"This is the Training Ground, where Hidden Cloud ninja battle."
"This is the Drill Field, where we practice ninjutsu."
"This is the Lightning Sea, where I usually train my taijutsu."
Under A's enthusiastic guidance, every place they passed was related to cultivation and combat.
It was practically daring Seiki to pick a fight.
That was exactly A's intention too. If you won't start it, then maybe the other guy will do it for us, huh?
Unfortunately, Seiki seemed completely oblivious to his intention.
When they passed the Training Ground again, Seiki even subtly reminded them, "Didn't we come here before?"
Even B couldn't watch anymore and pulled him aside, saying, "Aniki, that's enough."
A shot both of them a disapproving glance before finally guiding them toward more reasonable locations.
However, since they had already wasted so much time, they were soon found by people sent by Dodai, summoning them back for the banquet.
"Man, Dodai really isn't reliable at all! I haven't even properly shown our guests around yet!" A casually passed the blame.
Everyone else just stared at him in disbelief—seriously?! You're blaming *him*?!
Unfazed by their glares, A grinned at the two newcomers, "Come to think of it, you two participated in the same Chunin Exams as Special Envoy Seiki, right?"
Seiki had naturally noticed this already. After all, Samui's prominent chest emblem was highly recognizable. As for Selina, who kept winking uncontrollably—did she get something in her eye?
"Yeah, my very first opponent during the finals was Special Envoy Seiki!" Samui said with complex emotions. That was definitely a memory best left buried.
Besides getting defeated by his genjutsu instantly, the absurdly exaggerated chest-drop move he used back then still made her chest ache just thinking about it.
"That battle was really dangerous. If I had hesitated even slightly at the start, I could've easily been the one who lost," Seiki recalled solemnly.
Samui's lips quirked. If she hadn't known how he later completely dominated Yugito, maybe she'd actually believe him.
"Since it was such an extraordinary battle, why don't we reenact it a bit?" A tempted.
Samui stared in shock at the respected Raikage. Had she accidentally offended him somehow?
He was someone capable of killing even the Mizukage. If she—a mere chunin—fought him, she could die!
A continued, "Well, considering where you stand now, Seiki, going against Samui wouldn't exactly be fair. So, what if we did something else..."
Before he could finish, Seiki calmly declined, "Oh, no need to consider."
Seeing Seiki immediately and decisively reject A's suggestion, everyone from Hidden Cloud relaxed.
Selina felt depressed though. Since she hadn't fought Seiki herself, she wanted to jump in but couldn't, so she kept winking furiously trying to signal.
Then, Selina was completely ignored.
"Raikage-sama, shall we head over now?"
"Fine. Although Dodai may not be reliable, it's still impolite to keep him waiting."
Everyone followed the two inside, and Selina gritted her teeth in frustration. "Tch, I guess having such impressive assets really does have its perks!"
Inside the grand banquet hall, each village's architectural style was clearly distinct - Konoha's was fresh and elegant, Sunagakure's simple yet solemn.
Cloud Village's design, however, exuded extravagance mixed with wildness, giving off a distinctly nouveau riche vibe.
After exchanging some polite greetings, A quickly relaxed, devouring the delicacies while enthusiastically recommending to Seiki, "I'm telling you, this wagyu beef and Shitōzuka (Four-Lid Barrel) are specialties of the Land of Lightning! You absolutely must try them!"
On the grill, the steaks gleamed golden-brown, sizzling as hot oil dripped down their juicy marbled texture - truly mouth-watering.
Seiki picked up a piece of beef and tasted it carefully.
"This just might be the best beef I've ever tasted!"
"Haha, see?" A laughed loudly. "Come on, try our Land of Lightning wine too!"
Seiki looked slightly embarrassed. "Sorry, but the Ninja Three Prohibitions [clearly state no alcohol consumption before age twenty]!"
A's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Eh! Who follows rules at banquets? Come on, drink up!"
"This..."
Getting more excited, A continued, "Haha! If you don't drink, you're seriously insulting me! Insult me like that and I'll just-"
Boom!
Before he could finish, a giant octopus leg smacked A flying.
"Don't mind him, he's just had too much to drink!"
The Cloud ninja all secretly admired how brilliantly B had handled things.
Outside, the now impaled-in-the-ground A was furious beyond words.
As the village's Kage, what crime had he committed trying to gain first-hand intel on Konoha's powerful fighters?
Besides, with the war just ended, surely they wouldn't dare kill him at this timing?
Actually, now was the perfect opportunity to understand their true strength.
Why couldn't these fools comprehend his good intentions?
Thinking thus, A pulled himself from the ground and zipped back inside as a streak of lightning.
"B, you bastard! So you've grown a spine to actually strike your big brother!"
"Calm down, calm down! Though I know that hurt badly, Aniki!"
"Speak like a human being, not like this! [Lightning Tackle]!"
"If Big Brother wants to test my current strength, then I shall use [Lightning Tackle] as well!"
Seeing both men preparing to unleash their ultimate techniques, everyone around panicked.
How had this peaceful banquet suddenly turned so chaotic?
They were, after all, Cloud's absolute pillars; any mishap would bring catastrophic damage to the village.
Meanwhile, Seiki watched the drama unfold with great interest - such exciting scenes didn't come often.
Dodai rushed over anxiously. "Special Envoy Seiki, could you possibly stop them?"
Seiki blinked. "Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
Desperate, Dodai pleaded, "Only you can help us, Special Envoy Seiki!"
Sighing heavily while still looking serious, Seiki finally stood up. "This really isn't what I came here for - settling family disputes!"
His strength was indeed superior to both the Raikage and B individually. Yet, neutralizing one instantly was already an almost impossible task, let alone subduing two at the same time.
But the reality of the battle wasn't like that. The Raikage and B weren't working together; instead, they were fully focused on fighting each other, leaving him only needing to seize the chance for a sneak attack.
In the blink of an eye, the Raikage and B charged up their energy and rushed toward each other at speeds beyond human limits.
At this moment, a chakra wave rippled outward.
The two unguarded fighters immediately fell into an illusion realm but continued moving forward due to inertia.
Just as the two were about to collide, Seiki appeared like he had teleported between them, raising his hands as a freezing chill erupted from his palms.
[The next instant, two ice sculptures appeared in the banquet hall.]
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