They are confirmed River Village shinobi."
Tonari rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Keep an eye on him."
Even if the man seemed harmless, that odd sense of familiarity nagged at Tonari's mind.
Shikaku nodded.
"Got it. These are the primary individuals we need to focus on. But honestly, your main objective isn't the Chunin Exams, right? You're aiming at the other villages."
Tonari chuckled.
"True, but the exam itself is still important. How about I cut down your dishwashing duties for a month as a reward?"
Shikaku perked up.
"Make it two months, or I'm out."
"One and a half. I need to justify it to your wife."
"Deal!"
Minato, standing by, couldn't help but feel envious. At home, he had no say in such matters—he always ended up washing dishes.
Meanwhile, outside the office, the second round of the Chunin Exams had officially begun.
The Death Forest, teeming with dangerous wildlife and unpredictable threats, was the venue for this round. Any participant who died inside wouldn't be accounted for, and even surviving was a major challenge.
Of course, the most significant threat wasn't the wildlife but the rival teams from different villages.
The outskirts of the forest were heavily guarded by Konoha's shinobi, preventing both escape and external interference. Despite the precautions, it was impossible to completely secure the massive area of Konoha from intruders.
In the shadows of Konoha's great wall, a figure emerged. His eyes glowed orange-yellow, and he observed the village intently.
"It seems luck is on my side after all..."
It was none other than Black Zetsu. Next to him, two indistinct figures appeared, devoid of any chakra presence or life signs.
Black Zetsu pointed in a specific direction, and the figures immediately moved out.
"Time to make my move as well."
He sunk back into the ground, vanishing without a trace.
As hidden dangers loomed, the second round of the Chunin Exams concluded. The number of participants had significantly decreased, with several casualties.
The final stage—the tournament—was set to begin. This time, Tonari couldn't just sit back and relax. He needed to be present in person to oversee the event.
When everyone gathered at the chosen venue—a vast open field—Tutai from Cloud Village frowned.
"Is this where the final battles will take place? Just an empty field?"
The remark drew glares from the Konoha shinobi and civilians. This place was not just any field—it was the ground where Tonari and Uchiha Madara had fought. After the battle, the crater had been filled and leveled, leaving a massive, barren platform.
Tonari didn't immediately respond to Tutai's comment. Instead, he observed the gathered Genin, including his disciple Shisui Uchiha, who looked eager to fight.
He also noticed Zabuza among the remaining Mist ninjas, as well as the mysterious River Village Genin. Despite the chaotic competition, that figure remained eerily calm.
Finally, Tonari spoke, flashing a mischievous smile.
"Of course, we won't just use an empty field. We'll build the arena right here and now."
With a subtle gesture, chakra surged from his hands and seeped into the ground. The earth trembled, and gigantic wooden structures erupted from the soil, forming a colossal battle arena.
Massive wooden pillars intertwined to create solid platforms and spectator stands. The entire structure took shape within moments, astonishing the onlookers.
Tonari remained calm, while the villagers cheered in awe. Even Mist and Sand representatives, having seen Tonari's power before, couldn't help but be impressed.
Tutai barely avoided being engulfed by the wooden growths, panting as he watched the rapid transformation.
"This... is the power of Wood Release? I never thought it could be used like this."
Beside him, Yagura, under Tonari's control, couldn't help but mutter,
"Is this the power of the legendary God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju?"
Mei Terumi, standing nearby, also whispered in awe,
"Wood Release... It's truly in a league of its own."
Wood Release was fundamentally different from other kekkei genkai, not just combining two chakra natures but creating life itself. This level of power and versatility was why it remained unparalleled among bloodline limits.
Tonari looked down from the highest platform, satisfied with the completed arena.
"Let's begin the final stage."
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