Chapter 186: Just Arrange for Itachi-kun to Take a Walk with Me!
The people from the Naka Shrine Cultivation Cram School had clearly not decided to assassinate the Hidden Mist envoys on the spur of the moment. It seemed their preparations were quite thorough; they had even chosen a scapegoat.
Itachi Uchiha scanned their attire—standard ANBU-issue equipment. He suddenly spoke, "Did you kill a squad of ANBU?"
"We killed that dog-thief Danzo's Root!"
Uchiha Genji was not at all concerned about leaking secrets. They had already anticipated that they would encounter Itachi Uchiha and had planned their words in advance. "We obtained this Hokage's order from that Root organization in Danzo's hands!"
As expected, there is no such thing as baseless hatred. If there is, it must be Danzo's fault.
After Itachi Uchiha left Konoha, the murder of crows at Naka Shrine had noticed a Root squad leaving at the same time. Shisui Uchiha had spent some time in Root; how could he not be aware of their shady dealings?
When Root makes a move, there are never no casualties!
Either the enemy dies, or a teammate dies, or Root members die…
Shisui Uchiha immediately dispatched a "cultivation squad" to investigate the movements of this Root squad. If they made any suspicious moves, they would be taken care of along the way…
As it turned out, Uchiha Genji's squad discovered that Root's destination was in the direction of Itachi Uchiha. There was nothing more to be said… They sent their friends from Root on their way…
Kitahara was suddenly alarmed. The point it was focused on was Shisui… had he finally become enlightened?
The Naka Shrine Cultivation Cram School, led by Shisui Uchiha, and the Root Organization's ANBU Training Class, led by Danzo Shimura—a deathmatch between these two small classes sounded very interesting.
The point Itachi Uchiha was focused on was much more normal than Kitahara's. "Are you saying… this Hokage's order is real?"
"We judged it to be real, but it wasn't necessarily issued by Lord Hokage recently, because the Hidden Mist Village only ended its standoff with Konoha three years ago…"
Uchiha Genji shook his head and said in a solemn voice, "Orders like this to eliminate Mist shinobi were very common during the Great Ninja War. Our clan can even find a few copies…"
"Since you knew the order was fake, why did you still risk choosing to assassinate the Hidden Mist envoys?" Itachi Uchiha didn't quite understand his clansmen anymore. He felt like his thinking had become disconnected from theirs.
"This matter can be used as evidence to bring down Danzo Shimura. Moreover, our Uchiha clan has been on the front lines against the Mist shinobi for years. Maintaining a state of war with the Hidden Mist Village can strengthen our clan's position in Konoha."
The people from the Naka Shrine Cultivation Cram School had long since prepared a well-reasoned and convincing justification for their actions. If it weren't for the fact that Kisame Hoshigaki and Mei Terumi had joined the organization, it probably would have agreed with Shisui's actions as well.
The reasons for their actions were flawless.
Considering it purely from the Uchiha clan's perspective, it was truly hard to find any fault.
Uchiha Genji took a step forward and spoke eagerly, "Lord Itachi, as long as you can stand by and watch, we are fully confident we can kill those two Mist envoys!"
"First, they are not Konoha's enemies, nor are they the Uchiha's enemies… I cannot stand by and watch you kill them."
Itachi Uchiha shook his head and urged in a low voice, "You should all go back!"
"…"
The few Uchiha clan members glanced at each other and nodded helplessly. They had been warned by Shisui before the mission to avoid any conflict with Itachi.
The highest objective of the Naka Shrine Cultivation Cram School was to ensure Itachi Uchiha smoothly ascended to the position of Hokage and to eliminate all enemies on his path to that position.
Kitahara watched them disperse, momentarily at a loss for words. Shisui's ultimate ocular jutsu was a bit of a curse. It had no idea how many strange ideas had spawned from his mind…
"It seems I'll have to have a talk with Shisui after I get back…" Itachi Uchiha sighed. His friend had become somewhat of a stranger to him.
The rest of the journey back to the village was without danger. It seemed that those who wanted the Hidden Mist ninjas dead were not in the majority. Most of the clear-headed Konoha ninjas were inclined towards peace.
Kisame Hoshigaki and Mei Terumi went to meet with Hiruzen Sarutobi to discuss their agenda. Most of their proposals were approved by the Third Hokage, with the sole exception of the joint Chunin Exams…
For two of the great nations' ninja villages to jointly organize a Chunin Exam was truly a first in the ninja world…
With Konoha's reforms to the Chunin Exam system, a wilderness survival drill had been added to the agenda, which would inevitably result in some deaths.
The old man was a little worried. If too many of the genin from Konoha and the Hidden Mist died during the Chunin Exams, would it hinder the current grand situation…
The most critical problem was…
The quality of this Chunin Exam class was not good.
Their Konoha couldn't pick out any genin worth showing off.
The ninja world was in a phase of a peaceful arms race. Besides war, the Chunin Exams had become a promotional event for ninja villages to attract missions…
Their Konoha had been raking in missions for years, partly because the duel between Itachi Uchiha and Yamato had attracted a lot of attention. At the very least, the gimmick of Wood Style was still quite good.
"We have agreed to hold the first joint Chunin Exam between Konoha and the Mist in Konoha. This is already a sign of great sincerity." Mei Terumi glanced at the Third Hokage with a calm and collected expression. According to her discussion with Tobirama Senju, this old geezer would definitely not refuse!
No one in the ninja world knew his own students better than Tobirama Senju! After all, he had raised those students like his own sons for so many years…
"However, we still need to deliberate on the timing…" Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly glanced at Mei Terumi and said while sitting upright, "After all, Konoha's Chunin Exams for the first half of the year have just ended. To rashly hold a joint Chunin Exam…"
Mei Terumi smiled and landed a soft but pointed jab, "Lord Hokage… are you worried that Konoha's ninja won't be able to get promoted?"
"…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately felt a little uncomfortable. This woman's mouth was so sharp! These things… everyone knew them, but it wasn't good to say them so bluntly…
"Our Hidden Mist Village's Chunin Exams were also held not long ago, so we have similar problems…" Mei Terumi, having delivered a light slap, naturally offered a way out. She was here to seek cooperation, not to make the old man lose face.
Holding a joint Chunin Exam with Konoha was a win-win situation.
For the Hidden Mist Village, they would no longer be an isolated and closed-off ninja village across the sea. They would use the opportunity of exchange with the number one village in the ninja world to signal their increased openness and integrate more quickly into the ninja world as a whole.
For Konoha, the Hidden Mist Village's willingness to jointly organize a Chunin Exam with them would send a message to the ninja world that they had gained a new ally… At the very least, the other great ninja villages would not dare to act rashly.
Mei Terumi made an effective proposal. "How about next year, after the new class of students from both our ninja academies has graduated, we hold the joint Chunin Exams then?"
"…That is acceptable."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said softly, "Since we have settled matters of official business, how about I take you two on a tour of Konoha…"
"That would be perfect. Our village's Kisame-senpai is obsessed with ninjutsu and greatly admires the Professor of the ninja world… It would be wonderful if Lord Hokage could give Kisame-senpai a pointer or two… As for me personally…"
As Mei Terumi spoke, she habitually licked her lips, looking momentarily breathtaking. "I have also long wanted to experience the charms of Konoha Village, but unfortunately, I'm not familiar with it. Just arrange for Itachi-kun to take a walk with me. I'd also like to take this opportunity to get to know Itachi-kun better…"
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